Day 39
The days here all merge into each other here as we just relax into life in Chiang Mai. Today is going to be a day of doing and searching for coffee shops to set up camp in. We want to book Laos and sort out the money and what a better way to do than with watermelon shake. After shakes we have cakes and after cakes we have salad. I'm not feeling too perky today so we go back to the apartment so I can rest up ready for exploring tonight.
There is a place near us called The Harbour and it's just the strangest thing. It's a shopping village all set up like a small american harbour town, complete with streets and odd nautical statues. It is also over priced so we only stay for one drink before scootering off to the Think Park, it's full of vintage shops, cool cafes and music. We stay for a bit and eat some delicious food before I feel crap again and we head back.
Day 40
Today we get our proper exploring on and head up the mountain behind our apartment to find some waterfalls. The roads are uneven and very winding as we head away from the city but the views are amazing. Part way up is a temple that's too full of tourists for us so we scoot past, going up even higher. The further up we go the bumpier the roads become and Ben spends more times avoiding pot holes than anything else. At a fork we turn left and come to a little village that's all geared up for the tourists who are still on the temple part of their tour. It's nice and quiet here as we potter through and pay 20p to go and look at a waterfall and a pretty flower garden. The flowers are beautiful but the waterfall? Well that's a bit measily but we get some shots of Julian and then head back to find the peak.
At the fork, we take the other road, which is even tighter and bumpier than before. I swear it's more pot holes than road and my spine gets nicely compacted as we ride up. But the views half way up are worth all the yelping and we snap some pictures and take it all in.
We still aren't at the top though and Ben never likes to leave any job half done so head up further, bouncing as we go till we reach a weird check point where they deny all knowledge of the peak and send us back on our way. As we head back down we spot a sign for another waterfall and decide to check it out. We park up and it looks like we might be disappointed again but it's cool and calming so we take some snaps. It isn't until Ben decided to climb a little higher that we find the real beauty spot and although it's the dry season, the fall up here is pretty impressive. Ben waste no time and strips down, paddling up to the water and when it hits him, his face, which you can see below is priceless. I thought I was going to fall over I was laughing so hard.
Back down in the city and after lunch and a swim at the apartment, we head out to the cinema to watch Birdman. The picture house is on the top floor of the Maya shopping centre which means there are loads of places to eat and we are naturally drawn to FroYo. Upstairs, with tickets bought, we watch the Thai guys beat each other on the dance mat games (I have never seen anyone move so fast) before heading to our screen and sofa. Yes you heard right, we paid for the most expensive seats (£3) and got a reclining, comfy sofa, aw it was bliss. Before any film starts in Thailand everyone must get up for the national anthem, the videos below, and it's quite moving to watch people cry with pride.
The film is amazing, I would really recommend it especially with a litre of coke beside you and a squishy cushion underneath you. We grab doughnuts on the way out and stuff our faces, chuffed with another good day.
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