Chiang Mai, day 2

Today was my first full day in Chiang Mai and I had a pretty hectic morning. After breakfast I went for a long walk towards the city centre and it was hot... Oh man, it was damn hot and humid! I was stoned! Back from the city centre, straight to the pool and then to the gym before taking a wonderful shower and go for my Thai curry and friend bean curd accompanied by coke and some lemon and soda (222 + tip, 250). In the morning I walked to the centre, as I mentioned, and I must say that despite the fact that there is no luxury around and no flashy buildings, I find Chiang Mai (CM, from now) very captivating. The chaos around is not a pure one like in Bangkok. Over here despite the cars and the bikes (by the thousands!) , you can still manage to get to the other side of the road without being killed. Walking around it's hard, though, pavement are constantly blocked by something and this something is not illegally parked there. I am referring to phone booths, low trees, shops' extensions and so on. All things that cannot pass unobserved by the authorities, considering that there are policemen all over the place over here.

CM, seems more a middle class city, comparing to Bangkok, where the social divide was more visible. Here seems like the class is only one and the main division is between foreigners and locals. People, though, look different from those in Bangkok. Seems like there are more ethnic groups represented here than in the capital. Perhaps is due to the fact that CM is closer to the border(s) than BKK. Like in Bangkok, and all over the country, I assume, the veneration for the king is paramount. Portraits of the royals appear everywhere as much as the pictures of some Buddhist monk or Buddha's statues or other forms of representation.

Cost of living is cheaper than in Bangkok. Thai massage starts from 120 to 200 per hour. A meal starts from 50/60, a drink (fruit based) around 20 baht and same for a 2-liters mineral water. Accommodation can be found as cheap as 150 baht a day in a guesthouse or a hostel. Taxis, tuk tuk or whatever transportation mean carries humans, are very cheap too.

I can certainly say that if someone has the possibility of retire here, it would be heaven.

I loved staying by the pool today and even more jogging. I am getting used to the 80% humidity levels and 30 degrees temperature. That's good! I booked myself in the very same hotel until October 12th but that day I have to move out because they are closing here for a couple of days.

I will be leaving CM on the 17th in the evening and back to Europe the same night. I went to see the other Guesthouse and seems nice too. So, it shouldn't be that bad. Tomorrow morning, first day of school brrrr.... :)

This evening I was at the Sunday Market. It's something massive, extremely lively, very packed and, to confirm what I was saying earlier on about the CM people being sort of "chaotically disciplined", the whole market is perfectly walkable without people going against the flow. The keep the left hand side when they walk on foot, exactly as they do when they drive.

Anyway, it is really an experience this market. Beautiful, colourful, happy, noisy... Just a true market!

I loved it and I had a decent dinner too with someone I met in Bangkok and met here again. A pleasant evening, I must say.

Catch you tomorrow evening!



dragon fruit juice 20
water 40
lunch 222 (250)
dinner 450 (470)
coffees 165

total today 19 euro

overall total 638 euro