Chiang Mai and School

I have to first start with once again, TRANSPORTATION!! :) The night ferry was nothing compared to the ride thru 6:00pm Bangkok traffic and catching (yes, catching) a train. Dad, you may want to skip this post....;) However, I'm safe and alive and looking back at the ride as adventurous and halarious!

So, next transportation adventure was the night train to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is where I will live for a month and take my TESOL certification course. First, I took a little "tuk tuk" to the train....they are the cuttest little things and I should put an image of one but I still need to figure out the whole picture thing on this website. I thought I was safely arriving at a good time prior to the train leaving and meeting my friends Jim and Grahm to continue my next adventure. However, when I got to the train station I went up to an attendant to show my ticket and they looked at me as if I was crazy. It turns out that my train had already left minutes before I walked up......I had the time wrong. Normal Jenna thing but shitake!!!! So the nice Thai woman said, "we have to catch the train"....I asked, "catch?" and she said, "Yes!"...with a calm smile. So, her friend grabbed me, put a helmet on my head (protection...;)) and I put my backpack on my back jumped on a dirt bike (not a scooter) and had no idea what was about to happen. All of a sudden I felt like I was in an enduro race with Mr. Thai Speed Racer....excuse my language but HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! It was the city (Bangkok) and the traffice was terrible....bumper to bumper and people just all over the place. He was going 70-80 miles per hour and dodging trucks, cars, humans, bikes, scooters...dogs ...You name it! So, we were really "catching the train"......It took us about 20 minutes to get to the track to STOP the train...HA!!! But, we missed it...I know what an unempressive (spelling) ending. Wouldn't it have been grand to stop the train and to have actually caught up with it. Crazy People! Anyway, glad to be breathing and alive in Chiang Mai....;) It was a rush!

So, long story but I had to spend one more night in Bangkok (not my favorite place at all!) and fly to Chiang Mai yesterday. Chiang Mai is a cute little city with used book stores all around, the people are really friendly and it's surrounded in lush mountains. So much to do on the weekends such as; elephant treks, jungle treks, mtn bike rides, hot springs etc....cooking classes, etc. I will go to the University today to meet the supervisor and try to find a cute little bungalow to satisfy my life here is the city of Chiang Mai! Hard to believe I'm going to be a student again and not sure where this will all take me but being open minded and knowing that ANYTHING is possible.

Missing you all and Sending Many xoxoxoxox's your way!
Jenna