Chiang Mai: part I

Since I left you last, I successfully survived a fun-filled (although relatively sleepless) overnight train ride from Bangkok to the cultural mecca of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, having adopted a new Irish family and an affinity for Lipton tea with milk and sugar along the way. Arriving in Chiang Mai with nowhere to stay, I decided to tag along with the Irish boys in the search for a place to sleep. We stepped off the train and were immediately besieged by eager taxi and tuk tuk drivers, hungry for our business. Eventually, after walking in circles for longer than I cared to with a backpack the size of a large child, we found ourselves at the lovely family-run Libra Guest House, located in the city center on Moon Muang Road Soi 9. After a quick check-in and storage of our bags, we set off to explore the city.

I immediately fell in love with the relaxed hipster vibe and the beautiful green scenery of Chiang Mai, a welcome departure from the gray concrete and flashing neon lights of Bangkok. In order to get a more complete tour of the city (and to stay cool while doing so), we decided to rent a motor bike and brave the Chiang Mai traffic. Zipping around the city, we passed swanky coffee shops and beautiful gleaming Wats (temples) before making our way out of the city and up the winding road to Doi Suthep Temple, which overlooks all of Chiang Mai. The temple's gleaming gold spires and Buddha statues were matched in beauty only by the breathtaking view of the entire city below.

We finished the evening with a trip to the lovely Night Market, a can't-miss collection of stalls and vendors offering everything from clothing to Thai silks and delicious street food, and you're likely get a good price on just about everything if you know how to haggle.

Next on the Chiang Mai agenda ... trekking!