Chiang Mai is Cool

We have reached Chiang Mai! We arrived safe and sound after a week of travelling on Sunday Dec 21 2008. I think there were many sighs of relieve that we actually did it! I think I heaved the biggest sigh as it was not easy at all. Travelling with Ali is indeed a challenge.

Actually for that matter travelling with kids for so many hours in a car is a feat and a challenge. The constant cries of how many hours more, why do we have to take so long, when can we stop, where are we now. You who have kids would know what I mean. Travelling to Penang is enough of a challenge for some of us so imgaine being in a confined space for more than 5 hours.

Yup ... I did it. Many a times I had to take Ali out of his car seat as he was getting restless. I can't blame the boy I mean he is 1 and half years old and is crazy about being on his feet exploring this and that and then suddenly you ask him to sit still. GILA lah he is proabably saying.

Anyways, we started at Wang Kelian last Monday. Today we are in Chiang Mai. We stopped at Krabi for 2 night ( I was sick ...), Khao Lak for a night, Chumpon for a night, SuphanBuri one night, Phitsanulok one night and probably spend another night in Chiang Mai.

The drive up was pretty interesting. What I noticed about the drive up is that there are always people and villages about. We travelled on major highways but their highways are not like Malaysia's PLUS. No toll for one and a steady stream of cars. Village after village, just a matter of size. There is always a petrol station in sight and a 7-11 too. So you never have to worry about going hungry. The scene changed a bit as we we were entering the Chumpon area as it is a big town and traffic is heavier with the number of people increasing and the night life more happening. After Champun you get nearer Bangkok. We didn't go into Bangkok but being around it (Rathchaburi etc) is enough as you can feel the hustle and bustle of the city life. The highway at this point gets busier too.

After Phitsanulok, going into Lamphun and the Chiang Mai area, the scenery starts to change too. One because of the weather. the greens get a little brown and the paddy fields are a little drier. The highway changes as there are no more villages but instead a windy road. As we get nearer Chiang Mai then the highway changes and you see again the big intersections.

What is Chiang Mai like? Bob said reminds him of Jakarta. I think its a bigger Hat Yai. The feel? Not sure yet. Have been here for less than 24 hours and have not seen much of the city. There are a lot og temples around, some are pretty nice. They say shopping here is heaven but I have not experienced the night markets yet. Will update you on that later. The weather is nice. It is cool, not humid.

We have run into some car trouble now. Bob has just come back from Land Rover and they are not much help. We have to figure out what to do now cause the car might now be able to take a long drive home. Well, am assured that the airport is not far!