Back in Thailand

Day 42 – Chiang Rai, Thailand

So I left Laos behind me, crossing the border in one of the easiest crossing to date, and went back to Thailand. The bus dropped me in Chiang Rai, where I promptly took a tuk-tuk to my hostel. My hostel was very obviously closed, with a piece of paper bearing instructions in Thai and a phone number.

I inquired of a nearby security guy if he knew what it meant; he didn’t really speak English, so he took me to a nearby store where the saleswomen didn’t succeed in explaining what it meant either but offered to call for me. Isn’t it amazing of all these people to help the poor, lost stranger, even across the language divide?

It transpired that the hostel I booked through a competent internet booking agency was closed until October, which is probably the start of the high season. I thanked the gracious ladies and man, and went in search of another hotel. In the space of less than 500m, I found two other hostel closed, a guesthouse a bit above my price-range, and an open hostel that had available accommodations.

They also had a comprehensive schedule of bus for Chiang Mai the next day.

A tour of the night bazaar yielded some nice things, at different ranges of prices, including several anklet bracelets with small bells, this way people can hear me coming. It less fun when you go back to your dorm room at a time when people, potentially, want to sleep.

Day 43 – Chiang Mai, Thailand

I arrived easily in Chiang Mai, found a shared transportation that dropped me at 10 min’s walk from my hostel. It is a very nice, modern hostel, and I am starting to look out for them: thick mattresses, curtains on the bed, air-con, numerous shower stalls, amenities such as free soap and shampoo (very important for me, the shampoo, since I shave my head), good Wi-Fi, free drinking water, free breakfast, café on the premises, and the possibility of arranging anything from a pick-up or drop-off to the airport/train station/bus stop to a customised tour of nearby attractions.

I haven’t been taking much pictures these last two days as I haven’t really been visiting things. I don’t think taking pictures of the Wi-Fi code counts.

What’s next: tomorrow night, I take a plane to Phuket, and I hope to find a quiet place near a beach to spend a week swimming. I haven’t started looking yet, so no promises.