We found the Guest House was partially torn down so we went over to the "All-in-1" Guest house to spend the night.
On Monday we had to move as the guest house was already booked full. That was interesting as most of the other hotels and guest houses are still complaining of no business. We moved over to a nice, little, family owned place called "Phada's House" for 450 TB a night. Air conditioned, quiet, clean, sit down toilet and hot water; what else could a person need?
On Tuesday we rented a motorbike and drove to the north-east part of Chiang Mai to see our friends, Brian and Noochy. All thought they live in an area that does not show on our Gamin GPS Map, we found their house after two telephone calls.
Brian is in the jeweler business. His website is http://www.aajewel.com/. One of his specialties in un-treated Burma Rubies. Noochy has a sewing business that makes high quality clothing items ranging from hats to tie-dyed, long-john underwear.
After visiting a while the girls went shopping for hair products and us guys went for an lemonade.
The place we went for a lemonade was quite interesting. It was a 1971
International Harvester Bus set up on blocks. The engine had been removed and an air conditioning unit has been put in place of the engine.
International Harvester Bus set up on blocks. The engine had been removed and an air conditioning unit has been put in place of the engine.
To help keep the bus cool they also had water running over the roof of the bus and they cascading down over the sides of the bus. Thai ingenuity. Later that day we also saw a sign for dental implants with the price of 36,000 TB 
(about $1,090 USD). It noted that the dentist is a UCLA graduated Dentist.
(about $1,090 USD). It noted that the dentist is a UCLA graduated Dentist.Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. Bangkok is first with about 12 million people. Chiang Mai is second with almost 1 million folks. According to http://www.asianinfo.org/ Chiang Mai is 49 times smaller than Bangkok.
I will add that it is two different worlds. All of the people in Thailand are very friendly but northern Thailand is still the friendliest.
The cost of food is a little higher here in Chiang Mai then it is were we live in Mae Sai. I would say maybe a third higher. Here is a menu to give you some idea of food costs in a local resturant. Remember 33 TB to the USD.
Daeng loves to shop in the outdoor fruit markets were she can buy apples for 15 
US cents a pound and China Pears for 60 US cents a pound. Pineapple is around 20 to 30 US cents a pound, too.
US cents a pound and China Pears for 60 US cents a pound. Pineapple is around 20 to 30 US cents a pound, too. The Thai girls, and some of the guys, like gold better than any other form of jewelry. Maybe because it is also used as a commodity. There is a gold shop on just about every corner. 
You can buy and sell gold in any of these shops.
You can buy and sell gold in any of these shops. They usually have a buy price and a sell price written on the wall so there is no question about what you will pay or what you can get if you sell. It does pay to watch the scale.
In this picture the price in Thai Baht per Baht of 96.2+ percent gold is 17,850. A Baht of gold is a hair over 15 grams.
Tomorrow we are on the plane to Bangkok and then on ward to the City of Pattaya.
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