Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, is the place to spend time and relax. However, it's a little bit too relaxed at the moment and there seems to have been a slump in tourist numbers. We've busied ourselves with a bit of planning - Thai cooking class tomorrow followed by a day at an elephant sanctuary - and some sightseeing.

The food markets are as good as ever in Chiang Mai. We'll be visiting them again as part of our cooking course, stocking up on fresh ingredients.

Yesterday's temple - Wat Phra Singh - was short and sweet. The temple is said to be an excellent example of Lanna architecture. Jen says it was different from other temples, although this was lost a bit on Andy. Even some of the dogs seemed to be suffering from temple fatigue.

Today was a trip up the mountain (1,600m) to Doi Suthep, home to a(nother) Buddhist temple. The great views of Chiang Mai were unfortunately obscured by the pollution. The Chedi was also undergoing some repairs, hence the gold scaffolding. (Junior Reader's competition - can you spot Jen in one of the photos below?).

The weekly Sunday Night Market is a very popular event. The streets are gridlocked with shoppers looking for a bargain - and there are many to be had. Jen got a pair of shorts (2 GBP) and a bag (1.20 GBP). Instead of shopping, Andy donated to the local hospital and got to pose with these two 'lovely ladies'.

Thanks to Jens and Alexandr for sending us some photos. We've added them to the following pages:

Ascent of Island Peak (6,189m)

Dhaulagiri Icefall