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2 November
Chiang Mai
KIM: A sleeper train offers clean sheets, a flat bed with pillow and a lovely clean blanket. The London underground offers cramped conditions, smelly armpits and beeping noises every time the doors close, but yet - I fall asleep easier on the way to work on the tube than I did last night! This could be due to the open window next to my bed, the apprehension of what was to come or the 7 large & in charge drunken Czech travelers that decided to have a party next to our beds. Impressively (even if I do say so myself) I told them off and they moved off!
Waking up in the morning to the hills of jungles as our train chugged across bridges and through tunnels was something not to be forgotten. Your mind is quickly cast to what the wars were like in this part of the world… imagining the armies trying to navigate this terrain. Realistically, I have no idea if Vietnam looks anything similar, but you can'bt help but think anyway.
Our train was due to arrive around midday, but … as what often occurs with Thai public transport - we were about two hours late. This time, we'd prearranged accommodation and a transfer who was happily (well, with a smile) waiting for us on arrival.
We checked into Jonnadda house (as recommended by Sandy) and although a bit pricier than some nearby alternatives, it was clean and friendly.
After a well deserved shower, we headed for lunch at Darets - Rough Guide to South East Asia is a winner again. Bargain meals at THB 39 for stir-fry and rice, combined with THB70 beer (you should see the beer belly we are both creating!) we were settling into Chiang Mai life well.
That evening we headed to the night market - ready to spend our cash… on WATCHES. Mark has had a fixation on buying some fake watches for Charles & him. I on the other hand am desperate for new sunglasses! We shopped for both without success.
Being Loi Kratong festival, the sky was alight with lanterns and fireworks. Unfortunately - camera was left at home, so we have no record of the amazing sky alight with floating golden stars. Mark and I lit a lantern and watched it join the many other thousands in the sky, both saying a special prayer for our families. Health and Safety in this part of the world is not something that is taken seriously and we walked home dodging fireworks being let off in the middle of the streets.
MARK: The fireworks being lit off everywhere honestly made me feel like I was in the middle of WWIII. I am not even exaggerating in the slightest. Kids age 7 - 20 were lighting hard-core fireworks everywhere and it is actually amazing that no-one took one in the face!! A kiwi we met said that he was sitting in a bar where 3 policemen (guns in belt bolsters) were drinking whisky in one hand, taking walkie talkie calls and helping a customer set off fireworks from within the bar with the other hand. Madness!
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