Sukhothai - Chiang Mai (busy day)

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Got up after a good night sleep and headed down the street towards the Sanythaew stop (converted pickup with wooden benchs in the back and canopy.) On the way I picked up some bread, chisps and lots of water as it was a really really hoy day.) Most of the people Id talked to on the way up were missing this place out (going straight to Chang Mai) but it was nice to see there was still a few here who wanted to visit the ruins of Thailands first (and greatest?) ancient capital.
On the pickup ride over I met two Americans (cool ones) and we rented some old bicycles.
Spent the next 3 hours cycling around these trully beautiful ruins. There were a few people there but not many so we had the place to our selves. There was one large tour group so everywere they went we went in the opposite direction. Most of the ruins are in very good condition and the inner central wat (Wat Mahathat) was magnificent, with countless Buddas of various sizes. The sites are still visited and maintained by monks. The funniest point was when the Americn girl wanted to take a photo of one of the monks but was beaten to it by the monk himself, who pulled out a digtal camera more advanced then any of ours!
Wat Sa si was probably the next most impressive (set on an island) and Wat Si Sawai was the most different with Khmer style "praang".
Afterwards we cycled off (1km) to see the giant Budda at Wat Si Chum. After this the Americans had to depart to catch there bus to Chang Mai, so I bid them farewell. I decided to do one more and cycled about 2km outside the site to Wat Sang Khawat which was nice but unlike what it says in the Lonely Planet you dont see views of the rest of the sites, so wasnt really worth it.
On the cycle back I stopped of at a small cafe for lunch and a drink.

When catching the Pickup back into New Sukhothai I got talking to two british girls (Venetia and Chressie) and a dutch couple. They had been all staying in the same guesthouse but were all to depart tonight. Venetia and Chressie were going to head off to Chiang Mai and asked if I wanted to come along. Considering everyone was leaving tonight (I was going to head north tomorrow morning) and they seemed really nice, it didnt take much persuading. So I check out late and headed off to Chiang Mai at 4:00pm.

We arrived at Chiang Mai earlyer then expected (10:00pm) and despite some problems bartering with the Tuk Tuk driver (wanted 100b and none of his mates would take any less.) we checked into the Banana Guest house, situated just inside the city walls.

On the way out to get some dinner Chressie bumped into a couple of friends of hers who'd shed taught with in Sri Lanka (Fiona and I think it was Kate?). We had dinner at the wonderfull night market.

Later we headed off some drinks and in one bar we met a couple of cool Israelies. With the new laws now in place (every bar has to close by midnight) we headed down to the only place that was open late, a club called spicey.

Depite the sign outside saying "No Ladyboys" the place was covered in Ladyboys! I've never seen so many and Thankfully I had the protection of 4 very attractive girls. Anyway we all sat and had a really good laugh and drank alot. Me and Fiona spent most of the night laughing at some of the other backpackers dancing (and cuddeling) with the "Shemen". I mean surley they knew! It was so damn obvious!! Sould I have told them? Nope.
Scariest point during the evening was going to the toilets. There were these toilet attendants who while you were trying to take a leak at the urinal would try and give you a sholder and leg massage!!!!! All I can say is in that situation stage fright takes over. Thankfully the cubicals locked properly so one was safe in there.

Got back at the guest house at 4ish.

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