23rd Dec: I arrived in Chiang Mai after my night bus and walked around town for a while before finding myself a room, but pretty nice with a private bathroom. Had a power nap then headed off for breakfast, where I met a couple of American girls who've been in town for a while and found out a bit more. I went off and hired a bike for the day and cycled off!! I really I like the feel of the place - all set around a moat, which makes it easy to find places (I did get lost once but only for a short while Loads more temples and markets and a massive fish market, where I bought a grilled fish - you just eat it with your fingers, so I looked a bit like a viking while chomping on it! On my way back, I bumped in to an Aussie girl who asked me for directions, but as I had no idea I invited her to have a beer instead. She was a psychologist, who is away with her family she got a tad tipsy and ended up missing the family meal. Then when I saw her later, she had got in a huge arguement with her mum and got kicked out! I went off and carried on with a few beers watching the Man U - Villa game, I bet she regretted asking me directions!

24th Dec, Got up and had breakfast with the American girls again then got another bike for the day and went off. I was planning on having Christmas here but then I suddenly decided to go on a trek, so I went off and booked one. I leave tomorrow for 3 days in the jungle and will be having Christmas dinner with a tribe in the middle of nowhere!