Blog hasn't been updated in while, probs because its my turn to write it and i'm lazy. In the last few days we've left the choas in Bangkok and travelled up North to Chiang Mai. This is the account of what's happened in our time so far in Chiang Mai.
On Monday we pretty much lazed around the Soi 1 youth hostel on Thanon Sukhumvit as we were all feeling the effects of the night before. We all agreed we'd seen everything we wanted to in Bangkok and that it was time to move on and see new places. Next destination Chiang Mai. The night train was recommended as the best combination of cheap and quick travel up to Chiang Mai so we took that at 6pm with Chris, a kick boxer from London who we had met on the night out and was also wanting to travel up to Chiang Mai, the second biggest city in Thailand. The Night Train was comfortable and spacious although we all had top bunks which were smaller especially for Peter and I because we had to sleep with our bags which were too big for the storage spaces. Taking the train also saved us a day of travel and the costs of an extra night in a hostel - bonus.
We arrived in Chiang Mai at 9 ish in the morning and we were again immediately hounded by Tuk-Tuk drivers offering lifts, the most annoying experience I've had in Thailand so far. Luckily in the hostel we stayed in in Bangkok their were leaflets for a youth hostel in Chiang Mai which had good ratings on hostelbookers so that was our first port of call. Spicythai Youth Hostel was described by Chris as "the best hostel" he's stayed in so far. After we had dumped our stuff at the hostel which was costing us roughly 3 pounds a night we caught one of the many red pick-up truck taxis which roam Chiang Mai up to Phra Wat Doi Suthep, the one temple we had picked out of the 300+ that we wanted to see. The taxi thing wasn't the most comfortable form of transport I'd ever travelled by, especially considering the 30 minute journey took us out of Chiang Mai and up a very winding road through the jungle and up a mountain to the temple. All of us felt a bit car sick on the way up and down. The main reason we choose this temple were the 306 steps leading up to the entrance and its location above the city which gave us excellent panoramic views despite the thick smog hanging over the city.
On the Tuesday night we came back to the hostel and met Darren who had been trying to find some other backpackers who wanted a night out. Apparently we were those guys and Chris came too. He took us to the Roof Top bar in the centre of Chiang Mai, a rasta bar which seemed dedicated to Jamaica and Bob Marley. The lack of seating made it slightly uncomfortable but the Chang beer was cheap (70 baht/1 pound for a pint bottle of 6.4% lager - touch) and the view of people setting floating laterns off into the night was awesome. Before we had gone out we had organised our activities for the next day through the Spicythai owner, a Chiang Mai local. He had very kindly rang the company who ran the activities and asked them if they would transport us which they gladly did for a small charge.
We woke at 7 with a big day ahead of us. I can honestly say i've never felt so excited and apprehensive at the same time. First we were taken to an elephant camp to the North of Chiang Mai, deep into the jungle and away from the major tourist camps. This centre had been recommended by Pong, the Spicythai owner. The elephant ride was an hour long (and painful) and took us through jungle although we stayed close to the road and some semblance of civilisation and finally to a waterfall before returning to the camp. The elephant Peter and I were riding led the way and seemed very intelligent. Its rider got off for a period and when the mat which the rider was sitting on slipped off the elephant head it picked it back up and put it back on itself, pretty cool. Our elephant was clearly the best, although a bit on the fat side, whilst Ryan and Darren's looked stronger (perhaps steroid induced) and Chris' was lanky but old and slow and kept on passing wind which sounded like starting an petrol lawnmower.
After this we were transported again by the same people to our next activity. On this trip we noticed that off the couple who were taking us the Thai woman spoke non stop, literally for the whole 20 minute journey whilst here husband never uttered a word or changed his facial expression, hence the label The Man Who Never Laughed. As we reached the X Centre we all began to feel slightly nervous, bungy time. Jungle Bungy, as it was called, was very expensive considering we were in Thailand and wasn't all that high or in a great location BUT it was the biggest rush ever. Throwing yourself off a 50m high crane is crazy. We all agreed to do it, one at a time. Chris seemed most confident and agreed to go first, followed by all 3 of us, then came Darren. He had just been sick and looked scared but he got strapped in and went up in the car. As the 3, 2, 1 BUNGY was shouted by the instructor, we all waited at the bottom with bated breath, would he, wouldn't he. Then he leaned out over the edge and half threw himself off, but his hands remained firmly stuck to the hand rails. We started shouting encouragement from the bottom but still he wouldn't budge. Then he fell and afterwards was happy that we had peer pressured him into it. Definitely not the way to do it.
Ryan on the Bungee
After this major rush we needed some food and Pong organised a trip to a local Thai barbeque. It was massive, with a stage, big screen and hundreds (might be an exaggeration) of waiters who would get you whatever you needed. On each table was a circular barbeque which had a large lip round the outside for boiling and had hot coals underneath. The middle was used to cook food which could be taken from any of the stations. We had no idea what we were in for. There were many different cuts of meat and seafood, including squid and liver. Lets just say we had some good grub, had left full as it was all you can eat for 99 baht, awesome.
Last night we went out, again to the Roof Top bar. The group now comprised of Peter, Ryan, Chris, Nicole (Aussie chick), Bart (Dutch dude) and I. It was packed and the atmosphere was good but had decided we'd expand our horizons and try and find somewhere that played music. We found that Chiang Mai is not really a party city, but still got pretty hammered, again on Chiang beers and other drinks namely Mai Tai buckets and Mojito's. Played some pool and then came back on a Tuk-Tuk, with Chris hanging off the back and swinging out into the road as we went round corners, shouting "Wheelie, do us a Wheelie".
Fun night and a cracking few days up in Chiang Mai. Today is our last full day here and we've just been chilling around the hostel, recovering and planning the next few days of our trip. Hope all is well wherever you are...
Tom
In the hostel poker soon took hold, although lack of chips meant that cotton ear buds were called in as a replacement... To be fair they're just as good! Tom proceeds to win everything... poker, pool and all the cash.
