I didn't really do too much for the first couple of days in Chiang Ma. There's quite a few things that you can sign up for mostly based around trekking, massage courses, yoga etc. etc. I never intended to do my trek here as I was saving that for Chiang Rai or Pai as I'd been told it was a bit more off the beaten track.

So in the end I opted for a days mountain biking. I've never really done any serious stuff, so I blagged it a little bit when they asked about my off road experience, however I got a little bit more than I expected when the girl for the advanced track, so I tried to then dig myself out of this hole by explaining that it was actually quite a while since I'd done off road. 'Don't worry about it' the girl says 'You'll be fine. See you tomorrow morning'. Goodwork Forbes!

There were 6 others who had signed up for the day, 4 doing the easy, 2 doing t hard intermediate, and yours truly the UK Mountain biking champion. At this point I'm a little worried. But It's often said that fortune favours the brave and it was with a huge poker face relief when the guide asked if I wouldn't mind doing the hard intermediate with the other two guys instead of the advanced. Desparately not trying to over act my feigned disappointment I reluctantly agreed

Anyway the whole day was great fun. I probably missed out on a trip to the hospital by stepping down a notch because the hard intermediate was plenty for me. There were a few cuts and grazes on the other riders, but my obvious experience shone through.

I bumped into a couple of girls that I'd met on Mama Linh's boat trip and Canada day celebrations in Vietnam so was out on the beers with the one night that ended up doing a tour of quite a few of the bars and clubs and a final tuk tuk driving me all of 50 yards from the last bar home.

I did a one day cookery course with Laura, Sarah and Cathy which was good althougfh strangely tiring! Also checked out the Sunday market which was huge, and I also mainly ate vegetarian food as all that stuff is quite popular here. There's also quite a few Thai rastas floating about, and a cool little area of reggae bars each with a resident band, work that one out!

Anyway Chiang Mai is very relaxed sort of place whichI enjoyed. Pai next stop.