So we got the overnight train to Chiang Mai, and discovred the party carriage, we heard nois so went ot explore, and found a carriage of fairylights, loud music and crazy europeans cheering and drinking beer and dancing wildly on tables. so naturally we stayed for a few drinks, until closing when it then took a few attempts to locate our bunks and sleep it off! The best way to travel, as when we woke up we were in Chiang Mai!

We had had a reccomendation frm Hayley to stay at Spicy Thai hostel, so that was where are were headed. when we left the train station there was a taxi driver called purpek who agreed to take us, he was an incredibly nice man, he had 2 folders of thank you notes and postcards from all over the world of people that had used him as a tour guide or taxi driver during their visits!

Upon arrival me & Char were allcoated beds in the 10 person dorm, and I had the top bunk, always a worry as you all know how clumsy I am hahaha.

We instantly got talking to everyone, and within a fewhours of being there, we were all heading out for dinner and arranging trips for the following days.

We went out on a trip to see the tigers the following morning, us girls paid to see the very smallest and the medium tigers, we werent brave enough to go for the biggest ones! The lads wnt off the the big tiger, & we then realised that the medium and the biggest are both the same size. The tigers were so so tame, the babies slept alot, but were so playful when awakw, adn uor massive tiger let us snuggle up with it, but was then off dancing and chasing tree branches, so despite alot of people saying that the tigers are sdated, i really dont think it was possible that they were. That sfternoon 5 f us headed off to cookery school. With Mr.Perm out teacher, he took us to the market and taught us about the ingredients, then when we got back the cooking began. H was such a funny gut, his english was amazing and he had such a great sense of humour, the banter was great! I really enjoyed the cooking and when i ate it afterwrds it was all pretty god, apart from my curry whihc was totally disgusting!

Next day w set off on a two day "trek"which we had ben told by others who had been that it was very simple and not strenous. Well they Lied. Tuirns out depending which tour guide you get deoends which route you take. And we of course had the hardest on possible. We all had lunch at alttle hut and setoff for the elephant rides. there were 6 of us from spicy thai, plus another 5. So it turned out that there wasnt enought elephant saets for everyone, and each elephant ahd to take 3 ppl, of which had to sit on the elephants head. luckily the boys took the naff sats of sitting ont he elephant and off we went. Me Lily & Ricky all went on together and we had a baby elephant who was really quite naughty and didnt want to follow the others! All the way around myself and Lily were fallin out of the saet, and Ricky was all over the placm but we had a laugh, till the ride eneded and when we got back to the start after about 40 mins, the thai men were going mad shouting at us to get off as qucikly as poss. turns out our seat was ont he verge of fallin off the elephant, we hadnt realised.

Afterward the trekking began, at the hottest part of the day and it was a killer. We stayed the night at a hilltribe who fed us and sold us beer, then we sl;ept on the floor in another wooden hut. As we were so far up in the mountains, and the hut had no proper roof we were al freezing, and nobody slept very well. The 2nd day of trekking commenced, and half way up I fainted, falling and cutting al my knees. but we were half way between a hilltribe and a waterfall so there was no option but ot carry on! it was unbearably hotm, and we were actually rock climbing at on point, if it hadnt have been for one of the lads Joe, who took my bag and helpled me along the very very narrow ledges when I was feelin dzzy I dnt think I would have made it! Jo also saved Char's life, when sh ran down a ledge and grabbed a tre at the bottom to steady herself on the cliff side, which actually turned out to be unattected twigs, luckily Joe was there to catch her! I felt much better after the fainting episode, so we reached the waterfall & swam, then carrie on to another random hut for food, then we went white water rafting. To be fair its out of season, so wasnt anything too crazy, but we had such a laugh, and got wedged on many many rocks. Further dwnt eh river we reached a man with bamboo rafts who told us to get out of the boat and onto a raft. s we did, and he gace Jamie a ploe and pushes us away. It was pretty much like punting, but we spent the whole time sinking!

When we return one fo the guys from the hostel had prepared a buffet Bbq for everyone, then we all headed off to the bonfire that Jack and James had prepared earlier. The spicy truck was taking us there, and we fitted 26 ppl in it, and on the roof etc, which is apparantly the most ever, and we all headed off with our drinks to the bonfire. What they had neglaected to tell us was that the bonfire was about a 20min walk/climb in the pitch black, pretty much like trekkingh again but in the dark. with 5 torches between 26 of us it wasnt easy! Then my shoes broke half way, all in all it was a bit of a nightmare, wouldve been funny if we hadnt all been so tired!

Tomrrow there are 6 of us gettin the Slow boat downt eh river Makong together to Laos, which should be good, sad to leave those that arent heading that way, as there have been 9/10 of us doing everything together but excited for Laos!

Chiang Mai has been fanctastic, a little bit like a school trip, and we have laughed so so so much, we all get along so well, there has been many mac man moments (most of you should understand that)

xxx