Today we had a private tour scheduled to take us to Doi Sutrep. We were to be picked up at eight and our driver , Potek, was right on time. He took us to visit some of the local factories where they make handicraft goods. We went to a cotton factory. They show you how the cotton ball is turned into thread. Then you walk through their store. I offered to buy Jay a shirt. Since they did not have his size in the long sleeve indigo blue color, they said they could make it and deliver it to our hotel that night. So Jay is getting a shirt made specifically for him.
We went to a lacquerware store. Again they show you the process of making the lacquer before you are shown into their storeroom. I went crazy in there. I think I brought out the store. They have hand painted items, mother of pearl items, items decorated with eggshells and gold leaf.
Next stop was the Umbrella factory, This is where they make the paper umbrellas. Again you are shown the process before being shown the store. I purchased one umbrella.
We next went to the silk factory. You are shown the process and see the live silk worms, I purchased a silk scarf here.
Next he took us to a local market where we tasted various foods. They have fried pork rinds and depending on the stall, they taste different. We tasted a roasted worm. It was crunchy and really did not have much flavor. We had sticky rice wrapped around a banana in a banana leaf. It was pretty good. We tried lychee, which were also good. Then we had mangosteen, which were good. He also purchased some sticky rice with mango and coconut milk for us to eat later.
We stopped at a meditation center and walked around. People come here and spend a week learning how to meditate. It was very quiet and peaceful there.
We stopped at a restaurant to eat lunch. There we tried the mango and sticky rice with coconut milk. I don’t really like the coconut milk, because it is very sweet, but the mango and sticky rice were good,
Finally it was time to head to Doi Sutrep. It is up a steep winding road in the mountains, Heading up the mountain, it started raining. By the time we got to the top it had stopped. We road the rail car up to the top instead of walking up the 300 steps. There are a lot of buddhas and bells there. Apparently people give them bells, more bells than the monks really want.
On the way back down the mountain, we stopped at another temple, that not many people visit or know about. We walked around there. It had beautiful views of Chiang Mai.
Then it was time to head back to our hotel. We had a good time and really learned a lot.
