I wasn't quite so active today and spent most of the morning organising & researching stuff for India. I finally have my flight confirmed plus a visa so I can go now!

I wanted to visit the hill tribes near Chiang Mai & see the long neck people but it was pouring with rain so that wasn't really an option.

I found a half-day tour that I could do to learn a little more about Chiang Mai so booked myself on that instead.

We started at the Silver Temple, where there is a lot of silversmiths working on producing all kinds of silver products nearby. I didn't quite understand my guide's accent enough to work out why but the temple was very beautiful (lots of stainless steel these days).

Women aren't allowed in the Silver Temple ... why? Because they menstrate! Apparently this will distract the monks somehow ... not that there were any monks actually in the Silver Temple when I went. It seems all religions have lots of silly rules.

Outside the temple is a large Hindu statue of the elephant god. I didn't realise this but Buddha came from a Hindu family so the two religions are quite closely connected.

Next to the Silver Temple is a large golden temple and for some reason it's OK for women to go in there! Weird. Very ornate & very beautiful however. Lots of large flat chairs for the monks to sit on & meditate.

Meditation is mostly about trying to concentrate on the now: not think about the past or the future, but only what's happening around you. In western culture, it's called "mindfulness".

Outside the temple was a large tree, surrounded by sticks, some of which had coloured ribbons wrapped around them. Apparently, if you bring a stick like this & lean it up against the tree, it helps support the tree & you also get your wish fulfilled.

We then went to the main temple in the centre of town. It's a huge structure! Again, very beautiful & very ornate.

Lots of Thai zodiac flags hanging up inside which were very pretty too.

We went out the back to see the huge pagoda that had been built there many years ago. It's large red bricks surrounded by carvings, including elephants which are strong & therefore protect the place. Unfortunately, it had been damaged in an earthquake but they decided it was too risky to try & repair it. I guess the elephants weren't as strong as the earthquake!

Next stop was a Burmese temple, next to an old house, which was where the governor used to live (I think!).

The temple & surrounding buildings hadn't been maintained so there wasn't much to see & no one else was there. I think maybe the guide has Burmese heritage & that's why he took me there. Not sure.

Chiang Mai used to be part of Burma but was split by the British many years ago. There is still a lot of Burmese influence here however.

Chiang Mai means "new city" as the king st the time decided to move the city to the current location because the old one kept getting flooded.

The original city had 3 sets of walls. The one that can still be seen today was the second wall & this was surrounded by a moat plus bamboo sticks (not quite sure how these worked!)

It was the capital city of the Lanna kingdom, which eventually amalgamated into Siam, which was then split into Thailand & Burma. That also explains why I see the word "Lanna" around in so many places!

After the temples, we went to the wet market, which was full of interesting fruit, vegetable & open air meat & seafood stalls.

My guide bought us some pineapple & it was so ripe & juicy, probably the best I've had on the whole trip!

Our last stop was the flower markets, where I saw some ladies threading flowers onto a wire as well as many beautiful bouquets & arrangements.

We then went back to the BnB & I collected my bags then made my way to the airport in a tuk tuk. I think that's the first time I've arrived at an airport in a tuk tuk!

I was a little too early to check-in (very unlike me, I know!) so I had a late lunch then went back & checked in.

The flight was delayed by about 20min but was otherwise all ok.

I was feeling pretty tired by now so slept for most of the flight back to Bangkok. I arrived at my hotel after catching a special "short distance" cab. I'm not sure what the significance of distinguishing between short vs long is however. The short distance ones just seem to take a bit longer to organise.

The hotel is very close, only 10min from the airport. It's not the most amazing hotel in the world but for the price, it's great value!

There was a little noise from the street & planes going past but not enough to worry about & I was asleep in no time!