Arrival in Chiang Mai (2 hours late I'll add) - shaking off a sleepless night from the train to be greeted by hundreds of Taxi drivers all shouting 'You wan taxi? Wher you go?' I was hoping Chiang Mai was not going to be the same as Bangkok. Using my haggling skills (freshly developed as soon as possible) I told the guy what I was going to pay and nothing else, he accepted and we walked out of the station. Not really haggling I will admit...but I couldn't wait to get into that nice cold air conditioned taxi...except it wasn't a taxi. It was a Songthaew. Basically an open back truck with benches (seats) in the back which also meant I had to wait ages for him to fill it with other people.

Chiang Mai Old town (Inside the moat and walls) is actually quite a small town, so travelling anywhere inside can either be achieved by walking or getting a tuk tuk. The Guest House I chose to stay in is called the Jai Dii and is located off of Soi 6 Moonmeuang Road right by Somphet Market - Fresh produce, Yum! Owned by a French guy called Mark and his Thai girlfriend. Very basic, but free WIFI, Coffee, Tea and Water bottle refill, sounded good to me! There are literally hundreds of other guest houses and hostels in the area and whilst here might not be the biggest in terms of room space or the most glamorous, from what I have seen they do have the cheapest rates on tours. OH when I said Fresh produce at the market, I meant it. There's a lady there with a bucket of live fish swimming in a big tank, she then kills the fish and there and then BBQs it whole on her BBQ and sells them at the market - beat that Ramsgate Harbour!

It is very quiet here compared to Bangkok, in my room of 6 beds there is a Korean girl, French guy (who talks an awful lot) and an American guy who has been here for over a month already. The only thing I missed about Bangkok in Chiang Mai is the nightlife. You could walk anywhere in Bangkok and discover other backpackers. Here in Chiang Mai it seems every single bar is full of ladyboys and the occasional Dirty old white bloke...

Despite that I have decided to stay here for a week and do some tours nearby before heading over to Chiang Rai and into Laos a couple days later.