Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai.

I was really pleased with the little hotel I’d booked for two days. The parking was on street but with CCTV.

I set aside day one for getting my visa extended. I was at the offices for 8.30 opening,to find loads of people already there, at least 100 people. I quickly got the three new forms I needed and filled them in. Then went to the volunteers who check them. “All good” she said, followed by “Do you have your queue number?” No, I didn’t, so it was back to another office to get that raffle ticket. The whole process was taking place outdoors in a big marquee. It was already very hot as I sat on the plastic seat, awaiting my turn. Sipping slowly on my water, I was prepared for a long wait. I opened my book to read, but within two pages, my number was called. Documents officially checked, I was sent inside to complete the process. A quick photo, sit down for 15 minutes, hand over £38 and hey presto, visa extended. Following advice I had been given, seen on YouTube and read on signs in the office, I checked the new expiry date. It was correct. All done in under an hour.

Another story for you. Remember my concerns about Reds tyres? Well I had taken a good look at them and it was obvious Red has only really lived in a city. The rear tyre was squared off and the front worn to a ‘V’ which happens as a result of the rear being square. I sent a message to the hire shop explaining. I also had photos but chose not to send them at first. Almost immediately a message came back asking how many km I had done. I told them it was about 2500km. Again without hesitation a message came back. “Get two new tyres and brake pads front and rear, have the shop call me and I’ll pay over the phone”. It doesn’t get easier or better than that. The first garage I went to didn’t have a matching pair of tyres. The second one did. I was ushered to the air conditioned waiting room, given bottles of chilled water and less than an hour later, handed a receipt, stamped ‘PAID’. Red was transformed.

Day 2, off to see more Wats. I won’t bore you with them other than to say they were very nice and all within a short walk of the hotel.

On the way back to my hotel, I stopped off at a tour office to book an evening of Boxing the following day. I popped back into the hotel and signed up for one more night. Then after avoiding the crippling heat for a few hours I headed into the new town.

Now, I know the saying “eat where the locals eat”, but I just can’t do it. Not only do I have a very Western pallate, I also can’t eat where there are cockroaches running about the food prep area of the street food stalls. So a nice Italian did the job. They probably have the same issues, but out of sight, out of mind. After that, I was walking home past an open air bar. I sat down and ordered a JD and coke. That arrived and after about 20 minutes, glass nearly empty, a waitress came over and refilled it. I didnt really want a second. Nearing the end of that one I kept my hand over the glass and asked for the bill. It arrived, 1800baht or £39. I questioned it. The reply was, “We don’t sell single drinks we only sell the bottle”. There was a stand off. I didnt want to pay and I certainly didn’t want a whole bottle of JD. There were no signs stating that policy, people drinking beer didn’t buy a whole crate or barrell. I was getting quite angry. In the end, I paid and left, without the bottle. There was no point getting angry as it wouldn’t solve anything and there was no manager on site, so it was pointless arguing with staff.

The next day I was walking the town, still angry at the situation, when I spotted the Tourist Police office. Having explained the situation and accepted it was probably my fault, the officer disagreed. She had never heard of that happening. She agreed it should be signed and explained. She gave me the Police contact number, as I said I would go back and try to negotiate further. She offered, if there was a problem to call them and they would attend. Bolstered by the confidence she gave me, I went back. Some of the staff recognised me. I chatted with one of them who said the manager was not on site and he didn’t speak English. Anyway, after about 10 minutes of explaining and questioning their policy, the guy behind the till left. I watched as he went to the open door of an outside elevator, attached to the hotel of the same name, where he spoke to someone who didn’t come out. He returned to the till. He apologised on behalf of the, non present, manager and handed me back my money, less the two I agreed to pay for.

Another afternoon spent avoiding the heat and it was time to go boxing. I was collected by an open air taxi, or pickup to you and me, along with 5 others we jolted our way to, what was described as, an air conditioned boxing stadium. The air was conditioned alright, with Ralgex! Man it was awful, but the fighting was excellent. A thoroughly good night out

The rest of the ride was straight, multi lane roads. At larger junction, of which there were lots, the traffic lights with timers to show how long you would be held on red. Its impossible not yo get caught at a red and its a painfully long 120 seconds wait in the seering heat. By the fourth set sweat poured down my back and the crash helmet started to cook my head. I took to, spotting the lights then seeking shade at the side of the road to wait, but that wasn’t always possible. Eventually I spotted the clock tower in Chiang Rai and very close by was my hotel.

I took a walk towards the night market, noting a Pizza Hut next to the clock tower and the Chiand Rai Social Club directly opposite my hotel. As I walked I sent a message to Doug Mills, an ozzy I had been following on Facebook and literally round Thailand. He was at a bar nearby watching Ozzy rules football. After a quick walk round the, not yet open,night market,I made my way to Rose’s Bar. Doug was an enthralling character, with tales from his trip through Malaysia after a month long wait for their bike to be released from the port. Him and his wife were off to Laos next and I told him my struggles with Laos, but he seemed confident his research had been good, whereas mine really wasn’t. After a few beers and a lesson in Ozzy rules, we went our seperate ways. I walked back towards my hotel and stuck my head in the Chiang Rai Social Club. Effectively, a bar run by an expat American called Steve. On his recommendation, I ordered a BLT and fries. I then got chatting to a guy, I forget where he was from, but two others at the club were from UK, Hampshire, in fact. Just 20 miles or so from where I live. Josh and Matt where school friend who reunited in Chiang Rai by accident. Matt was travelling and Josh was on a break from his mining job in Australia.

After a few JD’s I noticed a couple on the sofa. It was Doug and his wife Sloane. I went over and spent a good 40 minutes with them and the pub puppy ‘Baba’.

It was soon time for bed, tomorrow, temples!