I have an extra day in Chiang Mai so thought I may as well do another blog. The alternative was going to the hairdressers to get my hair dyed but I feel that is not really in keeping with the backpacking spirit. I think I will feel more like a hardened backpacker if I come home with 4 inch roots than if I return with a perfect blonde crop. I did get my hair cut the other day though, in proper backpacker style as it was the cheapest and quickest haircut I've ever had. Just over a pound and 10 minutes. It's pretty good as well, though I've ended up with layers again by default.

I have an extra day because I was meant to be going on a trek today to the Pai area (pronounced pie :) ). I had decided against a trek in Chiang Mai as I've heard they're very touristy and one of those things where you get shepherded on and off buses and see only white people all day in "ethnic villages". Though I went in one place on a whim as they had a sign saying "non-touristic" outside, and they happened to have one leaving the next day (today). These are quite hard to get onto if you're alone as you need to find other people to go with or pay ten times as much. So I signed up and spent the rest of the afternoon practising my bike riding. It is going quite well, I can now cycle quite fast in a straight line, so long as there are no other vehicles or people in sight. I did build up to cycling past a pedestrian without running him over so I hope to improve further next time. Alas, though, I don't think I'll be able to tackle main roads any time soon. Still, I entertained the monks in the temple and a host of both locals and foreigners. I've become quite well known in the area now, random Thai people started calling out "ah you're doing good, much better than this morning". Bike lessons will be postponed for a while, but I'll have another go soon.

Anyway, so I got up this morning at the crack of dawn (kind of), checked out of my lovely cheap guesthouse, returned my bike and rocked up for my trek to be told it was postponed until tomorrow because two of the people going on it were too hungover. Before I could get too upset, they gave me a free room which I have all to myself (not a dorm) and it even has a hot shower, oh and a swimming pool in the back so that was pretty good in the end. It did work out for the best anyway as after popping out and asking what day it was (seriously, it is very easy to lose track, I had absolutely no idea) I realised I could go to a yoga class which I've been trying to do for a while. Granted it wasn't really an authentic Thai yoga experience as the class was run by a very camp guy from Manchester, but it was the first yoga I've done in four months so I was happy. My downward dog has gone downhill though. I have also finally booked and paid for my Inca Trek in June, which has been proving troublesome over the past couple of weeks, so I'm slightly more on track.

The Thai people are really very friendly, and whilst I did like Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand is slightly more...civilised. Everyone I've met has been friendly but polite, and I've realised if a stranger starts talking to me it's because they want to speak to a foreigner because they're interested in them rather than trying to sell something. You can really see the comparative wealth as well compared to the other SEAsia countries. Everything just looks cleaner and newer, there are less piles of rubble and rubbish and very few beggars. The education is obviously better and most people speak English. But everything, like food and accommodation, is just as cheap as Cambodia, it's very strange. My meals at the moment are costing about 50p. Though Thai food is very very spicy, even when you ask for "little spicy", you get at least three chillies.

Well I'd better go and repack for my trek. Hopefully no-one will go out drinking tonight. I'm not sure what it will be like, but it involves trekking through three hill-tribe villages, bamboo rafting and elephant riding (which I've already done and frankly it wasn't that exciting). Although when I expressed concern over the appropriate clothing to wear in order to be respectful to the cultures of the villagers, the guide looked very concerned and gestured towards my hotpants, "no, please, is sexy, same same, or shorter". Hmm. And when I asked if there'd be showers at the accommodation I was told we would be visiting a waterfall and could shower in there, I'm not sure how serious he was. :)

Well, I will update on trekking later. I may stay in Pai or come back here, and then onward to Laos, hurrah.