Day 38 – 40

28.07.23 – 30.07.23

I’m still feeling a little discombobulated and tired.

So I’m going to treat myself to a massage. I’ve looked at the options and figure if I go for the oil massage followed by hot compresses it should be relaxing and therapeutic.

I’m greeted by name when I go into Lila Thai, Miss Claire! It makes me feel very special and touched. 

I choose a Bergamot oil, just because I like the smell. 

We are in a lovely room in the third floor, this place is much bigger than I realised. The room is lovely. My therapist is very small, kind and friendly. I’m looking forward to a relaxing session. Well my therapist may be small but she has hands, fingers and elbows made of steel!! Jesus! This is not quite the slow relaxing experience I was hoping for. 😳 it is a a full on hardcore, deep massage which in some places, obviously where my muscles are tight, is bloody painful 😣. I’m a little concerned she’s going to break me somehow 🥺 even the hot compresses are applied with a degree of force! Although by that point I’m just immensely grateful she’s not digging any of her pointy, rock hard limbs into me!! 😂😂 once it’s all over I do feel remarkably loose and not at all stiff, so it clearly works. It just isn’t quite what I was expecting. 😍

I’ve dropped a dress off with the dressmaker I used to mend my trousers. She’s just taking up, repairing the straps. When I collect it she charges me 30bht which is not even £1! 

I jump in the pool but decide not to swim as I don’t want to undue all the good work from the massage, instead I just float about chatting to some lovely Guys from Adelaide in Australia. One of whom really reminds me of my friend Bob, she’s got a really calm, kind vibe and a lovely voice. 

I’m not sure what to do for dinner today so first I pop along to the little bar along the road and have a couple of Rum & Cokes, whilst watching all the interesting goings on! Old White guys with their beautiful Thai girlfriends 🙄 

I have a look at the menu as I think I might have a snack, I spot an item “Chicken Tendon” I assume it’s a typo and they actually mean “Chicken Tenders”  But No!! It is indeed “Chicken Tendons”  the description says they come from the chickens ankle! They have ankles?? These tendons must be tiny, although I’m not going to find out, my friend Stretch kindly sent me a You Tube video which I haven’t had the stomach to watch! 🤢 surprisingly I’m not that hungry anymore 😬

I head down the road to a bar which is right on the corner by my hotel, it has a Rooftop Bar which I keep meaning to visit, so tonight’s the night! 

Well what can I say, it is indeed on a roof but it doesn’t have brilliant views and it is very quiet. 

However whilst I’m there I get a fantastic and much welcomed Video Call from the Gorgeous Anne & Mandy!! 😍 They were both working, apparently! And are very jealous of my bar and drink! It was such a lovely boost to chat to them, they made my night. Thank you ❤️

I’m now on the cusp of having another drink, which would likely lead to me staying Out Out or getting some food and heading home. I opt for the latter. I’ve had a fun evening but it’s time to go! 

Food and bed. 

I’ve discovered that by increasing the temperature on my Air Conditioner it actually makes it colder, which also then helps me sleep better…..Cryogenic Claire is back! 🥶😉

I wake up and feel so much better today. Rested & back to myself. 

I’m going to head over to Nimmanhaemin (Nimman for short) an area to the North. I’ve been before but haven’t explored it in any great way and it’s supposed to have lots of cool places and people, it’s near to the University.

As I’m waiting for my Grab Cab I chat to an America woman, Alison, who is staying for a few weeks. We’ve chatted before a few times. She is just welcoming her friend, Carrie, who has arrived from the states. We have a brief Hello then I head off to Nimman (Alison corrected my pronunciation!) 

I think I’ve once again miss timed things. A lot of the places around Nimman, especially in the side roads are closed, it looks like it probably comes to life in the evenings. There are people around but it’s not bustling. I’ve googled good coffee shops, so set out to find the best one.
As I’m walking along, two young good looking Asian Guys are walking towards me, they look so unbelievably Cool! Their outfits are fabulous, their bags, hair, glasses everything is so fashionable. I really wanted to ask for a picture, but that seemed a little random! (Weirdo 🤪) But a little later I spot them ahead of me! Yes, I’m going to get a pic, they are walking at a fairly steady pace, I’m trying to keep up and grab a sneaky pic, some bloody random person is walking behind them and keeps getting in my way…Grrr! I must look like some crazy, sweaty stalker! 👀😬😂 But I do get a couple of snaps! Honestly I don’t know what’s wrong with me! 😂😂 The pictures are OK but simply don’t reflect how cool these guys were. 😎 

I also spot a couple of young guys wearing inline skates, at first I think, Really? Bit unnecessary, then I watch them head off down the road and wow, they are flying! I’m impressed 👍🤟

All this stalking has made me miss my turning! 😂 I turn around and continue my search for the perfect Iced Coffee, which I’m now in desperate need of, as I’m really Hot 🥵. I eventually find it and guess what? It’s bloody shut!! WTF! Luckily I have data so I google and find another one, which is back the way I’ve just come, but I’m now on a mission. 15 mins and several gallons of sweat later I can’t bloody find it!! Seriously, I’m pretty good with directions and maps but this place is nowhere to be found. By now I’m even hotter, I’m hungry and I need caffeine! 

