Chiang Mai

Arrived in Chiang Mai around 7.30am. Got a taxi to our hotel. Unpacked and went to get some food. Just walked out and a lady tuk tuk driver stopped us. Said she would show us around the old town for 1 hour for 50 baht! Steve took her number and we went off to get some coffee and food. After refuelling ourselves we got in touch with Tip (the lady tuk tuk driver). She came and picked us up outside our hotel and drove us around to see the three main temples. First stop was at Wat Phan Tao (made out of teak wood), then Wat Chedi Luang and finally Wat Phra Singh Waramahavihan. Then she took us to a silk farm and jewellery shop and then on to a restaurant where

they make really good Kow Soy which is the main dish in Chiang Mai. It was delicious. We ended up having her drive us around for the whole afternoon and it was great. She was an ex tour guide so she spoke perfect English and was very knowlegeable about the place. Great trip and all she asked was for 200 baht! Steve said no I cant give you that, she pulled a face thinking we were going to short change her then he said I will give you 500 baht for such a great afternoon.

That evening we ate local then found a small bar with live blues music playing. Went in for a drink and ended up leaving there about 3.30am! Steve was playing the guitar and I was on the bongos - haha fun night. The lead guitarist was so stoned/pissed he kept passing the guitar to Steve who loved it!

Wednesday we found somewhere for breakfast then went for a walk around the old town. Very hot and humid but also quite cloudy. Checked out a few different hotels ready to check in for our second week in Chiang Mai.

Thursday we had a trip booked. Got picked up outside our hotel at 7.15am. Twelve of us in the mini van. Drove two hours to the national park called Doi Inthanon, the hightest point in Thailand. Went to see a beautiful waterfall Wacirathan Waterfall and got completely soaked by the spray, plus it was raining on and off quite heavily. Then went to view the King and Queens Temples but unfortunately the weather was so bad all you could see was white clouds and rain! Then we went off for some lunch and then a two hour trek!! Luckily by the time we got to do the trek it had actually stopped raining although the floor was still very wet and muddy. We all got given a bamboo walking stick and followed the guide through the jungle for two hours stopping at waterfalls, looking at different

plants. Quite slippery in places and I felt like the old lady at the back (which I was!) The young guide at the back who walked the whole trek in just his flip flops was helping me along the way. Steve thanked him at the end and gave him 100 baht for looking after me. At the end of the trek we stopped at a small tribe where they make coffee beans so we all tried that - very tasty. Overall a great day out.

Friday we had breakfast then went for a walk down to the Gate and old original city wall. Walked down to Nong Buak Haad Public Park. Had a stroll around and fed the fish. That evening we went out for pizza. Just as we were getting ready to pay and leave the heavens opened up. Ended up sitting in a launderette waiting for it to ease up.

Saturday we checked out of MD Boutique and got a tuk tuk to our next stop, De Charme Hotel.