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Taking a course is another popular activity
in Chiang Mai. The city is ideal for
lingering a week or two to update your
skills or simply have some fun learning
something new. Whether it's a one-day Thai
cooking course or a month-long meditation
retreat, there are courses to suit all
interests and time schedules.
Cooking Schools
There are several cooking schools that
offer excellent one-day courses in preparing
Thai cuisine, these include visits to the
market to provision and learn about unique
vegetables, herbs and spices commonly used
in this region.
The original school is the Chiang Mai
Thai Cookery School, which is conveniently
located near Tapae Gate and teaches you how
to prepare a number of standard Thai dishes,
such as green curry, tom yum and papaya
salad. Other schools include; Baan Thai,
Gap's Thai Culinary Art, Siam Thai Cookery
School and Thai Chocolate. Each school
offers standard one-day courses, and
selected schools offer a variety of
programmes which include vegetarian cooking
and preparing Thai desserts. Rates vary from
700 - 900 baht (one day) and many of the
guesthouses advertise courses offered
informally by an endless supply of local
kitchen maestros.
Thai Massage
Thai massage courses usually last a week
and are offered by several places near the
town centre. However, those people hoping to
earn money from the skill back in their home
country should follow the example of serious
massage practitioners and choose Thai
massage courses that are certified.
The Old Medicine Hospital,
a well established and popular venue
opposite the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Centre
, offers two 10-day courses a month costing
3500 baht. Their focus is on traditional
Northern style massage.
Baan Nit (near the
northeastern corner of the Moat) is more
practical for the experienced masseuse
looking to learn new techniques particularly
related to deep tissue and nerve
rehabilitation using herbs and ancient
techniques. Nit, the Chinese woman who
instructs, gives personal tuition at 100
baht an hour.
Lek Chaiya (Ratchadamnoen
Rd) specialises in Jap Sen (deep touch)
massage and the instructor, Khun Lek, has
more than 40 years of experience. Her
three-to five-day courses cost 4000 baht and
are subject to minimum numbers.
International Training Massage
offers five-day courses similar to the Old
Medicine Hospital curriculum, costing 2250
baht.
Meditation in Chiang Mai
Many foreigners come to Chiang Mai to
enter a temple and spend time learning
meditation and familiarising themselves with
Buddhism. The most serious option is to
enter Wat Rampoeng, near
the foot of Doi Suithep, which has a fairly
strict but manageable 30-day programme. Here
you'll live like a monk, taking only two
meals a day (none after noon), undertaking
plenty of meditating, vows of silence and
carrying out the usual chores expected of
monks. Women and men are welcome, and
accommodation is provided by small 'kuti'
huts. There is no charge, although a
donation is welcomed.
A recently introduced meditation facility
has been added to Wat Doi Suithep,
A recently introduced meditation facility
has been added to Wat Doi Suithep, isolated
from the city and the tourists, offering
twenty-one day courses as taught at Wat Chom
Tong. The kutis are fairly comfortable, if
spartan, and the approach a little lighter
and less uncomfortable for newcomers to the
practice of meditation.
Wat Chom Thong is
remotely located, near the base of Doi
Inthanon - a ninety minute drive south, and
offers strict but popular meditation
programmes under the direction of well-known
monk Ajarn Thong. There is a minimum stay
period of two weeks, the environment is
similar to Wat Rampoeng and there is a
forest retreat nearby for the serious
practitioners.
At all three, you can simply show up,
instructions are very basic and the
activities deliberately slow and boring to
help you focus on the present moment - in
keeping with the teachings of the Buddha.
The Middle Way is an
entire village devoted to meditation, and
for those who are serious about their
meditation then this is the place to come.
Set in quiet, peaceful surroundings, The
Middle Way is perfectly suited for those in
need of a real escape from the hustle and
bustle of the real world. The seven day
courses provided will leave you refreshed,
relaxed and possibly even enlightened!
Muay Thai
The Lanna Muay Thai camp
in Chang Khian (near the university) is
popular among both men and women wishing to
learn or hone their skill in Thai
kickboxing. Set up by a Canadian, Andy
Thomson, and his wife Pom, the camp gets you
in shape with daily fitness and sparring
routines, along with a number of highly
experienced fighter trainers. Training and
tuition is provided for beginners. There is
a reasonable daily rate for attendance and
participants are encouraged to spend a
reasonable time there. The daily routine
occupies about five hours a day, including
the taking of meals and undertaking cultural
practices.
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