Kindness of strangers

I hope I've done the right thing. I met a lady a bit older than me in Bangkok who had all her money and cards stolen. Travelling alone also, she is from S. Africa. I loaned her $200 and she got on the plane that night to go home.

If I have done the right thing, I have a winery owned by her father to visit if I ever get to South Africa. If I haven't, I'm poorer but wiser. I just couldn't help thinking how lucky I'd been not to have anything stolen yet (I've met many others who have) and how terrible it would be by myself. Will let you know if the money comes back.

I am in Chaing Mai again. The weather in Bangkok was dismally wet, torrential. I read a few books and then decided to get out of there. Twenty four hours Bangkok has the worst floods since '95.

The weather in CM is much better, I'm back in my old guesthouse with Joe and Amara. Last night we sat around and caught up, with a couple of other guests, over a bbq of huge prawns, cockles, squid and pork. Not one single vegetable. Today I go to see if my favourite coffee shop remembers me?