Chiang Mai Calling

Between jobs in PNG and Canberra, Royal Brunei Airlines had AUD200 fares going (plus a little bit more than that in tax) but hey, since when do they sell return flights from SYD-BKK for $500? So, seizing the day we flew via Banda Seri Begawan (the capital that Rich still can't manage to remember) to Bangkok and on to Chiang Mai and visited our 'foster' elephant Tong Jan and the rest of the family at the Elephant Nature Park, enjoying a traditional northern Thai meal and then relaxed in a garden resort for a couple of days, while taking what ended up being a private cooking class for just us both with an enthusiastic chef who even made our dishes to dine for! Visiting some wats and letting a taxi driver convince us to visit the parasol, silverware, pashmina, lacquer work, kashmir rug and wooden sculpture workshops and gift shops (he got a little bonus for bringing us and we were entertained although wearisome by the fifth store)!!
The short trip was just the respite needed after many busy months of work!