The flight early this morning was only two hours long, and arrived in Bangkok at around 06:00. I slept perhaps forty-five minutes. We had a two-hour layover in Bangkok which we spent in the same bustling business-class lounge.

Once in Chiang Mai we took a taxi to the Empress Hotel, checked in and had a wonderfully welcome shower and change of clothes. I called Marjolaine right away to catch her before she went to bed. She's missing me, I can tell by her voice. It's hard for both of us to be apart, but I think she suffers more because I'm busier and don't have as much time to think about it when I travel.

I love Chaing Mai, it's the right size to be interesting and vibrant, but not so big to be overwheling and claustrophobic like Bangkok has become. It has great restaurants, and fun shopping places, and interesting vestiges of Thailand's past.

Dave called Leon Sexton who we had come to visit, to let him know we arrived, and I decided to sleep until lunch time. In the afternoon Leon came by and we talked for quite a while about the Legacy Project and the Youth Corps participation for next year. He drove us out to the little restaurant near the school he's set up, and where I've eaten several times before. He ordered the food "pet pet mahk" (very very spicy), so it was the hottest cuisine I could remember having eaten. As our mouths screamed for mercy, we caught up on all the news.

We stopped by the Legacy school and I invited the Youth Corps teachers to dinner for the next night in Chiang Mai.



Leon dropped us in the famous night market where I bought a duffle bag to augment my small suitcase. Then Dave offered to pay for a foot massage. Such things don't really interest me much, but it was an experience to have at least once, especially in Thailand. The process took an hour, most of which was devoted to the feet, with about the last fifteen minutes focused on shoulders, neck, head, ears and so on. It was very pleasant and relaxing which will certainly help me sleep tonight.