Scooters are highly efficient modes of transport. In Thailand they’re the most efficient way a tourist can be involved in a fatal accident. What an exhilarating experience it was to mix it with Thai traffic. It felt like playing an extreme sport like bungee jumping or russian roulette. Really good fun zipping around on a scooter. And it cost around $9 to hire out for 24hrs. We cruised around town. Cruised to some random village for lunch. Took the twisting mountain road up to Doi Suthep mountain where we got some views of the smog shrouding Chiang Mai. Also drank a coconut. Motoring up steep winding roads in the tropical heat is physically demanding so some refreshing coconut milk is perfect, especially when it costs 75 cents. There’s also a famous temple at the top of Doi Suthep but we got there too late – it was closed for the day.

In Thailand, on a motorbike or scooter, you don’t need to give way when entering intersections. You don’t even need to look. Just pull out, keep left, and the traffic merges around you. Cars do have to give way to a certain extent.

Chiang Mai is a really nice city. Much less hectic than Bangkok, I estimate it’s about as busy as say London. Laid back when compared to Bangkok. We thoroughly enjoyed it.