relaxing Chiang Mai

Last Thursday I arrived by nighttrain in Chiang Mai. It was a funny trip. When I stepped into the train at 21h15 my bed was already made and I could do nothing besides going to bed that early. So I took out a book and started to read, just like all the others were doing in their beds. I had an upper bed, very small, no view besides the view on my swiss neighbour. The whole night I was shaken from one side to the other, but somehow I did manage to get some sleep. However, everytime I woke up I had to get my matress straight again, otherwise I would fall out...

The next morning, after a traintrip of 13 hours I arrived in Chiang Mai. I was welcomed by many tuk-tuk drivers, who were all after my money. Straight away I went to this hostal Mini Cost, advised by an ex colleague of mine, and I couldn't believe my eyes. It was so good! But expensive if you compare it to other hostals here in Chiang Mai. So I decided to stay for one night, to get myself a good night of sleep. Due to my coughing, which is getting worse by the day, this was not the case. I hardly had any sleep :-( So the next day I went to a pharmacy to get some medication for it as the Strepsils were not working. At this moment I take a liquior, but I don't have the feeling this is really helping. That's the reason why I didn't book a trekking yet, because I want to feel fit instead of coughing the whole time during that trip.

Yesterday I had a quiet day. First finding a new hostal, then taking some breakfast and I did some walking around. I decided to go to Wat U Mong, which is situated in the forest. On Sunday there are chatsessions with the monks about buddhism. I sat down in this forest and was enjoying the cool breeze, dogs walking around, the many butterflies and the little sunshine on my face. As I sat down reading in my diary, one of the monks approached me asking where I came from. He told me that there is a monk from Holland living as well and if I wanted to talk with him I had to follow him. So I did. This was a very interesting conversation! He explained about buddhism and that the main thing about buddhism is that you try to live at this moment. Not thinking that much about tomorrow and the past. Of course we discussed much more, I discovered that their way of thinking resembles mine or at least the way how I try to live my life. When I'm back in Holland, for sure I want to read more about it.

Chiang Mai is a nice town, the 2nd biggest of Thailand. I spend my time most of the day within the citywall where the atmosphere is very relaxed and quiet. Behind the big busy streets, you find many small streets, houses with gardens. It's not pretty, still a lot of concrete, but because of the gardens and the carfree roads there is a good atmosphere. It reminds me of Greece. The only thing that I absolutely not like about this city is that you are confronted with sex-tourism every where. In every hostal, every restaurant, every bar (just everywhere you go), you'll see white men with a much younger Thai girl, or white men in search for boys. It's impossible to close your eyes for that.
The weather is really good here in the north of Thailand. Not as hot as in Bangkok or Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya was by far the warmest (about 33 degrees Celsius max). Here in Chiang Mai it is about 25 degrees Celsius and during the night it is chilly.

Today I met Eline for breakfast and we had a lazy day. Sitting in a bar reading, and later we went to this nice park, lying on the grass and did some more reading. Tonight we will visit the nightmarket and Taylor (who I met in Ayutthaya) will join us as well. Tomorrow we have the plan to rent a motorbike and do some sightseeing out of town.
Next to this I had a Thai massage as well a couple of days ago. It felt soooo good! When she started with my back, a lot of 'knack' were heard, so I needed that!

I feel really good at this moment! Due to letting go of my planning for Laos, I feel so much freedom: I can do whatever I want. At this moment I do not really plan. Yes, there are things that I want to do, like going on the motorbike tomorrow, but if something else occurs, that's just fine. I let myself surprise by people that I meet.

I booked myself a ticket to Paradise as well! In 2 weeks I will be enjoying the sun, see and beach at Ko Samui, together with Jacco. It is his birthday and I invited him to join me at my island hopping trip. So we both are going for the weekend, he will leave at Sunday eve and I will start my islandhopping that Monday.

Well, this is it until now! Take care and big hug,
Marije