One of the very best things about Thailand (there are many contenders) is the people. They are funny, helpful, generous, joyous good natured humans who make daily life such a pleasure. It beats the angry, inconsiderate bunch who you often come across in our own home towns. If you are out in the middle of nowhere people will immediately help. They smile, make phone calls and treat your crisis as a group project they are delighted to be part of. It’s heart warming, mildly embarrassing and a refreshing change. Conversely if you are disrespectful or aggressive it can go horribly wrong for you, they don’t suffer fools gladly. Once you’ve crossed that invisible line smiles disappear quicker than a cold beer on a hot day!
We were sat in a bar with friends and a woman from another bar, decided subtlety was overrated and roared up on her motorbike in full Xmas regalia saying ‘come to my new bar’ gave directions and a cheeky wink and disappeared into the night in a festive blur of tinsel. It was Christmas Eve in Thailand, mildly surreal, totally unapologetic and very entertaining.
The bar owners didn’t blink an eyelid, no animosity or ‘what do you think you are doing’ Totally unfazed they just carried on pouring drinks.
When a car stops in the middle of a road holding up traffic for 10 minutes no one leans on their horn or loses their mind they just sit calmly and wait it out, it’s a much better way to live your life. I’m really hoping it rubs off. I’ll know when I return home and still feel this relaxed when someone steals my parking space whether Thailand has truly worked its magic.
It’s very busy in the city lots of out of town Thai visitors arrive for the holidays.
We decided to just watch the fireworks on top of our apartments roof, 7 floors up. It was a perfect spot with fireworks going off all round the city.
We have been in the old city on New Year’s Eve many times. Years ago when you were allowed to release lanterns, hundreds were launched at midnight and they set fire to lots of the trees, drunken tourists, chairs. It was a lot of fun but absolute chaos. To the roof..much safer.
Our local Wat is called Wat Jed Yod and was one of the earliest temples in Chiang Mai built in 1455. It’s a very pretty temple with lots of trees in the grounds and many buildings and stupors.
It’s only 5 minutes from where we stay, it’s cool and calming in the heat of the afternoon. Chris has a really good trick with the big Buddhist gongs. Turn up the volume.
We are waiting for a few more days until a lot of the visitors have disappeared to go for longer rides out. Local rides around villages close by are always interesting. Just watching life quietly unfurl around you, monks ambling along, children playing it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. The blossom is out.
We are going on Monday to Chiang Dao, north of CM.
It has some of the best undulating pretty roads I’ve ever seen, dense forests and hanging mist draped mountains. We’ll stay overnight in a homestay, can’t wait.
Chris and Sigrid’s excellent adventure 