Chiang Mai

I got here a day later that expected. My flight yesterday was overbooked so I had to wait a day. Such is life on this side of the world - I am trying to learn to be a bit more flexible but we all know how anal I can be about plans. I got an extra day in Bangkok to do a lot of nothing. Tried to spend some time reading by the pool but just got comfortable there when a man with 5 kids under 6 came and they all decided that the water was best right in front of me. After five seconds my books were totally soaked and the chilled-out mood was lost, so I left the pool. As I was leaving, anther family with two small kids were just going in, so I suspect there was no more relaxing by the pool for anyone that afternoon. (This was all rather strange since I haven't seen a child in the hotel on any previous occasion.)

Anyway, I am now in Chiang Mai and really enjoying it. It is a bit cooler here, so you don't drip with sweat the moment that you leave an air-con room. The Sunday market is on at the moment and practically every street within the walled part of the city is closed to traffic. The shopping is much better here than in Bangkok and also has a much more relaxed feel to it. I really wish that I had held off on Christmas shopping until I got here, but who knew?

Given that I lost a day getting here, I was planning to leave for Laos the day after tomorrow. I'm now thinking of taking a two-day trek into the hills. As I've said, I could really use the exercise and I'm really enjoying the atmosphere around here. My major concern is that these treks inevitably include a visit or two to a hill tribe. While this is of interest to me, these visits are somewhat like going to a human zoo and it really rubs me the wrong way. I'll see if I can find one where the emphasis is on the trek rather that ogling these poor people to death.

I am hardly recognizing anything here - I can't believe how much has changed in 12 years. To be fair, it's probably my memory that has twisted everything around, but it all feels totally new to me. At the same time, it's very comfortable to be here, and as I said, much more laid back than Bangkok.

I'm off to check out some live music - there are supposed to be some good little bars across the river from my hotel. Of course I haven't been back to my hotel since I checked in this afternoon, so I hope I can find it again!