Proud Phu Fah Resort Chiang Mai

... on our digestive discomforts for a while). We settled for some good looking noodles at a place with tables and chairs and it was not bad at all. A few days later we discovered these food stalls start operating before 7am, so no need to ever be hungry in Bangkok!<br> <br>The next day we went off to get our visas for China arranged at the embassy and then to check out some of the highlights in the city. So normally, we think of ourselves as pretty smart travellers. We ...

... the airport, which I'd booked the previous day at reception, left at 4pm, and it was now 3pm, so I ended up having lunch by myself at my hotel so I'd be ready in time. It was while eating that I got a text from Susan; reception had obviously been spasticated and she'd only just got my text, so her, Brian and Troy came over to say goodbye. They apologised; Brian had actually received none of my texts for some odd reason. Soon my bus arrived, so I said my goodbyes ...

... arena but felt quite safe and tghe people were friendly, male, female and ladyboys!!. Watched an English guy fight a Thai lad, got great video. The English guy won to the surprise of his opponent and the Thai crowd.He knocked him out with a kick to the face!! On the walk back attracted a fair degree of attention from the local girls of the night Ang was watching from behind. I told them she was my mother.!<br>Today we are leaving Chang Mai to travel to where we will be riding elephants<br><br>

... Mai, where I am going to do some laundry and figure out the plan for tommorow. If I see the people I met a few days ago, I think I am planning on renting a motorbike to a city 3 hours from Chiang Mai called Pai. I've heard its supposed to be a laid back little city. Tonight, the group I went trekking with are going to meet up for a few drinks, now that we're all showered and back at the guesthouse. Until later...<br><br><br>

We woke up at decent hour on day two and were provided with a great breakfast of fresh fruit, which is amazing in the jungle, and toast with butter and jam!! Again slightly surreal to have this proper hotel style breakfast in the middle of nowhere! I put on my second pair of shoes (which have no grip but at least dont blister, gotta compramise!) and ditched the awful Market shoes from the previous day. I already felt better about day 2 ...

... out of the city for an afternoon, and from our vantage point we could look back down on Chiang Mai, quite a sight. We arrived back that afternoon all desperately in need of a shower.<br>The Thai government, to my frustration and amazement, make staying in Thailand for any length of time a real hassle. We arrived by plane and received a one month visa for free but now we were coming to the end of our allocated time and needed to leave ...

... giraffe long green beans. Brian did just this; the big animals would swoop down from the sky, bat their eyes at him and unfurl their long black tongues into his hands to take the treats. We also saw a giant panda that was protected in a giant air conditioned room happily enjoying his king of the zoo status, sitting up on a bench like a person and feasting on bamboo.   Tonight is the night Bazaar or otherwise known as the royal ...

... to me, that I go to the Elephant Preservation Camp, which is less of an "amusement park" and more of an educational experience. The only thing is I really wanted to RIDE an elephant, and you don't get to do that at the Preservation camp. So... I did the non-PC thing, and rode the elephants. It was a great day, but this place definitely had their "schtick" down. The Elephants played the Harmonica and Tambourine, and we had lots of posed shots, being ...

... I disagree. It can happen anywhere, to anyone!!) I had always said when I was "out and about" that nobody could pick my pocket or my pocketbook without my knowing it....and I was wrong, wrong, wrong. These people are professional thieves....in the right circumstances, under the right conditions we don't stand a chance! The numbers you will need should something like this happen to you are: Equifax 1-800 525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW) 1-800-301-7195 TransUnion 1-800 ...

... dawned and we headed off to the Zoo for some light entertainment. Aside from the aquarium which was incredible and very posh the zoo was a bit of a let down. it was a bit of a jumble and we were never quite sure where we were, many of the animals supposedly there were either hiding, not there at all, under renovation (penguins) or possibly dead (those crocs could have been stuffed). Other than the hippo spraying poo at some unsuspecting tourists it was a little ...