Chiang Mai - We'd originally planned on going to Chaing Rai first but decided to head straight onto Chiang Mai instead. Typically we still had a 4 hour wait in Chiang Rai but without judging a book by it's cover we decided we'd made the right decision (later on everyone we met told us we should have stayed there for a few days....ah well).
Chiang Mai is a lovely city that's far nicer, friendlier and laid back than Bangkok!!! There are a maze of back streets and alley ways (Sois) that have great budget hotels, cafes, restaurants and bars playing live music. Our hotel, Malak 2, was cheap and cheerful with lovely owners, a great rooftop garden and free internet!
Whilst out shopping for clothes in a nearby market we met a funny lady who took great pleasure in describing how nice our chests were "like coconuts!?!" (I guess it's because they are quite a small chested nation??) - she was very funny, though!!
P*a*i - I loved this place so much that I hardly want to talk about it in fear of it becoming a top 'lonely planet guide' destination over run with tourists and concrete hotels.
Incredible people make this place feel like home within 5 minutes of arriving. I remember spotting an aged 'hippie' when we got off the bus and wondered if he'd arrived there in the 60s and suddenly 40 years and passed him by!!
We only spent 3 nights there and I honestly didn't want to leave, we made friends with a Chef/Drummer, Masseur, Bar Manager, Hotel Owner and a Flame Thrower. I even hired a motorbike and drove round town for a day!! Good times! x
Mai Hongson - Everyone told us this place would be boring but we decided to plow on hoping L.P was right about the interesting circuit back to Chiang Mai. Everyone was right. It's a very sweet little town with a lovely food market, however, we decided to leave for Chiang Mai the next day. We met a helpful? American man who highly recommended for us to visit Ban Phe - the port where you sail to Ko Samet. He said it's almost as nice, far cheaper and nicely quiet.
Mai Hongson > Pai > Chiang Mai > Bangkok (night bus)
to be continued........
