09.02 Day 25 Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Day 25 - Friday 9th Feb - Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai

Moving day, heading back to Chiang Mai. The morning is passed with school work and calls home before checking out of Bed Friends Poshtel and walking to the bus terminal - the walk short enough that the kids don’t start asking us to carry their rucksacks for them.

The 3.5 hrs bus ride at midday passes uneventfully - though at the pit stop after 2 hrs we introduce ourselves to another family abroad, they’re from country Victoria and are taking the year out with their three kids, although it sounds like most of it will be spent in SE Asia so they’re doing more slow travel than us.

Sienna has asked why so we always get Grab taxis and not tuk tuks - our reasons that a taxi has aircon and they’ve been half the price of the four tuk tuks we’ve spoken to - which was understood but didn’t diminish the want to try them. At Chiang Mai bus terminal the Grab we’re given is 20 mins away, so we cancel that and this time clamber all 4 of us, 2 suitcases and 4 rucksacks into tuk tuk. Despite now sitting in traffic at the height of car exhausts, Sienna seems proud as punch. Whilst it can’t avoid congestion, the tuk tuk can nip down alleys cars can’t fit through so we’re soon dropped at Kitti Rose Home.

This, like our previous Chiang Mai stay, is in the heart of the Old Town. It’s a purpose built 5 room / apartment building with the owners and her family in another building behind. Dinner is at the highly rated Kat’s Kitchen, which whilst fine has become so popular they’ve swallowed up the dining area next door, but still work out of the one kitchen. The ever present pairs of dice just about keep the kids entertained until our food arrives. The Aussie family from the bus ride make an appearance too, assuring us they’re not stalking us.