Chiang Mai Thailand Nov. 6/08

After spending 5 days in Bangkok(too many) we took a 12 hour train ride yesterday to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. It was only about 350 km. but the train was slow. The way it bounced swayed and jerked, slow was probably safer. In Bangkok the hustle for the tourist $ is intense( but not threatening). We enjoyed the sights but were glad to leave. Chiang Mai is smaller (about 200,000 compared to ?? millions) and much more relaxed. The hustle for the tourist $ is still here, but less persistent and more benign. After 7 days in Japan, Thailand is a bit of culture shock. Japan is clean, tidy, beautiful, organized and there are rules. Thailand is not clean or tidy, especially Bangkok but is beautiful here and there in a different way. The rules of the road are - the bigger you are the more rights you have. Crossing the street as a pedestrian is an adventure.