Well it's Sunday and we're in Chiang Mai after a bit of a detour!! On Friday we were meant to get a 12hr train journey to Chiang Mai, we got up early (for us!) and got the ferry to the train station to get the 9.42pm train only to discover that that train and all the other trains that day, except one at 11.30pm, were FULL!! The 11.30pm option was not an option because there were only seats in 3rd class - a wooden bench for 12 hrs, I don't think so!! Apparently talking to other travellers, and these are the hardcore ones, 4 hrs is the maximum in 3rd class. So we got back on the ferry and headed to the bus station, on a tuk tuk (see picture), about 15mins out of town. Bit tricky trying to keep our rucksacks in it!! All buses to Chiang Mai were FULL so decided to go to a place half way between Ayuthaya and Chiang Mai called Sukhothai, another former capital of Thailand. Apparently if you only go to one ancient city then this should be the one!! After our 6 hr journey we arrived in Sukhothai, settled into our cute little wooden bungalow. We then got a bus to the old town which was 12km away and, yes you've guessed it, hired bikes again to look around. We didn't realise that the buses finished at 6pm so we ended up getting a tuk tuk back to our hostal. We then had a wander round and went for something to eat. Didn't really sleep that night in the bungalow because it sounded like a jungle outside - yuk creepy crawlies everywhere!!

Up early the next day to get another tuk tuk to the bus station and then the bus, at long last, to Chiang Mai. After another 6hr journey, which some poor sole was sick on (not by us though thank god!!) we arrived in Chiang Mai to be greeted by more tuk tuk's - they are definitely persistant! Got to our hostal and had a walk round the markets, we'll never get sick of them! Jem stayed up again to watch the rugby, which was on at 1.30am, with his new mate Warren and I went to bed - all this travelling is hardwork!!!

Today Jem's gone to a vegetable carving cookery course, so he'll be doing flower shaped vegetables next time you see him, and I'm just pottering around and exploring Chiang Mai!

Bye bye for now!!