Day 12 & 13

01.07.23 – 02.07.23

I don’t regret my rant now, after a very welcome, peaceful nights sleep! 😂

Went for a wander to buy my SIM card, stopped in a few temples on route! Such beautiful places, so calm and restful. Also very colourful. 

On the any back to the hotel I stop for a drink in a local bar/cafe that’s popular with expats, they apparently make a great Roast Dinner in Sundays! It seems nice enough the staff are friendly, but I just don’t think it’s my thing. I love a roast dinner, but not in this heat. 

It did get me thinking about living abroad and what I’d miss, obviously Family & Friends, but then the list appears to be full of Cold related things, Snow, frost, jumpers, fog, Autumn colours and smells! 😂😂 TBF I’m not called Cryogenic Claire for nothing! 

I am now the proud owner of a Thai Sim Card, exactly what to do with it is another issue. I’ve popped it into my room to worry about another day, or until I find a young person willing to help, I’m not even s.ure where the SIM card is on my phone 😳

I have a lovely swim and lunch of Hummus leftovers. Then chill by the pool reading.

There is a guy staying here, I think he might be American, he came down to the pool area and spent ages setting up his towels, putting on some music, then went back to his room and came back with a large Reusable Starbucks cup, with just a little bit of what looked like lemon tea at the bottom. He fiddled around in his bag for a bit then finally laid down on the 3 towels he’d put out! I finished my swim got out of the pool. Sat chilling. He then does some more fiddling around in his bag, and gets in the pool, still with a little bit of amber liquid in the bottom of his cup. The amber liquid appears to never go down! I think he might be drinking Whiskey or Rum!! 😂 I’m assuming the Starbucks cup is in lieu of a brown paper bag!! Just own it, pop that shit in a glass, bang in some ice and enjoy!! 

Anyway, it entertained me while I banged out 25 lengths! 

I’m going to head down to the other ‘Walking Street’ tonight. I’m not sure if it’s all the same people, stalls but I’ll see. I think this one is bigger than the Sunday one. 

I was going to get a Tuk Tuk but decided to walk in the end. 

It’s much cooler walking in the evening (No surprise there! ) The street is soo long! Definitely feels bigger than the other one. 

I stop for a drink in a nice little place I came to last year and the owner came over and said “ Welcome back, so nice to see you again!” How fabulous is that! Great customer service. 🥰 

I sit and people watch and listen to the little boy playing some sort of air operated keyboard with his dad playing a tiny guitar! They are actually very good. 

I then continue my wandering, right to the end of the street. I spot a stall advertising wine, it’s being made as a project for the Chiang Mai University! I feel it’s important to support local educational initiatives so feel obliged to stop and try some! Mine is made from Longan fruit and is apparently the dry option. I’m not holding out much hope, taste wise, but it’s not too bad.  

Whilst there I get chatting to Cory, a South African now living in Chiang Mai. We have an interesting conversation, ranging from Disability issues, he’s a paraplegic and imports different mobility bikes, etc, too politics, apartheid, China and Cornwall, his daughter lives in Bugle, 30mins away from Newquay! Such a small world. 😁

I then head off and make my way back to Kats For dinner, I could have eaten at the Market, the fried scorpions looked tasty..Not! 

I enjoy a delicious curried vegetable rice and a rum & coke then back home to bed.

I’ve done 15,230 steps and swam 25 lengths today. 👍

I’m woken up this morning by the large family group staying here, it’s no problem as it’s 8ish anyway, they are happily playing in the pool.

I’ve decided to have a bit of a lazy day, so after breakfast I go to Lila Spa for a wonderful foot massage. Heaven. ☺️

Then I grab a delicious iced coffee at the Wine Shop, amble back past a small group of Tourist Police staring up intently at a tree by the hotel! Strange.😳

Then I chill for a while, write my blog, read and have a lovely video call catch up with Rebecca! 

I jump in the pool, with the idea of just floating about but end up doing 28 Lenghts! My best so far. 👍🎉

It’s the ‘Walking Street’ near me this evening and I’ve got a couple of things I’d like to get. Something I saw yesterday for my Rebecca and a Handkerchief 😂, random I know, but as I was leaving last week I spotted a little old lady selling them and they would be perfect for wiping my sweaty forehead when I’m out & about. The tissues I use are next to useless and disintegrate at the mere site of moisture!! 🙄

The item for Rebecca is on a stall which the stall holder told me would be between the Temple & the police station, I rather optimistically assumed she meant the nearest temple to me, but No, she meant the Temple right at the furthest end of ‘Walking Street’ and handkerchief lady is at the other end! 

I drop my items home, the off to Kats for some rice and a cold drink!

I’m really tired but end up having one of those nights when you just can’t get to sleep. I toss & turn, scroll on my phone (bad idea, I know!) and finally drop off around 3.30! 🥱😴 

I don’t think I’ll be doing much on Monday! 

Have a great Monday! 😘😍

Books Read 6

Our Missing Hearts. Celeste Ng. Excellent. A scarily real dystopian novel, relevant, powerful and very moving.

Highly recommend.