Third week in Chiang Rai

Another week passes. Notably the weather hasn't been as wintry as the previous week. The couds shifted and the northerly winds mostly subsided. It hasn't again been as hot as when we first arrived but its been warm enough during the day. Evenings have varied from being OK to sit out in shorts and t-shirt to needing long sleeves and a jumper. Last night I joined the nightly drinking and talking gang at the guest house. The Thais were all in coats, one wrapped up like an English festival goer might be, while the Europeans were in a variety of shorts, trousers, shirts and thin jumpers.

The other notable events of the week have been meeting Onepen and Maurice, a Thai-English couple who are building their luxury house in a village near to town. She teaches English to kids from the surrounding area every weekend in a purpose-built classroom on their land. We have also met Thia, a north European traveller who has settled in Thailand and Tom, a gentle and positive Huddersfield bloke who lives hear with his Thai wife and two kids. He's 65 and has a 3 and a 2 year old!

We've been to the Rim Kok once, but the pool is too cold for Kaya now who complained bitterly at going in, the Youth Orchestra and the Saturday Walking Market. Where last week Thais were dressed up in their winter coats, this week it was back to shirts.

I've also had to spend some time on tenders and grant apps which has taken up some mornings. We've also been to the palypark a few times where Kaya loves going down the slide with me to be lifted into G's arms at the bottom. She's met some Thai children, who all interacted with her at the park. The park also hosts regular evening keep-fit sessions to music - everything from trance to synthetic electro-pop. Kaya's crawled around a few more temples, had the pleasure of being greeted by a monk. We've also been to one of our favourite cafes - the Panja - and I've done a little bit more photography of Buddha images and other Buddhist art at the temples as well as a big tree with abandoned spirit houses.

Today (or tomorrow according to blogtime-UK) we move out of Peter's House over the lane to the guest house for a night then we are going to My Dream Guesthouse for a few days before returning to Chiang Rai for a week.