Heading back to Thailand we arrived in the late afternoon at the town of Nan. The kindness of the locals was astonishing. After making our way to the first guesthouse by pedicab (bicycle rickshaws)
we found that it was full. Walking around the corner, we tried another nearby guesthouse but found that it too was full. By then our cycling taxis had disappeared, the owner of the guesthouse didn’t speak English and we seemed to be stuck! But no ... someone overheard our conversation and offered to take us across town to another place – and luckily we found a room there. Next challenges were to find an ATM and to get back to the bus station to try and buy tickets to Chiang Mai for the next day – not easy when it was going to be New Years Day. B and P ended up getting lifts on a scooter to the ATM and B was then scooted off into the night to buy the bus tickets, aided in translation by the Good Samaritan on his little scooter. So much hospitality and goodwill.
we found that it was full. Walking around the corner, we tried another nearby guesthouse but found that it too was full. By then our cycling taxis had disappeared, the owner of the guesthouse didn’t speak English and we seemed to be stuck! But no ... someone overheard our conversation and offered to take us across town to another place – and luckily we found a room there. Next challenges were to find an ATM and to get back to the bus station to try and buy tickets to Chiang Mai for the next day – not easy when it was going to be New Years Day. B and P ended up getting lifts on a scooter to the ATM and B was then scooted off into the night to buy the bus tickets, aided in translation by the Good Samaritan on his little scooter. So much hospitality and goodwill.
But now it was time to welcome in the New Year! Off we went to the town centre where a big celebration was underway – lots of food stalls, tables and chairs for the crowds to sit and eat and even an outdoor stage with entertainment.
The highlight (and it literally was high lighting!) was the sending up of dozens of lit lanterns that went soaring into the night sky like a myriad of luminous jellyfish.
I cheered myself hoarse (or is that donkey?). It was indeed one of the best New Years parties I’ve been to. Here’s hoping 2011 will be an exciting year for everyone with plenty more adventures.
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