Chiang Mai 4

After lunch the group decided they would do an "add-on" to the tour on the way home and stop to see the "Longnecks" in their tribal village - the longnecks are the women who gradually add an increasing number of bands to their necks to make them "long" and "more beautiful". It was an extra 600 baht for the two of us which is approximately $24 which we didn't have with us but Su, the tour leader, was keen to lend us the money until we got back to our hotel so we did this. We think she must have made quite a commission off this as really it was very expensive for a 10 minute walk in the heat between all the stalls displaying their handicrafts - bags, scarves, pillowcovers etc and past the various girls and women with their neckbands on. Long-necked Karen was the star with the most bands but I have seen much longer necks than hers in photos so we really felt that we could have stayed in the bus but then it is probably good to observe in person, as a oncer.

Long neck Karen & her wares

When we arrived back at out hotel we talked to the receptionist about thr air conditioning waterfall problem in our room, worried that we might have another sleepless night like the previous one, and she changed us to another similar room, 2 floors higher. It meant we had to pack everything up but they compensated for this by leaving a small bowl of nice fruit in our new room.

After freshening up with a shower we wandered out into the markets and down to Chinatown where we tried to recognise some of the many different fruits on the stalls, see what they were all cooking but avoiding eating anything that might be a bit suspect! We weren't hungry after our big lunch and with the heat so a bag of little pancakes made with coconut milk and corn were delicious as was the black rice and sesame seed pancake served in a banana leaf with milk and honey. No problem with our stomachs afterwards!

Boy's band with guest blues guitar maestro

On the way back to the hotel we stumbled upon some good rhythm and blues music floating down some stairs in one of the covered markets so went up to investigate. Wow what great music and talented players here at Boys Blues Bar which sits on the rooftops - it's finds like these that make a holiday! We sat ourselves down right virtually right in front of the band next to a bunch of Americans who are in Thailand teaching English so they were able to give us the craic. A Thai, named Boy, is the owner and band leader and he has an affro hairstyle like Jimmy Hendrix with the biggest happiest smile which is so infectious. The place was humming and the music great and made even better by the arrival of a muso with a long white beard and a reputation for being the most awesome guitar player. And that he was! His guitar was an extension of his soul and the sounds he got out of it just incredible. They were joined for a couple of songs by a vivacious Aussie girl with a deep raspy voice and personality plus. Such good entertainment all for the price of a few cheap beers!