As advertised, matador folks in SE Asia met up in Chiang Mai last night and while we're still tallying the results, exit polls suggests it was an unmitigated success.  The cast of characters included Tim Patterson, Colin Stewart, Rob, Mary Johnson, Becky, myself, and we picked up some party people along the way. The get together can best be summed up by the words of Colin, who exclaimed the morning after: "There was no need for the last bottle of SangSom (whiskey). Although, I'm pretty happy I left the bar with it in my pocket".

We started at a rooftop bar full of traveling youth, cold Singah beer and what appeared to be independent female contractors waiting for westerners to make some bad decisions.. We shot the shit, swapped travel stories, itineraries, suggestions, and revelled in the fact that the bar made us leave our foot attire on the front stoop. I have awkwardly long toes, so I was obviously self-conscious the entire time.

After several rounds, we went to meet up with Mary's friends at another bar and to find that fine balance between legally unable to drive and legally unable to stand. Jokes we told (hopefully not to people who would be offended by them), revelry was had, and in the end, we hopped in a tuk tuk and made a 7/11 run. I think.

Anyway, Tim, Rob, Becky, Colin & Mary- If I met you last night, it was great meeting you, and otherwise, I had a blast hanging out and getting weird, and good luck on your travels, be safe and see you at the next matador meet up!

Best,

Stu

ps. Tim, thanks again for organizing!
pps. Rob, I hope you get your camera fixed. Since you're a professional photographer, it would certainly be awkward to have to use disposables..
ppps. Really cool side note: Mary is living in Chiang Mai and is working for a European NGO who hired her to start up a Gelato-style Ice Cream store. She is in the process of ex-Pat networking, looking for a Thai business partner, a store location (likely in the New Mandrian Hotel) and once those are in place, building a viable retail operation with suppliers, employees and customers who want to drop it like it's Baht.