Chiang Mai, Thailand is a charming lovely place of sorts. It’s not chaotic like Saigon, nor does it go at a snail’s pace like Luang Prabang. In fact, a friend of mine said that when it’s time to retire, he’s doing so in Thailand. It’s easy to see why.

Buddhism is prevalent here, and there are over 300 wats (“temple” in Thai) scattered all over the city. There are vegan restaurants on every corner, with most meals running about $2 to $3. Coffee shops are also ubiquitous.

There is some Thai social etiquette to keep in mind. For instance, the feet are considered to be the dirtiest part of the body, and so it’s rude to show the soles of one’s feet. It’s also impolite to point with the feet at anyone, or even stepping over someone’s head, which is considered the most sacred part of the body. Shoes are taken off before entering a home, which is the case in most Asian cultures.

Thailand’s king, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, had died in October 2016. He was the longest serving king in the modern era, reigning for 70 years. This country practically revers him as a god. You will find large portraits of his image everywhere. The Baht currency even has been reprinted to show the late king’s face on the bills and coins; and so it’s very rude to let any amount of Baht drop on the ground (where the feet have touched, after all).

Every day at 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, the national anthem is played on the streets. When that happens, everyone has to stop whatever they’re doing and stand in respect. It doesn’t matter if you’re a local or a visitor. An idiot moment I had was when I was confused as to what’s going on and kept eating my noodles. It wasn’t until someone glared at me, that I realized maybe that’s the national anthem playing and that’s why everything has stopped. When it was finished, everyone just picked up where they left off.

The Thai people are very friendly and smile often. “Keeping face” is very important in Thai society. The abstract concept of “face” can be described as a combination of respect, dignity, influence, and honor. Losing one’s temper, shouting, or displaying strong emotions is strictly frowned upon. When someone does any of that, they have lost face or respect among those around. It is considered better to try and avoid confrontations for the sake of keeping one’s dignity. You keep others’ respect that way.

As I stated above, there was a lot of vegan Thai food. All of this cost about $2. I loved it so much.

Many Thais ask what my ethnic background is out of curiosity. A couple of them have even asked if they could take my picture–which is very flattering to say the least! Somewhere I read an article about how Chiang Mai is a great travel destination for introverts, and I have to agree. I love this place.

I still have a few more days here before heading to Bangkok. It’s on the way to Siem Reap, Cambodia, which is the final destination of the Mekong region.