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Hi Everyone,
I was en-route to Chiang Mai for the Festive season from Laos via Ubon Ratchathani, crossing the Border between Laos and Thailand overland. It is quite amazing at the Border as the bus drops you on the Laos side, you walk 50 meters up the road and arrive on the Thai side, go through the process of Visa application which takes seconds and then with the relevant stamp you are in! Amazing, it took a life time to get into Laos and five minutes to get out. The next noticeable change has to be the roads. Anyone who has done this will confirm that you immediately find yourself on a smooth black tarmaced dual-carriageway, how civilized, how nice, it's a bit like coming home but not quite, if you get my drift.
I found my way to a decent, cheap hotel which had been recommended to me and had a day to kill before my onward flight to Chaing Mai, the big bonus was that my room had a massive TV, out of all proportion, so I was able to catch up on the footie, brilliant! I befriended a Tuk Tuk driver who had been hanging around outside the Hotel driveway and arranged for him to take me to the Airport in the morning. he was really chuffed with the business and I was really chuffed with the price we agreed upon, about 80p!!
Ubon airport is one of those small regional airports you seem to get the World over, there was very little in the way of things to do but being so small they do provide a personal service. I explained that I had a connecting flight to Chiang Mai, no problem, my bag was promptly wrapped in red tape with the word 'fragile' printed all over it and I was promised it would be made especially availible to me when I reached BKK. Okay I thought, let us see how this turns out.
I have chosen to use Air Asia for all of my internal flights around S.E.Asia and have been impressed with everything they have done for me so far. It's a bit like Ryan Air but with Style and because the Thai people are a bit more polite you don't get the 'bun fight' for a seat you experience with budget flights back home.
Having arrived at BKK there was an announcement over the planes P.A. It was for ME!! Only the second time that has ever happened to me in my life. Having reached the exit I identified myself to a rather delightful Stewardess who pointed to an area outside the door and there lay my bag still wrapped in tape. How was that for service, no baggage reclaim for this Boy! They even told me which Check In desk to go to and that they were waiting for me. I trotted off to D14 and sure enough the smiling Lady said 'Hello Mr Winstone', blimey I hadn't even uttered a word yet, I know that 'Fragile' was a bit of a giveaway but you have to hand it to Air Asia ans Staff, I was impressed and very pleased.
I caught the flight to Chiang Mai and arrived at ImmEco Hostel, this has to be The best Hostel, not Guest house, I have stayed in to date. I had opted for a twin, shared room but actually only had to share on 3 out of the 10 days I stayed there. It had excellant facilities and it also has what I came for, a brilliant 30 meter swimming pool with 6 lanes which was never busy.
Across from the Hostel was a great internet place and a laundrey, it was not too far out of Town and I walked most days albeit that there is a transfer service into town provided by the premises. I had come back to Chiang Mai to see my friends and spend the festive season with them. My daily schedule alternated between swimming, internet, walking into town, meeting various people, getting kit cleaned, socializing during the evenings, not all but most, 2 treatments on my ankle and 1 Thai massage carried out by my friend Irin, the occasional coffee and some sun worshopping! The days passed easily and I was determined to carry on as normally as possible for Christmas. It is strange being in such heat but I discovered that the Chiang Mai Community Church on the banks of the Ping River was holding a Family Communion at 11.00pm Xmas Eve, much in the same way as every Christian Church. The temperature actually appeared to increase during the day and I decided that apart from swimming I really was not going to be too energetic. I did go for a walk into town and went to the night bizarre not to eat, which might surprise you, but to to ensure that I could find a Christmas Dinner for the following day. There is a little side street I know of along which are a couple of European establishments, an Italian, a German place where the Thai girls wear Bavarian costumes and the Guys were leather shorts (very strange and slightly perverse if I may say so!) then there is a good 'ol Red Lion P.H. Yep in the middle of Chiang Mai there is a British Pub. Until this point I had resisted entry prefering to eat and drink with the locals, but Christmas Dinner is a different matter and an exception to the rule. My intention was to treat my Thai friends to a traditional form of feast, I made sure I could get a table, saw the menu, everything on it including a free drink and moved on.
Having looked at the menu I confess I was a bit peckish but not wanting to spoil things I continued down the alleyway to a local place I know and have frequented quite a lot. It's a ramshackle place set back from the road and always reminds me of the type of area I frequented when a lot younger, the type of area you do not want to see in day light because you dont want to see what it really looks like! It has a typical street kitchen at the front, a couple of burners and Woks, an area for 'prepping' an area with multiple bowls of cut veg, spices, herbs, bowls of garlic, chillies, peppers and various pastes. On the opposite side of the 'opening' there is a stall where Sons & Daugthers prepare very tasty drinks from fresh fruit . Food is always served up on melamine plates at tables made from old doors proped on top of anything that will support them indcluding in one case an old sewing machine base. Seating is provided by whatever is availible, a piece of wood nailed to a couple of logs for a bench, a plastic patio chair, a few stools, everything and anything really. But, the food is fresh, cooked infront of you, hot, smells devine and is some of the finest Thai food I have tasted. It is simply fantastic.
The people recognise me now and I can pass greetings and pleasantries with them in Thai which always makes them smile and makes me nervous. I must admit I have wondered whether I am saying the right thing but they haven't poisoned me yet and they do seem genuinely pleased to see me. However, I can imagine what they are really saying, 'Look out here comes that forienger who always asks if he can wash our socks, - give him a beer he seems harmless enough!' Anyway the Sock Noodle soup tastes great!!
I went from town to The Brasserie where Tuk was leading a Blues session so I stayed there until as late as possible before heading for the Church just up the road. I did feel a bit 'heady' but I think a little lubrication is always good on Xmas Eve, it makes it easier to really sing Hark The Herald Angels really really badly and get away with it! After all it is Christmas, Good Will to All Men and all, and that includes Winnontour! Actually I realy enjoyed it, there were approxiamtely 300 people present, more than the Pastor had anticipated and he declared that there wouldn't be enough wine for everyone, so I called out that I'd had enough anyway but if he had a bottle of Chablis handy then I'd settle for that instead. I was only trying to help!
Actually I realy enjoyed it, there were Yanks, Aussies, Kiwis, Euros and Asians, it was really good, the prelude was played by an Harpist and an Oboeist, you dont get that at Gt Maplestead I can tell you, we blatted out 'O come all Ye, Angels we have Heard, Hark the Herald (see told ya!) and Joy to the World, after which I went back to the Pub feeling very righteous and had another drink to celebrate J.C.'s birthday. Shame He couldn't make it.
Talking of people not making it! I returned to my room, not too late, certainly not too late for Father Crimble to arrive. Did He? Did He heck!! What's the matter with the Bloke doesn't he like Chaing Mai? Well he if he does, he didn't come down my chimney I can tell you. Not a thing, I even had to drink the Sherry and eat the fekking carrott for breakfast! Not a sausage, I didn't get a thing. Apart from, that is, some lovely Christmas messages from all of You who took the time. I will tell you here and now (somewhat Late I know! -Sorry) that it meant more to me to hear from you than any present (Lie!) could have done. So. Sincerely - Thank You.
More to come, see you soon,
Chris
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