Chiang Mai.

First, we rest.

After almost 30 hours of flying, we’ve landed in Thailand. Our bags have made it (despite very tight connections) and we’re stoked — I mean tired.

We know we need to take it easy at first. For a couple of nights, we’ll be up at 3 a.m., all the lights turned on in our hotel room. We’re making snacks and watching “Madagascar” on the ipad – until it’s a decent hour to get up and go grab breakfast.

We’ve come to fully accept this as a normal transition, and realized that embracing it is a heck of a lot easier than fighting it. 12 hours of jet lag takes a little moment to sink in, especially in toddlers, and that’s ok.

I’m not quite sure what gets us through the super long journey here. I always feel like it’s one part preparation (my carry-on bag is a treasure chest), one part luck, and one part scaring the boys just enough into thinking that if they misbehave, the pilot himself will get out of his cabin and have a strong word with them.Basically, we make it through, one hour at a time. 

The breakdown goes like this…

2 hour flight to the US.
14.5 hour flight to Tokyo.
7.5 hour flight to Bangkok.
Back. To. Back. To. Back.

Regular parenting rules don’t apply. Silence and good behavior are rewarded with candy and unlimited movies. Misbehaving and disruptive behavior are countered with candy and unlimited movies.

I’ve let go of the fear that they’ll be broken forever. Turns out they realize that these are extraordinary circumstances, and that once we land, it’s not how we roll.

So, we made it, without a glitch. Yes!

Now, we play.

Chiang Mai. Our first destination. Northern Thailand. Modern day meets traditional culture. Beautiful extravagant temples are on every corner, and you’ll cross monks on the street during their daily commute.

The Vibe.
Chiang Mai is a lively city packed with temples, restaurants, markets and night bazaars. There’s always something to do.

Street food is amazing. Best we’ve had! And we feed the whole family for under 5$.

Thai massages are a must. A mix of relaxation, pain, and discovering unknow ways your body can bend. Ouch! Worth the experience, and the 8 dollars per hour.

The boys and I also tried a fish spa…for like 2 minutes. Weirdest thing!

Between visiting temples and the Chiang Mai Zoo, venturing out at night in the bazaars and eating on the streets, we’ve made the most of our time here.

Now we move on to the islands, where the beat will be different – slower. 

Our next stop is Koh Phangan…