Markets, Monks and Mangosteens! Oh My!

Today was a day of adventure and intrigue!  And food.  I'll gloss over the details of Olivia and I's new favorite coffee shop.  Its just down the road, and they make the most amazing Thai iced tea and Smile coffee on the planet.

Tasty "smile coffee"!

The custard cake with flan on top made for delicious breakfast and the chocolate chip cookies weren't too bad either.  We hopped on our trusty bicycles (haha! I just noticed today that mine says DIESEL in big letters on the side.  I think that's funny.) and rode into Old City.  The ride in is a little scary, and Mom and Dad would definitely not approve (so don't read the next few lines guys).  Olivia and I have to ride on the highway to get anywhere! And let me tell you, Thailand might be known for its extraordinary food, but not its extraordinary drivers! There are virtually no rules of the road here.  It's kind of a free for all.  I was thinking, as cars and scooters flew by me, that a bicycle would not stand a chance against a taxi cab.  Anyway, Olivia and I finally made it to Old City and decided to soothe our frazzled nerves with a refreshing fruit juice.  We stopped into this roadside juice bar, and I ordered a coconut juice and Olivia got a mango one.

Everything seemed pretty normal.  Olivia and I were happily sipping our beverages and taking pictures of all the food we wanted to get from the market.  Then, outta the blue, this giant man emerges from behind a fruit basket brimming with mangoes.  Quite honestly I don't know how he failed to catch my attention before because the juice shop was small and cute.  Thai-sized I'd say....and this guy was definitely NOT Thai sized! He sat down next to Olivia and I and began chatting away.  But not in a cute, friendly way.  He was sketchy.  That's for sure.  His name was Jack.  He plays "football" for the Chiang Mai team and he's from South Africa.  His phone number is....hahah! Yeah! I know! You're probably just beginning to realize the extent of his creepiness.  But even now I don't think you understand.  So Olivia and I told him we didn't have a phone number to give to him.  No. We would not go clubbin' with him (even though I coulda shown off my expert booty clappin' skills).  And no.  We would not like to go back to his house with him! When Olivia and I finally managed to get up and start heading out, Jack decided that the best way to win us over was to explain that if we didn't call him tonight, and he ran into us the next morning, he'd hit us with his car! "That way," he explained, "I can either take you to the hospital, or to my house." As you can imagine, Olivia and I's trust in the opposite sex was more than a little shaken at this point.  But then we met Mik (pronounced meek).  He is the CUTEST person on the entire planet!!!!  He's a monk. 

Our new bff!

Olivia and I were taking refuge from the torturous rays of the Thai sun at the most beautiful wat we have yet to see.  It's called Wat Chedi Luang.  It was built in 1479...and it's HUGE!

Cool creature from Wat Chang Taem.

Check out how detailed these doors are!

Sage advice.

The massive and majestic Wat Chedi Luang (the new part).

The original Wat Chedi Luang. First constructed in 1391, it is the tallest pagoda in Thailand.

Look at the cool elephants!

A wax rendition of one of the temple's famous monks. So realistic!

The two remaining original naga (mythical serpents) guardians. The others were restored.

Anyway, we were wandering around, when we saw a sign that said "Monk Chat".  I was being grumpy and sullen because I was so hot....but my rather enthusiastic twin made us go check it out.  I'm so glad she did, because it was here we met Mik!  He was sitting at a table reading a book.  Probably some holy text or other.  When we asked if we could talk to him he got SO excited.  He said he sits there quite often waiting to talk to westerners so that he can inform them about Buddhism, and work on his English, but that everyone says they are too busy to talk.  Naturally, Olivia and I decided that this was a Buddhist miracle! We could hide from the sun, and chat up this friendly, bald, robed monk! How nice! Get this!  The monks have to wake up at 4 AM to say their prayers! And they can't eat after noon! GASP! The horror!  And that's just 2 of the 227 rules the monks have to follow!  Well, Olivia and I were sad to leave Mik...but in the end we headed off the the Saturday Street Market, where I, unlike my holy friend Mik, stuffed my face on delicious Thai street food.  I'l start at the beginning. 
We got fried banana blossoms and fried pumpkin strips. 

Then I dunno what it's called...but if you look at the picture I posted it's the green triangle things on a stick.  It's a beetle leaf, and inside is peanuts, shrimp, lime juice, and other herbs.  One of my new favorite foods.  SOOO good!

Then I got grilled squid-on-a-stick.  Most of you are thinking...ohhh, that sounds tasty.  Normally I would agree.  But this particular squid-on-a-stick was really gross. It tasted like vomit.  I tried to pawn it off on Olivia.  It didn't work.  It was SUPER squishy and slimy on the inside.  Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it was covered flies before I ordered it.

I look so happy here since I haven't tried the squid yet....

Okay, then I got a grilled banana leaf, with a banana wrapped in sticky rice on the inside.  Next Olivia got a fried sticky-rice-ball-on-a-stick.  It was good, but nothing fantastic. 

What a feast!

Crazy rambutan!

Next on the menu was Satay and sticky-rice-not-on-a-stick (it was in a bag).  As we were leaving, we got these Thai meatballs that are stuffed with rice.  Once Olivia and I completed the treacherous highway-bicycle ride home I showered.  Let me tell you.  Even if I didn't have one of those nice rain showerheads and fancy lotions to put on afterwards...it was the nicest shower I've ever had. It was SO hot today...I was disgusting!  Then I sat on the coolish floor of our apartment, and ate so much fruit (see photos for details) that I'm probably going to be sick tomorrow.  But it was worth it!