Chiang Mai January 2009

Chiang Mai January 2009

New Year's Eve. Pon has a new restaurant/bar in Chiang Mai, not ready for proper opening yet but we go there anyway, she has beer and facilities for bar-b-q so we have a great evening with friends from tour company eating lovely food and drinking til 3am. During the evening, thousands of lanterns are being released into the sky all over Thailand, it is a spectacular sight to see them all floating in the night sky. Nearby is a reggae dance hall/bar packed with revellers, also many other clubs, bars and dance halls around the square, lots of music and party atmosphere, it is a great place for Pon's new restaurant.

1 January, a bit late up in the morning, meet Pon at 10 to start 3 day tour of north west Thailand. We head for mountains and they are spectacular. The road is very steep, up, down and around many tight windy bends through thick natural forest. For many miles I am spellbound by the sight of this beautiful place. We stop twice at high viewing points and get some great pictures. We stop again at one of the many roadside stalls to buy jacket sweet potatos, very tasty.

We arrive at Huay Nam Dang, a tourist park at a high point in the mountain forests, this was a favourite place of the King's late sister. The whole area of forest covered mountains is a national park spreading from Amphur Pai to Amphur Mae Taeng. The highest peak is Doi Chang. We look around the visitor centre and walk around the park getting some more great photos.

Next, on to Pai, a very popular destination for Thai tourists, especially this year due to a movie made here in 2008. Pai is packed with visitors from all over Thailand, I didn't see a single western person. There are thousands of stalls in walking streets packed with people. Entertainers comandeer sections of streets for their performances - music, singing, dancing, drumming, children doing knife acts and dancing in a llama costume. Wonderful atmosphere. I bought a rattle for Leon and a pink bouncing giraffe for Ruby. Had a very Thai meal in a restaurant near the Cafe d'tist where the film was made in the centre of Pai, a bit salty for me but still enjoyed it.

Then to campsite for the night, first time in a tent since pre-caravan racing days, but very warm and cosy so had a good night. Will report on day 2 of the tour tomorrow,
All the Best, John