Brrrr it's cold leaving the apartment, thank goodness I'm off to warmer climates - Chiang Mai, Thailand! But first it's off to work I go. I had elected to do carry on and as I had checked in yesterday there is no need to visit airport express this time.
Finally the time has come to leave work. I'm surprised with the number of people on the airport express, I'm clearly not the only person heading to the airport! I sail through security then immigration - easiest visit yet! I definitely know it won't be like this when I return for my Christmas holiday in 6 weeks.
Kat had "made me" fly HK express which means no lounge access.....a new thing for me and one I know I'm not going to want to repeat anytime soon!! It's the small things in life.
We decided it was easier to meet at the gate so I slowly make my way there. I could have spent another 30 minutes at work but hey ho, you never know how the security and immigration lines will go. On arriving at the gate area the first thing I come across is duty free which is offering free tastings of Veuve, umm yes thank you! I manage to encourage the woman to fill up my small plastic cup.
We depart on time, surprising given the line up to have our documents readded into their system. Chiang Mai here we come!!
The flight passes by fairly quickly thank goodness and within minutes of clearing Chiang Mai customs we are out in the heat. Aah how I have missed you. After getting cash out we head straight to the taxi line; traffic is crazy so the line is a tad long but thankfully it moves quicker than I expect.
We dump our bags in our rooms then out to find dinner. As we had driven into the hotel complex we noticed a place right next door which was all lit up with red umbrella’s – we decide the menu looks good, no need to go any further.
The hotel is nearby to some markets which we go off to explore.
Saturday, 12 November I wake just after 5.30am, ummm no thanks that's far too early! Thankfully I manage to get a couple more hours sleep.
After getting some directions I head out for a run - the first thing I see exiting the hotel is a family of 4 on a motorbike all without helmets; yes I'm in Asia!
I meet Kat and Sean for a relaxed breakfast.
It’s Sean’s first trip to Chiang Mai so we head off towards the old town. So much of our walk is very familiar to me. In the end I leave them and enjoy wandering around an old book store, I could be here for hours!! In the end I finally manage to leave, the pool at the hotel is calling me!
The afternoon is spent by the pool – while the air temperature is hot the water isn’t! Definitely a shock the first time I enter. Aah this is the life, relaxing by a pool while reading!
We decide on lunch at the hotel before retiring back to the pool. Sean leaves us for a couple of hours.
What seems like 5 minutes after we sit down it’s time to leave the pool and get ready for tonight. We have pre-wedding drinks with Matt and Piyanut and the other guests.
In typical Saturday night fashion traffic is terrible! Takes us so much longer than expected. On arrival it’s like a maze to get to the top floor where Matt and Piyanut have hired out Myst. The views are amazing!! 360 degrees of Chiang Mai. Very cool!!
We wander the streets looking at the night market before hunger takes over. Being creatures of habit we return to the same restaurant as last night….and order the same food. For some crazy reason we mention a little bit of spice – ummmm this is CRAZY hot!!! Far too hot for us to be eating.
Wedding Day, Sunday 13 November I've woken by my alarm. Something that doesn't happen very often! The ceremony starts at 9.09am so it’s an early start. Thankfully no hungover like the last wedding I attended.
We had ordered a taxi last evening, both Kat and I forgetting that 8.40am doesn’t mean 8.40am. Finally it turns up and we are off.
Entering the Dhara Dhevi Hotel behind 3 other taxi’s it’s clear we are in the right place. WOW this place is amazing!!! We are dropped off at reception then put into a golf cart and taken to where the ceremony is to be held. Matt is there on our arrival and is slightly confused when we all pull up, clearly this wasn’t the plan! Back into a golf cart we head to the large outdoor courtyard where the groom’s side of the guest are to wait. 
There are a few sore heads from last night, definitely glad we left when we did. Just as the sun was starting to get strong we were asked to get into line behind the groom, the groom’s family and groomsmen to start the procession to the ceremony. 
On arrival Matt had to do a few different things before he was allowed to advance, after each “trick” he had to pay the bridesmaid to move to the next rope. This happened 4 times before he was allowed to enter the ceremony hut (definitely a glamourous hut!!).
The ceremony was held in Thai and English, with the first part it was all about Matt and his family. In Thai custom the bride doesn’t just walk in, Matt and Piyanut’s mother together had to go looking for her. Her bridesmaid and close friends then had to do everything they could to delay Matt getting to her.
The ceremony continues with Matt and Piyanut now together. Gifts are given to the Bride’s mother, each one having to be looked at, showed to the guests then she announces how much the gift is worth. Prior to the ceremony all married guests and those single guests that are older that Matt go up and give the bride and groom a blessing. A lovely touch, but once I won’t be participating in.
We head back down the stairs to the courtyard where we entered where there was a buffet of local Thai food.
We hang around for a while before deciding it was time to get cool! It’s hot work standing outside with no shade. The pool is calling us!
We spend the afternoon at the pool relaxing, swimming, reading and drinking cocktails. This is the life!.
The evening reception was within walking distance to our hotel (awesome work by travel agent Kat) which made it easy for us to get there. It’s such a lovely evening at a beautiful setting.
We have drinks in the bar before being moved to our tables. Unlike a western wedding guests had started eating prior to everyone arriving.
The food is delicious Thai food! I could totally eat this every night of the week.
Following the speeches the band kick-off and so do some people dancing. Beautiful under the stars.
On arrival back to the hotel I make calls to family to ensure they are safe after the awful large earthquake. Thankfully everyone is safe.
Monday, 14 November I was woken just after 5am by what I believe is the hotel staff. Yeah no thanks, far too early to be up! Time to sleep again!
I headed to breakfast just before 9am; a lot more people around both at breakfast and at the pool than there has been for the past two days. So nice not having to rush!!
Time for togs to be put on, then it's straight to the pool I head. The heat is out in full force! This really is the life :)
A couple of hours pass far too quickly, unfortunately we have a flight back to HK in a few hours so it's packing up time.
We manage to get to the airport in record time, always the way when you give yourself lots of time! On checking in I'm told my suitcase (carry on) is too heavy and I need to remove about 2 kg's. Thankfully my line of "I haven't packed well and I know I need to take some things out" works. I can continue with my carry on.
Kat and Sean have the same issue but are asked to remove in front of their check-in person - thank goodness that didn't happen to me! To immigration we head; after switching lines more than a few times we are all through. Far too early at the airport but better early than late!! We manage to entertain ourselves just fine!
Finally our flight is called to board; for some reason we have been pushed out to the tarmac so it's onto a bus a go. This of course means a third of the plane is here....the wait continues for the rest of the passengers.
We land into HK dead on time at 6.15pm and like Chiang Mai don't have a gate so it's onto buses we go. Never an easy / straight forward experience!! Thankfully they drop us basically at immigration and within seconds are through.
It's been a wonderful long weekend away to celebrate Matt and Piyanut's wedding!! Next trip is at Christmas time.....just over 5 weeks but who's counting??!
A wonderful story, you know, I recently returned from Thailand, and I understand what you're talking about. But I tavel alone, it was not a holiday, rather a working trip. Anyway, I visited Chiang Mai, and collected information about that area, for my article. I had only two weeks at my disposal, and the plan of places I needed to visit was more than twenty. Being at home in advance, I was spanning the route, and all for the last detail. On my arrival, I rented a motorbike for quick movement around that area. Who cares, here this service http://catmotors.net/ which I used. This will save your time for searching a veicles, my house armor does not work out, so I will not recommend the hotel. In general, I succeeded of my journey, my article will be published soon, I will be glad if you will read it. I hope to visit this country again, but only on vacation, not for working moments.
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