Back in Chiang Mai

Sean & me on the balcony at Veerachai Court

Yesterday we flew to Bangkok, only just making it onto the plane by the skin of our teeth (why didn't they warn us that the departure gate was miles away?), and were then lucky enough to book a connecting flight up to Chiang Mai - although we then got stuck on the plane for an hour while they had to make an emergency tyre change. We finally got into the city around 10:30pm and I got a room at Veerachai Court (where Dave is staying). With Justin still away in Om Koi, the one other person I wanted to track down straight away was my American buddy Sean, and one phonecall took care of that - so by 11:30pm I was in one of my regular bars enjoying my first ice cold Beer Chang with Sean, Dave and Ying (Dave's girlfriend).

It's great being back here in Chiang Mai; although things always change it still feels like a second home to me. And despite being the second largest city in Thailand it still has a village feel about the place. Last night alone I managed to bump into eight people I knew, and I bumped into another five just going out for breakfast this morning! Honestly, I think I know as many people living here as I do back home in Brighton! Anyway, this morning I checked out of Veerachai (too expensive for a short stay) and moved into Somwang guesthouse - literally seconds away from my favourite bars and restaurants. I made the journey by tuk-tuk and as we travelled half way around the old moat it dawned on me that my driver was hopelessly lost, so I ended up having to navigate for him through the narrow sois... most amusing! Anyway, it's now nearly 2pm, it's around 30 degrees outside (so Portia advises me) and Sean and I have an appointment for a traditional Thai massage to ease away those aches and pains...