28th October 2012
We left Bangkok and headed North towards our next destination of Chiang Mai. We have made a bit of a rule, not to travel for more than about 7 hours, at one time, so we stop at Sukhothai, for a couple of nights. We had the darkest, dingiest room, but had the best nights sleep in months, not waking until after 9, (unheard of!).
We spent an extremely hot day, walking around the Historical Park, which was really interesting. It's basically a large piece of land with lots of temple ruins. There was some working going on, which Matt always find fascinating, especially when they are building wooden bridges out into the lake, using the biggest mallet we have ever seen, to get the posts in. Matt couldn't help himself, we went over to them, and he drew a picture of a 'post-bumper' for them!
The bus to Chiang Mai should take 5 hours, with 4 stops, according to the nice lady at the bus station. Half an hour in, and we have lost count of how many times it has stopped. The conductor needs to stop to buy her eggs and veg on route of course, but not from the same street stall, I hasten to add! (so that is 2 stops for her alone). We eventually arrive in Chiang Mai 6 and a half hours later! (Thai time!)
We find our digs, (I have booked through Agoda again!), the room ls a lot nicer on the inside, than it looks on the outside, fortunately! We stay here for 2 nights and then find a cheaper room. We go to KT Guest house, it's basic but for 6.00p a night, what do you expect! We have a tiny balcony, but the room is a good size and Nok, the girl on reception is really nice and helpful.
I'll just quickly explain what Chiang Mai is like. The old city (which is where we are staying) is surround by a square moat, with roads on the inner and outer side of it. Matt worked out that each side of the moat is about 2km long.
There are certain things we thought we 'must do' whilst in Thailand:- Thai boxing, cooking and massage! (and temples are obligatory!)
We start with a day of temples. We set out on foot, and loose count of how many we visit. We don't go outside of the city walls and return to our room 10 hours later!!
Thursday - We hire a bicycle for the day (for 1.00) and cycle over the 'Iron Bridge' to the train station, to inquire about trains to our next destination, for once, we thought we would plan ahead. We have no idea how long we will stay in CM, it's very touristy, but having said that, the locals are lovely and there is so much to do here.
Thursday night is boxing night, the ring is about a 10 minute walk from our room. Tickets are 400B -( big night out for us!). They start with a couple of children's fights, when I say children, they are probably early teens. They don't hold back, and both fights go the full 5 rounds. There are a couple of ladies fights next, then, the next fight between a couple of men, this only lasts 2 rounds, as the one chap is kicked in the knee, and it looked like it was dislocated!! Ouch! The 'light' entertainment in the interval was hilarious! 5 blindfolded men in the ring, with a referee. The funniest, was when the ref got hit to the floor! The big fight at the end of the night was between a Thai and an English chap. Unfortunately, our chap peaked to soon, and got beat in the last couple of rounds. He put up a good fight though, literally!
Friday. We make use of the bikes in the morning, (when you hire them, you get 24 hours, so we don't have to have them back until lunchtime). We just cycle down all the little side roads. We love doing this, you get to see where the locals are living, making and selling things from their houses, and you get to find all the little quirky guest house and cafés. Matt spots a Triumph motor bike dealer, so he's happy for 5 minutes!
Saturday. We have booked ourselves in on a cooking course, which amazingly, was Matt's idea! There are so many courses to choose from, but we decide to do the 'Thai Farm' one, as they offer vegetarian options, and as I am still off the meat, it will be a good choice!! The farm is about an hour from the city, on the way we stop at the local market and our teacher Su, tells us about the different rices we will be using, (sticky and jasmine rice are on the menu today) and the sauces and spices we will be using. The farm (I use the term loosely, as I didn't see one animal), has an organic vegetable plot, where we are taught about the veg we will be using. It kitchen is set up really well. You each get your own little work station and wok and a gas burner. I won't bore you with every detail of what we cooked, but I will say Matt makes a mean Tom Yam soup and red curry! I think we can safely say, we have never eaten so much in one day, (except, may be at my nieces wedding in Italy, when we had 8 courses!), we cooked so much, that the last course, Matt's spring rolls and my Pad Thai, were actually packed into doggy bags and we had it for breakfast the next day! It was a great day out for 850B and would definitely recommend it.
Sunday. We extend our stay at KT's, again! Decide to have an easy day today, to catch up with the blog (that's a joke!), diary and downloading photo's onto the memory stick. (It sounds stupid, but it's really surprising how much time these thing's take). By lunch time we are both a bit fed up with being in the room and it's to hot to sit on the balcony, so we agree to go for a quick walk. Umm, no such thing in Netty and Matt's world! We end up walking the whole 8 k around the old city. On the way back to our room, we come across the 'Walking Street Night Market'. They close all the roads in the area and 100's of stall holders set up camp until midnight. I have never seen so many stalls. What's really nice is that it's not just for the tourists, all the locals use it too. We end up sampling loads of really tasty nibbles, - banana spring rolls, mini omelette's cooked in banana leaves, dim sum, boiled quails eggs with a touch of soy sauce (very yummy), and not to forget some sushi! We ended up spending a lot more than we would of if we'd gone to a restaurant, but it wouldn't have been half as much fun! Whist we are there, a voice comes over a loud speaker to ask everyone to be quiet for the National Anthem. It was quite surreal, thousands of people stop the haggling and selling and stood in silence. Eventually get home around 8.30!
We hire a bike (scooter), and head for the hills! We stop at the Royal Palace Gardens, and spend a couple of hours wondering around, taking far to many photo's of flowers. We carry on up the hill to the Hill tribe Village. Locals selling some really nice handmade things and others selling the usual.... 'crap'. On the way back down, there are various view points which overlook the city, the views are pretty stunning with the mountains in the distance. There is also one of the biggest Buddhist temples we have seen, with the most amazing view. At the bottom of the steps to the temple, there is a large arcade full of stalls, all selling the same stuff. I wander off from Matt, as he stops to look at something. The first thing the lady asks him is, 'do you come alone? 'Usually first, but not alone, no', was Matt's reply, needless to say, his humour was lost on her!
We get back to town in rush hour, Matt does really well and manages to get us back safe, around the one-way system. We have booked a days kayaking tomorrow and a Thai massage course on the Thursday & Friday, I don't know what it is about this city, but we can't seem to leave!
I survived the four hours kayaking down a river. I have never been in a kayak on my own before, and I will probably never go in one again! Matt thoroughly enjoyed it, so that's good. I only swore out loud once! (I think). The instructor was very good and patient! and I only got attacked by vines and dragged out of the kayak once! We treat ourselves to a Thai massage that night, my arms really ached!
Our Thai massage course was really interesting. There is only Matt & I and 2 young French lads in the class. Our instructors Jane and Nid are really lovely ladies, and make the course very relaxed. Nid works with us and Jane works with the lads, as they are actually doing a 5 day course. Nid is looking for an English husband, she say's that if we find her one, she will give us free massages for life!! (She's looking for a 60 year old, she's 49!). Matt told her she needs a younger husband, her massage's could kill an older man! We are put in positions, we didn't know were possible. There is a lot to remember, but with lots of practice, we may set up our own parlour when we get home!!! It was a great couple of days. I haven't learnt so much in 1 week, for years!!
We can put it off no longer. Our visa runs out on the 19th, so we need to move on to Lampang.
