Best Christmas ever

It turns out, Sean and Prang's house isn't quite within walking distance of Chiang Mai. So, I rented a scooter for a month and google maps did the rest. Some back and forth emails and a dead battery on Sean's phone meant they weren't quite expecting me but were graciously welcoming anyway. Sean and Prang have built a loving home of barely controlled chaos, though their kids are some of the most respectful and well behaved children I've ever encountered. Every day is infinitely interesting. And exhausting. They live on a plot of land maybe an acre in size. It has 3 houses - one for them, one for their long time friends Adam and Cindy and their many, many kids (foster and otherwise) and one smaller guest house that Cindy has graciously agreed for me to stay in for a bit, along with her friend from the States, Marissa.

Erik arrived from Bangkok on Christmas morning. It was so good to see him, I cried in spite of myself. The following week was a whirlwind of northern Thailand. After collecting him on my rented scooter, we returned to Chiang Mai so he could get one for himself and made our way up into the hills to Doi Suthep national park and the Wat Phra That temple. After seeing so many temples already, this one was a bit meh. But, a day on a scooter adventure with my son was priceless!

After a night in a Chiang Mai hostel, we got on a bus (thanks to Prang for taking us to the bus station!) and headed to Pai. After a night of pigging out on Thai food at the night market, we once again rented scooters and rode 50 km over a mountain pass to the Lod cave and a truly unique experience. Entrance to the cave is only by lantern carrying guide and bamboo raft. You get on a raft and float down a river into the cave with fish swimming alongside. After disembarking there is a longish walk through a very large and cool cave. Our guide spoke very little English but was very kind and took good care of us (me actually, Erik didn't need much). After the tour, we got on another raft and floated to the exit where we made a 1 km or so trek back to the beginning. All in all it was an extraordinary day.

Into the cave - Erik's expression reflects the awe of the place

Out the other end

 
After Pai, we made the day long journey to Sukhothai. We spent the first day there visiting old Sukhothai on bicycles just as I'd done a couple of weeks earlier. I felt better this time and we explored much more thoroughly. At about the farthest place possible, Erik's bike got a flat tire and we had to walk back. Day two was a bus trip to Si Satchanalai - a place with the most impressive ruins yet. It's just far enough off the beaten track to limit the number of people who go there making it an extraordinary experience. We waited nearly 3 hours for the return bus after the 4 o'clock bus failed to show at all and the 5:00 one was very late. We were about to give up and call a taxi when it finally showed up.

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Old Sukhothai

The next day (new years eve) was time to say goodbye. Erik took the long bus ride to Bangkok and spent the night partying with half the city on Chao San Rd while I returned to Chiang Mai and slept the whole next day. Although the time felt like a blink of an eye, it was so great to see Erik and travel like we always have - packing as much adventure as possible into the time we had.