Chiang-MaiThai: Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells...

CHIANG-MAI, BYE, BYE...

As the condemned man dreads the coming dawn, so it was with us today. Today was a day touched by sadness and joy. The sadness of leaving friends in Chiang-Mai, The wonderful staff at the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew (pronounced "Lotus Pung Shwan Cow") Hotel, surely one of the friendliest hotels I have ever stayed in in my life and, dear friends and family who are reading this, you know I have spent some years of my life in many "great hotels", few of which would hold a feather to the wonderful, if a little tired, Lotus Pang Suan Kaew. To our minds one of the great hotels of Thailand, if not the world. Not only the hotel and it's staff, but our wonderful guide, Nonny, without whom, we would not know one tenth as much about the beautiful and enchanting history of Chiang-Mai, it's Kings, the people who formed it and, it's colourful history.

So it was that it was a restless night, and just before dawn, I awoke and as if to prepare myself for the coming of the executioner, took one long last look outside the hotel window.

At first, only darkness... but as my eyes grew accustomed to the early morning darkness, I could make out the shapes of lights, and buildings.

As the dawn approached, at last I could make out my beloved Chiang-Mai, a sight I will not see again for some time, but a sight engraved into my heart along with the very many other sights and experiences we have had the honour and pleasure to experience on our only too short time in this wonderful city.

And looking up onto the mountain of Doi Suthep, for the last time, we could see Wat Prathat Doi Suthep clearly and I said a silent prayer and a 'wai' with a whispered 'kruup' to our favourite Wat.

The packing, as usual was left for the last minute and at that minute, Lidy discovered our belongings had outgrown the size of our bags! No worries I said, We can get another bag in the shopping centre (did I mention there is a massive shopping centre that forms a part of the hotel?) So we went to the shopping centre with only an hour and a half to spare and found it closed!

"Ok," I said to Lidy, "You go back to the room and see what you can squash into our bags and I will get a Tuk-Tuk and go to the luggage store near the Night Bazaar (you remember the Night Bizarre don't you?) and see if I can get a bag."

So off I raced to the Tuk-Tuk rank out the front of the hotel and in my best broken English I said to the unfortunate driver: "You get me to the bloody Night Bizarre bloody quick and I pay double! Chop, chop!"

WILDEST TUK-TUK RIDE EVER

Off we went, and for the first time ever, I experienced just how fast one of these Frankenstein vehicles could go. He went through red lights, between cars and into spaces I wouldn't take my 'bike! and thrashed the poor engine until it screamed. Magically, he delivered me to the front door of the luggage shop where I jumped out of the still moving Tuk-Tuk amid shouts from passers by who must have thought I was doing a 'runner' from the Tuk-Tuk.

I ran into the store and shouted at the lady shop assistant, "Am I your first customer today?" "Yes." she replied. "Ok, I need a suitcase, chop, chop." She pointed to a suitcase and I asked the price. "Two thousand eight hundred Baht..." "Too much, five hundred Baht." "One thousand two hundred." "Six hundred." "One thousand one hundred." "Seven hundred." "One thousand." "Eight hundred." "Nine hundred." "Done!!!!" I exclaimed. I gave her the money, grabbed the bag and bolted out the door, nearly knocking over a couple of bystanders who had followed me into the shop. I run for the Tuk-Tuk, bag flying after me and launched myself into the back seat. My driver gunned the engine and screamed through the gears. With his horn constantly honking, he squeezed his way through the peak hour traffic, through traffic lights of many colours and delivered me safely, if a little rattled back to the hotel. I paid and tipped him, almost throwing the money at him as I made for the lobby and lifts. Up I went to the eleventh floor and rang the bell to our room. Lidy answered the door with a "Haven't you gone yet?" "No, I'm back, here's the suitcase." "That was quick." "I'll tell you about it later" (and I am now!) Lidy threw the remaining gear into the new bag and I zipped it up.

And, just as suddenly, the executioner's knock on the door. The bellboy had arrived for our bags. We knew it was time to leave. As we walked down the balcony for the last time, I couldn't help but reflect on the wonderful moments we had enjoyed here in the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew hotel. The day of HRH's visit, The evenings with Elvis and Roy Orbison, the wonderful surprises of a room full of flowers for our anniversary, our lovely sweet, unobtrusive maid, the great drinks, great meals.

We pressed the lift call button and as if on cue, the Princess's lift came for us. It was as if the hotel itself had decided on this simple parting gesture to wish us a safe departure.

And then to the lobby of the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew where the friendly staff wished us well on our departure.

So, it was off to the Chiang-Mai airport, and after completing check-in formalities there was still enough time for a coffee.

After another serene flight courtesy of Thai Airways lasting one hour and forty minutes, we arrived at Phuket Airport and after some initial confusion where Russell thought we had transfers to the hotel, and so buggered around trying to find someone holding a sign with our name on it. After about twenty minutes of confusion during which Lidy tried to hire a car to take us to the Baiyoke Suite in Bangkok, Russell eventually got the itinerary out of his bag and discovered we had to supply our own transfer. Again, Lidy came to the rescue, commandeering the last two seats in a mini-bus for the trip to Patong Beach. After settling in at the Royal Paradise Hotel, we went out to get food and Russell had his first Mai-Tai in Phuket.