We boarded a rickety old sleeper train in Bangkok, which for the first time on this trip to leave on time! After 9 hours of the 14 hour trip I awoke to looking out of my window at the train winding up through the moutains from my bed! I pulled the window far down the lent out enoying the morning breeze!

Chiang Mai has a charming walled old city located in the centre of Chiang Mai, this is where we spent all our time. The old city had 1 main street through it, which was relatively quiet. Small paved pathways and streets of resturants and guest houses made up the remainder of the old city.

Tarry and I signed up to one of many companies offering activity day trips nearby. 4 girls from the train we met happened to be on our trip too. We drove 2 hours into the mountains to start with white water rafting down a quite ferocious river, followed by floating down a more placid section of the river on traditional bamboo rafts. After the included lunch buffet (hmmm), we trekked on some elephants alongside the river up and down some quite steep muddy slopes! Back where the elephants rest, there was a small timber performance stand where you can watch younger elephants paint and throw darts at balloons etc... I didn't know what to think of that really, it felt cruel to me personally?! To finish up the day we visited a long neck tribe, they are refugees from Burma. The heavy rings stretching their necks is supposedly have the purpose to make the women appear more attractive. The entire day including food and transport cost 1000baht, about 14-15 pounds! Bargain!

It was time to get a wriggle on and we made a move to Chiang Khong on the thai-Laos border to arrange visas and see the mighty Mekong River for the first time. We had a view from our guest house right on the banks (see night photo across at Laos).