Left Chiang Mai this morning after a rapidly swallowed version of English fry up. After an interesting night with next door's karaoke rock club ending at 02:00 am then the torrential rain on the tin roof, then an enthusiastic Thai chef banging his pots at 07:30, so not much sleep for traveling man.
Had a great trip by mini van on route 1095 right up through the mountains in the North near the Burmese border. Despite the thousands of hairpins and steep hills it was fabulous, scenery and just the sheer drama of it left me short of words.
Talking of which, I have noticed that the frequency of spoken English has kind of dropped to the extent where I could not work out how to buy some sliced pineapple and had to content myself with pointing at a saggy waffle and nodding like an idiot.
Arrived at Mae Hong Son after many army checkpoints, hillsides scarred by mud slides and awe inspiring landscapes. Out of the van and straight onto the bus for Khun Yuam, just over an hour later jumped off at the depot. After spending a few minutes smoking a tab and drinking warm cola by the roadside, Nootsabah found me by singling out the only dim looking European in town.
I had a brief but wobbly ride on a motorbike to the guest house which I will tell you is beautiful. Checked in and met Salahae, he is the head man of KHT’s efforts down here. Spent a very pleasant hour discussing the programme.
Wandered a few hundred yards and had the tastiest chicken and peanut curry ever and a beer for $3, nice restaurant if a little basic but who cares if the food’s good. Bought the owners kids a lollipop each and they freaked with joy!!!
After a franctic hour’s pecking at the keyboard I retired to catch up on last night’s karaoke-wrecked beauty sleep.
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