Safe House Court Chiang Mai

... was
looking forward to getting back to the Guest house, having a hot
shower and a cold one roughly in that order.
Which I did and then a couple more with the
mighty craic Kerry girls, and later on when walking home I seen my
first Lady boy and he was more of a Lady man than a Lady boy, I
wanted to take a picture but I was scared to linger I didn’t know
for sure if I could outrun him if the need arose.
O yea and i would just like to thank said Kerry girls for ...

... brush which they seemed to enjoy as they lay, eyes half closed enjoying the attention.
“An amazing once in a life-time experience” we agreed, as we left waddling, legs spread wide apart western movie style...

I have uploaded some clips to youtube from the day:

Riding Lesson

Jungle trekking

Wash down

Temples don't come much more beautiful, and settings are rarely as serene. Set over 1000m high in the mountains over Chiang Mai city, where the air was cool and the atmosphere tranquil, sits Doi Suthep Buddhist temple. It's a popular tourist spot, but also home to a community of orange robed Buddhist monks and novices... and me, for the next four days.
Legend has it that in the 1300s, the then King of Thailand wished to build a new temple for an order of monks. He placed ...

... Luang Prabang which is recommended.D1: Chiangmai – Chiang Khong
12.30 PM – Departure from Chiangmai by mini bus (A/C) Take about 5 hours.
18.00 PM – Arrive at Chiang Khong and Overnight at PJ Guest house. (Included)D2: Chiang khong – Pak Beng Village (Laos)
07.30 AM – Breakfast at PJ Guest ...

... Arrived in next village near a waterfall, which was pretty cool. Went to see another "tribe" which was just a village.....not really tribal - had a church though! Played those stick games where its a little puzzle/riddle thing for a long while......swam......one of the locals brought his instrument.....enjoying the evening time.

Day 3 of Trek: Up, eat, out. Walked for around an hour maybe before we reached opur first stopping point.....by a river. Half hour from ...

... operator and they were shocked to learn that it wasn't a direct service as they use that company specifically for that reason. Meanwhile back at the minibus the Rottweiller owner had turned on Soph demanding that she took our bags and got off the bus ... thankfully she stood her ground but when I came bounding back with my cash refund in hand the angry man turned in my direction and looked like he was going to thump me so I calmly walked past, thanked him for waiting and ...

... by the end. There was a complete mix of countries and it was very interesting to hear from everyone. Some of them were very funny especially two of the guides Jayjay and El and some very loud like 'the captain' - south africa. We did two days treking the second day with stops to swim in the waterfalls the mummy and the daddy waterfall! The second night we stayed in huts right by the daddy and had a pig roast. It was killed ...

... jab man. the crowd blew the dump off the place with chants for and against as the bells chimed and flute sang. six fights and three kayohs later, elsie, one of the girls, convinced us we were hungry, and we left for the night bazaar and tourist strip for a cozy restaurant meal. over dinner we meshed like old friends. my companions asked me for a few war stories. i pretty much told them all that you've read to this point. coyoacán, chapultapec, chiapas ...

... to any of the local people.

So....for me, at this point...I'm not trekking here. I don't want it.

I can't seem to get away from the festivals. Loi Krathong is over the next few days; the locals make boats out of banana leaves and send them off with candles into the river in the thousands. For luck, they also float large cylindrical "balloons" made of canvas with a large candle at the bottom into the air. The air of Chiang Mai was filled with them ...

... are so clever. We had dinner for 200B ($6.80) and then caught a tuk tuk home for 40B ($1.40). Bottle water is so cheap and cost 10B a bottle (35c.)










I had changed $200 Aus at the airport (6000B) and spent 1160B the first day. Toilets – not allowed to put toilet paper in the loo but in a wastepaper basket!!!! In bed by 8.30 pm. Doesn’t get light until 7 am.