So, what happened next? Collapsed onto bed, oh lovely soft albeit with rock hard pillow, bed. Bliss! Had a little nap before our evening meeting with the group and a lucious shower, how amazinbg to feel clean again! That night, after arranging to fly down to Ko Samui via Bangkok and Surat Thai, think mentioned this before we ventured out to the Sunday night market by the city gate. Came across a parade celebrating the Kings 60th Anniversary on the thrown, Thais love their monarchy out here. Is quite nice really. In an article we read on our flight to Chiang Mai we learnt of all his good deeds, of helping with water ummm issues and such like. In Thailand one CANNOT critize the royalty, although most other things are acceptable. The market was lovely. Much nicer than the overcrowded main one we visited before. This is where the fun picture of the mini fried eggs and noodles is from. Along with the open air massage and wallets and hats made of tine cans like Coke and Fanta. Very fun. There was just so much colour there. Gorgeous. Also the parade climaxed here, wiht a monk preaching in Thai about the King, I assume, which was blasted through very loud speakers across the market. Next day. Our last in Chiang Mai. It began with Doi Suthep. So much more can be said through pictures, so see photo albulm! We visited the temple complex on a national holiday, Monday 10th July, whereby monks traditionally retreat for Lent, the day of the full moon. We were a bit dubious as to what would be going on at the temple and if our conservative attire would still find means to insult the strict dress code. Alas there was no need to worry. It turned out to be one of our best visits as loads of Thai people flocked to pray and hardly any Western tourists were insight. As for our clothes, given some Thai girls were in mini ski'rts, I think we were ok! The music band welcomed us as we stood out of the lift. There was mini shrines everywhere with people placing flowers, lighting candles and incense beside them in amongst very centred prayer. We realised all these offerings looked remarkably similar, and discovered a shop selling them for some measly sum. So Nicki and I both boiught as set, after a little confusion, and offered them to the shrines as sign of respect. Although nicki did this far more gractiously and convincingly than me, as I became more and more frustrated with the damn incense not lighting and feel I may have lost the greater meaning of my offering. An interesting observation I noticed was that shoes were left everywhere, as you cannot where them into the temples, however even in the alloted area, people trustingly put their shoes in little racks and left them completely unattended. This is somehting Im sure oin the West would never happen, almost fittingly to this thought, a limited number of lockers were available, whereby mostly Westerners were depositing their prised shoes. It is sad that we are such a material, cynical society, but its exactly what Nicki and I did, so I cant really complain about the problem when weøre part of it. Anyhoo... the shrines and temples were beautiful. The rooves especially hit me, with their emerald green and sea blue shinig tiles. Almost like exclaiming the beauty of the natural world, with all its colours ablaze. Their was as expected many, many Buddhas! And of many varying colours, alhthough predominantly golden. In one of the buildings was a monk belssing and tying the white good luck bracelets we were given in the second village of our treck. In our case, the remaining white thread of our bracelets was cut off and placed on our shoulder, left to drift where it pleased. The significance of this was somewhat lost on us at the time, however we were informed that if this remaining thread fell off in the village, we may have to return in the future to continue our good fortune. This was not what some of the group wanted to hear as they looked on at their little white threads in the mud below them. Back to Doi Suthep... bells were a common theme. With mini versions hanging in lines across the outsides of temples and entrances. See photos. Some had golden, metal hearts hanging form them with either names engraved in them or left blank. Again significance of this as yet is lost on us. There was a large white elephant statue in the outer temple complex. The story goes that this white elephant was entrusted with a Holy relic, to place it in a suitable spot, by a monk, I think. This elephant did as it was bid and chose the spot of Doi Suthep, then a mountain peak to place this golden prism shaped relic. The stairways leading to and form the temple was a spectacle unto itself, and the prime reason Nicki championed the visit. They consisted of a dragon on each side rolling down. Beautiful greenary lay outside, so it was a pleasant walk down. At the bottom lay the dragon heads, form which 8, I think, mini dragons sprang from their mouths. They were magnificantly decorated. See photos! As for the rest of the day.... Afetr ctaching the Intrepid group beofre they ste off for their 14 hour train journey tp Bangkok, hehe, we ventured out to get a well deserved body massage. We found this gorgeous place, if you ever go to Chiang Mai Ill give you the name, its a must! We opted for the 2 hour full body oil massage. And when I say full body, take it in the very literal sense! From the places the masseurs focused on, we were suprised they were female. There was one point where I heard someone get up, Nicki and I were in the same room, but as was so relaxed had eyes shut. It suddenly occured to me that a massage in Thailand may not necessarily mean the same thing it does in the UK and thoughts of Nicki being introduced to some willing male staff raced through my head. Fortunately, or maybe not so! it was not that kind of place. It was gorgeous. Probably some of the best 2 hours of my life! So unbelievably relaxing it was unreal. Just what we needed after the treck, and what a laugh we had once out of earhot of the place, as we became more and moe honest with each other and concluded that perhaps we enjoyed the massage a little too much! The day unfortunately ended on a downer, as we spent 3 hours stressfully waiting to see if Nickis photos on her memory card could be retrieved, after the stupid assistant wiped them from her card instead of transfering them to a computer. Urgh. Luckily they were found. It only gave us 6 hours however, to get back to the hotel, have somehting for dinner, pack and sleep beofre we were due to rise for the early taxi booking to get to airport at 5.30am. Our mood at this time is better left unsaid. Onto our next adventure, Ko Samui and the full moon party at Ko Phangnan...