N. Thailand

I spent a couple of weeks in the north of Thailand and I met the most wonderful people. It's funny how when you meet people you know right away if you are going to get on.

I stayed with Susannon and Albert in a small Lisu (one of the hill tribes, who originate from Tibet and Nepal but now live around the Thai/Myanmar border) village for 6 days, just reading and relaxing. Albert is from the US and Susannon is part of the tribe. They live in a traditional teak house and live a very peaceful life in the village. It was lovely to be a part of it for a few days. Susannon is now a Christian and she took me to the Lisu Christmas party, which was basically a stage set up in a field, with a marquee roof for the audience and some straw to sit on. The Pastor gave him sermon and then several groups from the village got up on stage and sang songs or danced. It was so cute! It was the most Xmassy i felt the whole time, sitting on the straw in the cold night. I could have done with a nice cosy fire to go home to! But the only fire is the one outside they cook on, so i went home and curled up under my 5 blankets!! Northern Thailand is pretty cold in the winter!

And after this I went to Pai. A small town which is full of tourists - both western and Thai. On the first day (Xmas day) I met this old hippy guy - long hair, bright pink shorts, from California... Anyway somehow i couldn't escape him until after dinner when i had to go and call home to say merry Xmas! But the next day i went to mama's yoga class and it's the first time there have ever been more guys in my yoga class than girls! There were only 3 of us - me, Simon (English) and Brad (Aussie). They had met a few days before in a restaurant and asked me after class if i wanted to to for a cycle to the hot springs along the road - of course i did! Brad introduced me to his other half, Nick, and in those few minutes i had made some great friends for the rest of my time in Pai! They were so lovely and the next day Cassie was at yoga so she joined our little gang and then we were complete!!

It is so nice to meet people who you can really talk to and who you just understand. It doesn't seem to happen very often in life, and travelling I've met a lot of people but not many who I honestly think i will see again. But I really hope to see these guys again. They made Pai what it was - and it was fab!

And again today, I joined a group to go around the Kinabalu NP here in Borneo and there were 3 Aussie couples in the group - all middle-aged. One of the guys had had a stroke, he couldn't speak and walked slowly but without a stick, and his wife was so patient, and treated him exactly as she would have before the stroke, it is so nice to see. Sometimes people are just living their life without realising how well they do it, and how much respect they deserve for coping with the traumas they have gone through. And one of the other couples were both teachers, and really interesting people who both obviously loved their jobs and were so happy together and complimented each other so well, and it's nice to see that!

So anyhoo, I'm in Borneo now and it's stunning! Spent New Year in Singapore (where funnily enough i met more Scots than i have on the rest of my trip! We don't seem to travel round these parts much... The Dutch are definitely in the lead!). Singapore was a real shock to the system. It was like being in Europe, but where everyone is Chinese but speaks in English!? They have an overland/subway system, the MRT, and it in clean, modern and oh so quiet, i reckon it could compete with the tube for quietness. Nobody talks.

Singapore really does feel western. It is clean, tidy and efficient. And they love to shop! I have never seen so many shopping malls lining the streets! And so I figured i would go and do something i haven't done since going travelling - go to the cinema!!! It was great! Will Smith rocks!

Everywhere is air-conditioned - and so they all dress like us even though it's 30degrees and 90%humidity outside.

It seemed to me like a city of couples. And I took a walk around the city on my last night and walked along the harbour and it was just lined with couples - couples holding hands, couples kissing, couples sitting by the water, couples, couples, couples!!! But at least they show affection to each other, in some arts of SE Asia they don't even seem to touch. And in India they don't even acknowledge each other, men and women interact as little as possible. So I guess that was an improvement.

But it also made me realise how much more at home i feel in that society. In a culture where men and women can have a conversation where the first question isn't "are you married?". And that i really like western toilets, and soap being provided to wash your hands. I like wide tree-lined streets and being in cafes where the main customers are locals not foreigners (because they are the only ones who can afford it!). I like being in a society where everyone feels equal, where they all earn a fair wage, and can afford to spend S$5 on a coffee. And I like being able to walk around the city. It isn't too big, and not too small either. It was fun for a few days to be back to a reality i am familiar with. But my wallet didn't like it! Thank goodness I'm not much of a shopper or it could have been dangerous!

And now I'm in Malaysian Borneo and the digs and food are cheaper but there are so many things I want to see and do here that my budget is going out the window - oh well, I might never be here again, so I'm not gonna miss out!