The bus ride to Chang Mai
October 13, 2007
I left Bangkok a day late aboard a rather squalid bus that squeeked, rattled and hissed (the suspension I think) for the entire journey. Spread out across two fully reclined seats and under a complimentary blanket I watched the passing scenery out of the window whilst waiting to fall asleep. I couldn't read because the reading light didn't work - all praise Apple for the iPod! It was a terrible journey in which I think I slept for about one or two hours in total.
Some 'highlights' of the journey:
The bus arrived in Chang Mai at 6am, as advertised, and everybody clambered into the back of a pick-up truck to be driven to the guesthouse, the Chang Mai Inn - a nice place with helpful staff, a free map of the city and a card with the address printed on it "for when you get lost."
After a shower and a lie down - finally - I walked to the local 7/11 to buy a bottle of water and phone card, phoned home to wish Chris "all the best" for his surfing trip in Indonesia, went to my room and slept.
***
At 5pm we had a meeting with the guide for the three day trek where we'll be visiting the Karen hilltribe.
After that I went to my room to get my things ready - a long sleeved shirt, DEET, rain jacket, etc - and packed it all into the backpack provided.
In the evening I went for a wander around the streets nearby the guesthouse. Chang Mai is much quieter than Bangkok, which makes taking an evening stroll something to be enjoyed and not endured.
I ended up eating at Miguels, a Mexican restaurant, where I had a 'Dos Amigos' - a beef taco, bean burrito, refried beans and rice piled onto one plate - with a bottle of beer for only 180 baht. It filled a hole nicely!
I had an early night since I had to get up at 7am the following morning.
Some 'highlights' of the journey:
- Watching a lightening storm develop, lighting up the night sky above Bangkok.
- The condensation dripping onto me all through the night.
- The toilet! Oh my..., the toilet! *Shudders!*
The bus arrived in Chang Mai at 6am, as advertised, and everybody clambered into the back of a pick-up truck to be driven to the guesthouse, the Chang Mai Inn - a nice place with helpful staff, a free map of the city and a card with the address printed on it "for when you get lost."
After a shower and a lie down - finally - I walked to the local 7/11 to buy a bottle of water and phone card, phoned home to wish Chris "all the best" for his surfing trip in Indonesia, went to my room and slept.
***
At 5pm we had a meeting with the guide for the three day trek where we'll be visiting the Karen hilltribe.
After that I went to my room to get my things ready - a long sleeved shirt, DEET, rain jacket, etc - and packed it all into the backpack provided.
In the evening I went for a wander around the streets nearby the guesthouse. Chang Mai is much quieter than Bangkok, which makes taking an evening stroll something to be enjoyed and not endured.
I ended up eating at Miguels, a Mexican restaurant, where I had a 'Dos Amigos' - a beef taco, bean burrito, refried beans and rice piled onto one plate - with a bottle of beer for only 180 baht. It filled a hole nicely!
I had an early night since I had to get up at 7am the following morning.
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