Today was big, big, big and we met a fellow Hiver!

Ooooft! Today was such a big day of doing as our travels continue here in Northern Thailand that I was about to go to bed without having written a post for Hive Blog Posting Month. I almost forgot!!!

We woke on the farm.

By 8:30 we had said goodbye to the tiny puppy and other farm dogs, and another member of the family who made us delicious sticky rice and... speaks no English. He was nice and I was grateful to pat/wrestle/be followed around by his puppy.

We headed to the markets to buy some live water based animals (big and small fish and some frogs!) and then we headed to a specific river that needs help being repopulated with native animals and we gently dropped said animals into the river to swim away and hopefully love long, productive, happy lives.

That was a first!

Photo by @new.things. also known as The Patient One.

Then it was onto a flower market to get a family member a birthday present before checking in at our new accommodation in the Old City (part) of Chiang Mai.

Next, a short snack and drink with the family before we met up with Marike, a long term resident of Chiang Mai who I found on Hive last year.

I love when I get to meet Hivers and realise both how different we are in some ways and similar in others.

After a long lunch it was time to walk the 1.5km back to our hotel and actually get into the room this time. We were hot, sweaty and (no doubt) stinky.

It was definitely time for a shower. And then we needed more food, asap!

Thankfully, there's a 7-Eleven only a few blocks away and we could get some bars (Brad's favourite comfort food) before walking to explore some more.

We went to the Three Kings monument (in recognition of the founding fathers of China Mai) that is apparently the most photographed location in this city.

I noticed I was hot and sweaty again and getting stroppy (do you know that word?) and so we headed to dinner and I snuck in a lovely, ice cold, Strawberry Mojito before our Pad Thai's arrived. It was just what the doctor ordered. 😂

Fueled, we grabbed a taxi that had just pulled up outside the restaurant and headed to the Night Bazaar 3+ km away; it was too far to walk as the night set in.

And I went searching, searching, searching for a dress.

I was sick of overheating and I was seeing plenty of people, including locals, wearing less clothing than me so I was ready to buy (and wear!) a smaller lighter dress.

It's much hotter in the city, with all the buildings and the traffic and the people than up on the farm! OMG, and so much noisier too! Far out!

After looking at dresses in about 30 stalls (Brad would probably tell you it was more like 50!) I finally found a store that was big enough to have many styles, in many colours and a lovely staff member who was truly helpful.

And I was able to try her dresses on (unlike most places here). So I did. About 10 of them. LOL!

And eventually I settled on one that ai truly loved and genuinely think I'll wear back home.

With the dress on and Brad wanting to souvenirs or clothes at all, we located a small, tuk-tuk style taxi to take us the 4+ km home. After a brief haggle on the price, we jumped in and had another first; I don't think I've ever ridden in a vehicle of that shape before!

And... home. I'm still in my new dress. My feet are dirty since I've been walking around in sandals all evening. But my Hive post is done and I'm ready for shower and bed.

Now, let's see if tomorrow can be a little more cruising and a little less doing. 😉

Thanks for reading!