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Published: January 22nd 2010
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Tuesday 01 December 2009
Kieran met me off train which was 2 hours late. Checked into T K's, single room comprising of a double bed and a single bed!? Hired a bike and went to Chiang Mai Sports Complex, played tennis then went to the outdoor swimming pool. They had an olympic pool and 5 diving boards. I started diving off each board but only made it to number 3, as I hit the water my shoulder came out and went back in. I managed to ride bike back to accommodation, had some pain killers and went to bed. It was very annoying as many physical excursions in Chiang Mai, like zip wiring through juggle and downhill mountain biking. Chiang Mai is a big city which is busy, not what I remember or expected. On the evening me, Kieran and Kate went for a steak and Chang tower at Chiang Mai Saloon. After we went to John's bar, which has a roof terrace. Me and Kieran went to another bar on Loi Kroh Road think all the women in bars along road are prostitutes, a mini Bangla Road.
Wednesday 02 December 2009
Barry, Elaine, Daniel and Sam arrived. Me, Dan
and Sam went to waterfalls, which was just past the zoo. They were nice as situated in rural area and only locals there, no tourists. Booked to do Thai cooking course tomorrow at 'The Best Thai Cookery School'. On the evening we ate at John's Bar then onto watch Thai boxing at Gawila Boxing Stadium. It was very tame and possibly fixed. There was 8 bouts, me, Dan and Sam left after the 5th bout to look around the night bizaar.
Thursday 03 December 2009
Got picked up at 9 for Thai cooking course and taken to the market where we purchased our ingredients and Boom (our chef) explained each item. There was 8 of us on the course. I chose to cook Tom Yum Soup, Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Panang Curry and Pad Thai. Boom was also going to show us how to make Papaya Salad, Stir Fried Vegetables and Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango. The cooking was good and I learnt a few tricks, I will have to test my skills in Australia. On the evening I thought I would have a look down Loi Kroh Road as most of the bars in Chiang Mai are there.
I bumped into Ryan from Canada, who I had previously met in Bangkok Round 1 & 2. We went to a couple of bars and played pool against the Thai girls who beat us most games! We met another guy from Texus and ended up going to Club Spicy. It was good music and a good mixture of Thais and travellers.
Friday 04 December 2009
Had a lazy day. On the evening I bumped into Boom and Ryan, Ryan had been on the course I went on. Boom took us to an area where the locals eat, 40 baht for Beef and Chillies on Rice. Met up with the others and had drinks at Half Moon Bar with Pete from Australia. Watched the World Cup draw, its coming home!
Saturday 05 December 2009
Arrived in Pai extremely busy as the weekend and the Kings Birthday. Eventually found somewhere to stay after hours of walking round enquiring. Staying at the Sun Hut, which is 10 minutes walk from Pai centre. Sharing bamboo hut with Kieran and Kate. Had meal in Pai Country House. Had a few Changs as exploring Pai, went to Buffalo Exchange then me, Barry and Elaine
went to Bamboo Bar which was very busy with a hippy type of crowd.
Sunday 06 December 2009
Went to Fluid swimming pool that has mini gym but cannot take advantage due to shoulder. Enquired about treks but not what I am looking for, you have to do hiking seperate from Elephant Trek and Bamboo Rafting. Quoted 2000 baht just for hike so i've decided to go back to Chiang Mai to do my trek in a couple of days. Had evening meal at a great restaurant, it was 89 baht for BBQ. They give you your own BBQ and you select your own meat and veg from buffet. The owner kept bringing sign over that said we had to pay double if we did not eat everything, Barry kept going up and horsing the meat onto a plate! We managed the lot anyway. Went to Ting Tong bar which was next door and played wicked funky/progressive house. Met a couple of lads from Nottingham. Bebop bar had been recommended for live music so we headed there. The live music had finished so we just had one drink. Nottingham lads were up for more beer so I took them
to Bamboo Bar.
Monday 07 December 2009
Hired bikes from AYA Service for 80 baht a day and went to Saingam Hot Spring. AYA also have office in Chiang Mai and you can ride back from Pai back to Chiang Mai, they take your bag for free on bus, will enquire tomorrow. Went to Italian for meal just by Bamboo Bridge then to Buffalo Hill Bar.
Tuesday 08 December 2009
Moved accommodation to Baan Pai Riverside, bamboo huts on riverfront for 250 baht. Went to Tha Pai Hot Spring but 200 baht into Springs and you cannot swim as to hot. You can swim at Tha Pai Hot Spring Resort in the Spa Pool for 50 baht, which is the spring water in a pool. On way home stopped at the World War 2 Bridge then Pai Canyon. Dan and Sam have decided to do trek back in Chiang Mai. Dan called T K who we stayed with in Chiang Mai and he said treks are better and cheaper, 1000 baht for 2 nights so we will go tomorrow. Checked with AYA and you have to pay 500 baht plus price for bike (would need to upgrade bike
as 130+km) and gasoline so we have decided just to get local bus for 72 baht. Wanted some Thai food so ate at street stall for 30 Baht, had 3 portions of Chicken Chilli and Onion on Rice. Went to The Bar then to Bamboo Bar.
Wednesday 09 December 2009
Sam phoned and Dan has food poisoning. I will wait until tomorrow to go to Chiang Mai. Overcast today so didn't do much. On the evening I decided to go for a few beers on my own. Met Anna and Liz from Brisbane who had only arrived in Pai that day. I showed them the main night spots, Ting Tong, Bebop and Bamboo. We met Ben and Shaun in Ting Tong so they came with us.
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