Planning

In France we say that the best moment, in love, is when you climb up the stairs ... Planning a trip to Thailand is a little bit like this, because at this stage you still have the time to think carefully, to make choices ... In fact you are already in your trip but, what's more, you still have all the time and access to all information for making the right decisions.

So since I bought my flight ticket for next October, I am now in the process of planning the details of my trip. Not that I am too much into detailed planning - especially for holidays - but it helps not to be stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time ... coming back from Pattaya to Bangkok just after a long thai holiday for example !

As I love Bangkok, I always stay there for some days after arriving in Thailand, or between upcountry trips. And I must stay in Pattaya for long periods, for .. err ... health reasons that I already wrote about. This leaves too few days for exploring other parts of the country.

My first intention was going to Phuket where I did not set foot since before the giant wave... but reading the boards convinced me to rather go to Chiang Mai where I will stay four to six days ; there were great reviews about Chiang Mai both on the Sawatdee forum and the Thaivisa gay forum ; also many enticing threads on the thaimalemessageboard refering to the beautiful mountain boys ... I mean, views .... who can be found in the area.

Typical gay bar in the Climbing Wall area

Having staid last time in the Pornping Tower close to the Night Bazar, I would have gone back there as it is a nice and convenient place .. but too far from the Chang Phuak bars, and I always found it a pain in the ass to go back from Chang Phuak at night (travelling the other way is much easier).

A german poster on Sawatdee wrote he had a great time in Novotel, which is close to the Chang Phuak bars, has a pool, and is quite affordable if you use their own website to reserve (novotel.com), so I think I shall go there. Being out of the main touristy area is another plus, as well as the possibility to easily ride a bike (another of my favourite pastimes) to some places I have already spotted : Huay Thung Thao lake, the Samoeng loop, and of course Doi Suthep if I am fit enough !

Clinching argument for Novotel : the pool

So here I am bound to trip to Chiang Mai (Nok Air should be my choice, because travelling by train is really too time-consuming). Coming back would be on another flight, or preferably using the Nok Air flight to Udon Thani for one night (would REALLY love to spend a night there without any boyfriend !), and then another night in Khorat (where I have not set a foot since ten years !) before heading back to my Saphan Khwai nest.

Nice schedule isn't'it ?