Chiang Mai's night markets are a wonder to behold. All manner of clothes and crafts, and your typical tourist magnets. I wish I could come here on holiday with an empty suitcase.
My hostel helped me book my bungy as soon as I saw I could do it here. Only 50m but exhilarating and fun. I was sad when it was over.
The next day I went to the Elephant Nature Park with a girl I met at the hostel. We researched the elephant parks and sanctuaries, to chose the most ethical one we could find. This would mean no riding, no mud baths etc. We chose the Nature Park as it's a refuge for rescued elephants, and they don't make the elephants do anything with humans that would be unnatural, but because they have previously been used in the tourism or logging industries they're familiar with humans and some don't mind being fed and petted. It was a lovely few hours, and I didn't feel like I was missing out, knowing that I wasn't causing the elephants any unnecessary pain or stress.
My last day in Chiang Mai I walked into the city centre to sightsee. I visited the three main museums- Lanna Folk Life Museum, Chiangmai arts and culture center and chiangmai historical center. I couldn't help but chuckle to see staff at the front desk at the Lanna Folk museum straightening their hair. Obviously a slow day.
The museums themselves were interesting and we'll presented.
In one video I noticed, all the men were referenced by name, but the one woman who appeared had her name on screen but not said audibly. Mrs Sophia McGilavary - I saw you. The only women referenced by name were the royalty.
At 5.30am on the 9th, the staff member on night shift drove me to the train station, and I got on a rather gruelling 14 and a half hours journey through the country to Bangkok. I slept some of it. I mostly watched Netflix. I was glad I brought snacks. I was grubby as hell when I arrived from the dirty air through the window, but it was nicer than the meagre ceiling fans.
And that was Thailand. A shower, some food, and 6 hours sleep later, I was back on a train to the airport and by the afternoon I was in Vientiane, Laos.
4th - 9th May, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Read: The Mistress
Watched: Daredevil season 1
Ate: best buffet at Elephant Nature Park
Drank: expensive cocktails at the night market and The castle, Chiang Mai's first haunted house and Gothic bar.
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