After a LONG two days of bus riding (plus the 10 hour stint in Bangkok) I am here in Chiang Mai. It is in the north and a bit cooler and much more to my liking then Bangkok. The city is set out like a bit of a grid with the old part of the city in the centre surrounded by a moat. I am staying in a guesthouse in the old city. There are lots of places to explore; more temples than I can count, crazy side streets, lots of markets and the list goes on. Last night was the Night Market (actually there is one everynight but on Sundays the close of some streets in the Old City for a huge market the runs from 6om till midnight. It is packed, and not just with tourists either. Lots of local people come to get bargains (though the venders automatically pick out the tourists and many make them pay more than locals just because they can.... Grrr) I got a few cheap things though that back home would cost triple or not be found at all.

Today, after recovering from my bus trip and lack of decent sleep since Thursday night I explored the Sompet fruit market, got some brunch (Papaya Salad, I must try to make this back home. It is so yummy and healthy) and then went to the Zoo. Not many tourists go to the Zoo I don't think because, lets face it, Zoo's are not very original. But this one has Panda's and is up on a nice hill so I went :) They were soooo cute and even some guys from the Army were there looking at them haha. The animals seem happy but the cages are definitely a bit small which is so sad.

Tomorrow I go of trekking in the wilderness wahoooo