Coming back from Chiangrai and Chiangmai

Chiangrai [September, 24-26th, 2008]
I had not been in Chiangrai for sometimes and then I was able to go there again. I stayed at Wiang Inn Hotel for 2 nights. The first night, I ate at the 24 hours roadside restuarant [boiled rice restuarant] in front of the hotel where I used to have fun drinking with friends until dawn quite a few times. The second night, I went to a Maekok riverside restuarant. I had good times bringing back my memory at both nights.
The first night after eating, I asked a young masseuse coming to my room for traditional massage and finding that a girl [Ar Ka Hilltribe] did an exellent massage to me. She said that she had first training in Chiangmai for one month at 3,000 baht. She had 5 years experience of this job. I paid 300 baht for her massage and 100 baht for a tip.
In Chiangrai, I went to attend the 10 anniversary of Mae Fa Luang University. The program was so grand and every one enjoyed their participation. Ceremony was started with the student procession to the HRH King's Mother[Mae Fa Luang] monument for paying respect and love. The procession was consist of the group of international flags, local senior citizens, and students. The senior people, administrators and university committees were participated in this respecting worship.
In the Hall, there were the ceremony of congratulated speeches of many VIPs, including the ambassadors and consuls of almost ten countries that donated or gave some assistantship to the univesity. The important part was the presenting of tokens to the outstanding students, lecturers for their works and researches and the people who contributed to the university success including some of the ambassadors. This was the one of impressive occasion.
In the afternoon, I joined a part of an international seminar for a while and then went to Mae Sai to tour the bordering market. I bought a short pant for home dressing. There were some boys selling viagra approaching me. I thougt they came from the otherside of the area. I teased them I was on duty officer, then more boys came to approach me. I had to shout them getting away. They must have something back up and were not afraid of me.
The plane price from Bangkok to Chiangrai and back[one economic and one business class] cost me about 9,700 baht or being equal to the salary of a first start bacheral degree government officer in Thailand. Things were expensive.

Chiangmai[ Sept. 27-29th]
After coming back from Chiangrai to Bangkok by plane, next day, 6.00am, I and my family and cousins, 5 adults and one small boy, went to Chiangmai by a Toyota Hilux Vigo double capped pick up car. This car was powered by 3,000 cc. diesel engine with 4 wheels drive. We stopped at the car rest areas 3 times on the road and 2 times on the way back. The fuel round trip was taken about 110-120 liters for approximately 1,500 km. It was not so bad comparing to the plane expense.
We arrived in Chiangmai at 2 pm. Starting the program with late lunch at Lamduan Restaurant for traditional curried noodle. Later, we went to a company out of town for my son's business. I drove the others to Chiangmai Orchid Hotel. This was one of my favourite hotel and it was by the shopping center. In the evening, we went to a popular local retuarant and two of my very close friends joined our dinner. We had a very good time discussing in many topics including life's fact in buddhist principle.
The next day was Sunday and offices closed. We, therefore, went for leisure to the hot spring tourist site in Sankampang. We enjoyed boiling eggs in hot spring for eating and someone took a foot bathe in the warm water stream. The temperature at the spring was 105 degree celcius, but at the stream, it was down to around 50 degree. We took a few pictures. Then, we went to the resturant there for lunch. There were small rain shower when we ate. At the end, we went back to the hotel for taking rest. Someones went to the shopping center for window shopping, hair dressing, and foot massage. I and my grand-nephew went to find some ice cream at KFC. In the evening, we went to my friend's home for home made dinner. It was so delicious as usual. I and this friend used to live together when we were young. Before going back to the hotel, we went to Night Bazaar for shopping. I and my grand nephew got each local made shirts. Others got the curtain fabrics and some souvenirs.
The last day before going back, my son and my wife went for their business with the bank and Land Department Office. I went to our small land to witness some people measuring the area. Everything was done before noon and we went to the road side local market for the last shopping of local food stuff and lunch. We left Chiangmai at 1.00 pm. and headed for Bangkok. On the way back, we were stopped by the policemen twice because of driving fast. My son drove all the way around 100-120kms/hour, but sometimes, it went to 125. We arrived at Bangkok around 8.30 pm. and had dinner at Thai E-san Restuarant near our home.

These two trips gave me some excitement after 2 years of retiring. I went back to the places where I used to go before. I thought that there must be other chances to come back again. My life should be looking forward to far distance and hope. I will not stay at home and do some house work. This world is still big enough for me to see. This is my ambition. Wish that everyone agree with me. Chavalvut.