Christmas Holiday in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, 2007/8

We escaped the cold of Suzhou and headed off to Thailand again, but this time we went to the north and to Chiang Mai. Surrounded by mountains, including the highest point in Thailand, it's a fantastic little city. Cheaper than Bangkok and much easier to get around we had a great 6 days there.

Fruit in the night market

Monk Chat - the monks were on a day off and gathered round some of the temples to practice their English in conversation with people. This monk was from Laos and was a novice. He went to university in the day and wondered the streets collecting alms the rest of the time. Turns out he is a Liverpool who only didn't watch as many games as he wouldv'e liked because his monastry didn't have cable TV! He listened on the radio instead.

It was also General Election time and all the votes were counted in public

Monk robes drying

There was a ban on the sale of alcohol during the 48 hours of the election - mainly so that people would remember who had bought their vote. This is what I thought of that - shopkeepers were happy to sell to 'farang'- foreigners - as long as you put it straight into a bag

Big Bamboo

'Muay Thai' Thai boxing

These guys were on holiday from Bangkok and were spending the afternoon drinking at the highest point in China. We happily joined them.

The butchers market - big trade in pork

This was in Bangkok at the Kings Cup Final, where Thailand played Iraq and won 1-0. Note the man carrying beer in a plastic bag.

The King, but not much in the way of a crowd

Half time. Still not much of a crowd. I thought the ref seemed a bit of a 'homer' at the time, turns out all the officials were Thais....