Return to Thailand: Not So Settling in Chiang Mai

Oigch. That was a Grr of an arrival. Miscommunications with the hostel resulted in my totally confirmed and definitely going to be there shuttle definitely not being there and me being totally shattered and drained after an emotional goodbye with my super awesome travel partner and boyfriend in Cambodia having to figure out how to get from A to B. I hadn't planned anything because my shuttle had been totally confirmed. It was dark, I was tired, I had no plans, and I'm scared of the dark when I'm in a new foreign place and I have no plans.

I booked an 8.0 hostel, but as soon as I laid down on my bed I knew it was going to be a terrible night. I was exhausted, it was too late to change hostel, and so I laid on my back on a mattress which appeared to genuinely be a wooden palette wrapped in styrofoam with a sheet on top. 8.0? GTFO. At 3am I was on the brink of tears as the exhaustion and frustration and pain all came to a head: I had chosen as good a place as I could, and it was still mightily shit. I climbed down from my bunk and laid on the decidedly more comfortable floor, finally drifting off to sleep. 

This is one of the best pieces of art I've ever seen, I love it

The next day I fell into my classic pattern of solo travelling: fill all the time and space which has recently been filled by companions with stuff. 11 hours of walking every street in Chiang Mai old city, exploring every temple and every market stall possible, and I was absolutely wiped out. So much so that my face genuinely caused the receptionist to ask if I was okay and whether I needed help. 

Beautifully colourful art in the markets

Fun fact: Chiang Mai is home to a lot of female-only prisons, and the city has a huge variety of prisoner-run community outreach and integration programmes including cafes, massage, restaurants, and shops. Pretty cool. 

Strange fact: walking through Chiang Mai on Valentine's Day meant I accidentally walked through a match-making festival! Couples came to be told whether they were compatible enough for a successful marriage and singletons came from all over to be blessed for better luck in love. Interesting stuff.

Shopping for love in a temple car park

That night I stole an empty low bunk in the dorm which had an actual mattress and as I sank into it I let it all wash over me. I had had a great time exploring the temples and markets, I had loved seeing the artwork paving the streets, but I was just exhausted. I couldn't wait for the prospect of staying in one place for 2 weeks. Putting my bag down and leaving it there for 2 whole weeks! Unpacking my things and not rushing to re-pack them all for the next day, taking my trainers out and not instantly reshuffling my boots to fill their gap... Most of all, I was so looking forward to seeing the same people for an entire block of time. Hostels are great for socialising and meeting new people, but everybody is on their own path and all you do in most situations is to cross paths as you both continue your trajectories. You might be in the bunk below a potential best friend, but if you're sick or tired that night and you don't feel like striking up conversation to find out, then that's the opportunity gone. To be in the same place with the same people doing the same project for the same fundamental reason: now that was a great thing to look forward to! 

Chiang Mai: where the streets are paved with art

Bring it on, Elephant Nature Park. 

Getting into the elephant mood