So our second day on the slow boat was when we headed back into Thailand. Firstly though, we ate a beautiful traditional Laos lunch that had been cooked on the bpoat by the family who ran it. One dish tasted very much like an Indian curry and was very similar to what i might eat back home- memories! there were no stop offs today at villages and the like and so it seemed much longer. all that time on a boat can get very tiring and boring as all one can do is talk (even i get fed up of that!), read- i finished my book, sleep- too much sleep isnt a good thing, and tan- obviously that doesnt apply to me!
Anyway, we got to the Thai border at around 4- just in time. Then we got a bus to the hotel. That night i saw the most mosquitos i have ever seen in my life. it was a very uncomfortable experiences but luckily i hardly got bitten. This was my last dinner with the group as I had amde the decision to stay back in Chiang Mai (nextstop) for a few days and to leave the group early. This meant going back to being a single, independent traveller- daunting after wee3ks of having all my accomodation and transport arranged for me. The farewell dinner was really nice.
Oct 28th- Drove to Chiang Mai at 5am. It was a long journey in a very small bus. We stopped off on the way to buy cashews. They are indigenous to Thailand.
Arrived in chiang mai around noon and ate lunch very quickly bfore heading to an Elephant COnservation Center. I was disappointed when i got there as it wasnt all that special. IN fact it was a rip off. The only slighlty impressive part was watching the elephants paint pictures with their trunks but even then im rather dubious ofthe whole training animals to be circus entertainment. We got back and everyone had to leave for their train back to BKK- reality hit that i was soon to be alone again and it was rather scary as well as emotional.
So it was time to find a palce to stay for the night. After finding a nice double room with fan and en suite for 4quid a night, I headed to the night market that Chiang Mai is famous for and had something to eat. .
Day 29- I spent the day sightseeing and familiarising myself with this new city. Was very annoyed to find out that the 850,000 laos kip (currency) that i'd withdrawn could not be exchanged OUTSIDE of Laos- grrrr so i was a millionaire but a usless one as i couldnt use the bloody money. Ate lunch at a local restuarnt and pottered around, visiting yet more temples and getting excited about my cooking class that i had booked for that night.
That evening I attended a cookery class and learned how to make spring rolls, green curry paste, green curry, pad thai and soup! I had the best evening and some great friends but above all, ate the best food of my life! I can't wait to cook up a feast for you all when i come back home. Dinner parties at my house that's a promise though i cant promise the food will be as good as it was that day.
As it happens, that weekend i was leaving for India from Bangkok, the biggest Thai festival of the year was taking place- Long Khrai. This is the equivalent to Hindu's Divali and signifies the end of the Thai year or begning of the new one. The whole of Chiang Mai could be seen to be preparing to celebrate by hanging lanterns everywhere. it was beauitful both during the day and night. ONe of the rituals people partke in is to light mini hot air baloons and let them float up into the sky. This signifies letting go of evil thoughts and spirits. Our cooking teacher en\couraged us to carry out the ritual in the main square and we did. It was so special.
Day 30- Visited the main temple in the city and made a trip to Doi Suthep- the hilltop temple that Chiang Mai is famous for. This was erected when a elephant supposedly died en route to Bangkok transporting the emerald buddha on its back. I had a bad case of vertigo on the way up as it was very steep and a windy route in a crazy tuk tuk but it was most defnitely worth it when i got there as the views were incredible and it was nice and cool, as opposed to the sweltering heat down below.
I returned back to the hostel at around 5 and freshend up whilst i waited for my bus to take me on a 12 hr jrny back to BKK.
