People Place Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, around 700 km north of Bangkok, amongst some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city, though it lacks the cosmopolitan nature of Bangkok. Chiang Mai's historic importance is derived from its important strategic location on an ancient trade route. Long before the mo...

DAY 5, 6 & 7 The starting off for the rest of day 4...Tamsin got her hair dont this afternoon...it is now 2 times longer!and the colour matches perfectly!Lou decided to wait as she doesnt think sh ecan maintain it on the tour! We met our group at 1800 and this time we're still the youngest along with 2 other girls!the eldest person is joe from Germany ranking at the ripe old age of 31. A much younger group this time!We have 4 pairs and then Joe who came on his own. There is one couple, 2 girl...

Decided against my better judgement to go Elephant Trekking which I have never done before and wish I hadn't, after an hour journey there I thought I would go as I had already paid, but was unhappy with the way the elephants were treated and could not see anywhere for them to swim.... not happy :( Early evening we went to Doi Suthep which is reached by a 12km drive up a mountain with a view over Chiang Mai, we joined the monks for the evening chanting, very peaceful up here. Both Ben and I we...

Back to the city and all its modernity. A place with Air Con means my four day Sweat-athon (morning, noon and night - literally) can finally come to an end. Likewise, I allowed my accumilation of dirty laundrey to crawl itself to the Laundrette and its all come back smelling a million times better than when it went in. Nice
Chiang Mai was better than its first impressions portrayed (rain, noise, hassle, shops) and there were plenty of worthwhile experiences to be had underneath the surface...

The evening train from Bangkok arrived right on time at 7:30 am. Not a bad trip, the sleeper cars are about the softest mattresses to be found in Thailand. Not to worry about such trivial matters, getting hotel..etc, etc, it is ELEPHANT RIDING DAY (and bamboo rafting day). I really cant think of too many other things that have been of more exciting prospect to me than going on an elephant trek. These guys are just so massive and surefooted, and really really have a craving for bananas. It was...

This morning I awoke on the train and opened the cabin curtains to a beautiful scene. It was like it was out of the film Apocalypse Now; a carpet of lush green mountainous jungle, a misty haze of cloud over the tops of the trees, and the beaming sun occasionally breaking through the overcast sky like a bright lighthouse in the distance - just wonderful. The train ride was 13 hours overnight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, I didn't get a great night's sleep but it was fairly comfortable. Chiang Ma...

Finally arrived in Chiang Mai, Went to hotel for breakfast and after meet the group in reception. Took mini bus to Elephant Natinal park. We got there and first of all took a elephant ride around. Feeding the elephants bananas as we was riding them! Cool stuff except i kept thinking ours would bite off my hand! We had the biggest one! Anyway tan was topping up nicely! After the elephant ride we went for a walk which turned into sliding down freekin mud slides!!!! So slippery going up and down...

Stepping off the night train we were expecting a bustling city after what we had read about Chiang Mai but instead we found a quiet laid back city. Apparently the financial crisis is keeping many tourists away from Northern Thailand and as we took in the tow with its various temples and shopping areas there were very few Westerners around. In fact at two of the temples we visited we were the only group. I also had my first Thai massage. It is so cheap, about three to four pounds for an hour. ...

"Maw-neen, Geddup, Makebed. Geddup."

You have no choice on this train. The bed lady threatened us with a 5:30 wake up at 9:30 last night, and she wasn't joking. I’ve just started my malaria tablets, and spent most of the night awake, or wishing I was awake due to the vivid nightmares I was having, so I didn’t appreciate it, but I fully believe that she’d have pulled me down out of it if I didn’t get up myself. Jamie had no trousers on and asked for “one mi...