I am fully caught up now and this blog is in 'real time' as in I'm writing it before bed today.
After a good sleep in our new home we headed down for a leisurely breakfast. No dodging it by Frank today he was on his waffle like a rabid dog, Sam and Sid followed his choice while I opted for the American breakfast (2 eggs, bacon and sausage, with SALAD!). The coffee here is very nice so I'm converted to drinking it.
Frank has a nasty rash all over his upper legs, we are thinking it's a heat rash so sought out a pharmacy first thing. Advice is baby talc, so easy to sort out. We wandered through the streets of Chiang Mai for almost 3 hours only stopping for lunch.
We tried a restaurant rated highly on the 'Groovy Map' by Aaron Frankel, it's a must buy if you visit Chiang Mai. Into Hueng Pen we went much to the disgust of the lads, we have explained that a trip to Thailand involves more than eating 'english' or 'western' food so they have to try something or go hungry!
We ordered some sticky rice, boiled rice, spare ribs (no bones), thai sausage (spicy), beef and noodles in red curry broth, fish in banana leaf, pork in curry sauce. It's a bit like tapas - small portions to share. Everything was wonderful and very tasty. The price was even better. I'm kicking myself for forgetting to take pictures to make you all jealous - the food was so good I was too busy. Frank gamely had sausage and rice, Sid just rice, though he did discover he liked the red curry sauce late on in the meal. We drank water, sprite and passion fruit juice as well. The price was 380 baht, around £7.50 and worth easily 3 times that.
After a last afternoon we got ready for the Sunday walking market! As we prepared to leave, THUNDER & LIGHTNING then rain like late last night but for longer! The street was under 10cm of water so we called for a taxi to take us (120 baht!!!) then quickly found some ponchos when we arrived for 20 baht each, Franks was even customised to fit him.
We hit one of the food courts in a temple grounds to try some street food. Sam had gyozo 5 for 35 baht, I had 2 chicken and pineapple skewers, 15 baht each and Sid had a banana roti for 50 baht.
More shopping = t-shirt for Sid 100 baht, 5 turtles for Frank 100 baht, Loom band Gun for Sid 100 baht and a rope scorpion (photo to follow) for Sid 150 baht. Sam bought a few pressies for home but I don't want to spoil it ;-)
We headed home in a tuk tuk very tired but excited with our purchases (me especially as I grabbed a banana and chocolate roti on the way out)
Good night all and thanks for reading.