Hi. Wanted to update before I head to Laos tomorrow. I am back in Chiang Mai, pretty much doing nothing but sitting around during the day and going out with a group of people I met at night. I needed a few days to just relax.

After I left Pai, I booked a second class night bus to a city near the Lao border. The next day I was complaining to my Dutch friend that I didn't want to take the damn second class night bus. Her response..."well then don't." Hmm...never thought of that. So literally 5 minutes before I had to leave to catch the bus I decided not to go. Just ate the 400 bhat ticket (putting my budget traveler status in jeopardy), but it's been worth it. I was in a little travel slump, and sick of moving around, so staying here a few extra days has been great.

Anyway, did my 2 day trekking in Pai, which was pretty good. We saw a few different minority villages, and stayed at a farm in the middle of nowhere where I about suffocated from smoke. A Swedish girl trekking with us was afraid she would get cold and asked for a big fire in the hut...you are from Northern Sweden and you are worried about being cold here in Thailand??? But alas...I woke in the morning despite the smoke.

After trekking I did a one hour elephant ride where you actually get to swim with the elephant. Pretty fun for an hour, but anymore would be too long.

So as I said above, still in Chiang Mai. I met a Canadian guy on the trek who's visiting his brother in Chiang Mai (brother has lived here for 4 years and married a Thai). He invited me to "Together Bar" three nights ago, where all his friends go, and I have went every night since (and will tonight too). It's just a small bar, and everyone that goes there knows everyone else, so it feels like I am home with friends.

So yea, headed on a slow boat to Luang Prabang, Laos tomorrow with the Canadian guy. Should arrive Tuesday. We will probably travel to Vientiane and then split up. The original plan was for me to head into Southern China and then Tibet with Wes, but Tibet isn't looking likely, so we are thinking of heading to Nepal. Anyway, I may have a free week before Wes arrives and don't know where to go...any suggestions?

Hope all is well at home. Thanks for reading and posting messages!