Bonus blog

The more geographically aware among you will have realised that we have passed through Chang Mai in Thailand twice and haven't written a word about it. The main reason for this is that our computer broke down the first time we passed through and I was being lazy the second time. It might help with the narrative if you were to revisit the Chang Mai pictures. I'm writing this on our 6 hour bus ride between Phmon Pen and Siam Reip so it's a good chance to get fully up to date.

Chang Mai means "New City". It was new about 725 years ago. The city centre is still completely surrounded by a moat and parts of the original city walls are still there. Within the moat the roads are laid out in a grid system so finding your way around is easy. It was flower festival time when we arrived the first time on our y to the hill tribes trek and our car was held up by a procession of decorated floats. We took the opportunity to have a look at them the following morning when the floats and the flower competition entries were open to the public. The orchids and the bonsai were fantastic but I think I could have given them a run for their money in the pot of petunias competition.

We hired a guide who turned out to be a devout Buhddist to take us to a mountain top temple where the monks would be chanting at sunset. She showed us how to pay our respects properly by performing the meditation walk and bowing down 3times in front of the statue. We were introduced to a monk and, having made a small donation, received a blessing. The arrival of the chanting monks was announce with a single stroke on a massive gong. The vibration passed through your bones and into your soul. As new initiates we were invited to kneel with the monks as they chanted their evening prayers. I'm not good at kneeling, my knees get sore, and after a couple of minutes I began to fidget. I leaned forward to relieve the pressure on my knees and the contents of my pockets scattered all over the mat. It was felt that it might be best if we left - our short career as Buhddists was over.

On our way down from the mountain we stopped for dinner at a cultural centre. As well as a feast of Thai food there was to be an exhibition of classical temple dancing and hill tribe culture. We were served 8 courses, all of which were fantastic. During the traditional dancing the heavens opened and a tropical downpour ensued. The rest of the show was abandoned and the guests made their way to their busses. The only thing that was left for us to take was a Tuk Tuk which, by that time, was up to its axle in water. It would seem that the best way for a Tuk Tuk to make progress in deep water is to go at it at full speed. We burst out into the night spraying water in a massive V formation as we went. Everyone within 20 feet of us got a soaking and we sent tidal waves sweeping into many a house. We sped through narrow lanes giving no quarter to any soul picking their way home. The Tuk Tuk roared up a ramp into the foyer of our hotel and we stepped out - the only dry people in Chang Mai that night. All this for £2.

The second time we passed through Chang Mai was at the beginning of our present tour when it was our first stop after Bangkok. The group was beginning to gel and most of us decided to try our hand at Thai cooking. After a trip to the market to purchase the ingredients, we tried our hand at spring rolls, coconut soup, massaman (potato and peanut) curry and Pad Thai. We ate our produce as we went along and were stuffed by the end of the session.

The day was rounded of by a visit to a lady boy show. This is where young ladies get dressed up very glamourously and put on a burlesque show. The trick is that they act a bit camp to make you think that they might be boys but they're not really. Anyway, after the show they were really friendly, affectionate really, and we had a great time with them. Nice to think that some beautiful girls find me attractive still.

Like Luang Prabang and Hoi An, Chang Mai is one of those places with a relaxed pace of life where we would be happy to spend more time in future.