Day 23, 24, 25 & 26

Saturday 

Having visited the museum yesterday I realised that I’ve yet to walk down by the river properly, I’d seen it in my visit to the flower market but that’s it.

The river here in Chiang Mai is called ‘Ping’ it’s quite a large river. I decided to walk down to it and then along the shore, if possible.

My walk took my down a busy road towards the river, this road had lots of large hotels on and is also the road that leads to the Night Bazaar (which I haven’t been to yet!) 

It’s interesting to see how many of the cafes, bars, hotels and shops are closed, possibly for good. Thailand and its economy were hammered by COVID as they rely so much on tourism. Hopefully these businesses will open again as things get busier. 

I arrived at the River and the Iron Bridge, a large iron structure built to replace the Nawarat Bridge, there have been 3 bridges on this site the first built of Teak and this last Iron Bridge built in 1970 the bridge connects the east & west banks of Chiang Mai. 

There were very few people about which is quite pleasant. I spent a while on the bridge watching some children fishing on the bank and a Catfish hanging in the current waiting for food! 

I continued on my way past the first Christian Church in Chiang Mai, I’d seen the pictures of the Bridge and the Church in the museum yesterday. The other side of the river was nice and shady, which was a relief as it’s very sunny today. 

I crossed back over on a small foot bridge which bought me directly into the Warorot Market, the market is on daily and is the biggest and best known in the North of Thailand. It’s a really busy area and the market sells everything! I’d walked through it on my quest for flowers 10 days ago. 

Today I kind of skirted round the market, not wanting to accidentally come across the meat stalls again! 

I continued on my walk and eventually got back to the Thapae Gate area, but this point I’d been walking for approx 2.5hrs! (It’s 33 degrees!)

I decided to go to the hotel and get in the pool! Lush.

I chilled at the hotel, went to Kats for dinner, read my book, went to bed!! 

Sunday

My thoughts for today were to have a chilled day then visit the Sunday Walking Street later.

With this in mind I decided just to visit a local Art Gallery which wasn’t to far away. 

I stopped on the way at the second hand book shop, it’s a great book shop! Unfortunately today’s experience was completely ruined by a very loud, very opinionated, very arrogant British Ex Copper, who was regaling some poor Dutch guy with his plethora of opinions, how wonderful he is, how wonderful his life is, why everyone should live in Thailand, how cheap it is, how he likes to fly business class, how his motor home in the uk is worth more than an Aston Martin, how much his home is worth, on and fucking on without drawing breath! I left before I said something unpleasant! Areshole!

I found the gallery which is called ‘The Meeting Room Gallery’ it’s quite small but with some fabulous art work, all by local Thai artists. I really loved a couple of the pieces, but they were expensive and huge! 

I walked back and grabbed some lunch from across the road, vegetable rice, which had lots of nice green veg in. It was nice but not my favourite from there. 

I chilled by the pool before heading out to the Walking Street around 6.30.

Interestingly, they were asking people to wear their masks again, that hasn’t happened before (I don’t think) it’s fine, but very muggy so masks aren’t ideal. 

I walked down through the market and stopped at The Writers Club for a glass of wine! Pretty much my first one since being here, it was ok, not the best wine but made a change from Beer! I also had some spring Rolls. I chilled here for a bit people watching, then went back to the Walking Street, so many things for sale, so far I haven’t bough anything but today I did, I purchased a little colourful necklace and a beautiful white jade, mushroom shaped face massager. (Yes, random, but I’ve wanted one for a while!) 

I stopped for a bit to listen to a band playing some jazzy stuff in a hotel, very good. Then started to walk back but stopped again at another Gallery, which had some wonderful art work in. It was the artists studio and he was there. I sat and went through some of his prints, which I really loved he then showed me some recent originals, which again I loved! I was very, very tempted to buy something, but decided to come back another day and look again. 

After that it was home to bed!

Monday & Tuesday

Woke up on Monday feeling a bit sick, and have now got a Stomach Bug. 

I’m guessing from something I eat on Sunday, which is probably the vegetable rice and possibly all the green veg that might not have been washed, whatever it is it’s not nice!

I’ve spent 2 days at the hotel, drinking lots of bottled water, eating the odd banana and plain cracker, reading and sitting on the loo!! 

It was inevitable I guess. 😳

Tuesday was better than Monday so hoping by Wednesday I’ll be OK!

That’s it for now guys. 

Stay cool, stay hydrated, use sun cream!! ❤️