Still in the same place...

So, I have booked a trek which leaves tomorrow morning, but I didn't book through the guesthouse to save a little money. The guesthouses in Chiang Mai are ruthless about trying to book tourists on their treks. Apparently if you do not book with them, they will invent some reason to kick you out. So I am trying to play hard to get with the people at the guesthouse, so they don't confiscate my laundry or worse. And the tour company is picking me up at the end of the soi (side street) instead of at the guesthouse, so as not to anger them. I guess you cannot expect much if you only pay 150 baht/night.

Otherwise I am enjoying Chiang Mai very much. The pace is slower than in Bangkok, and even though it is the second largest city in Thailand, it feels much smaller. Everything is within walking distance. Yesterday, I just walked around, booked the trek and went for dinner. I wanted to go to the night market, but I was a bit nervous walking around on my own.

This morning, like a good little Vancouverite I went to yoga class for a much needed stretch and relaxation. There, I met two other female solo travellers with whom I spent the rest of the day. One of the girls, Sarah, is Swiss and she is going to come with me on the trek. The other girl is from Edmonton and her name is Janice. After the trek, Sarah and I will share a room at the Safe House Guesthouse, which will not pressure us to buy a trek. And I think it is much nicer than where I am currently staying. Then we went for lunch in a nice air-con restaurant. Janice and I both had the kao sawy, a curry noodle soup which is (according to the Lonely Planet) a local specialty. It was yummy...Tonight we will stop by the night market briefly so that I can buy a flashlight for the trek, and then go see a muay thai boxing match. Janice does muay thai back home, so she wanted to see the real thing. I can't guarantee that I will like it, but it should be an experience...

Anywho, off to shower and rest for a bit before I meet up with the girls. And it looks like it might rain...