19th Oct – day 39 – We checked into Here Hostel and slept through the morning after travelling all night. The hostel was super clean and comfortable, almost double beds! We took a stroll down Khao San Road and done some shopping and of course returned in the evening to drink and eat some of the Thai delicacies, BUGS!

20th Oct – day 40 – Of course we woke up hungover but we nursed ourselves with some retail therapy at Chatuchat Market. We spent 6 full hours roaming the endless shopping stalls of clothes, trinkets, homeware, food and even animals!

21st Oct – day 41 – On our last day in Bangkok we took a tour to the floating market and railway market, two extraordinary places to buy and sell groceries! We then took the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

22nd Oct – day 42 – We arrived to Chiang Mai in the morning and dropped our things at Bodega. We went out to explore some of Chiang Mai’s many temples, such as the Silver Temple (Wat Sri Suphan) and the Wooden Temple (Wat Phan Tao). There are LOADS of temple in, and around, Chiang Mai so have a good read about which ones you want to go and see. I had already been to Chiang Mai and visited some of the larger temples such as Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Phra Singh.

In the evening we experienced our first Bodega Chiang Mai pub crawl (little did we know this would be the first of many!). The pub crawl starts at the hostel and gets you a little tipsy on cocktail buckets and social drinking games AKA getting to know each other a little too well, especially if you’re playing Kings Cup! Then you take trucks to a few bars in town, namely the famous Zoe Bar, and if you’re still standing after that you’ll stumble on to Spicey’s. And no night is ever complete with that final visit to 7/11 to grab a cheese toastie (or 3).

23rd Oct – day 42 – We woke up extremely hungover but luckily the rooms have the best AC and the most comfortable beds with duvets. However, that didn’t stop us having another drink that night, but midnight saw the start of Buddha Day begin so no where was serving alcohol, but we ended up at an awesome villa pool party!

24th Oct – day 43 – We took a great 4-hour cooking class in the evening where we learnt how to make lots of Thai dishes. Our tutor ‘Kiss Kiss’ was so funny and enthusiastic and we also got a cook book to take away. That evening there was an alcohol ban (oh dear) but we managed to get our hands on a couple of bottles and had a few drinks with Tim, Matt, Darryl, Karan, Liv and Lita and we all became great friends!

25th Oct – day 44 – A big group of us staying at the hostel got together to rent a truck to take us to the Sticky Waterfall. This waterfall is about a 40 min drive out of Chiang Mai and is pretty cool because you can walk up and down it and chill in the small pools. The night once again ended with drinks, Zoe’s and Spicey’s.

26th Oct – day 45 – Today we took a trip to the Elephant Sanctuary where we got to feed and bathe with the elephants which was amazing. There is a lot of controversy around elephant riding and some sanctuaries around much of South East Asia and it’s your choice if you take part in such activities, just read up on what you’re spending your money on and the care of the elephants before you go.

That evening it was Darryl’s birthday, who worked at the hostel. We had a hilarious night watching him complete his birthday board and playing drinking games.

27th Oct – day 46 – We finally managed to leave Bodega and go to Pai. The drive is very long and winding to get there but Pai is super chilled, has loads of great street vendors that sell every type of food from burritos to jacket potatoes! We stayed at The Famous Pai Circus Hostel and watched the fire shows in the evening and chilled around the pool.

28th Oct – day 47 – We had a pretty chilled day by the pool which overlooked the hills and went for more great street food in the evening.

29th Oct – day 48 – We went on a full day tour in a truck to see waterfalls, caves, hot springs, the Big Buddha and Pai Canyon. We had hoped to see the canyon at sunset but we had just missed it!

30th Oct – day 49 – We chilled by the pool in the day while we waited for Karan, from Bodega, to join us. At night more guest from Bodega had come to Pai so we all went out in the evening.

31st Oct – day 50 – HALLOWEEN! The ‘misplacement’ of a bankcard meant a new one was being sent back to Bodega in Chiang Mai so we got the first bus back. We raced to the mall and stocked up on whatever costumes we could find (they don’t really celebrate Halloween in Thailand). Bodega put on a Halloween BBQ, games and of course we ended in our favourite place… Spicey’s!

1st Nov – day 51 – We had a quiet day by the pool just down the alley from the hostel and had a chilled night talking with Tim and Darryl at the hostel and managed to avoid going out!

2nd Nov – day 52 – I apologise for the repetition here but we sat by the pool and went out again!

3rd Nov – day 53 – We got another group together and convoyed to The Grand Canyon Waterpark. We had a great day on the slides and inflatables here and would definitely go again! In the evening we chilled with Tim, Matt, Karan, Ploy and Lita.

4th Nov – day 54 – Another day passed as we waited for the bankcard to arrive. We went out to the Sunday Market and got some supplies ready for ‘shit shirt’ night!

5th Nov – day 56 – The bankcard arrived but it was too late for us to leave! It was Karan’s last night before she went back to Canada, and our last night, so we joined the Bodega pub crawl and got extra drunk! We still laugh (and cringe) at the videos from that night!

6th Nov – day 57- After being in Chiang Mai almost 2 weeks in total (we only intended to stay for 2 nights!) we finally left, only a couple of tears on the bus…there was no doubt we had the best time at Bodega, met amazing people and made friends for life, many of which we continued to see on our travels but for now we headed to Chiang Rai and checked into Grace’s Hostel.

7th Nov – day 58 – A big group of us hired scooters and we rode around the very North of Thailand, all the way to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet and the famous white temple and blue temple. Hiring the scooters meant we saw most of the attractions of Chiang Rai in one day and there is not much to do in the town itself, other than a small market.

8th Nov – day 59 – We woke up early ready to make our was to Laos. The journey involved a number of buses to and through the boarder and onto the slow boat to Laos.

We love Thailand. Chiang Mai has something special that holds people there. There is so much to do in and around Chiang Mai which can keep you busy, without the crazy hustle and bustle of other big cities such as Bangkok. There’s no beaches but it’s easy to sit back and relax here, or party the nights away.