Hi everyone,

The week spent at Rai Seang Arun was really good for me, having been on the move for what feels like a lifetime I needed to stop for a while and relax. I have worked in the fields with the locals harvesting rice, totally different to what I expected, taken a push bike for a ride, read a book on Buddhism and completely unwound. The only negative in all this was that I managed to unwind to such a degree that I picked up a bug for which I had no medication. I have the best medical kit in the world with syringes, needles, IV lead, all sorts of potions, malaria tablets and the like in fact enough to rival a private hospital but no asprin or anything simple.

Khun Mam is here to take me to the Golden Triangle so I am going to shake a leg and get on with it. I had my first experience of driving in Thailand today when I drove a truck type pick-up all the way to the Triangle and back. Mam sat in the front just to give me a bit of street cred, but it would have been increased no end if I'd had a dozen farm workers hanging off the back, all their shopping and a couple of chickens as well!

We visited the Hall of Opium which is very well set out and presents 5000 years of opium use aound the World, having never grown it for export, the British do appear to have been dealing in it for a very long time and back in the 1800's it was us who used it to purchase tea from the Chinese. They were obviuosly a bit more shrewd in that they recognised the potential problems caused by opium abuse and refused to trade with it. Not to be deterred the British forced it upon the Chinese and this eventually led to war, we seem to have good at that sort of thing!

The Golden Triangle is really interesting and a lot of effort has been made on the part of the Government and the Royal Family to lead farmers away from opium growing, the main crop in the north is now coffee which will do as my drug of choice.

Back at Rai Seang Arun my journey continues to throw me together with really interesting people, take Jan and Ellen for example. Here was a young at heart retired couple from Holland who are on a wonderful adventure. Having visited Thailand many times in the past, they found a German carrier who would transport their beloved Dutch bikes to Thailand for them to tour the Northern Provinces. We just happened to be spending the evening at the same location and they kindly invited me to join them at their table for supper. We shared a great evening together chatting over dinner and into the mid-evening. Their's is a great way to see this area because you see so much more by travelling just that little bit slower and you experience much more contact with the locals to whom you are not only a novelty but also something of genuine interest. Ellen related a story to me when on the previous day they had riden past a school, all the children waved and said 'hello'. We all agreed that if a Thai couple had riden past a school in England or Holland they may not have got the same reaction or welcome. I had a lovely evening with their company so thank Jan and Ellen and by the way, I know you used the guest house in Chiang Rai. Nong was so pleased you went there and told me all about you as soon as I arrived back there.

Over the next couple of days I continued pottering around and visited a few local villages by push bike, it was quite amusing because most of the visitors to Rai Seang Arun are clearly Thai or local Asain tourists, therefore, they do not need such large bikes. I cycled an intersting 32K with my knees almost to my chest, it was quite a laugh though and caused varying amounts of amusement amongst the locals I encountered along the way.

Over the next three days I was not very well at all I had a continuous headache and nothing touched the sides, I have been feeling really cold and was shocked to find out that the outside temperature was actually 25 degrees. I was freezing so I took myself to bed and that is where I stayed for almost a whole day alternating between furness hot and freezing cold. I was somewhat better the day I was due to leave Rai Seang Arun but far from perfect, it was a bit of a shame but I had a brilliant time and have memories which will take a long time to fade. I will forever remember the kindness and concern of the staff who are without doubt some of the finest people you will ever meet, but the majesty of the surrounding hills silhouetted by the full moon on the first evenings of my visit will remain the highlight of my stay of that there is no question. There are many things I can say to try and describe what I saw but sadly none would really do the sight much justice, it was one of things which had to be seen to be believed. I was fortunate. I was there at the right time and like many things which have happened to me on this trip, it was simply meant to be, I will never forget it, it was just unbelievably beautiful.

See you soon

Chris.