Took a minibus about 6.30 a.m. including the two girls to Chiangrai, after being given a 15 day visa at the Thai border, we are all tired but find another bus and push onto Chiangmai, I rather do the long journies in one go than pack and unpack etc. very young Israeli couple on honeymoon on the bus with us, he has some kind of Search Engine Optimisation business that allows him to travel.

Both the girls appear to be managing various relationships and roundevouzs on the trip and Kelly is keen to get to Pai but not hearing enough positive vibes from her friend so kranky!

The hotel location is very good and few yards from a very well price travel agent where I booked my Jungle Flight and onward journey. We arrived on sunday evening and a famous Sunday market is in progress, very colourful and extensive, walked around despite being quite tired after 12 hour journey, beer in hand and some very good street food.

Watching people in the market, locals who seem to live for their business some times looking tired/vacant/drunk. 1st day slept walked around, evening Simon (guy the girls had met earlier on their travels) arrives and we celeberate his Birthday with drinks, initially at the RIVA bar where various good live bands perform every night, and later at John's place where we are watched by the thai manager like a hawk in case we run away without paying, uncomfortable. Ally (very skinny canadian girl) has hooked up with Andy (British soldier, tip of his right tatood shoulder missing with an inscription underneath which reads "compliments of AK47"). Kelly was rather generous while ordering drinks but less so when settling the bill!

One night attended Muaythai competitions at the stadium which seems to be surrounded my lots of bars full of scantily dressed Thai girls. One of my walks got me into the day market and the stench of fish was very nauseating.

1st of April (April fools day) Jungle flight 3 Taiwanese women and 3 Canadians - we are picked up at the guest house and driven couple of hours mostly up various hills/mountains. Then given a little safety talk, attached to some harnesses and slide down these steel cables, at various heights 20-80 meters and lengths 40-300 (the longest Simeon mentioned was one Kilometer!). The longer ones are traverssed using double ropes and double harness attachments for safety. we also do 4 absails, 15, 20, 25,40 meters. I was left to dangle on the third one and swung about for a bit of fun. Unfortunately half way through the day our guides change and the new group are too keen to zap through and finish the day. they are pretty crazy though, sometimes traverssing or absailing upside down and stopping only few feet from the ground.

the photos taken of me are rather disappointing despite getting a few people to take them. the flights are good fun and I act out Tarzan shouting through the jungle.  A cobra is pointed out to us on the ground, while we are on a wooden suspension bridge, brown slithering through the vegitaion and rustling in the dry leaves.

One evening while eating out I notice someone I know, I follow her (Fabiane and Danny I had met in China) and surprise Danny whose eyes I cover with my hands but with small prompting guesses it is me on second attempt.

stayed too long in Chiang Mai due to lack of clear plans, had planned on doing a climbing course but too pricey and unsure of my shoulders.

guitars sold in a lot of shops that sell mostly other stuff like household things, strange. cheap and I am tempted but carrying will be an issue, I miss music.