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Chiang Mai
We arrived in Chang Mai at 6am and luckily were dropped just down the road from our hostel, we couldn't get in to our rooms yet but the hostel brought us out huge bean bags so we all slept well until about 9. 3 of the girls and I decided we wanted to go to Tiger Kingdom, we had heard people say that some of the tigers seem very drugged up so were not quite sure what we would think however when we arrived we first visited the baby tigers- they were so cute and lively, we struggled to get any pictures because they wouldn't sit still! It was amazing being so close! Next we were in with the huge tigers! We were slightly wary because as we entered we were told to move to the edge because there was an angry female tiger growling and prowling around! They seemed much more awake than I imagined and it was so cool being so close to these huge animals- there coats were amazing! Girls and I really enjoyed it!
That evening the owner of our hostel recommended we go to a restaurant called the 'hanging feet' we would be able to spot it a mile off because you can see all the dangling feet! The restaurant was in a tree house, all the tables were only just above the ground, there was no floor below the table so you just sat on the floor and your legs hang below! It was such a cool little restaurant and filled with locals! The restaurant menus were all in Thai so we had absolutely no idea what we were ordering but the food was the best we had eaten in Thailand so far!
The next day we got up early and went to 'flight of the gibbon' it was a day of zip-lining through the jungle and has the longest zip line in Asia- 800 metres long! A couple of the girls were initially terrified of the heights however they soon learned to not show it as our guide had no sympathy and instead made sure they had the scariest ride!! He would shake the zip line so they would go down flying side to side! I found it hilarious but I'm not so sure Simone did! We were held up at the end of the day by a Thai couple getting married on the course! They had about a million wedding pictures dangling in mid-air- they looked ridiculous cuddling and kissing on a zip line- she was also wearing heels and I have no idea how she could land on each platform- every time I came flying through at the end I took out my poor guide! We all thought it was a joke until someone came along with the wedding dress! We absolutely loved it and would definitely recommend it!
Lunch was included and we ate in a cute little hut with a local band playing for us!
That evening we went to the night market to look around and have food, There were so many stalls of bracelets and anklets so we managed to barter the asking price down by about half! We have learnt that whatever the original price is you shouldn't pay more than half of it as they boost the prices up ridiculously for white people! After food we spotted the Ladyboy cabaret, the boys Decided to give it a miss and instead went to an Irish bar to watch the football but the girls and I were keen to go as our friend went in the summer and Said it was a must do in Chiang Mai! We were sooo glad we did! It was an amazing show- they all mimed and danced a long to English songs so it was such a good atmosphere with all the travellers! We were shocked at how much they looked like woman!!
We only had a few days in Chiang Mai so the next day we got picked up at 6 am to go to an elephant park, we went to an elephant park that saves elephants and takes them in When the sanctuaries are full. We arrived and were given baskets and baskets of bananas and sugar cane to feed them! We could either put them straight in their mouths or hold our hand out and with their trunk they scooped them in! I was stood next to one elephant and he put his trunk around my neck and gave me an elephant kiss- which literally just felt like I had a Hoover sucking at my neck! We then learnt how to ride the elephants and rode them to a stream where we washed them! We rode the elephants bareback which is actually quite uncomfortable but was still such a good experience!
Bathing them was definitely my favourite part of the trip-we were given buckets so we could pour water over them and scrub them, it was so nice to see the elephants so happy and squirting water out their trunks! We all got absolutely soaked!
When we got back we had a quick turnaround before going to a Thai cooking class! First of all we were taken to a local Thai market and told what the ingredients we would be using were, we then got to walk round and try loads of food, and everywhere sold these crisp like things that tasted like crackling so we had loads! We then went back to start cooking! I thought I was going to be dreadful however we had an amazing chef telling us what to do at every step! I chose to make Thai red soup with chicken, then spicy noodles and then Thai red curry! Thai red curry is probably my most favourite dish ever!
For dessert we made hot banana Los in coconut milk and mango with sticky rice! I have never made such good food; apart from my noodle course (I managed to burn that a little) we were all given a recipe book to take home so I might attempt to make some when I'm back!!
We were only getting a bus to Pai the next day so with the people we met on our cooking course we went out clubbing to a bar called Zoe's! It was such a good club and we were having the best night so when that shut we managed to find another bar that was open until 5am, it is so much fun on a night out to be with the 7 of us!
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