Character, Comfortable, Compact, Convivial, Cool…

We chugged into Chiang Mai on the overnight sleeper, arriving at approximately 8 in the morning. The difference in climate was one of the first things that Madzia noticed! The pace was also noticeably slower, as we walked down the platform, preparing ourselves for a barrage of tuktuk touts, and instead meeting a trickle.

A short taxi ride to our guest house revealed a city full of character, with a comfortable, almost familiar feel to it. Don’t get me wrong, it is still fairly hectic, compared to say, Geelong, however it seems like the perfect foil to Bangkok, and we are looking forward to exploring the maze-like soi and various wat.

A surprising discovery on the first day was the UN Irish Pub showing live Rugby, Rugby League, AFL and the Euro Cup! With four weeks here in Chiang Mai I’ll be able to follow the annual rugby lessons handed to the northern hemisphere sides and the beginning of the tri-nations.

So as we settled ourselves into our room, we looked forward with anticipation to experiencing the local cuisine, exploring this city full of temples and being entertained by the game they play in heaven.