CHIANG MAI Day 16

THURSDAY 18th. Another very lazy morning by the pool and as everyone was out we were entertained by the family of squirrels dashing along the branches of the trees and leaping onto the roof of the dining area, sometimes misjudging the distance. I also saw my first humming bird in years with a bright yellow body and black wings.
An Australian couple arrived two hours late having travelled from Bangkok by train. They had paid for a first class cabin with beds for two and a sink but walking through the train only found second class which meant sharing with lots of other people. The train kept stopping for no apparent reason and the noise of screeching metal kept them awake for most of the night. The smell from the toilet was none too pleasant either. No food was included so they had to purchase ‘Pringles’ etc., and so now they were going to eat and then catch up on some sleep.
We came home to shower and change and head back into the city for a walk down to the Iron Bridge and along a road we hadn’t travelled along before. Down by the river there was a lot of activity with more tidying up and pontoon building. The stretch in front of the Christian Church had paper notices written in Thai fastened to sellotape stretching the length of the grassed area. Whether the area was temporarily sealed off whilst the men were constructing pontoons we have no idea but we have noticed it seems so much quieter down that stretch of the river the last couple of nights.
The transporting of goods in this city never fails to amaze me. Today a man was carrying the remains of a large banana tree in what would normally be the metal passenger carrier at the side of his scooter, the leaves of the tree almost trailing on the floor behind him. Down a narrow one way street men on scooters were towing large metal cages with wheels wobbling in all directions as they were pushed and dragged along toward the Night Bazaar whilst avoiding the oncoming traffic!
We stopped at 3pm for a late lunch at ‘fine dining’ in front of ‘Le Meridien’ hotel. The shape was similar to a bus shelter at home with a curved corrugated iron roof. Inside was clean with a lovely tiled floor and once we had sat down ignored the ants going to and fro along the top of the wall tiles at eye level! Keith has developed a slight chesty cough so a bowl of Thailand’s hot spicy shrimp soup should help. It certainly made him perspire as it contained large pieces of ginger lots of chillies and a few citronella leaves!
We picked up a leaflet for ‘All Terrain Vehicles’ which we thought might be fun as long as I can be the passenger! With so much happening over the next 4 days we cannot decide when to go. We have arranged to go out with Kai again on the 25th.
At home everyone seemed to be returning from a hectic day out. The American bird watchers had a lovely day at an Elephant Camp whilst the American family with three young children looked exhausted, the youngest being carried upstairs as she was fast asleep. Mum and the other two children came down to the pool again so they could let off steam. They were not as noisy as last night and not in the water so long either.
We took a long walk in the direction of the moat to view the illuminated floats before heading down the back streets to ‘Thai Thai’ for our evening meal. We passed some really nice places not only for eating but also for accommodation but we still rate our choice as the best decision.