After a few melancholy days in Bangkok, we decided upon a escape, leaving the fume clouded air, night bazaar’s, and good food for Chang Mai. After a patchy night sleep on the Cheng Mai express, we settled into a hostel then caught up on some tasks in the global network of information.

Chiang Mai is a beautiful town, probably something like the Asian developing country equivalent of Brisbane. With a large base of people involved with agriculture, many hill tribes are coexisting peacefully

For new years eve wee had planned (loosely) a night at the bazaar however while getting a foot massage earlier in the evening a fellow massagee informed us that there had been bombings in Bangkok and that the police were trying to hut the bazaar down early as a safety precaution. This came as quite a shock, as less that two day’s had passed since we departed Bangkok.

Yesterday morning we left Chiang Mai heading for the Laos border. Unable to get a connecting bus we stayed the night in Chiang Rai rising early to make the connecting ferry down the Mekong river in Laos. Another border crossing and the accompanying leeches who quite apparently take advantage of an information asymmetry for financial gain. The currency in Laos (the kip) is largely inflated. AU$1 = 7100kip as a consequence the Thai currency is regularly used along with US$ so we are now regularly dealing with 3 currencies and the associated exchange rates.

I haven’t seen much of Laos yet but so far the people seem to smile more and be living to a more pleasant pace. We are planning to be in china in about a week where we will spend weeks as we make our way towards Russia.
Recently we have been placing more and more focus on photography, I’ve come to realise that this is one of my few creative talents (if I do say so myself) I/we have been teething out options to derive revenue from our photography in our capacity as amateurs. Several options are emerging as I do some preliminary research. I ‘m thinking that a short business plan might be a good way to develop the concept clearly. I large part of me just wants to get in and do something practical /technical though.

Also notices that I’m not comfortable taking photos of beautiful strangers, or sure how to approach the matter. I’m sure they would be flattered given the opportunity but I’ll have to work on the confidence for that one.
Wish you were here.
Nathan

Well thankfully we weren’t in Bangkok for new years though celebrations were cut short in Chiang Mai as well for precaution. We ended up searching out some waffles from one of the last street stalls then checking out the fireworks from our guest house window before heading to bed. :(

we headed to Chiang Rai today. seems like a pretty cute sleepy town so far. it’s only a short visit though because we’re jumping on the slow boat to Luang Prabang in Laos tomorow (it takes 2 days). until minutes ago I’d only heard great things about the trip but a friend just emailed and “said it was two days of unspeakable hell on the slow boat with her legs around her ears on a wooden bench”… so we’ll keep you posted. We’re here now claire, there’s no turning back!

I wish everyone reading a wonderful journey in 2007!

ellie