The last few days have been beautiful, cold, emotional and painful. Depending on when you would have asked me. In keeping with my one accident per fortnight i managed to dramatically fall down the big waterfall in Pai. An incident that looked a lot more painful than it felt, less painful in fact than the subsequent neck massage that was recommended to me to relieve the stiffness.

And so..With every reason to stay and not a single one to leave except a piece of paper with a pressing agenda, i reluctantly left Pai. Along with a promise of a return visit. Fon drove me back to Chiang Mai so that i could book my bus ticket to Chiang Khong. We ate, slept, said our good byes and I set off on the 5 hour drive to this small border town.

I wouldn't say im happy to be back on the road but its kind of refreshing now knowing what the hell im doing again. Im currently sitting looking a spectacular view of Laos, some 100m across the Mekong. I will head there tomorrow for my arrival visa and to catch a 2 day slowboat down to Louan Phrabang (the emphasis being on the 'slow').

I'll refrain from rambling thanks to everyone in Pai, surfice to say...thank you. Why i got 'stuck in Pai' i will probably only later realise, but i did, and i had a terrific time. And as Dr.Guruda (who i never did beat) said to me over a game of chess.

"Do you know how to make god laugh? You tell him your plans!"