Thailand at last!

Most of our trip so far has been slightly rushed, as we've whirlwinded from country to country as quick as can be, to have time to see all the magical places we wanted to see. The entire distance from Sweden to Beijing - which I can tell you from experience is a pretty hefty piece of land - was covered in just three weeks. China got two weeks of our attention, as did Vietnam. Laos we devoted only six days to, just enough time to see a temple or two in Luang Prabang, and do the legendary tubing down the river in Vang Vieng.

So why have we been running around - well, bussing and training it around, really - the entire continent so quickly? Why, because we were so frightfully excited to get to Thailand, of course!

Annika has been telling me stories about how fantastic Chiang Mai is ever since, well, ever since we left Stockholm, basically, and by the time we stepped off the bus on the Laotian-Thai border I was fairly sure this city and this country would have streets paved with gold and rivers that overfloweth with honey (or something even better, like Chang beer), and although this wasn't exactly true, I remain completely enchanted. Chiang Mai is a completely delightful city, the countryside surrounding it is absolutely beautiful, and I've both opportunity to visit the excellent second-hand bookstores that are on every corner and go to the movies! What more could anyone ask for?

After two months of hectic travelling, we're both feeling a little exhausted, and are extremely happy to have a whole ten days in Chiang Mai - it may not sound like so much, but when you're used to spending no more than three nights in a town, ten days in one city is more than enough time to make you feel like a local - and five weeks in Thailand. Annika is enthusiastically teaching me all the Thai she remembers, and we're spending our days here relaxing in the courtyard of our hotel, driving around on motorbikes, and basking in the sunshine (take that, all you rainy days in Vietnam!). If the first two months of our trip were backpackery hard-core travelling, this last month is our holiday. And we're having a blast so far.

When we're not loafing around or getting massages, we've also managed to find the time to go on a trek through the jungle, ride around on elephants and go bamboo rafting. Soon Mirjam and Rasmus are joining us from Sweden and will accompany us down to the beaches of southern Thailand. Life is not too shabby at the moment.