Friday was a day that had seemed like a good idea while sitting in the Richmond travel agent's office. Yes! A 12 hr trip up to the Golden Triangle! How interesting! What fun! I'd become more and more doubtful as we got closer to the day and came close to pulling the pin on it several times. It seemed like it would be less like a holiday experience and more like a test of endurance and family relations. It turned out to be one of the most interesting days we...

Thursday was Milla's birthday - happy birthday Milla Moo!! We had a fantastic day at Elephant Nature Park. I specifically chose this 'elephant experience' as the lady who runs it has won heaps of awards for the way that she looks after the elephants. I really wanted us to enjoy the day rather than feel uneasy about what we were seeing and doing. Of 35 elephants there, there were none in chains and only one called Trouble Boy with a bell around his neck becaus...

Wednesday was the Baan Hongnual Cooking School. We started off shopping through one of the markets with our chef Amporn - the meat section in particular was an eye-opener and was all the motivation I needed to embark on another vegetarian phase. The fruit and veges were superb and Emerson especially is enjoying all of the different tastes while we're here in Thailand, with his favourite being the dragonfruit. Then we headed out to Amporn's family home in a ...

What a chillaxed couple of days we've had in Chiang Mai. It's been filled with amazing temples, numerous pad thai, and cocktails & Chang beer alongside the hotel pool. I have actually been looking in the Situations Vacant today for teaching jobs but have had no luck thus far. And yes of course the once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience would translate well into day-to-day living! How could you think otherwise!? Last night for dinner I dragged the unsuspect...

After the crazy manic pace of the capital we're basking in the relative calm of Chiang Mai. If we'd come here first we might not feel the same way but it's an oasis compared to Bangkok. Look kids, only 20 motorbikes to dodge on this road! There is so much more greenery and people are unhurried with more time for chitchat with dopey lost New Zealanders. After suffering through an electronics mall (big wife brownie points for me) we had a delicious lunch, experi...