The three weekends before last, I was in Koh Sichang (again), Chiang Mai and Nong Khai.

First up, a return to Koh Sichang – a mere six weeks or so after my last visit. This time, I was with my mother, on her annual visit to Thailand. Most people to whom I mention this tiny island have never heard of it, or – horrors – tell me I am pronouncing “Koh Chang” incorrectly.

The few people who have heard of it tell me that it’s an incredibly dull place to go, and are amazed that anyone would want to stay there for more than an afternoon.

Like I said last time around, that’s part of (if not most of) the appeal. On Koh Sichang, nothing happens. It’s not a tourist destination. There are very few white faces.

Which means that there are no touts. Sure, there are tuk-tuk drivers hovering at the pier when you land, but they aren’t pushy and have always charged me a fair price. Nobody tries to sell me fruit, sunglasses, tattoos or any other tat on the beach. Just cold (or hot, if you like) drinks, which are welcome.

Sure, there are no nightclubs, but that’s not the point. There are some great views, there are some wonderful gardens, and there are some terrific spa/massage places too.

It’s a chill-out, de-stress, escape for me, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Pan & David’s restaurant, on the south-east side, just north of the Rama V Palace gardens, serves some of the best food I have ever eaten, and aforementioned beach isn’t a bad spot to watch a great sunset…

Mum loves it too, so we won’t be swapping it for Patong any time soon…

Chiang Mai, meanwhile, was a new experience. I’m not sure quite what I was expecting, but the old city itself is surprisingly tiny. The four gates of the old walls, encompassing perhaps one square mile, are still standing. We stayed in the old city for three nights, where there seemed to be a temple on every block.

Much more laid-back than Bangkok (although obviously not quite so laid-back as Koh Sichang, which one could rightly accuse of being positively horizontal), Chiang Mai seems a sleepy town, at least in the Old City.

Tons of good restaurants though, and at a fraction of Bangkok prices. Thais That Bind had some great budget-friendly food, despite its awful name. Il Forno, just down the road, was the first place in Thailand where I’ve been waited on by a person in a wheelchair.

Wat Chedi Luang (or more correctly, Wat Jedi Luang, which I much prefer), across the street from our hotel, was pretty impressive, and I don’t even much like temples, as a rule.

Wat Doi Suthep, way up a mountain, was crawling with tourists, which is never as much fun, but was certainly worth seeing, even though the main shrine was surrounded by scaffolding.

Next two weekends, I’ll be in Sydney, Australia. 2010 has been fun so far, but I could do with a little more spare time if I’m to actually get anything written on here with a little more regularity than recently…