Chiang Mai

We spent a few days over new year in Chiang Mai. We arrived by overnight train which is definitely a more comfortable way to travel than by bus. It isn't that much more expensive as well. We got into to Chiang Mai early morning, and found accommodation, a motorbike and a map (the three essentials whenever in a new place).

In Chiang Mai we checked out many temples and Buddha statues, did some shopping at the local markets and ate lots of tasty Northern Thai food.






After that, we got on the motorbike and got out of the city. There are some great rides once of out Chiang Mai. We opted for the National Park which is about 10km out of town but the traffic was crazily busy because so many Thai people flock to Chiang Mai over the new year. We stopped at one of the famous waterfalls, enjoyed the views of the city and dropped in to the local zoo.






And on New Years Eve we made the few kilometer walk from our hostel to the center of town. Along the way we stopped for a drink at a countdown site where a band was playing live to pretty much no one. They were very happy when we arrived and sang to/for us as we had our drink. We stopped for dinner on the way at a busy market/open air food court before arriving in the middle of town where things were getting busy. As it approached midnight everyone was lighting lantern type things which floated up into the sky. There were thousands flickering away in the dark night sky. We ended the year sitting by the river, with heaps of Thais and foreigners, watching amateurs lighting countless fireworks (one guy got hit in the head).