Chiang Mai - Thailand

Hi All!

OK so our trip didn't get off to the most perfect of starts. Our Qantas flight from London to Bangkok was cancelled, but they put us on the Thai Airlines flight instead. Wow what an airline. The air hostesses were beautifully dressed in Thai silk clothes. But just before we boarded the Thai flight, we were told our bags weren't put on! But long story short, after wearing jeans for a day around Chiang Mai in 30 degrees heat, we finally got our bags.

So we arrived in Chiang Mai ok anyway. It's so hot here! I kind of thought there would be more to the city, but I guess it's most known for its treks. The first day here we just went around the city to check it all out. Then our second day we did the Flight of the Gibbon (zip-lining) It's where you're flying through trees on a cable! Really cool! We also did some kind of ab-sailing down trees too on this trip.

Then the next day we began our 2-day trek. I don't think any of us really paid any attention to what the trek involved. We were just concentrating on the elephant rides, white water rafting and bamboo rafting. Oh and the visit to the Karen Village.

So we got collected about 8.30 , collected some more people, and then drove for about 45 minutes or so to the Karen Village. The Karen women wear gold rings around their necks. One of the girls was saying that if they take them off they can die. Dunno where they got that from! But they do have to take them off if they visit any Government buildings. From the age of 5 or so, all girls have these put on. And as they grow older, they take them off and burn them to make them expand. They had a sample one there so we tried it on, and oh my god the weight in it is unreal!

After this village we drove another 40 minutes or so and reached the elephant camp, where we rode elephants for up to an hour. That was so cool, but very scary! I was full sure we'd fall out or something! Myself and Gillian called ours Dumbo! And he was dumb! He was a hungry thing and kept grabbing big branches with his trunk to eat the leaves. And then we brought the elephants down to the water to clean themselves and Dumbo splashed water and dirt all over us!!

OK so and after this we began the trek through the jungle to the huts we'd be staying in that night. It started great and after about 40 minutes or so I was really thinking I'd love hill-walking. But then we stopped and had to decide - the hard route (2 hrs) or the easier one (1 hour) so after much debating we decided to do the harder one. But Emma and Marie did the easier one as Marie's leg was sore.. So there was me, Gillian, Donal, Megan, an American, a Brazilian, and 3 Japanese guys. And OH MY GOD!!! That was the toughest thing I've ever done!! Talk about a challenge! It was all up hill through the mucky jungle, crossing over water on stones. CRAZY!!!!

So we FINALLY arrived at the tribe village we were staying in that night. They cooked us dinner and got massages from the local women. Ahm lets just say they never got any training in how to massage backs!!

Then we got up this morning at 7.30 and had to trek downhill for an hour. This was very tough as it had rained loads over night so it was very hard to get any grip in the mud. We reached a gorgeous waterfall then. And after dipping in the water for a bit to cool down, we treked another hour or so to reach the park where you do white water rafting. It was soooooo cool!! :) There were 6 of us in our boat including the instructor guy. And there were some good rapids too :) And after this we changed over to bamboo rafting where we just kind of sat on bamboos and enjoy the ride. Then after some lunch it was home time. Well Chiang Mai time....

We went to Muay Thai Boxing then tonight. So cool. Unreal vicious. I got some cuts and sunburn today, but after watching these fights, I'm not complaining anymore! :o

We're flying down to Bangkok tomorrow, to stay for 3 nights. So until next time, enjoy the photos.........

Cathy x x