Blogs from Chiang Mai, North-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 342

Finally... We arrived in Chiang Mai after a week of seeing anything and everything Bangkok has to offer. The 5am wake-up call to catch the flight has made some of us giddy with tiredness. However, we got set up in the beautiful and extremely peaceful setting of Crystal Springs Guest House where we will be staying for the better part of the next two weeks. The accommodations seem to be more than sufficient for our needs. We then proceeded to Payup University where we met with the President of the school. He was extremely appreciative of our willingness to help with the service-learning projects. For lunch, a dozen or so English majors from Payap showed us around campus, and helped us find lunch at their cafeteria. We also had an orientation that laid out the plans ... read more

The trek back to Bangkok begins - luckily we had a few hours in Chiang Mai to get a break between modes of transportation. First, we took those trucks with seats in the back to the bus station in Chiang Rai, then hopped on a MUCH tamer bus back to Chiang Mai. No pukers this time - yeah!!!! :-) We had 4 hours in Chiang Mai to do whatever we wanted - and of course, I took that time to back up my digital photos on a disk and get a massage! I went to the same woman who massaged me earlier in the week. I tipped her very well, so she was VERY happy to see me. Other than at Wat Pho, her massage was definitely the best. Actually, I would say Wat Pho and ... read more

On Jan 2, we left Chiang Rai for Chiang Mai. With our small lesson on the day we went from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai (with a 4 hour wait), we bought bus tickets in advance and secured the 9:45 am bus. ChiangMai is the second biggest city in Thailand, after Bangkok. (The air is not as bad as I thought it would be.) Most backpackers stay inside the old city, surrounded by moats, or close to the Tha Phae Gate. During the New Years, there were a lot of travellers. Many Thais come to Chiang Mai to celebrate the new year. We were lucky to secure a guesthouse in advance. Although ChiangMai is the second biggest city, there is only one local bus that travels to several locations. All other transportation is served by the ... read more

Okay...since last writing, I've been in Chaing mai. Took a nice long, hot shower - yeah!!! Put on the clean clothes that I bought and met the group at the trekking store where we rented sleeping bags, mats, etc. for the hike. I'm renting a porter too to carry my bags. Is renting the right word? Anyway...then we headed to the night market which was a teaming mass of people. Did some shopping for a few gifts, had fresh pad thai and wandered. Athena did all my negotiating for me so I was able to spend a little and get a lot. If my phrasiology is weird - blame the australians. We're starting to pick up things from each other... :-) We went back to the guest house and had a beer. Athena and Rachel ate ... read more

Yesterday, after I wrote, we went back to the guest house and I took a much needed shower and a nap. Then I had the BEST croissant with salami and cheddar cheese and french fries for dinner. Yum!!! I needed that! Finished book number one and hung out at the guest house until it was time to board the overnight train. We gathered everything up, got on the train where they has these little berths for each of us. It was luxurious almost - pillows and everything. And they brought us a Singha beer as soon as the train started. We went to sleep pretty early and slept most of the way to Chaing Mai. THis trip has made me really grateful for flush toilets, hot water and US sanitation standards. I'll never baulk at using ... read more