All I want for Christmas is a 20 inch tire

Our rescuer

Chiang Mai 2 and more rural areas

Am starting this post at the bus station in Chiang Mai. Another 'learning experience' this morning, when we proudly hailed a Song Thaew ( Craig did!), who took us here despite us rolling the bikes, and carrying the backpacks.  Then we found out the first several morning buses were sold out. We have tickets for the next one, and are following the advice given at a Thai bicycling web site, and can only hope we can charm, (and maybe bribe?), the driver's assistant, to accept our bikes in the luggage area. We will still have to find another local bus once we arrive in Chiang Rai, to take us closer to tonight's stay in Thoeng. Am determined not to take the guest house host up on his/her offer of picking us up in Chiang Rai, because we were given a rip off price quote for this service, when I had asked about info on the local buses.

Link to Chiang Mai 2+

Chiang Mai 1

I am sorry, but believe the pictures in the link might be even more out of order than in the past. Have not had a chance to try to figure this out.

Chiang Mai is definitely more manageable than Bangkok, but we haven't biked yet after a week here. Instead, we have taken advantage of our friend Muffy's kindness, and she has been our tour guide. She knows people everywhere here, and it's great to get first hand info, and to benefit from her knowledge of wonderful restaurants & cafes, laundry options, local transport systems etc.
The city is big, busy, and dusty enough, that we probably won't try to ride from the guest house, despite my initial plans. LOTS of traffic, of every type, and everyone regularly weaves in, out, and around each other.

Link to Chiang Mai 1

Bangkok

We have spent 1 full day, and 2 half days in central Bangkok. The city is huge, some 8.3 million people. We have walked in some poor areas, very close to tourist sights, and these areas remind me of Kathmandu 20+ years ago, more than any other place I have been. But no roaming animals, except dogs, cats, and pigeons, which look identical to ours at home.

Link to Bangkok

We get scammed in Bangkok

3 times! On our first day!

Tasmania 3

After 6 or 7 days with 10/10 weather, it finally rained. The fields look like they need it, and we were happy to hang out at the house, run errands, walk around Hobart some more (and literally smell the roses!), and to visit especially MONA.

The Museum of Old and New Art is relatively new, and was highly recommended by Heather's friends in Brisbane. Craig read tourism has increased in Hobart since it opened. We very much enjoyed it. The grounds, and the building itself are interesting; I loved the beautiful sandstone walls inside one part of the museum, much of the art was a bit too far out there for us, but there were many interesting pieces to look at, and definitely worth a visit. It was founded by a wealthy & quirky man, but did not seem as dark as some of the descriptions we saw, and there certainly is a lot to look at.
We again lucked out weather-wise on our last full day in Hobart. We drove to the Tasman peninsula, south east of Hobart, in drizzle, but this stopped. We did a very nice walk out to Cape Hauy, and back. We only did 4.4km x 2, but can see the attraction of a 4-day event our friend Tim participated in a few weeks ago in this same area, called The 3 Capes Walk. They hiked 46km I believe. The Park Service limits hiking in certain areas here, at least partly due to fear of further spread of some fungus which is damaging the plants.
The trail we were on, is easy to follow, and super well maintained. Lots of steps, made with rocks; board walks, and sand laid down in other places. Saw quite a few people out hiking on a Tuesday - mostly retirement age, but several in their 20s, and 30s; no little kids.
Crunchy, our charge at the house, was a very personable, and also spoilt cat. He made it clear he did not like us to be distracted by e.g. reading while petting him. He loved hanging out on Craig's chest, when Craig was stretched out on the couch, and also accepted me - potentially on the days I had fed him... He and Purrcy get the prize for the most fun cats I have met!

Link to Tasmania 3

Link to Craig's Echidna video

Link to sculptures in Deloraine