Chiang Mai (day one)

And sweet FA was all I did in Koh Samet! My days consisted off breakfast, reading on the beach, dinner and many an impressive fire show, off road taxi across the island and then cocktails + the occasional shisha. Initially that routine was welcomed and indeed relaxing but it got a bit 'same same' very quickly. I don't know if all of the islands are like this but it appeared as though this was the paradise island to come if you were an old white western man with a rent-a-Thai bride / girlfriend / mistress. Very odd. Must do research into this later. After 5 nights I was certainly ready to move on.

Back once again in Bangkok we set out to the infamous backpacker Mecca of Khao San Road. Here we sampled grilled scorpions, 'cocktails very strong', and markets of souvenir tat including very irritating wooden frogs which, with a stick stroked across its back, 'ribbeted' - a sound now annoyingly embedded into my brain. At one of the bars I witnessed an older man who has either stayed in Thailand too long, taken one too many pills, or in the middle of a mid-life crisis. Or perhaps a combination of the lot. Either way it was clear he was having an amazing time, evidenced through his smiling eyes, gaping mouth and questionable dance moves. It was captivating! I could only wonder what life occurrences led him to this apparent free-spirited point. This evening I met a group of Swedish friends whose occupations included a baker, a lorry mechanic, a miner, and a professional gambler. An unlikely and random assortment! Also met a couple of scousers from Hunts Cross who 'gifted' us a scorpion and a rose. Must make a mental note for future valentines day gift ideas.

The following afternoon our little close knit volunteer group disbanded (boo) while me and another volunteer decided to set off for Chiang Mai, quite bored of the Bangkok madness. After a stressful and confusing wander around the popular MBK shopping centre (the inner layout and escalator system akin to the maze-like wirings of a madman's brain), and nearly getting dragged beneath a speeding tuk tuk on the Rama I road, we caught the night sleeper train to Chiang Mai. 14 delirious hours later we arrived and found a quaint little hostel in the city centre.

I'm now at a little cafe feeling not quite myself, a likely result of the intermittent sleep on the train, hunger, heat and the sentimental depressing music playing here. Honestly, what is it with Thailand and their sappy emotional sad music?! In Koh Samet, when the bars weren't blasting flo-rider's 'Whistle' or the obvious 'Gamgnam Style', it was all Whitney Houston or Clapton's 'Tears in Heaven'!

Anyways, going to set off to explore this city where apparently there's a never-ending list of activities to do. Might investigate rock climbing at Crazy Horse Buttress.

Ta ta for now chums and chummettes. Much love