27th to 28th November. From G like genius to Y like yoga class

Since we originally planned to take a bus to Chiang Mai and from there to Chiang Rai on Tuesday, we had to get up early at just before 6 o'clock. The evening before, we realized that we hadn't returned our scooter yet, because it was too late after sunset at the canyon. So in the morning, we had to drive to the rental shop hoping that they were already open. But before we could leave, there was another problem: my sneakers that I had left in front of the dormitory entrance to change into were gone. Since I walked to the entrance in those shoes and didn't go outside afterwards, someone must have switched them because they were too old to be stolen. So my only pair of closed shoes were gone and now I only have flip flops - not very pleasant in the cold morning of Pai. Of course, the scooter rental shop was also closed and only opened two hours after the bus departure at 9 o'clock, and they still had one of our passports as a deposit. Our stroke of genius was perfect. To be honest, this was a real low point for me in a long time, because so much went wrong at once that I didn't feel like it anymore... Fortunately, we were able to change the bus to the next day for not too much money and went back to our old hostel, where we had already checked out, but we were still entitled to a breakfast. After a shower, food in my stomach, and the warm rays of the sun on my face, I felt much better, sometimes there are just phases where a few things go wrong. We booked flights from northern Thailand to the islands in the south to slowly make our way back to Bangkok from there.
The rest of the day, we enjoyed the tranquility in a small café where we had a smoothie bowl. Some days you need this relaxation, especially on days that start like this...

We had to move to a new hostel because there was no more space in the old one, and the new one was also closer to the bus stop. On the way there, we saw a dog that reflected my morning mood well, or rather, had adopted the typical "spiritual Monday morning attitude".

After the move, we walked a little out of Pai and enjoyed the evening atmosphere in the surrounding fields. However, we didn't get very far because another big event was waiting for us, a yoga class.

I had made up my mind to go to a yoga class with Andra at least once here in Thailand, so it was time on such a lazy day. Konrad did yoga. One thing upfront: Yoga is painful. Really painful. We had booked a class that focused less on strength and more on stretching, and some poses were quite intense. And when the yoga teacher came by and pressed you even deeper into the pose, you were almost tempted to give up, but I persevered because in a certain way, the stretching in the tendons was also pleasant, and you noticed how much deeper you came into the pose over time. After the class, you really felt freer and more relaxed, so I was glad to have participated and might consider doing it again with Andra, we'll see.
The evening was almost identical to the previous one. Together with the German couple, whom we could see again because of our unintentionally additional day, we strolled through the night market, Andra bought a bracelet, and we ate strawberry waffles with chocolate - a heavenly treat.

Today, the next morning, Wednesday, we actually boarded the bus to Chiang Mai and said goodbye to the 12-degree cold of Pai (we returned the scooter yesterday and didn't rent a new one). We drove back on the 762-curve road and fortunately, when we arrived in Chiang Mai at 11 o'clock, we were able to immediately book a bus to Chiang Rai in the afternoon.
Since the bus terminal was very far outside the city, it wasn't worth going back to the city center, as we had already seen a lot during the Festival of Lights. So for fun, we visited a large furniture store nearby. The realization of the visit? Thai furniture stores look like German furniture stores. In general, we had imagined everything in Germany to be much more drastic and less developed. However, you can buy charging cables on every corner here too, so we didn't have to take four with us or even save the extra "emergency toothbrush". But such worries are simply part of the first big solo trip...
After the furniture store, Andra continued to a shopping mall while I sat down in a small but nice café on the main road to write and stay in touch with friends in Germany who were just waking up.

Upon arriving in Chiang Rai, we checked into our hostel, which for once was not three kilometers from the bus station, and visited the night market, as we often do when we arrive in a city in the evening. Chiang Rai market is quite small, but therefore also quieter and more peaceful, which is very fitting after big cities like Chiang Mai and Hanoi in the past.

Tomorrow, we will visit the White Temple, a very special but beautiful temple with many meanings in its architecture (I was promised figures like Spiderman or the Minions) and an impressive history. We are excited.