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My crossing back into Thailand was evidential that geographical proximity bears no neccesary reference to cultual similarities, as the shock I received, was apparent:

-- Border crossing: Huay Xai Laos to Chiang Khong Thailand --

In the morning, we stamped out of Huay Xai and went across the river to Chiang Khong; the border on the Thai side. The friendly immigration official on the other side stamped our re-entry visas and arranged for two motorbikes to carry us free of charge to the bus station. The buses were all full and so we purchased tickets on the local bus to Chiang Mai. Seven hour journeys have become a thing of normality and we were happy to board the bus. What we did find bizarre however, was the reverse culture shock we were experiencing. After a whole month in Laos, Thailand (a developing country) suddenly seemed.... developed, orderly and industrialised. Jeez. Shops, roads, houses, banks..

Thailand; round two

Asha Patel
2006-08-23 10:40:55

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be sure. I was still awake at 04:30 when she came in. We chatted, lay still a while and then rose to pack up and check out of this filth hole of a hostel.

30 May 2006. Ms Asha Patel - accredited Thai chef, as skilled in creating authentic Thai dishes as she is at eating more than her stomach can feasibly hold, about ten stones heavier (and happier) than yesterday. That about sums up today. I'm sat once again on soi nine, in the indian restaurant we discovered this week. The pelting rain has caused the little sois to become rivers of flowing, dirty, water. So for the moment at least, I am stranded here in this little restaurant. If I were ever to be stranded then I could think of few conditions to perfect my current situation: hot, sweet chai, bollywood music on TV, my journal, and me. The remedial combination was too good for me to brave the rain swept streets in search of bars, and so whilst Kat leaves to find her friends, my backside remains firmly glued to this seat. This morning, after packing, we left our luggage in storage and went to our cooking class. After visiting the local market for a lesson in identifying and selecting fresh produce, we went out to the cooking school and got started. Specialities included pad thai, thai green curry, fried chicken with cashew nuts, fried spring rolls with peanut sauce, soup, sticky rice, coconut cream and mango pudding. Oh, and a lesson in fruit carving, where the pictures show my flower-like watermelon in full splendour. All in all, it was a fantastic day of cutting, banging, chopping, frying, laughing and eating until we were bursting at the seams. By the end, hardly able to move, we were in no fit state to be lauding heavy backpacks around the city in search of a new guesthouse. But, that's the way it was. We ended up in soi nine, conveniently close to our favourite joints, and in a wonderfully clean and calm guesthouse. It was only 100baht more the streets of little indiathan the last place but even ...