Chiangmai Zoo

After a super-relaxing Saturday (played Pirates vs Ninjas and got a massage, that's it!) I pulled my socks up (well, put my jandals on) on Sunday and headed out for a beautiful stroll around the Chiangmai Zoo. Set in the super lush foothills surrounding the city, it was a very peaceful experience and I took in jaguars, crocodiles, hornbills, a tiger and some Asiatic brown bears that looked very fighty.

Headed to the airport in the late afternoon and bumped into none other than Sam the Pilot! He managed to get me on a business class seat and leaving this beautiful city with the setting the sun over my shoulder, I knew that I would be back here again to spend some serious rancho relaxo time.

This shot's for Jamie

Friday 16 November

A 6am wake-up call and a three hour flight got me to Chiangmai in order to check out the scene in northern Thailand. Very chill with the right idea was my first impression - slightly ghetto in a good way.

Got a bit of work done in the hotel then hit up some tom yam soup on Nimmanhaemin Road and bumped into Pat and Wan from the Tiger team in true village fashion. Kard Chung Doi was the location of this particular night's trouble and it started with some good local death metal mixed with live manga art - you gotta love the way the Thais mix it up.

Got some food in the belly then hit up the party proper where lots of college kids seemed very picky but got into a couple of the bands - apparently there are free live concerts every night here so it explains their lack of enthusiasm.

After enjoying a few rounds of Tiger, the cops enforced the liquor license around midnight and we left to fight another day - though not without a couple of warm-down Heinekens in the crowded club at the hotel basement.