The North

Arrived early this morning in Chiangmai after spending 18hrs on a sleeper train (this mode of transport is the way forward when travelling in Asia - cheaper than flying but air-conditioned with space, unlike the buses). I'm in real Thailand now, I've only seen one other westerner since arriving - bit daunting but I'll get used to it! I'm planning to spend around two weeks up here in the north, moving on to Pai and Chiangrai too, which are meant to be beautiful...

Going to rent a motorbike tomorrow and ride up to the hills to do some whitewater rafting and elephant trekking on the Mae Taeng... paradise. It's a lot cooler and lusher up here in the north, a perfect place for me to escape for awhile, to chill out and lay off the booze!