The 12 hour train ride from Bangkok to Chaing Mai was rather spacious and quite comfortable. The seats cleverly transformed into a top & bottom bunk with curtain, giving a little privacy from the neighbours sleeping 2 foot away.

Chaing Mai despite been the second largest city after Bangkok was welcomely cooler and more relaxed. We stayed in the Back Packers Meeting Place and was full of different nationalities varying in age. We managed to get some rest before our 3 day trekking.

The first part of the trek involved riding an elephant, you can tell by my face I wasn't happy. I gradually relaxed until from no where a stray dog appeared startling the elephant. It bolted only 5M but if felt like miles, i couldn't believe how fast and agile elephants move. I really wanted to get off, but it was a 10ft drop!.

We then walked through mountainous woodland (they called Jungle but it was quite dry ) and paddy fields, very scenic eventually arriving at one of the Karen tribal villages, that was to be home for a night. There were roughly twenty huts housing their families and animals. It was really beautiful. lush in colour, on a slight embankment overlooking the coutryside. Our hut slept 12, was simply on a platform with a thatched roof with only side walls, perfect for star watching from your sleeping bag. The toilet was a simple porcelain hole, where you had to flush it with a scoop of water from a barral. With a stream to wash your essential bits. We had a beautiful simple spicy Thai Meal. Then later we sat by the camp fire where we were joined by the village children and their families.

The next night we camped by a waterfall, in a similar set up and played poker over Singa beer with the other tourists.

We walked all of the three days and finished it with a bamboo raft ride, really good fun.

After the trek had another night in Chiang Mai to relax now appreciating the hostel facilities that now seemed luxurious.