Chiang Mai

First step takes us to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Our daughter lives here, so in some ways it’s an obvious first step. Some pretty special friends are also residing here.

 

Mother daughter moment with Olive the unity cat

 

Chiang Mai has all the conveniences of western living – shopping malls, great food, really cheap prices, an over-abundance of coffee shops (not necessarily good coffee), and an equal abundance of trash. With trash bins in amazingly short supply. Chiang Mai can be an assault on the senses…heat, people, traffic, lousy air quality. Not the garden spot of the world, yet it can be so mesmerizing.

While in Chiang Mai our time was filled with multiple iced coffee breaks, good food and wine, wonderful company, a strenuous enough hike up to Doi Sutep temple, and more coffee.

 

Smoke-enhanced view of Chiang Mai 

 

 

In the stillness of the morning….

 

 

Modern day photo op

 

Reaching the first temple to enjoy the view with a cup of monk-brewed espresso

 

We also had the opportunity to meet and mentor about 45 business people from a restricted country who have a desire to bring transformational business to some difficult regions (think war-torn, jihadist-invaded, crumbling infrastructure.) These meetings in turn brought new relationships, with invitations and opportunities to come along side and support through our own life experiences.

Of all the things Chiang Mai has the potential to be, the descriptor that currently comes to mind is rejuvenating.