We booked our bus back to Bangkok this morning and then I rambled some more, exploring the Northeast this time, learning more about Chiang Mai's history, through its wats and other archetectural artefacts.
After I got back from the ramble, I headed out to find Kevin and ran into Mary Ellen, his sister-in-law instead. We chatted for a bit and got caught up, then she headed off for a while. I checked with his guesthouse, found out which room he was in and met up with him. We went for a beer and, after half a small Chang, Mary Ellen appeared.
After dinner, we all headed to the Saturday Market, which is a great big outdoor market on one of the streets outside the moat, with the entire street shut to vehicles. It was chaotic trying to get there, with traffic being even heavier than normal, and just a tremendous press of people. We actually had to use a crosswalk, instead of playing the usual human version of Frogger we've played whenever we're crossed the street before!
Entering the market was worse than Chinatown, with a huge press of people slowly making their way onto the street.
At first, I tried to move and walk on the right, until I realised the error in this and moved to the left side for smoother flow. People here are more used to moving on the left hand side of the street, and that appears to play out when it comes to walking as a crowd.
I walked the full length of the street, both ways, buying some gifts and getting overwhelmed by the press of people.
I stopped off at the Bamboo Bar for a beer to unwind on the way back to VIP House. There, I ran into Ivy (aka Ting Tong, a guide from my trek), chatting with him, then Tanya from the travel agency arrived, and finally Kay showed up with his girlfriend Gemma. It was a really good, unwinding and decompressing time, until the cops showed up.
Everything got kind of tense when the truck pulled up outside the bar, 8 officers got out (4 in the double cab, 4 in the truck bed), and stayed for about 20 minutes, shooting video, taking pictures and talking with the owner before leaving with one of the staff.
His return was cheered loudly.
As near as I was able to find out, the police had been doing a "routine check" of the owner's paperwork, and had possibly received a noise complaint, although it was perhaps only 10pm. I stayed on, watching Kay and Ting Tong arm wrestle, and made it back to my room for about midnight, in time for a shower, packing for climbing tomorrow, and watchign some House to wind down, but not in time to get to bed for a lot of sleep.
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