Sitting by the Moat

Ok, ya'll. Chiang Mai is gorgeous.

Chiang Mai, which means "new city", was founded in 1296 and was once the center of the Lanna Kingdom. Today, it is still surrounded by the remains of an old city wall and the original moat.

But what really makes this city stunning (at least for me) is the incredibly serene and almost timeless atmosphere. There are narrow roads and little dark shops-- people sewing or reparing or crafting things, old people smoking and children playing.  There are people on bikes and bicycles, stopping at the countless food and juice stalls. There are temples on every street that visitors are welcome to wander freely in. It's a really special city.

The moat.

Chiang Mai is a perfect city to spend a relaxing afternoon picking up snacks and finding a spot under some shade to read a book. You can really take your time and savor things here.

At a food cart.

Meatballs on a stick

and THIS. New addiction: THAI ICED TEA.

It's basically chai tea, but with condensed milk!

And I'm finally getting through the Game of Thrones series! Oh, it's GOOD.