Howdy!

What an amazing week here at Joys house, this is the week which is more like a holiday than backpacking but we have had some amazing experiences!

First day here in Chaing Mai we just lounged around the pool for a bit in the glorious sunshine, but soon felt the need to exploring and took a couple of bicycles out around the village. Quite an active area but very local, full of mopeds and pick up trucks with people riding in the back. Couldn't resisit the smell and look of the food at one street stall and had some amazing bbq chicken on stick, AROY! Had to be washed down with a beer though and we found a bar, well an old guy in a shed with a bar made of bamboo and fridge of beer, but it did the job!

Next day we had a traditional thai massage by some of the students at joys house, felt very relaxed afterwards and kind of monged around with a gentle buzz the rest of the afternooon, maybe there was something in the tea they gave us? Anyway that evening we had a thai cooking course but before we heated up the wok we had to cycle to the local market and pick up the very local and very fresh ingredients. On the menu was Thai green curry/stir fried veg and spring rolls. All from scratch. Our teacher, Ben was great and with other guests cooking aswell there was a fantastic atmosphere as everyone chopped, diced, bashed, stirred, fried and rolled in one thai food symphony of smells, sounds and tastes. and what a taste! We had our curry pretty hot but we lika the spicy food and the pancake rolls were awesome if not in a variety of shapes and sizes. Net result, best day yet.

Day after was a very special one where we went to the farm and orphanage where the children who haven't had a good start in life either because they can't be looked after by their parents or have a disability are giving a place to live and learn. Not just learning on the farm but they recieve an education and the oppurtunity to give them a real chance to shine later in life. Although every kid was happy! We spent the day with them on the farm, at a waterfall, playing games and climbing trees. Special kids and a special day, this place really does some good.

They all won't be this long a promise, just feel I must mention our day with the elephants.

Patara elephant farm is a not an elephant show there are no tricks performed, this is a place for the welfare of elephants which never has more guests than the amount of elephants on the farm. Each guest is partnered with an elephant and a guide for the day and shown how to looked after these wonderful animals. I was given Mubebe and Becci got Bujean, the largest male!!!!! It started quite unglamorously examining poo! But we had to check we had a healthy elephant. After brushing them down and washing them in the stream we had a trek, but before that, we had to find a way to get on top! Ill let the pictures do the talking.

I immediatly felt comfortable and was at one with my elephant as we slowly but very steadily set off. Bex on the other hand looked like she may as well of been riding a T-rex! Unlucky for Bex her guide couldn't understand the phrases "i'm scared" and "do many people fall off?"

The trek was not a simple walk but up and down some pretty steep hills and deeply rutted paths through the forest, but I always felt safe and secure aboard my ride. The waterfall was a welcome relief to man and beast as it was hot afternoon and after a tasty luch we all plunged in with the elephants and cooled off, not as scary as I thought it would be but towards the end was glad to be dry after the elephant poo soup the pool had become. Totally worth it though!

Anyway I feel Ive waffled on long enough! Wont be on here for abit as we wiil be practicing monks for a few days.

Chris