Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Another couple of days spent in Bangkok and I realised that there isn't that much here to occupy tourists for very long. I met the new tour group that I was heading up to Chiang Mia with and we went out for some dinner and then some drinks. Haven been in Bangkok before I introduced them to Samsung Buckets (Whiskey, Coke and Red Bull), which meant that next day involved a large hangover. We packed up and got ready to board the night train to Chiang Mia.
The night train even compared to European standards was good, involving very comfortable pull down beds much like the ones you get on a ferry. Even so I didn't get much sleep and arrived a tad tired. Chiang Mia was a lot cooler and less humid than Bangkok - much more pleasant experience. We had breakfast and a quick nap before doing a days activities. I went to visit both the monkey and snake shows. The monkey show felt a little cruel, as the monkeys were made to cycle, swim, play basketball and do back flips, but sort of worth seeing. The snake show was also bizarre with a show of pythons, watersnakes and some other dangerous snakes, which the handler insisted on pretend throwing into the audience. After a long day we got ready to leave early for the beginning of our trek into the jungle.
We finally got off the cars to start our trek after midday and straight up some steep hills. As it is the rainy season the floor was very muddy and slippery, resulting in nearly everyone failing over at some point. We arrived at the first village around early evening and had a quick tour of the Karen tribe. Off to bed early as another early rise. The second day trekking was a lot less difficult and we stopped walking around lunch time. The mornings trekking was followed by an elephant ride to our next village. My elephant was being naughty and kept throwing mud and plants at me. Eventually he calmed down and managed to arrive. The second village was much larger but still no electricity or running water, so getting slightly smelly by this point. Those who have done DofE with me will realise not washing my hair for 3 days was an accomplishment. The third and final day involved bamboo rafting back to the cars. These rafts were very flimsy and maybe not all that safe, but we arrived at the cars ready to return to Chiang Mia i.e. showers and proper beds.
One last day in Chiang Mia and went to a couple of temples. I'm now all templed out, after having seen so many in these past few weeks. Another night train to Bangkok and now sitting once again in an internet cafe in Bangkok. Just a few hours left until I leave Asia to Australia. Going to miss it here, but looking forward to not be so sweaty all the time...
- comments