Got up early as I'd decided to try and do stuff today. First thng was to offload a couple of books and get hold of a new one at a local secondhand book stall. two-for-one and it still cost me 50Baht! I also got hold of some money and paid for two more nights in the guesthouse. Whilst doing this I first bumped into Jerry te plumber and then into Tina. We arranged to have a few drinks later with her travelling companion.

I decided to go for a jaunt up Doi Suthep, the mountain that rises steeply at Chiang Mais western edge. Whilst walking to where the 'Songthaews' ran from I finished a roll of film and reloaded the camera, which decided to screw up. Digital from now on then! I got on to a 'Songthaew' which only had two other farangs (foreigners) on it. We had to wait until the truck was near fully loaded before setting off. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the top on winding (and some places steep) roads. I felt really rough on getting to the top. As soon as I'd paid the driver and group of girls accosted me, they were carrying dozens of the mass produced paintings I'd seen in the markets. I got them off me by saying 'Later! Later!'.

I walked up a few steps already feeling knackered, and then saw the 300 step monstrosity that leads up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the norths holiest shrine that dominates the hillside. Bugger! From the top there is a view of the city below through a light mist which doesn't like photographs. A couple of Germans noticed my taking a couple of headshots of myself with stuff in the backgroud and we traded photo duty. After a couple of hours walking around the small place I headed back down the 300 steps. The steps get steeper the higher you get and none of them are level, they all slope down the hill. I didn't enjoy walkng up or down them, but they do make a good picture.

Out by the road again and the girls are back. The cost of the pictures declined from 600 to 200 baht in about 20 seconds all the while they herded me away from where I want to go (Thais must learn this at school!). At last they gave up and I headed over to the trucks, and sat in the shade waiting for other people to come fill up the truck. On the way down I was a passenger in an arcon minibus. So much better!

On the way back we passed some computer malls, so when I got off the bus I had a look inside them. They sold everything from Laptops (i was considering getting one) to shops that sold nothing but pirate software.

In the evening I met up with Tina and her travelling mate Darryl. We had a beer before heading through the night market on across the river to some riverside bars. We had a snack in one before heading to one where there were live bands playing. Hendrix, The Doors, The Beatles, all sing-a-long stuff! We had alot of beer. Darryl getting a more and more glazed expression before he just got up and left... after a few more minutes Tina decided to go look for him, see threw 500baht at me and left. Neither came back. I finished my beer, paid up and got a tuk-tuk home.