Chiang Mai Off the Beaten Path Tips by riproy

Just outside the city on the northeast? side there is a reservoir that is used for swimming and windsurfing. It is a great place to go on a hot day to cool off. The shores are lined with bamboo seating areas shaded by thatch roofs where you can sit and order food from the passing vendors - there are many. You can sit relax or cool off in the water. It is a little silty, but who cares? You can rent inner tubes and just float away the afternoon with your mates. We used to throw a tennis ball around. It was always a good time, a perfect lazy afternoon.
It is a few km outside of town, so you will need transport of some sort, a bicycle will do just fine.

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You can take courses in Thai massage in a few locations. The most popular is Wat Po in Bangkok. There are others in Chiangmai, like the Old Chiangmai Hospital. I took a 6 week course at International Training Massage and liked it very much. Classes are from 1 to 6 weeks in length. Instruction is given in clear English but most of the staff speak very little of it. It was much more reasonably priced than Wat Po and the service more personal. However, it can get full during high tourist season.

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Website: www.infothai.com/itm/

This low key museum is in the house of an elderly couple that are as interesting to visit with as the contents of their private collection are to see. We met Khun Rampa, who together with her husband, both insect enthusiasts, collected and now maintain the contents of their museum. It seems they began working for the American military conducting taxonomy and biology surveys of mosquito populations in Southeast Asia. As US interests in the region increased in the 50s and 60s, concerns regarding malaria increased. Besides mosquitoes, there are many other kinds of insects and fungi, rocks, etc., that are fascinating. The collection is extensive and consumes a lot of space. But the best part of this visit is the owners themselves (we only met Khun Rampa) to whom insects are a labour of love.
The place looks closed, but when you ring the doorbell, they will open their home to you. At first we thought the admission wasn't cheap, but when we started the tour we knew it was worth it. This couple has so many stories to tell.
They are located on Sirimungkalajan Road across the road from the mouth of Sirimungkalajan Soi 5. 'World Insect Museum' is written in the cement in front of the gate.

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