Joe, the taxi driver, dropped us off at Baan Nam Ping, our home for the next seven days. Stefan, a big German guy is our host, along with his petite Thai wife, An. They are regaling us with anecdotes about themselves and their lives here in Thailand. Nothing is too much trouble, as my sim card died - again, they provided us with a mobile and sent one of their staff to the nearest 7 Eleven on his moped to buy us a sim card!
We are about 30 mins from Chiang Mai, the hotel is charming, a series of 'bungalows' with decks overlooking the River Ping.
Went for a long cycle ride taking in the sights along the river, passed a village shop without a village, run along the lines of Marton rather than Ouseburn! Fish farming is the local occupation, saw plenty of nets out and bumped into a water buffalo or two.
Stefan gave us a lift into Chiang Mai today then we took a songthaew (a modified pick-up truck) up Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's 5120 ft 'guardian mountain.' We stopped at the temple Wat Phra That Doi Suthep about
9 miles along the steep, winding road. Can't say we were impressed with it though, after walking up it's 300 steps the outcome was a bit of an anticlimax. It could be cos we're a bit temple saturated.
The highlight was visiting the Phuping Palace at the summit, it has beautiful grounds and buildings, enormous bamboos, musical fountains and everything you could need for 2 hours in the searing heat. Even the hair raising ride back down the hairpin bends couldn't detract from our inner peace!!! Incidentally, as we had no change, a lovely young Thai couple paid half our fare.
It has been very hot yesterday and today, without any rain. Most days, as it is the tail end of the rainy season, it rains at some point, but it is very hot, and after the rain, less humid. The air is cleaner and fresher here in the north but the mozzies are more ferocious.
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