Chiang Mai

We arrived off the overnight train from Bangkok tired and hungry. The train was due in at 8am so we had rashly decided against ordering breakfast on the train the night before thinking that we would purchase some once we arrived. Unfortunately the train was delayed by 2 hours, as it is every day we are now told!

We finally got some breakfast, and given it was of the rice and curry persuasion perhaps it was just as well that it was nearly lunchtime :-). We were met at the station by Hans our Dutch host for the next few days. He drove us 20kms or so out of the city to his beautiful hotel. We have a delightful Traditional Thai bungalow (on stilts) with gorgeous furnishings and a beautiful pool. Its a very easy place to get lost doing nothing!

Yesterday we dragged ourselves out, borrowing some of the onsite bikes. They are very high quality dutch bikes including a tag along for Susie this time. We did a 15km circuit including a visit to “the Thai Grand Canyon” otherwise known as an old quarry pit. We also stopped by an equestrian centre and, after considerable shouting through the gate to get anyone’s attention, we were allowed in the meet the horses, ponies, birds and dogs. Quite an amazing facility with a competition size dressage area and some beautiful horses. They wouldn’t allow us to ride due to the surface being waterlogged but suggested that if we come back next week it may be possible to have some lessons.

After a good session in the pool we headed out to the Chiang Mai night safari. Not an authentic Thai experience but hand feedng the giraffes will, nonetheless be one of my favourite memories. Less so the performing elephants and the staggeringly awful cabaret / magic show afterwards! Seemed designed to scare the already tired kids… Almost forgot that we saw the very rare Kangaloo from Austrarira!

This morning we planned to head into Chiang Mai itself but Emma scuppered our plans by dropping a jar, onto her glass, which smashed and dropped onto her foot creating a rather large and deep hole. I have never seen so much blood so quickly! Fortunately Phil was quick with the first aid kit and Hans drove us immediately to the local clinic. Emma was immediately put onto a trolley, wheeled inside and seen by a nurse. The nurse set up to suture, but having anethetised decided that afterall the surgeon was needed. My heart sank. Thankfully the surgeon was happy and simply put in the three stitches needed. A quick stop on the way back for some new flip flops which don’t touch the wound and nearly as good as new. The whoe thing including antibiotics, painkillers and wound dressing kits fir the next 10 days came to less than £10! The only pain is that Emma must keep it dry for 10 days until the stitches come out so no swimming or bathing elephants.

So instead of our day sightseeing the kids are sat around the bar watching childrens films and Phil has headed out to look for replacement items for our first aid kit! We are reviewing whether this will change our plans dor the last 10 days of our trip.