9 Hostel, Chiang Mai, Day 1

With a bus booked back to Chiang Mai at 3.45, we don't have long to spend in Chiang Rai. The plan is to do a bit of exploring, a bit of shopping, and get me a haircut. It is handy staying right near the bus station as we can leave our bags in the hotel and don't have to carry them around with us all day. The new position of the hotel compared to where we stayed last time has given us a different outlook on the city. Where as before we thought it was a bit dead, we realised last night that is not the case. We were just looking in the wrong places!
Our first stop is for food, and we go to a restaurant we ate at a lot last time we were here. It is run by a lovely old woman who has an infectious smile. Her husband is here today helping, and he is just as generous and nice as her, giving us free soup and filling up our water bottle before we go. Add there kindness to the fact the food is great and very cheap and we're onto a winner. We were wondering if she would recognise us, and we weren't sure in the end if she did, or if she os just so friendly with everyone.
With full bellies we head off and Amy looks through a few shops. We then finally find a hairdesser who will cut my hair after a few unsuccessful attempts. Maybe the language barrier puts them off, or maybe it's the look of my far too long hair. The woman who cuts my hair does a good job, and it feels great to get the long hair off the sides. It will be much needed as we head South and the temperature jumps up.
We look around a few more shops and Amy finds a pair of black shorts. Like the haircut, these have been hard to find, and she is chuffed to get a pair that fit. Her delight at getting the shorts is nothing though compared to when we enter cat n a cup cafe. As the name suggests, you eat or drink while cats wander around freely. There is loads of them, ranging from big to small and black to white, and we spend about an hour relaxing and watching them sleeping or fighting. To be honest, the most enjoyable part is watching people try to eat whilst fending off a pack of hungry cats. One guy gets his full slice of cake snatched from his plate in one quick swoop of a paw, and another girl takes about half an hour to eat her sandwich due to her hand being used as a shield. She did order tuna sandwich though, so it is kinda her fault.
After the cat cafe we head to a book shop that we saw some flyers for. It is pretty cool but the selection isn't great and I'm not sure about paying over a fiver for used books. We leave empty handed before going for a little wander around the town and heading back to the hotel. It is another boiling day and it is nice to sit on the comfy seats inside and relax a bit before the bus.
I would normally be dreading a bus ride today, but we have used the green buses that seem to own the route between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai before, and they are very nice. That is the case again this time as we relax in the comfort of a big chair and some air con. The 3.5 hour drive goes pretty quickly and painlessly.
We are back in Chiang Mai! The place we have spent the most time and the place we find the most homely. We know it now, which is very nice. It feels great as we see the walls around the old square and drive past the old bars and restaurants we have been in before. Our hostel is nice, despite the room being a bit on the warm side, but for 9 pound a night we don't mind.
We head out for some lovely food. I get a sweet and sour and Amy gets a green curry, before we head back and get some rest.
We love this place, and are so glad to be back!Read more