Marie and Nic confront their demons outside Nam Luang Cave in a national park near Chiang Rai. Nic has been visiting to the beautiful of Nature many many:
Large stalactite [stalagmite?] hanging by a thread. Nic was ready to leap aside at a moment's notice. Hey, anvils and meteorites can fall out of the sky. Even more chance on Qantas planes. 
Limestone has gradually formed behind this hugely tall old tree.
...and yet MORE caves, usually on tops of f------g mountains, and always inhabited by some local spirit/deity. Hence the necessary protection by friendly naga serpents:
An unusual shrine outside one of the caves. Instead of Buddha, there appeared to be a reclining garden gnome. The mannequin (!?) seemed to have blood coming out of her mouth. Maybe we should ask the pope to canonize Nic for having witnessed this miracle.
Isaan rice harvesters en route to work near the village of Mae Chan:
At a small hot spring (of which there are many in the north) Nic and Marie had a 30 baht sulphur hot-tub spa session. Low-key, relaxed and nice. As usual, cheaper = better. Outside was a typical view of rural Thailand: a farmer in his paddy checks to see if his rice crop is ready for harvest:
Later at the better-known Samkampaeng hot springs there was a much more commercialised hot spring 'theme park' to which Thai families flock on weekends. Nic resisted dipping again as she already reeked of sulphur:
...but the stench had an up-side. All the kids immediately panicked and vacated the playground when Nic strolled in:
In Thailand there is a growing trend to 'moo-bans', ie gated housing communities with row after row of identical houses. They can spring up in the most unexpected and remote spots... probably where land is cheapest:
Nic and Marie did some Thai-style dancing at an Empower party. Lean close to the screen and you'll probably hear the noise:
We stayed in Maesai at a small guest house on the fast-flowing river with Burma on the opposite bank. In the morning there was a steady stream of Burmese (men) wading across here to Thailand. They strip off their trousers and often carry their bicycle over their head. Quicker than going through the official passport channel, but colder and cheaper. The Thai-Burma border is remarkably porous.
Nic gave us a guided tour of the Maesai underworld. Then we got some badly needed karma credit by visiting a Chinese temple.
A jungle trek to unearth the elusive Borichinda Cave (next time we'll take a &*@* helicopter) concluded with a brief dip in the pools under a waterfall:
We considered booking a slot in the wall at the Doi Suthep temple on top of the mountain. One spends a long time in eternity after all:
...but hey, the view of Chiangmai is good on a clear day:
...and all this came after Nic's recent stint of work in Phuket where she was the cheeky Artistic Director of a fun Festival frolic:
