Chiang Mai seemed pretty sweet. It would have been good to explore the city but we were there during Thai new year – which turns Chiang Mai into a week long water fight. Not even exaggerating.

My memories

1. My first sighting of the moat which surrounds the old city. 
2. Songkran – Thai New Year. Traditionally a sprinkling of water was placed on hands, now it’s full on water warfare, particularly around the moat where buckets are easily refilled with filthy water.
3. The full body shock you get when you’re drenched by water from a trough housing one huge mother of a block of ice.
4. Lounging in a hammock and using an outdoor computer in the beautiful surrounds of our guest house (Gongkaew)
5. Being woken up by the kissing sounds and boop boop boops of geckos in the room.
6. Cheaper food than Bangkok. If you’re on a strict budget you can still get a tasty big dinner for $1.20nzd
7. Fruit smoothies from our “local” for $1.50.
8. Getting drunk on Samsong rum  & visiting a wicked jazz bar.
9. Meeting Pui at her street side eatery and being enticed by her overly talkative and friendly nature to attend a full day cooking class in her home.
10. Not being able to get any photos for fear of drowning my camera. 
11. A toad biting Brend’s foot.