Chiang Mai exuded charm and culture, instead of tack. Like the night market stalls selling artwork, jewellery, lanterns and fisherman pants, instead of ugly shopping complexes. Many fellow backpackers were in Chiang Mai to do courses in massage, meditation and cooking. Others were there for the delightfully slow pace, exceptional food, Buddhist influence (more than 300 temples within the old city) and hippy lifestyle. Becs, a friend I’d met doing TEFL in Melbourne, was staying in Chiang Mai - so I went to join her at Spicy Thai Backpackers. A two-storey house, turned boutique backpackers, in a modest Chiang Mai neighbourhood - this place had it all. Reliable free internet, great breakfast, chill-out rooftop area, limited beds and all run by down-to-earth, friendly and tourist-savvy staff. One big happy family really! It’s probably no surprise that
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