So Alex and I get up early and go and rent some Motos. Alex has already been to the mountain and so he knows the way to go, excellent, saves any navigation issues. Driving in Chiang Mai is a very relaxed affair, even on the busier roads. Much less frantic than the Vietnam style I am used to, to be honest I miss it. Anyone could drive here, there is no heart pumping, or fear of death, it is undoubtably safer, but I would argue more boring also. It isn't long before we hit the entrance to the mountain climb, again we have plenty of cars scrambling for position but we can just weave our way through on the Motos. The road up is great, a winding road that just goes on and on. I wish Jessie was here, I could have really opened her up on the climb. As it is I have a small green Moto, of course I happen to be wearing a green t-shirt today and so I picked a green helmet too. I look a right picture and have been receiving strange looks and smilies all the way up the mountain. When we get to the top it is chaos, pure chaos. This is an important temple for Buddhists and with it being new year there is an increased number of people here. We join the separate line for tourist, which incurs a greater charge and then we make our way up, with most people paying for the lift. We have to climb a large staircase to get to the temple, it is lined with people selling things and little girls dressed in traditional clothes, very cute. At the top I am greeted with the sparkling gold that I have come to expect from Thailand. Bell like domes and Buddha statues line the interior of the open air courtyard. There are people dropping to their knees all over the place, and you have to be careful when walking around because the person in front of you could drop at any moment. We exit the courtyard and walk round the perimeter of the temple, which has more statues and gardens and the row of large bells that people are ringing in sequence. It then opens up to allow a viewing balcony down over the whole of Chiang Mai. I would imagine it to be quite a sight, I say imagine because this morning there is a nice haze covering the valley, reducing my visibility. Awww well. We scurry back down the steps and back on to the Motos before beginning our descent. Again I throughly enjoy the winding road back down to the city, before we head in to the old city. We drop the Motos back and hail a tuk tuk to the bus station.
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The plan was to head to Chiang Rai on a day trip today to see the white temple. However when we get there, the only buses available are after 3pm, which is going to be too late with us wanting to head out for new years. I am gutted and we return from the station, dejected. There is only one thing for it. Go to a bar and play some pool. So we head back out towards the canal and find a nice bar and start playing, after ordering up a few beers. It is quite the local place and I notice that they run pool tournaments 3 times a week. As the afternoon goes on, more and more locals come to the pub. They have 2 pool tables and so use a rotation system, with winner staying on. Alex and I stay all afternoon, and the craic is mighty. That's the great thing about playing a game, there is no language barrier, just playing pool and drinking beers. We head back to the hostel about 5 and I grab my bags and move to my new hostel which is just round the corner. Alex is going to go for a foot massage and he will txt me when he is done and we will see about what to do tonight.
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I get to my new place a dump my bags before chilling out on the bed. Alex txts me and so I head back to the hostel where Maria, Peter, Lucky, Alex and and American woman, Kim are. Discussion turns to where to go, and Kim pipes up with this great little place along the river, a short cab ride away, that has great food at a good price. I suggest that her definition of a good price and my definition of a good price may be somewhat different. As it transpires they were. I go with the mob and we start heading down the street to catch the cab. We pass the canal and there are already people letting off Chinese lanterns up in to the sky, I am sure come midnight the sky will be full. So we get in the cab and get to this gift shop place, that has a restaurant out the back. It's all very pretty and romantic, down by the river. However I am here with a bunch of people and not my significant other, so I am not feeling it. We get over priced food, and I am not full. I grow tired of the conversations about meditating, how wonderful the food is and other boring topics. The service is so painfully slow that I nearly evaporated before my water arrived. The constant battle of fighting off mosquitos due to our proximity to the river, trying not to kill myself over the mundane conversation and the soundtrack of some very strange music causes me to question my choice of new year company. Not even Peter's sarcastic and poor taste statements are amusing me at this stage. We eventually leave and get in a taxi that takes us part of the way home.
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I have made the decision that I am going to the canal to watch the fireworks and Chinese lanterns, anyone who fancies that can join me. Alex and Peter are in, so that is fine. We get left at the top of another market street, my years of navigating queues at Christmas serves me well as I smoothly carve my way through the crowd with maximum efficiency, of course having to wait for the other two negates any advantage I have. The other 3 tramps are looking in the market, I have no time for them and so I just plod on, Peter makes reference that he can't see them, I swiftly reply that he can go back and find them if he wants. No response. Nice. We get to the end of the street and to the open square where there is a stage and some singing happening. The path to where I want to be is straight across this densely packed square. Let's go. Progress is slow and I have a Thai guy behind me who is leaning at 90 degrees in to my back, not making my journey any easier. As we break through the end I inhale some fresh air before breathing a sigh of relief, we had made it. In to the 7/11, reminiscent of a shop at Christmas, join a queue and grab some beers. Out and over to the canal. It was worth it, I am treated to a great view of hundreds of lanterns floating up in to the sky, the street is lined with people and there is a buzz of excitement as we approach midnight. The boys decide to get a lantern and fail spectacularly at sending it in to the air, instead it moves about 6ft and lands firmly in the canal beside 4 other failed efforts. We have to make way regularly to let people launch their lanterns in to the sky. There are lanterns everywhere, people are letting them off all over the place, some launch successfully but many find their end in trees, where they catch fire and burn to the ground, covering whoever was unfortunate enough to be standing there in burning paper. Others are released from trees to the delight of the crowd, with cheers echoing around the canal for every lantern saved from combustion. As midnight draws ever closer the fireworks begin, you would think that no one here had seen fireworks, with all the 'Ohhhhhh' 'Ahhhhhhh' that follow each explosion. Cameras, phones and iPads are all held skyward in an attempt to catch the extravaganza and as the clock strikes 12 the atmosphere is electric with jubilant cheers and congratulating. The boys and I exchange handshakes and look up in to the sky while finishing our beers, with the music from the bars now starting to be heard over the crowd. The fireworks continue to be let off, whizzzz, crack. Every direction, and you have to admire the complete lack of safety. Fireworks are being let off in the street, mere feet from people. Some are not going where is intended and smash in to the side of buildings, causing the crowd to scatter, others start their ascent to heaven but then come crashing back down to earth, exploding on the ground, sending people everywhere and setting of car alarms. This all adds to the feeling of a genuine celebration, no organisation, just do what you want attitude. I embrace it. Chinese lantern, take 2. This time the 3 of us get involved and I am pleased to report that it leaves our hands a success, sailing off in to the sky to join the rest of the, now thousands, of lanterns. Some of the lanterns have a firework attached to the bottom of them, when they are let off the fuse burns down and then give a trail of sparks as the lantern rises, making it look like a rocket heading in to space. It truly was a magical sight and I can safely say the best new years eve I have ever had. Shortly after midnight we are joined by the other 3 stooges and exchange happy new year congratulations, before Lucky and Kim head to bed. I was gutted as you can imagine. Maria stays and the 4 of us sit down by the river and enjoy the view while finishing off our beers. As the crowd disperses we head to one of the bars and play a couple of games of pool before I get to my bed at about 3am. Even though the night started out a complete disaster I had a great night and I feel privileged to have witnessed such an incredible sight, all while remaining completely sober and able to appreciate it.