now in Chaing Mai. we came from the increbibly long but should be the last bus trip we will go on!!! so we crossed the Mekong from Huay Xai, Laos into Chiang Khong, Thailand. we chilled out a bit in Chiang Khong while we waited for our van later that evening. met a great English guy and had a few beers and some good chat with him.

arrived here, went directly to bed, we not even dsturbed by the thousands of fireworks going off all night. we walked about town our first day. we are staying outside the old city for now, but we will move inside the mote tomorrow.

our first night was the last night of the Loi Kathong festival, which is apparently like a Lunar holiday (sort of like Christmas, we have been told.) so there was a gorgeous parade and tons of lanterns floating in the sky. tons of fireworks, markets, food, it was just so amazing. we lit a lantern of our own and sent it floating.

so today we woke up and rented a motorbike and headed north to Mae Sa. we went to the Monkey Center, where they have monleys doing crazy tricks like basketball and riding a bike. we heard of it from a friend, but havent met anyone who has been to it since we heard, so when we found it, we were ecstatic!! we then cruised around by the Mae sa valley, had the hottest paneng curry of my life- again only 4 bites, and then couldnt eat. then it was a long uphill ride to the Doi Suteph Wat, which is on a mountain overlooking the city.

so tonight we are going to a Muay Thai boxing match at 9pm. should be good fun, then we have a thai cooking class all day tomorrow!!!! loving Thailand!!!