Well, sort of.
Chiang Mai seems like a really cool place. I say 'seems like' because I spent most of it in a hotel room reading amusing books and listening to soothing music. After the bad water incident of a few days before I had high hopes of a swift recovery and a decent look around Chiang Mai. These hopes were soon dashed by my total incompetence as I decided I felt better than I actually was and poured beer into my (completely empty) stomach on our first night there.
Cue a resurgence of my previous 'health issues' and two days in this very popular city feeling sorry for myself. I actually did make it out in the evenings, and as luck would have it the annual Festival of Light was on. Fireworks and floating lanterns (essentially balloons on fire) filled the sky and there was a general sense that everyone there was having a good time.
Vicky looked after me and made sure I had supplies and within a couple of days I was my old self again (if a little lighter). Which was just as well, as I wanted to join the gang on a trip to an elephant sanctuary.
I've never really seen an elephant close up before but they are really nice. They seem pretty friendly and like to have a laugh, and at this particular sanctuary they look very healthy as well. We visited a new-born baby elephant (well, seven weeks) which was cute enough to have women talking to it in a patronising way, and then watched a show where the elephants paint pictures and play football. At least a couple of them were good enough to shore up the troublesome Tranmere left-back position.
Off to Mae Hong Son for the weekend then, to see our old friends Michael and Rosie.
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