Good morning, Chiang Mai! The clouds are filling the skies, bristling white with rain. I hope your umbrella situation is better than mine--bent inside out, decorated with cartoon bears, designed for a small child. Still, I'm staying dry on the porch at TipTop Thai House where I'm guest blogging for Noi, two weeks into my stay. It's been a bit of a shock to the system, coming from the gritty high desert around the University of New Mexico to teach English in wet, rambunctious Chiang Mai. This guesthouse has been the perfect landing place. A quick list of what I love about this place: Local Connection: At the top because maybe it's the most elusive thing on this list: Noi is a retired university professor who has traveled in Canada and the U.S., collects antiques, bikes avidly in the mountains, and has all manner of insider knowledge about Chiang Mai and Thai culture to impart. She has introduced me to half a dozen street food staples, given me Thai cooking tip