Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, walled city of the north of Thailand, with its narrow leafy streets, is cool today with overcast skies and a gentle breeze.

Yesterday evening I said goodbye to my travelling companions from France and Bulgaria, as they tried to find a cheaper and more uncomfortable bus to Bangkok, while I headed into the centre of Chiang Mai to find a place to sleep. We had travelled from Tham Lod the Thai way, in the back of a pick up truck, unfortunately sharing the space with some large pieces of machinery, covered with black grease, arriving covered in soot, our hair stiff.  Our driver kindly took us all the way to the bus station, probably out of his way. People in Thailand are so kind.

My travelling companions had walked most of the way from Chiang Mai to Pai, backpacks on their backs, without guide, staying in local people's houses. It took them a week. This was before I met them. I like people who travel like that, though my back wouldn't allow me to carry my whole luggage that way.

I tramped the streets of old Chiang Mai last night, until I found a room for 150 Baht. It has a bed and a lock on the door, a shower with a leaking tap (better than a leaking toilet, like there was in the last place) but not a very convivial place.

Chiang Mai is full of temples and monks and surrounded by mountains. Vestiges of the city walls, built around 1800 still remain in places.

No comments:

Post a Comment