Home Sweet Home

Up at the crack of dawn this morning, well actually since 2am (this may have had something to do with coconut latte I had at 10pm last night because I was so excited to find one) I attempt to get the 8am bus to Chiang Mai. Turns out, because it's Thailand and nothing happens if they don't feel like it, there was no 8am bus today, just a 12pm one (which you can't buy tickets in advance for) and so even though I arrive early, it seemed the entire population of Pai (or at least the mass of leftover Reggae bums) has the same idea as me so I feel extremely fortunate when the horde of locals and tourists alike jump the bus as it arrives at the station (me included) before it even unloads (because the only way you get on is if you fit) and I manage to not only get on with my luggage, but score a seat! A half hour later than scheduled (or I guess pretty close to on time for Thailand) the bus lurches forward and I start thinking that I actually may make it to Chiang Mai tonight (all the minivans were booked and if I missed this bus my only other hope was to swarm the 4pm bus and hope to get on, otherwise I was sleeping in Pai again). Lucky for me, I, along with about 45 other people, managed to pack on to a bus that is not only meant for just over half this, but is falling apart at the seams (the hand railing on the roof only has two of eight screws in it, part of the food paneling is missing, the broken door is lying covering one of the back seats and as you've probably guessed, there is no door). Not only are the seats filled but there are ten extra people standing in the isle, four sitting on the floor at the back entrance and two standing in the doorway (I had a cute little hill tribe lady napping on my shoulder most of the way, but this was far from the worst option). How this bus made it up the long, winding hill to get out of Pai (I was sure it was going to start rolling back a few times when the driver was trying to gear down while barely moving) and then back down to Chiang Mai, is beyond me - you could smell the breaks burning half way down. Five hours later (by some great stroke of luck it seemed) I made it to Chiang Mai in one piece, bought my ticket for Wed to the Lao boarder and then took a tuk tuk back to my previous residence, the Royal Guesthouse (where the awesome woman at the front welcomed me back and gave me my room for 50B cheaper :) Knowing where I was going and not having to struggle to find a place to stay after a day like this was sheer bliss. I walked in, got a room, went and grabbed some food from a good nearby spot, did some trip planning, checked my emails and now, only a couple hours later, having been productive and not in the least bit stressed (since Chiang Mai anyhow) I'm jumping into my soft bed in my quiet room for an amazing sleep! Yay :)

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