Hello with my Late Blog from Changers!

Thursday - 5 June 08

Hello to everyone who is still reading this travel blog. We are now into Day 6 in Chiang Mai and as usual I am late with this blog. We have had a great day today and manage to see a bit more.

This morning we walked, again, a long walk too. We walked to the Thapae Gate which is one of the Gates into the old city of which there are four. The old city was the original city of Chiang Mai back in the ancient days and the city was surrounded by a brick fortress to protect it which was then surrounded by a moat. Parts of the brick walls are still present and so is the mote, they have built little bridges and roads over the moat so people can get in and out of the old city and into the new.

We found a nice little cheap outside cafe to have brunch, (budget cuts) we now have breakfast and lunch at the same time, to keep costs down and to keep our intake of food down too. We then spent some time on the internet doing our usual stuff. We then hired a tuk tuk to drive us around the whole perimeter of the Old City and parts of the new and then onto the Umbrella making place. This is where they hand make all those beautiful paper umbrellas you see in lots of markets and tourists shops. They are so colourful and absolutely beautiful. I didn't buy one as they are cheaper to buy here at the bazaar.

We then rested for what was left of the arvo so I could have my usual nanny snooze and Rick can catch up with Bloombergs. We ventured out later then for dinner at the food court here next door to the hotel, it is just the best food and so cheap and you can have about 5 courses and it wouldn't cost you more than $10 bucks each. I had Hong Kong fried noodles in Won Ton soup and Rick had Chicken and Cashews we then shared a plate of fried mixed seafood and it was delicious.

Right in the middle of dinner we had the biggest downpoor of rain and we thought we would have to swim back to the hotel. The poor Stall holders were madly rushing around trying to cover their wares to avoid them getting wet. I wanted to go to the dried fruit stall and get some more dried Mango and Paw Paw which is so yummy I have been eating it by the packet, so we had to wade through the water on the street and footpaths to get to it but boy it was worth it.

By the time we got back to the hotel it was about 9.30pm and I was buggered. I am just loving being here and so is Rick and I would have to say that Chiang Mai is the best place to visit in the Northern parts of Thailand. It is exciting, vibrant, friendly, cheap and has the best food and people. Its AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until tomorrow! Hope you enjoy the newest photos I have added.