Chang Mai, Thailand - Heading North....to the 'Jungle'

ETA Chang Mai 7am.
Sleeper trains...a challenge for the freakishly tall people, although very logical. Its still light out when we leave Bangkok. So many people wandering along the train tracks, off home after work? Sitting down along the edge of the train tracks, eating dinner. Reflection of the counties wealth.
In the city people have little communities throughout, their temporary homes made up upon construction sites, under bridges, alongside rail tracks. The smells of the excrement stronger than you can imagine, and we're not even within spitting distance of them. (If Deken was here he wouldnt keep his lunch down for long at all) Classroom type setups under bridges, kids sitting listening and learning while the trains crash past overhead as does the traffic all around. Coming into Chang Mai in the morning, parents with their children, barefoot, side saddled on motorbikes and scooters on their way to school. Old women driving round on little motorbikes!

A swarm of locals flashing cards of hotels in our faces, we get picked out of the crowd as we disembark. A young lad takes us to a nice little hotel across from a playground, the grass is up to the waist of the children playing on the swings, but its a lush green and they're happy. I can recommend the HOLIDAY GARDEN VIEW HOTEL, the people are friendly and accomodating the rooms are of a good standard, they have a private pool out the back, and they have a small bar/restaurant. (Cost me 300 baht per night, single room w/ensuite...approx $10nzd)

Upon arriving we sign up for a 3 day trek in the 'jungle'...to interpret for those of you are New Zealanders, is simply a tramp in the forest. The ambience that is Chang Mai, quite the contrast to Bangkok. Wandered up the road for a look, a temple stands at the end of our road, the courtyard filled with people doing some form of meditation dance...Tai Chi maybe? Further down the road a young woman advertising laundry services, I took her a bag of clothes that were getting a little smelly, cost was 35 baht to wash everything in the bag...delivered with a smile, priceless actually. I get back to the hotel and sit down for a drink, look across to the playground and tehre are kids playing pingpong...using a branch as the net divider on their table. the streets of Chang Mai are a lot cleaner than those in Bangkok and the smells are sweeter. Mind you, I havent seen anyone come past selling fried chooks feet or insects since I've been in Chang Mai...maybe thats the key, the absence of the food stalls.

Chang Mai seems a little hotter than Bangkok, or maybe just more humid? Not quite as hectic here either, it is easy to notice the absence of motorbikes screaming round. Oh they're here...just not in the same numbers.