Righto readers, today was a slow one. Chiang Mai demands more time, theres no way we can fit the things in to get a proper bead on this place. Where we are staying, The Elliebum Boutique hotel is lovely, a quaint older style hotel, beautiful timber floors, nice rooms, sort of French colonial style,  with a nice little lawn fronting the street. The woman who owns it is here all the time, she has great staff with a welcoming feel.

Breakfast is really good. We take our time, we’ve got a bit of it ( time that is) up our sleeves. Hbum and I ingest our canabis sativa gummy bears, strictly medicinal. I think they work!!!

Dave better known as Telegram Sam goes off on a walk by himself, prospecting the Ping River, searching for long lost flora and fauna species, but finds himself ( for a short time he says) in an area where the massages may be a little more detailed than what they have on the board outside.

We, that is Hbum, The Navigator and I go in search of spiritual enlightenment at the Silver Temple. Which we find after a 19 minute walk, plus 30 minutes for looking in shops of the clothes and jewellery variety. Hbum is pissed that the silver temple only allows men inside, because women can’t become monks. I don’t think I’d become a monk, saffron doesn’t really go with my hair colouring.

The ladies are allowed in the gold temple just over from the silver temple, where a monk sits in consultation with Lord Buddha, dispensing sage advice, putting a little bracelet on your left wrist and smacking your head with a half arsed little broom like thing, all for a monetary donation.

Sounds like our Christian churches a bit I feel

A Bolt taxi gets us home for 92 baht.

We reconvene at our hotel after the morning activities.

Dave lunches at a little place over the road, 70 baht gets him a piece of fish, vegies and some spicy salad.

Dinner is back where we were last night, khao soi is king. We all try different desserts tonight, all up dinner cost is about 130 ($6.50) baht per person

Ciao from Chiang Mai

Pauolo