Chiang Mai

Yipee, and boooo all at the same time, boooo because we had such a great time in Laos and were leaving it behind but Yipeee as we were about to start our adventure in Thailand! After crossing the border over the Mekong river and getting our stamps in our passport, of which we have a fine collection, we headed for the bus station to catch the 9am bus for Chaing mai.

It was really strange to be in Thailand, instantly things seemed familiar and very thai!

Our bumpy bus journey, after 7 hours had dropped us off at the Chiang Mai bus terminal, we together with Marc and Katie got a tuk tuk to see some guest houses, after seeing a few and being dissapointed we went on Katie's feeling and headed to Gaps House, Chaing Mai, which turned out to be a little paradise in the busy city sprawl.

Set in some mature gardens lined with the owners antiques, the brick and wooden rooms are huge and feel like you are sleeping on a boat, the price was great too, about 9 pound inc breakfast, which is more then we are used to but welcomed the comfort.

As we arrived on a Sunday, the Sunday market was on which meant that although we were all really tired had to go and investigate, and investigate we did with several purchases. It was nice to finally see a market which sold a variety of things rather then the same thing that we found at the night market in Luang Prabang. Oh, that night we had indian too!!! Indian food rocks!

The following day we did nothing much, a bit of investiagting and some Watting.

We were told about a place run by nuns who do a vegetatian buffet for cheap, we walked which seemed like forever in the heat of the day but couldnt find it, but as we were heading back we spotted it it and had some great food for about 50 pence for both of us! It was a great setup, it felt like a Sikh Gurdwara kitchen where you are served the food, and you have to wash your dishes when you finish.

That night we headed for the much talked about night market which runs daily, and again, we shopped, Preet was in bargaining made and came away with some really good deals!