Top 10 Things NOT To Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

10. Book ANYTHING-tour/bus ride/class from someone that is not certified with TAT (National Tourist Office).
9. Take the advice of tuk-tuk drivers on where to stay or where to go-they are on a commission and they will hold you hostage (figuratively, not literally) unless you do them.
8. Deny yourself Western food if you want it-there are great restaurants from all over the world in Thailand.  Do you only eat hamburgers, hotdogs, and ribeye in the US?
7. Leave home without a Hmong textile-even if you don’t have a degree in fiber and material studies like me, your mother wants some.
6. Not try street food because you are afraid of getting ill-aside from raw veggies and fruit that isn’t peelable, you’ll be just fine, and if not-you can get presciption pills at most drug stores.
5. Cross streets without looking every direction, including up first-otherwise you will die.
4. Forget to bring nasal spray, and any sinus medicine you can get your hands on.
3. Buy a very young prostitute (Duh, but needs to be said).
2. Buy an elephant painting (the owners abuse them silly, to get them to do this).
1. Give Money to someone feeding elephants in the city-(SUPER DUPER EXPLOITATION & ABUSE).