So I loved Thailand. Well I was mostly just in Chiang Mai. So I guess technically I loved Chiang Mai. Not only do a lot of people speak English but there are tons of Western food places. Thai food is really delicious. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to try Thai food I recommend it. One warning though is that it can be spicy.
My reason for going was threefold. 1. I need to have my health evaluation every two years and the service in Thailand is more like a western medical setting but without the high cost. 2. My dear friends were having a baby and none of their family were able to come so I said I would come to help. 3. I needed a vacation.
The results were as follows: 1. I am just a little bit fat. (my bmi was 30 when it should have been 29) When I received that news all I could wonder was what my bmi would say after I have spent 3 months in America. Yikes!! My vision has not changed significantly so I do not need new glasses. But I did have three tiny cavities and so they were filled. 2. I was able to help my friends after their baby boy was born by doing dishes, laundry, and hold him while parents napped or ate. He was so very tiny. 3. I vacated with the best of them. I went on a night safari and rode an elephant!!! I shopped till my legs were tired. I also stayed up late and slept in late-I even ordered some room service. I read several books and ate delicious thai and western food every day.
Some interesting things about Thailand.
1. Every place of employment has an alter in it.
2. Every alter I saw had some sort of offering on it-from candles and incense to a can of coke.
3. The King owns all the elephants in Thailand.
4. Thailand orchids are grown in bottles before fully grown.
5. Thailand's King is the world's longest serving current head of state and the longest reigning monarch in Thai history. He is loved. It is a crime to insult him.
6. Chiang Mai doesn't have tall buildings and many of the homes have yards.
7. Thai people are very laid back.
So here are a modpodge arrangement of photos for you.
Me helping to give little Silas his second "real" bath. Needless to say he was not happy.
My first picture of Silas.
Me in the back of a Tuk Tuk.
another tuk tuk photo.
Lil' Guy slept right through his diaper change.
My first Thai meal. Some sort of noodle dish with chicken. Delicious!!
Attempt number 1 to have a picture with both of us in it.
Attempt number 2.
Since I couldn't get a good shot of both of us I could at least get a good one of him.
This is the reception area where I had my general physical.
This amazing looking cracker and cheese was just part of a huge cheese platter that was part of the holiday inn's breakfast. Weird but kinda AMAZING!!
The rest of the options at my breakfast.
The sock clothes line from a distance.
And up close.
This little guy lived in the bathroom
Temples or idol alters were on every block if they weren't on every corner and most shops had their very own inside.
We went to a orchid farm and here are some of my favorites.
The crowds at the beginning of the Saturday Night Bazaar
My favorite dish. Tom Kha Gai. A Chicken Mushroom soup with lemon grass and coconut milk
The next set of pictures are from the Night Safari.
This was hyenas but you cannot see them in the dark so I had to add my flash.
But the High point of my time in Thailand was the Elephant Camp. It was awesome. The trainers showed us all the different tricks the elephants can do such as play soccer, basketball, paint and work. We got to watch the trainers bathe them in the river and then I and my friend got to ride one. The other good thing was that we knew that these elephants were treated well because they were revered as gods as well as owned by the King himself.
My trip to Tai Yuan was very exciting because I was able to see some projects that other people are working on. 
My Company has a couple who works up there. He works with a card making project for farming families to supplement their income. She is a occupational therapist and I was able to see the hospital where she does her treatments. I got to participate in a book mobile project and visited a school and then even suggested some books to some kids.
