Chiang Rai has to be a top place on the trip. Last night just as I was neering for bed I got a sudden hankering for spring rolls and darted down to the night market for a fix! Now I'm not going to lie, they were nowhere as good as the ones on Pub Street, Siam Reap! Let down. But I also got some fried shimps to ensure I had enough fat in my blood stream. The monssons really are hitting here, and the downpoors are getting more frequent. I darted home after a sneeky yoghurt!

On arrival back at the hostel I heard water in the bathroom - a pipe had flown off the walll!! Maheeemmm!! I ran to find the man from reception... no where to be seen! Eventually I hunted him down and it was all action stations!!!

In the morning I woke up and tucked into the most delicious banana pancakes I have ever had. My life - I can't even begin to describe them! I jetted off to the bus station to book my bus ticket to Chiang Mai later that day. Looking for the van that would be able to take me to the "White Temple" the locals hollared down a big local bus and chucked me on it! Off we shot into the country side, unsure if we were going the right direction as I couldn't even find the temple on the map!

Dropped on the side of the motorway the ticket man threw his arms in a rightwards direction - a quick dart across the road and I hunted it down! My god, was it worth the adventure. I have never seen a temple so beautful before. Iwas gobsmacked! The white temple was so dramatic, as I pulled nearer the detail and mirrors shone at me. Under the bridge leading into the temple where stone hands reaching up and traumatized faces, like the dammed from hell. There were stone faces hanging off the tree. It was so dramatic. Its the pic above. As I ventured into the temple I admired the paintings on the wall, all in realtion to budda. However when I looked closer I saw Spiderman, Bat Man, Darth Vada, The man from the matrix!!! All these different characters almost riding the waves inside! Unreal. Like no temple before.

I then ventured to the Hill Tribe museum and learn some really interesting stuff about the tribes themselves, cultures, heritage, behavious and dress. Alot about the Opium trade and the real reason the Golden Triangle is called that (all to do with opium). My fear about the long neck tribes was also confirmed: "The only reason the long neck tribes are in Thailand are because a business man imported them for the sole purpose of tourism. The long Neck Karen women who are living in these virtual human zoos are seldom if even allowed to leave the premises...". I also read something intresting about the elephant rides in Chiang Rai - if we don't ride the elephants then the locals will not make an income. Therefore they will take the elephants to somewhere they will, like Bangkok. In Bangkok Elephants frequently die due to poor living and traffic injuries. Therefore by riding them in Chiang Rai your are helping their quality of living. I had never considered this factor before and was interesting to take away.

I tucked into lunch at the "Cabbages and Condom's Resturant". This was set up by a man who wanted to make condoms as accessible as cabbages, and by eating at the resturant and staying in the hotel set up you are helping fund the movement - was a tasty meal too!

Another 4 hour bus ride and I was back in Chiang Mai, sitting to an arm chair arm before an early night. Trek 2 in the morning!