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What can we say? We love Chiang Mai!!
And we loved the overnight train. It took a bit longer than normal, roughly 15 hours. We heard that you should try and get a lower bunk for a more peaceful nights sleep, but all of these were taken so we had to take the cheaper option and sleep on top, underneath the ceiling lights that stayed on all night. This wasn't as bad as people make out, though, and I'd do it again to save money!
We arrived in Chiang Mai late morning, and struggled through the station past countless touts shoving their hotel posters in our faces saying "you have place to stay?" "come stay here!" "we have room for you". Politely refusing to be sold to, we just wanted to get out and scout the area ourselves. So we sat down at the cafe outside the station and had a club sandwich (I know, cop-out, but the train ride took it out of me alright!) and after a little while this quiet thai guy comes up, keeping his distance and says "Excuse me, may I talk to you for a minute, may I make my case now?" and this was such a lovely way to address us and so un-like all the others we were just like, "Yes. Yes you can!" and it turns out the guesthouse he came from was very very cheap (the only thing we were really looking for after spending half our budget in Bangkok) So I asked him how much it would be to take us there from the station, and he looked a bit confused and told us he would take us free of course, just to see the room, and make sure it's what we wanted. So sweet! So we agreed to go with him and his friend after we had eaten, and they patiently waited a couple of tables over for us to finish.
In the truck on the way into town we sat in the back with the other guy, who we found out was called Sukkee and he originally came from one of the hill tribes, so we now call him Jungle Man. When we arrived we found out the first guy called himself Jeff, and we met a girl Fine, and another guy Louis. Amazing people.
I've just realised I'm really going to have to write this down by hand before I type it up here, just because its been two weeks full of stuff, and I need to organise it all in a readable way.... Making friends with the staff, meeting other travellers, going out in the city, accidents, activities, and so many little and some bigger observations made along the way... it all gets confusing trying to explain!
So bear with me, I should have a better post by the time we leave on Wednesday :)
Love Jaime and Naomi x x x
- comments
Sarah-Jane hahaha jungle man just made me laugh but he sounds amazing!! really reminds me of idiot abroad as well cause he was being harrassed in Eqypt from people in restaurants! you need to watch it when u get back! hilarrr! Also as said on facebook if you both spontaneously decide to go to jamaica on ur travels please find me a hat to go with my spliff! :) haha love you!! miss you!! xx