I walk across the 2439 lane main road into the cool of the Huge Shopping Centre, but I think I’m in that place where there is so much choice I can’t make a decision! I go into Starbucks but just can’t bring myself to buy they’re shitty coffee, so I order a Grab Cab, she goes to a different exit, we communicate back & forth for 10 mins, she eventually finds me, we head back into the Old Town and the Burinirattana Hotel, where I finally get a delicious, ice cold, perfect Caramel Macchiato! It’s pure Joy as the caffeine, sugar and ice hit my system! 🧋💙💙

After my coffee and a yummy Chicken Taco I head back to the hotel and have a much needed swim. I’m so lucky that I arrive back when the pool is completely empty and manage to get 30 lengths (60 of this pool) before the hoards descend and the pool is full. 

I can’t believe I only have 2 more nights in Chiang Mai! It seems to have gone very quickly in some ways but slowly in others. 

I’d like to come back to the American guest, Alison and her friend Carrie. Alison seemed very pleasant when I first chatted to her, but in subsequent chats she’s revealed herself to be a Tad annoying. (Understatement)

She’s corrected my pronunciation of Thai at least 3 times. Informed me I really should learn a language (apparently she speaks Mandarin and is learning Thai) She told me I should eat at a particular Cafe as they do wheatgrass smoothies and great salads! (This advice was given to me whilst I was drinking a beer and eating Crisps!) Informed me that the lovely waiter, Tam, has hit on her (I seriously doubt this) Informed me how well travelled she is and that she’s a master Yoga instructor. Informed me I really should be doing Yoga. All of this arrogant, pretentious, judgmental bollocks has not endeared her to me! 

Then at breakfast this morning her friend Carrie who it transpires is a “Psychic Medium” and “Yogi” sat with me and began to offer completely unsolicited psychic bullshit about my Mum, my Mums personality, which was way off. How my Mum passed away, wrong again. I happened to mention my kids and that Grantley was coming to Thailand to do some Mauy Thai training and she saw fit to offer her, again, unsolicited, incorrect opinion on my sons state of mind!
Do you know what Carrie, shove your incorrect, fake Psychic Bollocks up your fucking Vinpassage! 🤬

OK! And moving on from that 😂

I had a pretty slow relaxed day today.

I Start packing my case, it has a lot more stuff in now! Grantleys Boxing Gloves take up big space, but at least they are light! As well as various other gifts etc. I still think my case will weigh less than 22kg which is pretty good. I’m hoping it’s actually under 20 so I don’t get charged extra! 

I’ve had a good swim, 25 Lenghts and a lovely chat to my Rebecca. 

It started raining around 4pm and as I was sitting outside my room reading I heard a loud crash and scream and a poor woman had fallen from the last step on the slippery floor. She landed really heavily on her back. It sounded horrible. I rushed over to help, and she seemed OK, embarrassed probably and trying to be brave. I gave her some Red Tiger Balm to help the bruising and muscles. One of the lovely Australian ladies had also fallen and hurt her back a few days ago, also after the rain! It honestly is so so slippery! Which is why I walk round when it’s wet, like an old lady, slowly and very carefully! I’d rather look ridiculous than injure myself. 

After that little drama I finish packing and try to decide where to go for my last night. It’s ‘Walking Street’ but as the weathers not great I think I’ll give it a miss. I decide on a nice glass of wine at the lovely little wine bar next door! A great choice. I enjoy 3 glasses of delicious French Rosé, some olives and have a fab WhatsApp with Jenna then it’s off to Kats for my final serving of my favourite Curried Vegetable rice. Once again the guys here are slammed. They work so flipping hard and are always cheerful and pleasant. I’m going to miss this place.

So that’s it. The end of 5 weeks here in Chiang Mai. I’ve loved it. I think there is something comforting about being in a place that you know and also where people remember you. I feel it’s been very restful and restorative. I loved my wanderings, I’ve loved my swimming and I’ve loved meeting so many lovely people. 

I can’t recommend Chiang Mai highly enough. There is so much to do here, lots of activities, hiking, cycling, zip lining if that’s your thing. Temples, markets, mountains, rivers and peaceful places if that is what you need. The people are wonderful the food is insanely good. It has a great energy.

I will miss it. I’m not sure I’ll return as there are too many other places to visit and explore. But I’ll be leaving a little part of my heart here. ❤️

I just wanted to say a massive Thank You for reading my blog, it means the world to me. It is so lovely to receive comments and feedback, it makes my day! 🙏😘❤️

Books read

Still reading my next one! 

Have a fabulous week everyone. 

❤️❤️