Elephants, Brazilian cooking class, zip-lining and Christmas time — it’s a two-week pit stop in northern Thailand–Chiang Mai! We wanted a home base to spend Christmas, so we rented a larger house through Airbnb and really got to know the area.

For our first two mornings in Chiang Mai, we volunteered at a foster home called Connie’s Home, which we found out about through our friends from D.C. We had a lot of fun playing with the kids and talking to the staff, it was nice to participate and volunteer. The really little kids <2 years-old seemed scared of us, but the older kids 3-6 years-old seemed to enjoy when we came to visit. H and Dad were put to work on the grounds mowing, gardening and digging. The girls, Mom and I helped with nativity crafts, a Bible story, games, and keeping an eye on the toddlers during playground time. We quickly grew attached to the adorable children and miss them very much.

One important thing we always ask when choosing our accommodations is how far is it to walk to the store? Thankfully this home had the nearby Airport Plaza Mall, an easy 10-minute walk. At the TOPS market on the lower level of the mall, we met the smoothie man, whom we visited quite often throughout our two weeks in Chiang Mai. Ever since then the kids compare their smoothies to his smoothies. “Not as good as the smoothie man’s smoothies.”

Some of the best food we’ve ever had was cooked by our Airbnb hosts at a Brazilian cookout we signed up for. Our hosts, Rafael and Paula prepared chicken, steak, pork, potato salad, veggies, grilled cheese (not the sandwich–literal grilled cheese), chimichurri  sauce, grilled pineapple and banana. We enjoyed the multiple courses of food while listening to music and having great conversation and drinks. Even our picky eaters found something they enjoyed…because the food was AMAZING  (H and K claim it’s the best meal they’ve ever had). We DEFINITELY recommend this activity, even if you’re not staying at their Airbnb. It’s talking with friendly people in a fun environment while eating fantastic food. (We just recommend you skip lunch so you are hungry enough for all the food they will cook).

C, mom and I took a Grab to the old walled city for lunch where we bought clothes, salty pineapple and a very pink bubble tea at the market near there. We’ve really enjoyed the SE Asian markets.

Next was a bucket list adventure–elephants! After 1 1/2 hour long Songthaew ride (like a large Tuk Tuk), we arrived at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Our guide, SaeWhat, taught us how to feed the elephants (we had to say “bon!” and hold out the banana to feed them) and how to behave around them. Afterwards, we went on a slippery and steep walk to meet the elephants! We spent some time feeding the elephants (we learned you have to pay attention to where your bananas are at all time because they WILL steal them). Afterwards, we went to a refreshing waterfall mainly to take photos but a few of us were feeling adventurous and swam in the chilly water.

After a yummy buffet lunch, H helped make some vitamin balls for the elephants out of mini eggplants, rice, salt, banana and other ingredients. Next on the itinerary was the mud bath! A few of the guides were joking around and putting mud on our arms and backs when we weren’t looking. We washed the elephants off in a pretty murky-looking creek next to the mud hole. Though our primary focus was to rinse the mud off the elephants, a lot of that time was spent goofing off too.

Those of us who were staying the night then drove off to our next location. We haven’t met many Americans while on the road so it was a huge surprise to find out that everyone who signed up for the 2-day elephant trip was from the US including some from Virginia! We had a fantastic time talking and playing games at picnic tables in the open-air living area that evening.

The following day, after a leisurely breakfast, we rode in the back of a radong to see more elephants. It was really nice but we were all really looking forward to meeting Charlie, a few-months-old elephant. He was ADORABLE. Some of us got to spend more time with him than others because one of the drivers got lost on the way there. (We think he was substituting for the regular driver).

Next, we made a stop at another waterfall. It was very slippery but a lot of fun. H slid around on the rocks like a penguin. We had fried rice at a traditional village nearby before walking to one last group of elephants before going our separate ways. One of the elephants was about 65 years old!

That’s all for the first half of our Chiang Mai visit! Next week–more from Chiang Mai!