Happy Songkran!

Songkran is now over in Chiang Mai. It was an intense three days of being wet from about mid-morning to sundown. (Songkran is the Thai New Year festival.) Even when we weren't in the city we were getting soaked by passing cars. It was a lot of fun - something's got to be said about being able to soak a complete stranger with water! We quickly armed ourselves with water guns when we changed hotels - after a very stressful hour of trying to find our hotel, bags on our backs, people soaking us from each direction.

We are leaving Chiang Mai tomorrow morning - I'm a little sad. I've really grown to like this place. It's small - everything is kind of walking distance - and everyone's so friendly here! And the food... I think now that Ryan's with me I'm back on a regular eating schedule which means that the weight I'd lost from my horrible eating habits is now back... and maybe a little more.

We've done a whole lot in the last 4 days... highlights include Sunday Night Walking Street, the every day night market, riding an elephant and some white water rafting. On the second day of Songkran we opted to get massages. It was pretty good except I'm not a huge fan of massages (I had a bad experience in Germany that left me bruised for a week while backpacking no less)... Combine the intensity of a hard back massage with some Tiger Balm and I was about ready to freak out. Okay, maybe not freak out... but I think next time I'll just stick with leg massages - that was really good. The relaxation that we got from the massage was quickly replaced by the stress of getting a bucket of water thrown on you when you walked down the street. A lot of fun but I'm kind of glad it's over.

I really want to post some pictures - I have a bunch ready for you guys but unfortunately this place closes in about 10 minutes so I won't get the chance to do it tonight. I have a feeling that internet is going to be expensive again come the Islands. I hope to write again soon...