Once again I’m down with some kind of fever - that’s the third time or so in Asia. It’s not too bad though and I’ll hopefully be fit in a couple of days. My next station will be Phnom Penh, Cambodia, but I won’t leave Thailand and it’s good medical system until I’m sure I’m ok. Here in Chiang Mai a lot of people have worse situations to deal with. The ping river flooded and set neighbouring parts of the city under water up to 1m deep.

In Thailand Muay Thai or Thai boxing has a role similar to that of soccer in South America. It is a way for children from underprivileged families to become famous and earn loads of money. The sport’s Mecca is the Lumpini stadium in Bangkok where the highest prize money is paid and tickets cost up to 2000 Baht. But with Muay Thai being the national sport there is events in every city.

Being surrounded by lush rainforest and picturesque valleys I was eager to do a bit of walking. On Saturday I joined forces with Tom and Cathy to explore a waterfall roughly an hour away from the bungalows. The first part of the way is a ‘road’ that is used by local farmers. Road means it’s wider than a footpath and firm enough to drive it with a motorcycle. After roughly half an hour we reached some rapids that we followed into the jungle.

The two nights at the bungalows were simply amazing, thanks to a great location, a gifted host, friendly locals and a pleasant group of other guests. We headed back to the city as Samart had some business to take care of (no wifi in the countryside) and I had offered to help him with his websites and other computer stuff. When the work was done we went for another local food experience (Chiang Mai food is very different to Thai food) and on the way got caught in the usual evening shower.

After returning from the waterfall it was time to prepare dinner. It was very interesting to give Samart a hand with that and see how a hand full of garlic, chillies and some fish turn into a tasty paste. Us couchsurfers were also introduced to ‘holy water’, blessed by the monks and with a spirit within. Actually it’s just the distillate of rice, chillies and herbs and is produced by the villagers.

On Sunday morning Samart picked me up near my guest house. Being a tour guide he rides one of these trucks with two benches in the back, just like the red taxis here in Chiang Mai. There was dire need for space as he was taking five other couchsurfers as well. Our first stop was about 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai where we went to get supplies at a local market.

After getting back to the city I got in touch with a local couchsurfer, Samart. He works as a tour guide and is extremely active in the community. I met him shortly before my temple adventure when he treated me to a nice northern-Thai food dinner and we had a good time chatting. On Saturday he was taking a couple of people to a soccer game. Local club Chiang Mai FC was playing a team from the Bangkok area.

A few impressions from some very interesting but also very exhausting days. Back in the country tomorrow for a couple more days. When I’m back, I have a couple of stories to tell.

To make things short: A Buddhist Temple is not the right place for me. On Thursday I made the journey up to the temple, helping a group of Dutch tourists not to get ripped off by the taxi drivers on the way. At the temple I checked in and was told that the welcoming would be at 2:30, which left me with about three hours to kill. By the way, carrying 20kg of luggage up these steps is pure fun.

Modest white clothing, personal items, insect repellent, an umbrella, I think I’ve got what I need for the next ten days. I hope I won’t be surrounded by too many of the people that a local Thai described as ‘smelly hippie people’. There is always a fair share of them around in Chiang Mai as the city has a reputation for being the ‘alternative’ centre of Thailand. Most of them are nice people yet some make me look like a republican and have a grasp on reality that is more remote than the shores of a Pacific island.