I guess it becomes quite evident how much you enjoy a city when you can't remember how many times you've been. Chiang Mai is like a landing pad of comfort for me in SE Asia, I know what to expect and usually fall into a pretty quick and easy routine. I've always stayed in budget accommodation, shared dorms rooms or the occasional cheap single room, but this trip was different. I was torn between Thailand, Cambodia, and other locations in SE Asia, but being my first trip abroad in a few years, thanks COVID, I chose to play it safe and go to a place I know - really all I was after was a week of relaxation, warm weather and good food - and Chiang Mai easily provides all three. Plus my bonus trip to Pai provided me with a new tattoo, something that has been on my mind for a few years now.
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On my first visit to Pai I had one "must do" on my itinerary but unfortunately, it was something that didn't happen. After meeting my friend Alice during my Yoga training at Vikasa Yoga I was determined to visit her new friend Poh who just so happens to be a very talented tattoo artist. I had already gotten my traditional Sak Yant tattoo in Bangkok but I was looking for something more original for my next one so I figured paying Poh a visit at Monkey Magic tattoo sounded like a good idea. Unfortunately, due to his packed schedule and my stupidly pre-booked flight to Vietnam, I wasn't able to make it happen. After my adventures through Vietnam and Laos though I decided to add a return visit to Northern Thailand at the end of my trip. This may or may not have been heavily influenced by the possibility of getting this tattoo....
When I first heard about Sak Yant tattoo's during my many hours of deskwarming, reading travel blogs I knew that I'd one day find myself in the 'hot seat'. As I wrapped up my travel in Cambodia I realized it was time to plan for the next leg of my journey, soon finding myself in Bangkok. Through word of mouth and some online blogs I've heard such mixed reviews about the city so I really didn't know what to think or how to prepare myself. I also knew that I wouldn't be jumping right into the tourist attractions as I want to save those for when my friend Laura comes out to join me at the end of April. Ultimately I wound up with only one plan while spending my first few days in Bangkok and that was to make the trek out to Wat Bang Prah for my Sak Yant tattoo.
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AsiaThailandHigh on the tourist track for a reason, home of good food (mostly) happy people, rich history and culture. Thailand as many tourist soon learn is just easy. Easy to visit, easy to get around and even easier to stay. Archives
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