The train from Bangkok pulled into Chiang Mai exactly on time. The quaint station, the most northerly in Thailand disgorged it's passengers, mostly young backpackers onto the station platform. I had already booked my accommodation on line so headed outside the station to look for a taxi. As luck would have it, among the many hawkers on the station with placards for various guest houses was one for the very place that I was staying. A free ride! Ding Dong!
SK 2 was a lovely little place. I'm not sure how many rooms it had but it seemed friendly and well run. I was shown to my room. This time I had plumped for a fan rather than Aircon as it was less than half the price. The room was large and clean. Situated on the fourth floor it overlooked the monastery next door. It didn't have the luxury of a TV in the room but given the only channels on the TV's so far had been CNN and Thai, that wasn't an issue.
The guest house did have a pool however and also free WiFi in the communal areas. After settling in my room I went back downstairs to formally check in. I also took the opportunity to check my e-mails. I was overjoyed to see one from Severn Trent Water. Following the leak I had an outstanding bill for £3600. This really pissed me off as I thought the water company were being a bit uncharitable. My sleepless night activity if writing to the CEO of the company had not been unrewarding . The email from Severn Trent was writing off the whole amount. Great news. I didn't push my luck by asking for the £50 I had already paid to be refunded too.
I spent the afternoon chilling in the restaurant area by the pool reading. Had a bit of lunch and celebrated my good fortune with the water company by having a couple of beers. The prices were noticeably lower than in Bangkok. A large Chang was 60 Bht compared to the 110 Bht in the capital. I retired early to finish reading my book.
Waking up at 6:00, the sun streaming through the window, the birds chirping and the monks from the monastery singing their morning prayers couldn't be more different to Bangkok. Paradise. Looking over the balcony, taking this all in, I saw a young western girl, staggering down the lane, obviously still pissed from the night before. Hmm 'you win some you lose some' .
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