Day 44 - Chiang Mai
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tuesday 20th September
After the big day of touring yesterday I thought I'd sleep-in, but by 8:30 the sun was streaming through my windows and I was ready for the day ahead. I had previously intended on attending an elephant camp today, but decided due to costs and time I would delay it until a future trip. (There are some really cool elephant camps near Chiang Mai, including mahout camps and week long adventures - for next time!)
My vegemite made a return at breakfast and then I headed out to a shopping centre near the airport, the biggest in Chiang Mai. I was stoked to find a beautiful dress at 20% off that would be perfect for Canada - I will need at least one outfit to wear when I arrive! I'd just received an e-mail from Whistler stating that my start date had been moved forward. Instead of starting on Monday November 15th I now start on Wednesday November 10th, with orientation the day before. As I'm not arriving until the afternoon of Friday 5th, I now only have the week-end and the Monday 8th to get over my jet-lag, buy a winter wardrobe, get a SIM card and social security number, set up a bank account and check-in to my Whistler accommodation! I'm taken the move forward as a positive sign though - Whistler must be expecting a bumper season, which will mean more work for me!
I needed some US dollars for when I cross into Cambodia, and despite trying every single bank in the mall (about 10!!), not one of them had any!! Let's hope my search in Pattaya is more successful! Lunch was at Sizzler before I spent a few hours on the 'net at the hostel and then headed back into the city.
On the way into the city, I was chatting with the songthaew driver when all of a sudden, "Bang!!". Something hit the car with an almight smash and I jumped a million miles, thinking we'd hit someone or had been involved in an accident. It turned out a large tree branch had fallen and smashed into the windscreen and roof of the car. Fortunately we were uninjured, but all I could think of was that I was not calling Mum and Dad to tell them I was in a Thai hospital (again!!)
I did call Mum and Dad then ... just to say hello ... and then had an ice-cream sundae at Swenson's to celebrate my being alive. I spent a couple of hours in an internet cafe and then headed down to the night market. Similar to the 'Sunday Walking Street' in size, it differed in that most of the items for sale were the typical souvenir products like counterfeit t-shirts and bags, so I didn't purchase anything. Early night in preparation for another big day tomorrow - cycling tour in the morning and then overnight train to Bangkok.
After the big day of touring yesterday I thought I'd sleep-in, but by 8:30 the sun was streaming through my windows and I was ready for the day ahead. I had previously intended on attending an elephant camp today, but decided due to costs and time I would delay it until a future trip. (There are some really cool elephant camps near Chiang Mai, including mahout camps and week long adventures - for next time!)
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| Cool animal statues made of sawdust at the mall |
My vegemite made a return at breakfast and then I headed out to a shopping centre near the airport, the biggest in Chiang Mai. I was stoked to find a beautiful dress at 20% off that would be perfect for Canada - I will need at least one outfit to wear when I arrive! I'd just received an e-mail from Whistler stating that my start date had been moved forward. Instead of starting on Monday November 15th I now start on Wednesday November 10th, with orientation the day before. As I'm not arriving until the afternoon of Friday 5th, I now only have the week-end and the Monday 8th to get over my jet-lag, buy a winter wardrobe, get a SIM card and social security number, set up a bank account and check-in to my Whistler accommodation! I'm taken the move forward as a positive sign though - Whistler must be expecting a bumper season, which will mean more work for me!
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| The shared bathroom at the hostel - very cool! |
On the way into the city, I was chatting with the songthaew driver when all of a sudden, "Bang!!". Something hit the car with an almight smash and I jumped a million miles, thinking we'd hit someone or had been involved in an accident. It turned out a large tree branch had fallen and smashed into the windscreen and roof of the car. Fortunately we were uninjured, but all I could think of was that I was not calling Mum and Dad to tell them I was in a Thai hospital (again!!)
 |
| Luckily I have a 5 hour cycling tour tomorrow |
I did call Mum and Dad then ... just to say hello ... and then had an ice-cream sundae at Swenson's to celebrate my being alive. I spent a couple of hours in an internet cafe and then headed down to the night market. Similar to the 'Sunday Walking Street' in size, it differed in that most of the items for sale were the typical souvenir products like counterfeit t-shirts and bags, so I didn't purchase anything. Early night in preparation for another big day tomorrow - cycling tour in the morning and then overnight train to Bangkok.
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