Day 47: Lions and Tigers and Elephants...OH MY!

So today was our last full day in Thailand...UGH! I hate that, but when life gives you lemons...throw it in some sweet tea and drink it up.

Lions and tigers and elephants...OH MY! Ok, that was a little cheesy. Haha. So...best thing about today: I HUNG OUT WITH A TIGER!!! Oh yes I did. It was waaaay cooler than the elephants yesterday, too! We got to go in a tiger pen for 15 minutes and take pictures and pet 3 different tigers. We swore up and down they were sedated but the trainers told us that they're just cats, and cats sleep 18 hours a day. *lightbulb* Oh yeah...they do. So that was freaking amazing! There's nothing like signing a waiver not to sue if you die when you enter a tiger's pen...and living to tell the tale! Haha. Ok just kidding...but not really. The tigers' names were Meatball, Spicy Sauce, and I can't remember the 3rd one's name. Ahh it was so cool. Have you ever spooned with a tiger? I have.

We finally found Happy Nails today...or was it Smile Nails...oh of course it was Nice Nails ("How could you forget?!?!" says Allison Webb). I got my hands and feet taken care of so I feel a little cuter today. At one point, I had 4 people working on me simultaneously. How crazy is that? At least manis/pedis in Chiang Mai are way cheaper than Bangkok. And the owner of the place (who knows Heidi and Debbie) was such a sweetheart. She even gave us a ride home afterward because we for sure walked almost an hour to find the stupid shop.

After nails and tigers, we went straight to the night bazaar, even though it was only about 4:00. So, clearly the only thing we could find to do to kill some time before dinner and shopping was....a massage. (So sad...last one of the trip.) We opted for a half-foot, half-head massage, 30 minutes each. Aaaaand of course it was amazing! However, it is just so inconvenient that I am peeling from literally head to toe. Thanks sun and hard water of Thailand. The big joke around here is that I'm molting like a freaking parrot or shedding like a snake...haha. Ok, that's kind of disgusting...I think I'm gonna stop talking about that now.

So we had dinner (fried rice with chicken and pineapple...yumo!) and by the time we were finished, the night bazaar was just beginning. First thing we bought? MC Hammer pants. Allison and I have seriously been trying to buy some since we got here, and none have fit us (thanks thunder thighs), but we finally found some! She got the purple ones; I got the black ones. We look like morons, but if we act like we look hot, maybe people will believe us. (That's our rationalization anyway...but remember, it's not rationalizing, it's being optimistic!) Anyway, I bought a few last-minute souvenirs, ran out of money, made one last ATM visit, and bought a few more.

After a much needed 7-eleven trip to get junk food, here we are, sitting in our YMCA hotel room. We're putting of packing until the morning, and we're fixing to push our beds together to cuddle (no homo) and watch The Hangover. Alyse has never seen it and that's pretty much all Allison and I quote, so we're pulling her into the loop. Haha.

On a final note, here's my list of Top 10 Most Unreal Things About Thailand. They're in no particular order because I'm not really in an ordinal kind of mood right now. So here you have it...

1. red light / green light timers
2. the art of eating with a spoon and fork
3. noodle stands
4. "sum na na"
5. Thai hospitality & peer pressure
6. $3 massages
7. lady boys
8. 7elevens (must be heaven!)
9. markets markets everywhere...
10. motorbikes

Well, here's to ya Chiang Mai...thanks for the good times with the elephants and tigers.

I'm out.
Cwalk.