So after 13hrs on a train which was very comfortable, tucked up in my little bed, I arrived in Chiang Mai. The only downside to the train was needing a wee twice, peeing in to a hole in the floor and on to the train track is not a nice experience. Chiang Mai from what I saw from the back of a tuk tuk is very much like Bangkok just cooler. The temperature up here is at it's highest when it's about 31, coolest can be down to 19. I've actually had to put a jumper on!!
My hostel is the SoHostel, which has everything you need I can even wash and dry clothes here, bonus!! As my clothes are getting a bit stinky!! I can't go to my dorm yet as check in is not until 2pm and I arrived at 9am, so I'm sat drinking 'hot chocolate' at the hostel cafe. Whilst sitting here I've watched a Thai lady bring her offerings to Buddha and place the food and drink on the shrine, as soon as she left nine pigeons (yes I counted them) swooped down and ate all the food. Not sure if that's a good omen for the Thai lady or not!!
I met up with Jo and went in to the town to meet a girl called Kim who was travelling alone and Jo had met in Bangkok. We walked to some temples but the heavens opened and the rain poured down so ended jumping in a tuk tuk to go and see the silver temple (apparently the only silver temple in Thailand), it was stunning from the outside but we were unable to go in as 'no women allowed'. So we went for lunch, I actually ate Thai Green Curry!!! This was due to us sharing lots of different dishes, not out of choice. It wasn't to bad a bit spicy I was glad to have a coke light to cool my mouth down.
Once back at the hostel I was allowed to my room, I'm in a six bed dorm and so far I'm the only girl. There's a guy from England, a guy from Australia (both who seem pretty cool) and two guys from China (we don't speak much). Dorms pretty comfy but one of the Chinese guys snores, much to the initial amusement of myself, the English guy and Australian guy. Don't think that amusement will last long though.
Tonight was the first night of the festival of light. There was a parade through the old town and thousands of people on the streets celebrating. There were Chinese lanterns, fireworks, flowers & candles being floated down the river it was all very pretty but it poured and poured with rain. Thank god for plastic ponchos. Went out for dinner with a group of other travellers all from different countries. I'm getting in to the swing of this travelling lark and just hope the time doesn't fly by to fast. Starting to get really jealous when people say they are here for four/six months etc.
Before coming back to the hostel tonight I let of a Chinese lantern with the helping hand of a monk!! Going to try and book a 'monk chat', not sure what you chat to a monk about but like the sound of it. I am officially the only girl in the dorm, when I got back in tonight there is a guy asleep on the bunk above me.
Next plan is to head to Pai on Saturday, still want to get over to Cambodia but in two minds whether to go to Laos instead of Vietnam and I'm really loving Thailand at the moment. Time will tell....