Our last trip out from Bangkok was to Pattaya, a busy seaside area. The tour book says it's "the epitome of exploitative tourism gone mad" and they're not wrong. Please note, my East Yorkshire friends, I'll not have a word said against Bridlington any more!
There's not much spare space along the beach as it's mostly taken over by the hotels for sun-worshipping purposes. There's a mass of shops along the prom selling the usual stuff but also a wide selection of weapons including knives, crossbows, knuckle dusters, samarai swords. We bought a hat and some swimming-trunks!
There were a fair amount of elderly Western men with much younger Thai women by their side, I suppose they were just being kind and showing them around the place!!
We decided it was not the beach scene we were looking for so we drove through the bar area (looking seedy enough in the day-light) and found a fishing-port a little further up the coast. After a welcome cool beer in a bar over-looking the bay, we ventured into the sea. It was gorgeously warm and a beautiful azure colour. No need for lotion, I'll just dry off for a few minutes, I thought. Famous last words as I turned bright red on the way back.


We had found our way out of Bangkok at 6.30 a.m fairly easily. Finding our way back in at 6.30 p.m. was a different story. The traffic congestion is like nothing either of us has seen before. It's not just the mass, it's the lack of rules-of-the-road as we know them. Here are some Thai rules of the road:
1. Do not stop at red lights
2. Do not honour speed limits
3. Do not stay in lane
4. Do not use indicators - just go
5. Do U turns and drive into on-coming traffic
6. Don't look before you come out of a side turning
7. Do not Give Way, always force your way into traffic
8. Get a motor-bike and put on as many passengers as you can fit on - including babies and dogs
9. For a bit of variety, try driving up the wrong way, or even on the pavement! This is especially good at night.

After our experiences on the roads, we were rather apprehensive about our drive to Chiang Mai, a distance of about 400 miles. Jon coped very well with finding our way out, remember, the maps and road signs are mainly in Thai! The roads were dual carriage way and, with not much traffic around, I took a turn at the wheel. Another ambition realised as I touched 140 km (that's 100 m.p.h ) a few times.

Now, about Chiang Mai, the 2nd largest city in Thailand. It has the atmosphere of "an ancient settlement" the book says, and it has within the old part of the city. This must have been surrounded by a wall in the past. Parts of it remain at the 4 corners and at each main gate in. It's surrounded by a moat with has planting of trees and flowers along it (sounds like York?)

Temples and shopping at the many bazaars are the main tourist attractions. The hand-made items are absolutely stunning - bags, jewellery, pottery, sculptures, clothes, shoes, ornaments, covers, lamps. The markets get packed out with Thais and Faranges (foreigners!) at night.

Outside the old area, the city is very Americanised with big shopping malls complete with McDonalds. Just up the road from the house we have rented is a huge.......Tesco!

We have spent most of our first week here finding out about Teaching English prospects. Jon has already got a job offer for a years contract at a High School. The schools are on Summer Break at the moment, the new term starts in May.

We thought we deserved a trip out yesterday so we headed for the mountain area, Doi Suthep, about 50 miles south of here. It was quite a steep drive up the mountain to the highest point in Thailand. Unfortunately, it was rather hazy so the views were not wonderful. Near the top, we stopped off at a couple of "his" and "her"temples (the King and Queen). They were very beautiful and set in very English type gardens with snap-dragons, petunias and daisies in abundance. There were several signs for water-falls but we decided to leave them until after the rainy season!