Greetings all Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and not as hectic as Bangkok. I arrived at 5.30 in the morning and am staying in the old city near the centre. I've met a friend called Eldad from Israel and Chris - from England. I've already hired a bike and come off it- I had to get some wood and straighten out the carry basket! Got a nice burn on my leg to show for it too! Still - checked out the nightlife with Eldad via tuk tuk going to place called Bubbles and also Spicey. I'm staying in a place called Lanna House for 100 Baht a night - cheap living! I spent a day at the Pad Thai Cookery School cooking and eating about six courses - Pad Thai , Green Thai Curry, Spring rolls, Chicken with Casure nuts blaa blaa blaa. The toilet had been The Happy Room in the school. I was told many times whilst making Chili paste to "wash my hands before I go to the happy room!". Could have been seriously painful! Most of the dishes are prepared in around 10 minutes and cooked in less than 10 too..my kind of cooking- quick and easy! The herbs and fruits were explained in the market at the start of the day. Needless to say once I got back to my room I passed out intill 1.30 in the morning - well content! I've just come back from a 3 day trek into the jungle - first day we walked about 8km - hardcore. We spent two nights with the hill tribes and experienced the most basic of living conditions. The scenery here is beautiful as you can see from the photo album. Being this far away from civilisation is pretty humbling - when it rains here it absolutely pours - if you break a leg out here you've got problems! Pretty much everyone hurt themselves in some way..I'm walking with my burn bandaged up! Eldad believes if you get through the jungle whilst you have an injury it makes you a stronger person and I agree- christ how much s*** at home actually really matters and is worth getting stressed over? Society tells you you need this and you need that materialistic trophy to put on you mantle piece....b******s! hell I'm going off on one - Sorry! I guess because I have so little possessions it really puts life in prospective...so does using a "bathroom" which is a pipe from a stream and a hole in the ground! We trekked between south of Wiang Haeng and north of Pai visiting villages Meo Karen, Lahu and Shan Akha. The Trek was amazing but I still feel the culture I had searched for has not been forfilled. It was nice to have the village children sing...then you find out you have to pay 10 baht for the previlage...it's the tourist machine in full effect as usual! I will return to Asia but it will be to explore Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam I feel.