Tarin Hotel Chiang Mai

... meals. The remaining meal was about average. All in all a fairly good performance for me really. <br><br>We eventually finished at 4pm and went back to our room where we relaxed in the air con. As we were off trekking tomorrow we have a safety/pre trek briefing. It was all sensible stuff like what we should bring and to travel light. The trek will include both an elephant ride and a bamboo river raft ride. Saying that there is no white water in sight so it ...

... out the seats and watched a movie, the wind howling the wagon screeching around us, the seats squeaking and the whole length of the train seeming to be in utter chaos. The dinner ladies came and asked if we wanted more beer (which we did not) or breakfast. <br>The city thinned out, the shanties, buildings with the flickering of TV screens from inside and Banana trees mixing with tidy little gardens and flooded lands and lakes: they all flashed by the open doors of the train, where ...

... up there by myself. The four hour bus ride starts on the long straight highways heading out of Chiang Mai city then as the landscape gets more remote, heading up the curvy mountain roads you pass many hill tribe peoples. I am getting better at deciphering which tribe they are from, and as far as I can tell many are Lisu, an ethnic minority group that wear callot type green velvet pants and bright purple tops with Orange panels. With the lush green scenery of the jungle and the bright ...

... cinema is an experience to say the least, at the beginning of the film we stood up witht eh Thai's to sing the national anthem for the king. VERY amusing. It was also freezing in the cinema, a feeling we had not had in a while! So after our chilled day in CM and the amazing new HP film, best yet by far and the Thai people loved the jokes, we said farewell to Reik and got ready for our organised cooking course the next morning.

... which is known as a jewel on the mountain). The mountain top weather was a welcome relief from the sweltering heat and humidity of Chiang Mai. The mountain top offered excellent photo opportunities of the temple itself and the city below.<br>

... had and no we weren't offered any extras you filthy lot! In the evening me and missus went for a few beers and chilled. Next day Noom organised a trip to Doi Suthep Temple and an afternoon at the lake. At this stage I was all templed out as there are just so many in Thailand that after a while enough is enough. But apparently this one is one of the top 4 in the country and with it being up the mountain we thought what the hell, at least the view would be nice. As it turns out ...

... gear (sod it I thought, If I have swum in one with some evil little creatures then I can swim in another). Little walk along and then saw the waterfall, which was about 60ft or so high. Pretty impressive, but not as stunning as the one in Erewan. We went for a little swim (no creatures present), and tried standing under the fall which was really powerful and hurt after a while! I tried to stand there for a while because it was nice and soothing like a hard massage ...

... folded 4 fights and let them go at each other. It was pretty funny but very fake. The last fight of the night was the best which I believe were professionals. A kid (in picture with Jessie) and I Thai kid. They went at it pretty good and until a rib punch took out the Thai kid. I can say these guys looked really tall in the ring but as you can see they were not much taller than 5 7 or so. The next day was more of the same, class and back to the hostel. Only this time in class I was able ...

... walls, a lounge area for eating the results and a prep table. For a carport, my kitchen should be so well laid out. Covered but open air, We were sheltered from another hot sunny day. We picked a dish to make from a 6 course menu and were shown how to prep the food and the cook it it up. Mine never quite hit the taste levels of the teachers sample, but it was much easier and simpler to make some pretty good food. I got a small cookbook of the ...

... ear clockwise. cornered against the sink, it took a few moments to realise the guys were actually massaging me, an intrusive thai style hospitality, the ear guy locating the erogenous points on the lobe, assuring me - the ladies will come to you... and he was right. no sooner had i emerged from the bathroom, hard work and noodles panda chef, freshly showered and made up, scented with sweet purfume, shampoo and conditioner, grabbed my hand and lead me to the dance floor ...