Because I've been travelling by myself, I've been chatting with people more often. Waiting in Chang Rai for a bus I got chatting with a monk from Bangladesh. He was very happy, thought everyone was good, thought Thailand was a wonderful country, and all the Thais had "beautiful smiles". Well, he was a monk. He is the second person from Bangladesh I've chatted with. The other was on the way from Guangzhou to Kunming. He was dressed in an orthodox muslim fashion, with a little cap and a long, but thin, beard. So we talked about the cricket ;)
Even in Chang Mai, which is a bit of an ugly tourist trap (which is what I thought the first time I came here), I'm happily chatting with the locals who want me to buy things, even if it's just saying hello to all the waiting tuk tuk drivers. I had a conversation with a guy from Burma who wanted me to get a suit made. I remember in the past I would have avoided such encounters, probably because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to say no, at least not without embarrassment. Now I just don't seem to care.
Chang Mai seems really quiet too. There are a few tourists, mostly fat, old guys with local girlfriends. I really try not to stare. Oh well. It's hot (and humid) though, seems to be the hottest time of year. I thought rainy season was supposed to have started, but Tom the Irish guy said up here in the north it starts later.