Live music, spicy food and pillow cases

Trip Start Jan 02, 2008
1
54
75
Trip End Jun 17, 2008


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
shadow
Where I stayed
Rama Guest House
(Chiang Mai hotels)

Flag of Thailand  ,
Monday, April 7, 2008

Couldn't decide where to go to next...stay in Laos or head towards Thailand? It was a last minute decision to go to Thailand. Jumped into a tuck-tuck and caught a bus with only minutes to spare. I got the last/worst seat. After 4 hours of being squashed on a fold out chair I arrived in Houayxai. I was lucky to make it here since I'd initially been sold the wrong ticket, because I mispronounced the name. Then got a boat across the Mekong River into Thailand. Still didn't know where my destination was. Met some backpackers going to Chiang Mai, so I tagged along. We missed the last bus directly there, so first we had to go from Chiang Kong to Chiang Rai. Hadn't expected to have such a long day of travelling. I arrived in Chiang Mai after 12 hours, having caught 3 buses, 4 tuck-tucks and 1 boat. I was exhausted and starving, but very happy to be in a city again. It's such a huge contrast from the remote villages of Laos. I've got a new friend/roommate, a German girl, Marion.

I spent 3 days in Chiang Mai and really enjoyed it. Marion and I went for a beer on the first night and saw 2 motorbike accidents in the space of 10 minutes. We then hired bikes the following day (bicycles not motorbikes...so Dad there's no need to stress!). Actually we ended up getting bikes everyday, because it was so much easier to get around the city. We went to markets, enjoyed Thai food, saw plenty of temples, followed a street parade to a festival. Not quite sure what they were celebrating, but it was fun to watch. The highlight of Chiang Mai has to be the Sunday Night Market...shopping again! I had actually been disappointed by the Night Bazaar which is held every night, but on Sunday the market is huge and has alot more interesting stalls, rather than the same stuff repeated again and again. Marion and I got slightly obsessed with purses and pillow cases...you really don't want to know how many we bought between us...but they were soooo nice and we got a good bargain!

In Chiang Mai I met up with a few friends that I've made during my travels. Richard and Simon, who I spent quite a bit of time with in Laos, as well as Bill, who was my roommate in Hanoi. We found some great bars all with live music and ate some good food. The best meal has to be at a tiny restaurant we found, where there was only one copy of a hand written menu and it was run by one woman; she worked behind the bar, was the waitress and the chef.. Luckily we were the only ones there, because I'm not sure how it would work if this place ever got busy. Of course our meals didn't come at the same time, but that's the norm in Asia, and she did have a playstation that we could play on whilst we waited. The food was really great, although maybe a little too spicy...her understanding of spiciness was very different to ours...medium equals at least ten chillies in a small bowl of soup!

The guest house Marion and I are staying at is nice and really cheap, but they turn off the water during the day and it never seems to get turned back on! But we're too lazy to find another place where we can have a shower without a problem. We actually reserved a few more nights here, because Marion and I are going to Pai for a few days and then returning to celebrate New Year...I can't wait for all the water fights...it's so hot here.
Slideshow Print this entry