More Running and Flying...

Here's the latest news from Pip and Anneli's backpacking trip in SE Asia...The top two pics are from their trek in northern Thailand and the bottom pic is in the world's highest bar in Hong Kong!

"Hong Kong was amazing. It was so helpful to have Cathy here to show us around. We took a picnic up to The Peak on Friday which was really fun. Talk about a meal with a view! Very comparable to 360 at the CN tower... Just that the food was a little more reasonably priced. We got to experience it in the sun, then engulfed in cloud, and then again when it cleared up and the light had faded and the city was lit up like a Christmas tree. So beautiful. There was also a spectacular view from the ferry which we took last night. We have about a hundred pictures of skyscrapers now! We also went for one drink at the VERY swanky Ozone bar on the 118th floor of the International Finance tower (the tallest building in HK at just under 500m and the highest bar in the world!) With drinks at $90HKD, we didn't stay too long. We did however take full advantage of the complimentary almonds haha. Stunning view of HK obviously and very cool as it was on the top floor and had a pseudo-outdoor patio with an open roof."

"We are currently in a cafe with wireless in Chiang Mai. We are hopping on at train at 6pm overnight to Bangkok. We are staying 1 night in Bangkok and then heading south for the islands. We had an amazing week in Chiang Mai. We are really going to miss it. The next day we made the pilgrimage to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep atop a mountain a little ways outside Chiang Mai. Incredibly beautiful. Grabbed a really yummy Pad Thai for $30 baht at the local market which subsequently put me on my knees for the night (luckily not until we got back to the hotel), and for the majority of the next morning. Once I could stomach a bowl of rice however, we headed out of town to visit the town of Bo Sang Village where all the beautiful umbrellas and fans are made. All were very beautiful but we decided pictures were cheaper and easier to take home with us than the real thing. We headed to the Chiang Mai night market again after, this time to do a little shopping for me. I much prefer the bartering here to the utter chaos of Bangkok and I don't think the prices are much different. I got 4 pairs of boxers for $9 CAN and a fake Rolex for $20 bucks that so far is keeping time perfectly. I really wanted to pick up a few Thai silk ties while I was here but so far I'm yet to see one that is less than 6 inches wide! Was that ever in style? Haha. Today we had a good wander around the back streets and along the banks of the river. Stopped at a pub for lunch as my stomach is stable but not to be pushed before a 12 hr 2nd class train ride! All in all have fallen in love with this place and am sorry to leave. Looking forward to our short time in Bangkok and then our time in the south. The only tickets left for our 14 hr train ride from BKK to Surat Thani are no a/c, non sleepers which will be quite interesting... Should be a long ride of clinging on to our valuables but at least it will save a bit of money!"

I think they're having fun! The 'More running' bit in the headline: I ran my 10th marathon today here in Toronto and managed to totter across the finish line in 3hrs 13mins, which beat my personal best by 8 minutes. I'm thinking of retiring on a high now...!

Love
Chip