It was an emotionally shattering trip to Chiang Mai purely because of one word - visa! I had a scare the day of my flight to Thailand and was told I probably had to stay in Indonesia to apply for a Thai visa (as I had already used my free 30-day visa in the month of April). This would have meant me missing my flights and having to shell out $100's dollars extra on extending current visas and accommodation. The Thai immigration had quoted to mum that they wouldn't let me back into Thailand on the day I was meant to fly out as I hadn't applied for a visa previous to my visit, so you can imagine the state I was in but knowing this I went for it - I wasn't about to waste my two flights, time and money - images of me being held in the immigration box filling out forms and getting questioned frequently popped into my head though……but I made it with no problem whatsoever! Phewwww……. so two 3-hour flights and a camping out session in Kuala Lumpur airport for six hours, sleeping on the ground with all the other people waiting for a morning flight to Chiang Mai - let's just say it was a loooongg day.

Our first day here was amazing. I'd forgotten how lovely the locals were, how good the food is and how cheap everything is! We hired a motorbike and did the touristy things on our own - such a money saver and the best way to see exactly what you want to see. Our first stop was to a Temple (wat phrathat doi suthep) on the top of a mountain. The view on the ride up was stunning….seeing the whole of Chiang Mai from afar! The next stop was Tiger Kingdom. We had a few issues finding the place, but we never ran out of fuel so that was the main thing. The tigers were amazing! Looking back at it I think I must have been going slightly crazy. Laying on the 'biggest tigers' they have in the park and accidently touching one of their heads when the sign said specifically not to, but I guess that's a 'me' thing to do. The second day in Chiang Mai was spent at Maetaeng Elephant Park where we did bamboo rafting, saw an elephant show, rode elephants in the river, had an oxen ride, and saw an orchid and butterfly garden. The elephants were so cute! I can now say I've seen elephant's dance and paint pictures (better than I can paint)….never thought I would see the day ha! On Sunday we went to the famous Walking Market that runs from the Siam Commercial Bank on the inside of the moat down Rachadamnoen Road for about 400 metres. The market had artworks, food, performers and various handicraft items. There were young kids playing instruments and performers as you walked along the stalls, it was packed full of people! We decided to rent a motorbike for one more day to go and see the waterfall in Doi Suthep Pui national park and I'm so glad we did. It was peaceful and as the only tourists there we definitely made the most of it. After a couple of days of having slightly numbed bums from the bike we decided it was time to give it back.

I had my first taste of a lady-boy show in Cambodia - Siem Reap and loved it; since then I've been to a fair few indeed ha! As Rosie hadn't had the experience before we decided it was time she saw what the fuss was about. It was hilarious. Big ladies, men, no ladies; it's confusing. Lady-men strutting their stuff on stage whilst we drank water to feed our hangover from the night before.

Our last day was spent in a massage parlour. I had the new experience of a man massaging me. We couldn't stop chuckling to ourselves! We had then planned to go to night safari, which we did, only to return half an hour later because the price had increased massively to what the website said. Now we're not cheap-skates but to pay the cost of what our accommodation had been for six nights for an hour and a half just wasn't going to happen. A pancake from the night market seemed like a much better idea!

So it's goodbye to Rosie until I return home, goodbye to Thailand for two weeks and goodbye to Chiang Mai - I've experienced culture, animals and crazy nights out (chang beer I will never forget you!).

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