The Reclining Budha

For the first two weeks of this trip I have joined a gadventures group because it’s been 5 years since I travelled in Asia and I figured I would travel with a group for the first bit (plus I was trying to cheat on my planning). Anyway… met the guys in Bangkok this morning and they have turned out to be a fairly good mix of people who for the most part seem to get along okay. We have 14 people in total made up of 5 English, 1 Irish, 4 Americans, 2 Swedes, 1 Canadian and myself. As with any group, it has it’s characters.

We went for a walk and longboat tour on the river. Was a little strange to go on a guided tour to places that I had been by myself 5 years ago but all a good experience. After the tour was over I tried to get back to the hotel for a quick nap based on my lack of sleep from the night before, however that was short lived as the only place I could sleep was the room that had the luggage stored in it and some of the group came back to get stuff out of their luggage so I gave up, had lunch and then found a massage place next to the hotel where I spent a nice relaxing hour.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Early evening saw us board the overnight train to Chiang Mai. By this stage I was tired, cranky and seriously jetlagged. I ate dinner but didnt last much longer than that as I really needed to crash. Awoke after 8 hours sleep feeling much better. Train pulled into Chiang Mai around 10am and we were at the hotel a little while longer.

Long Neck Karen People in NE Thailand

Spent the afternoon visiting the Long Necked Karen people outside of town and then went and shot some rounds on a .44. Both things I did last time I was in Chiang Mai. Was interesting with the Karen people because I still have the photos I took 5 years ago and I managed to take some photos of the same individuals 5 years later.

This evening saw 6 of us at the Muay Thai Kick boxing. What a farce that was! They werent actually kicking or hitting eachother very hard and the supposed “knockouts” were faked. Am now back at the hotel, it’s after midnight and I need to go to sleep shortly as we are heading off to Chiang Khong tomorrow which is this side of the Thai/Laos border and somewhere I havent been before.

Nite Nite all,

KC