Yesterday I arrived to Chiang Mai by train almost according to schedule (only about one hour late). Yesterday afternoon I made a little walk around the guesthouse and took a swin in the pool. The first impression about Chiang Mai was fairly positive. It is cheaper and somewhat cleaner here than in Bankok, people are not quite as keen to sell me something I do not need and it is also cooler here.

This morning I took a longer walk to the Nationa Museum here to learn more about the history of Lanna, whose Capital Chiang Mai used to be for several hundred years. I also visited a couple of the local temples. Accorging to a map in the museum there are at least 66 buddhist temples in Chiang Mai alone. After those strenous activities I took a two hour thai-massage.

For tomorrow I have booked a hiking + downhill cycling tour. Let us see how I will survive.

For the night between 15th and 16th of Dec I have booked a hotel in Bangkok (Passport should be ready by that time.) It is still somewhat open what else I will do before that. If I believe that old passport is still in acceptable condition I could make a short visit to Laos, and fly from there to Bankok to get a new (and longer) Thai-visa. Otherwise I just go back to Bankok by train or bus.