Monday 19th - Begin the Trek...!!!

Two days and 1 night, early start for us, up and had breakfast and ready to go at 9am. Got taken on a jeep for 40 mins to a local market where we picked up suppplies for our trekking experience. As RAT was fully prepared no need for supplies!! Oooo get us!! There was 6 of us in our group, this is where we met Kyle and Eden from Arizona/America and Linda and koon from The Netherlands. After our supply stop we drove for a further 30 mins to our destination where we had lunch which consisted of fried rice with vegetables and oranges. After this we hiked up our first incline to see our first waterfall, which was breathtaking... After a few kodak moments at the waterfall we started on our journey and so begins the trekking!! Then you guessed it... it absolutely chucked it down and we got drenched, it was however very refreshing as we were very hot and sticky by this point... NIce!!! We hiked up and down the rainforest crossing death defiying bridges, jumping from mud to mud mound with a 10ft drop in between!! After hiking for 3 hours we finally reached our camp for the night. Lush green grass, beautiful views and wooden huts and a nice cold shower which in actual fact was well needed. We had time to chill out and take in the views, it was at this point we discovered the big spider above our door in our room... Great!!! Not happy. Dinner was cooked by our tour guides Bang and Nikky who cooked a feast of Thai green curry with chicken and fish, vegetables and sticky rice. It tasted amazing, best dinner so far..!! After dinner we lit a fire and sat round the camp drinking beer and one of the guys had a guitar, so we tried to sing along with them Oasis Wonderwall although was a bit tricky as they were very strong Thai accents merged with english, american and dutch - you can imagine the sounds!!! Hilarious...

It was at this point RAT took their first trip to the loo, OMG what an experience... We had to take our flash lights with us, basically T would hold the torch while R would go and vice versa, you get the drift. Not to mention what we saw in the loo... a quick escape was needed. Back at the fire carried on drinking then shock horror... One of the village Thai Men got a cup, he was a little tipsey at this point. Anyway, he placed the cup on the side, stood back and peed straight into it, and then ...... drank the contents of it!!!! I kid you not, bizarre... aparently it's good for you and prooves masculinity. We won't be trying that trick any time soon!!!

That was enough for one day and night, bed was to follow but not before thoroughly checking our mattress (well if you can call it that) for critters, in particular the 8 legged variety!! Coast clear and we settled for the most uncomfortable nights sleep so far!!

Up by 8am the following morning we were greeted by toast, egg, watermelon, pineapple and as much tea and coffee we could drink. Just what we needed!! Two cups of coffee later and full tummies we were ready to take a stroll to our next waterfall which became the place we washed in that morning. Effin freezing... very slipery and took at least 20-30 mins to get to instead of 5mins like we were told. We then walked a futher 40 mins to our lunch stop where we had eat lunch and got picked up by a jeep for our elephant trek - absolutely amazing!!! We were taken through the depths of the jungle and the elephants couldnt get enough of the banannas we were feeding them. Greedy things!! After this another pick up to where we went bamboo rafting, this was so fun. A few hairy moments where we nearly fell off, but luckily hung on. So thilling and definitely a must, loved it!! Completely soaked and dirty, we mad our way back to Chaing Mai for a hot shower and food. Then bed... exhausted!! Fab trip!!

Wednesday 21st

Up early for our cooking class, that didn't actually start until 9.45am. We ended up doing a lunch and dinner course instead. Aun, our teacher's moto was "no hurry, slowly slowly" Which suited us down to the ground. We cooked stir fry vegetables with oyster sauce and chicken and for dinner we cooked green and yellow thai curry. Aun taught us how to cook with different spices in particular adding sugar and lime to get the sweet and sour effect. LUSH...!!! We seem to be eating far more here than England, we spent all day and night in Aun's restaurant, was so chilled out after our trekking, bliss... this is what it's all about!! Also RAT had Tarrot's read, very accurate indeed!!

Thursday 22nd

Same again, chilled out all day in Aun's restaurant. Ended up playing rummy with the boys. The four guys we met when arrived in Chiang Mai (Chis, Steve, Olly and Dale) From Bath, funny really - it was where T was born!!! That night we joined them at the roof top bar, only a short walk from our guest house. Cushions all over the floor, very bohemian!! Had a few chiang beers, then headed back home via a street stall where we had pad thai at 12midnight, vrey nice!!

Friday 23rd - onward journey to Laos via Chiang Khong - 2 days slow boat

Ealy start, up and dressed and had breakfast in Aun's restaurant for the last time. The best breakfast, hot baugette, bacon, egg, onions and tomato with mixed herbs and home brewed coffee. The best brekkie eva... The mini bus arrived just after 10am to collect us and take us to our stop over for the night before boarding the slow boat to Laos. Hardly any seats RAT had no choice but to sit in the front with the driver. Very uncomfortable. After 2hours we stopped in a restaurant for lunch, fried rice with vegetables along with
many ants on the table to join in. Nice!!! Back on our way, 5 hours later at 6pm, arrived at our over night accommodation, beautiful setting, wooden huts just like ski lodges. Dumped our bags in our rooms after a very easy check-in. Dinner consisted of buffet fried vegetables with noodles, rice and bananna for pudding. Headed to bed around 10.30pm.

Saturday 24th

Another early start, up by 8am. After brekkie checked out of our room and headed back onto the minibus. A short journey of 30mins to the pick up point to board the slow boat. Had to que and wait for a while as there was no specific time to leave. Ended up finally sailing at 12mid day. Not the biggest of boats and we could definitely say there was not enough seats for everyone!! People were sitting anywhere they could, floors, pillows, decking. A very cramped ride this will be..!! Thank god we purchased a pillow for our bottoms the best 80pence RAT has ever spent. So... 6hours later it was time to get off, numb bums was not the word. The pillow didnt do that much!! Hot and bothered, a fight to get to our bags, which were all in one big heap at the back of the boat. This was definitely not easy and as you can imagine, our bags were right at the bottom of the pile!! Finally retrieved our bags, we had to trek up a very muddy and slippery bank to get to the top. RAT was not wearing the most appropriate footwear either!!! Flip Flops, not good!! Checking in was simple, they guys managed to get off the boat before us, so they reserved 3rooms. Very nice of them!! After climbing more stairs we finally made it to our room, big relief... Double bed, shower/wet room, fan, mosi net and not much else. Along our journey also met a lovely girl called Sinneade from Ireland who also shared our room. So cheap 100 baht each, equiv to 2pound each, you get what you pay for!!! A quick cold shower and back our for dinner, onsite restaurant over looking the Mekong river. Beautiful views, bottle of Laos beer and a couple of currys, we re-charged our batteries. At this point we was told that all electrics gets switched off at 11.00pm. So a quick dash to our rooms before the lights got switched out. No air-con or fan either, you can imagine how hot we all were, 3 in the bed!! Worst night sleep eva so far...

Sunday 25th

Up at 8am down for brekkie and coffee. Quick dash back to our room to collect bags. Boarded the boat for our 2nd slow boat day. The boat looked alot smaller than yesterday and not enough seats for everyone. As RAT was quite late getting on we had no choice but to sit on the wooden decking at the front of the boat along with 15-20 other bodies, all slotted into the tiniest space ever. This is not going to be a comfy ride at all.... 6 hours later...

More to follow

Love to you all

RAT xxxxxx