"Fewer Words, More Pictures" - Chiang Mai My Birthday - DAY 1

A wise man once told me, (well, it was Innes actually) "Lisa, when you write in a blog, use fewer words and post more pictures."  So here goes.  It won't be as witty as Innes' posts but it's guaranteed to be more verbose.
It's not really my birthday.  Today is the 1st of February and I was born on the last day - well, usually the last day.  This month, the second-to-last day.  Had I been born less than one hour later, I would be having my 12th birthday this month, making Innes a much, much older man.  As it stands and for the record, he is one week older - to the day.

DAY 1 - Doi Suthep Temple Run
There I go again with too many words and no photos.  I tried like mad to find a race in Southeast Asia to compete in before the weather gets too hot, but I ran out of options.  So instead I decided to head to Chiang Mai, where I heard about a lot of running trails and  a great little coffee shop called Basecamp Coffee, where I could get all the running info I needed for a fun weekend.
It was only 2 miles from my hotel to the coffee shop but running there was a bad idea.  Suthep Road is super busy with heavy (diesel) traffic, but the mountain in the distance was calling to me.

Suthep Road

Probably one of the worst choices I have made this year was to download AirVisual, which shows the Air Quality Index (AQI) all over the world.  It was at 170 that day in Chiang Mai.  (You can see Beijing's AQI as a comparison.)   Also part of the reason I've stopped running outdoors in Yangon.  I thought I could get some fresh air in Thailand...

But hey, at least we are beating New Delhi...

And here is Vail by comparison....

This guy was mending running shoes along Suthep Road.  It was really cool.  He had a HUGE needle and was putting the sole back on a pair of shoes.  Anyone who comes to Chiang Mai should donate your old running shoes here.  They will find a new life.

Back to Basecamp Coffee...

https://www.facebook.com/pg/BasecampCoffeeHouse/about/?ref=page_internal

Kek  (sounds like Cake and probably spelled wrong; sadly I didn't get a photo of her) was super helpful.  She plugged the Pilgrim Trail map into my phone and off I went.  All the way around the block and finally back to where I started before I realized my phone was upside down.

Wilder has been having a hard time finding a job at uni in the UK, but I found her a gig in Chiang Mai (English/Spanish, no Korean...yet).

This is WAY steeper than it looks.

I really was impressed with how clean the trail was along the way.

And did I mention it was steep?

Not something I normally see on my trail runs. Amazing.

Photos not doing justice to this place...

You might be able to see a guy in a black t-shirt at the top of this next photo. I am sorry to report that he passed me and I couldn't hang onto him.  I kept telling myself that I am twice his age, but my bruised ego was just not listening.  So I told myself he was probably running at altitude in the Alps last weekend and Yangon is flat, etc. which still didn't help. I did catch him later (when he stopped to drink water and check his map).  We actually ran the last part of the way up together and then suddenly ended up back together on the way down.  It was fun to have a rabbit to chase.  He was going up and back, up and back, checking on his girlfriend.

I think I mentioned that the trail was steep.  But it was also OH SO FUN!

Surprisingly strong bamboo bridge...on the way up.

And on the way down.  Bouncy too!

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple - I didn't actually go in this time b/c I was not dressed appropriately. 

Parking lot surprisingly empty in the photo.  There were vans and buses everywhere!

Cool hand-painted maps along the way.

I ran another mile or so past the temple up a 2-lane highway and came into these stands of trees that were MASSIVE.  I could have stayed there in the shade the rest of the day.

The way back down just pounded my quads.  I have not had much thrilling downhill in my life lately and I'm sorely afraid that I will be unable to walk tomorrow.  When I got back to Basecamp Coffee, Kek gave me a patch for completing the run, as well as some stickers.  I will be back!

I got back to my hotel just in time for check out. All together, about 13 miles round trip.

Lee Chiang Hotel - lovely place, very clean with a good breakfast if you are in Chiang Mai for a visit.  

Day 1 Part II - Sukantara Resort

I was going to keep the cost down on my solo trip, but I also knew I needed to get out of the city.  I went back and forth about spending extra money to go up to the Sukantara Resort when there are nice, affordable hotels all over Chiang Mai, but let me tell you this was so worth the extra $.  Sukantara is about 45-50 minutes from Chiang Mai.

Upriver from check-in.

Path to "Boss Father's House"

Downriver.

Although this would have been a good choice for my legs, I did not have the willpower to embrace these frigid waters.

Tasted like chicken.

Even though I was traveling alone this week, both of my hotel reservations showed two people.  When I turned up alone, the lady who checked me in asked if I was sure I wanted to be in the tent across the river.  She offered to upgrade me to a room closer to the front desk.  I politely declined as this was the little slice of heaven I was hoping for.

Home sweet home.  My little bamboo enshrined wall tent on the river.

View of the lodge and dining room from my tent.

Way to my room, the bridge had some serious sway if you weren't careful..or if you had too much wine at dinner.

And the way back to the hotel...

The bridge from my deck.

When my waiter seated me for dinner he said, "Only one tonight?  Hmmm...lonely." And then he walked away.  I'm noticing a pattern.  I kept trying to explain that next time I would bring my husband but I don't think they believe me.

View from the dining room.

I have not had (or needed ) a hot bath in months - but this was the best way to finish a long day. My tired legs were quite happy.

The nights were so cool that I turned off the A/C and just unzipped the window covers on the wall tent.  It was so nice to hear the river all night and feel the cool breeze through the screens.  I even needed my down jacket the next morning.

I debated adding this photo, but I really felt that happy this morning.

I honestly believe that running makes me a better human.  I am an anxious person with a tendency towards a bit of depression at times.  I never feel as happy as I do when I am running - especially on trails.  I have many runner friends who have struggled with depression and anxiety as well and we all agree that nothing works as well as trail running.  I call it dynamic meditation.   I am so grateful that I got to go on this trip and I didn't feel anxious for one single moment.  Or lonely.  I am alone but not lonely.  I am also the luckiest girl in the world b/c I get to go home to Innes, Wilder (when she's not at uni) and Luca.  So I get the best of all worlds - and they know I'm crazy but they still love me.

Morning coffee.