Thailand & India 2019

6:30am start, MZ brekky w JC, found only shop open for brekky that early: 2 eggs+topping, 2coffees, 2 bread rolls w butter 140baht $7AUD. Z&JC picked up at SH at 7:30am for Maerim elephant tour, M stay at SH

Zinia: songtheaw w JC, met CAN and American mum&daughter duo Ellie & Jess (cool mum), arrive maerim, change of clothes, learn about abuse of Chang, learn how to feed and approach, fill bags w pumpkin and bananas. Feed and pet/hug elephants, 1 baby (2YO), 1 mum and stepmum, some like bananas, some like pumpkin only, slurping noise, sand bath, learn about elephants (sleep 3 hrs only, standing, one eye half open, trunk on ground for vibration, bisexuality, African vs Asian, tears=sweat, ferremone sweat at temple, 4mill baht to save one Chang). Mud bath w elephant and mud fight, bathe Chang and selves in river, wash off by pool, beer and soup making, late for departure bc of tourist trap looking at photos for purchase. SH w JC, JC back to HH for shower, Z stay w M to sort trip to Nepal/India

Marty: researched overland travel from Nepal to Varanasi- India and Visa requirements. Found out that it will take 5 working days to get India visa when in Kathmandu and have to be there for whole time. Researched alternatives including getting pre-approved visa on arrival and flights to Varanasi. Found out it will take up to 72hrs for pre approved visa on arrival and researched process. Went for a walk of old town Chiangmai to get a coffee from SongBird cafe (closed down since last visit). Went back to Siriwan Guesthouse and prepared documents for India visa (took ages filling out online forms for me and zinia).

Z dropped off at SH w JC at 1:30-2:00pm (late), JC back to HH for shower. M brief Z on India Visa, no longer able to travel to Nepal to minimise time loss for India trip, need to get photos taken for India Visa app. M & Z walk 5 mins fr SH to get photos taken (quick). Finish Visa app at SH. Decided will take train to Sukhothai instead of Nepal - on list to see fr 2017 so might as well! M lunch at fav corner restaurant, Z smoothie. Rest at SH, Z shower. Met JC, Will, Lucy at SH 4:45. Walk to catch songtheaw to see monk sunset chant at Doi Suthep. Dodgey drive up. Arrive at temple for sunset. Couldn’t hear monks chant, photos view of CM, walk around temple, Lucy naughty - rings giant bell and runs away, found monks chanting, sat w monks - hypnotic, walk back to our songtheaw- 400THB round trip (cheap). Night market dinner: skewer share, 4 plate share, JC had soup, Chang x2 share, Lucy pour w lots of head, share coconut pancake (M pick), thai pancake (Z), roti banana w honey (JC), roti w banana Nutella, condensed milk suggested by chef. Walk to SH w everyone to give W ReverieSiam gift and wedding keepsakes. Goodbye to JC and W&L. Tuk tuk to train station 80THB, buy 2nd class tix to Phitsanulok. Walk and Songtheaw back to Old City 60THB. Back to SH. Bed at 10:30pmqMeer informatie