Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Oh (Chiang) Mai!

Greetings from Chiang Mai... the prettiest place in thailand - or so we've been told. Whilst we have been travelling around thailand EVERYONE has been telling us how relaxed and beautiful Chiang Mai is. And whilst we admit it IS pretty and relaxed it's well... not that amazing! Sorry!

We started our visit here arriving very early on the overnight train from Bangkok. As soon as we arrived at our hostel we organised ourselves to get onboard a 'long neck and hill tribe village' one day tour. Crazy stuff!!! In the first few villages (palong, lathu and akha) we were absolutely embraced by the locals. So much so that two little girls dug there hands deep into Jarratts pockets looking for loose change! We also visited the longneck and big earred women of the karen tribe. They are so beautiful but we felt so wrong. You pretty much wander through their homes as they put themselves on display. Kinda horrible really. We were much nicer about it then a couple of russians who pointed and laughed during there photos with the ladies. Just awful!

Then it was trekking time! On the following day we went trekking into the jungle. We started our 'nature walk' at about 500m above sea level, after 6kms and 3hours we were at 1400m about sea level... and wait for it - it rained for part of it! For those of you really bad at maths... thats a pretty steep climb - particularly in thongs ;) Once we reached the top it was (to sound cliched) very magical. Jarratt and I spent about 2 hours playing with all these local children - SO CUTE! Had a wonderful dinner and slept like logs!!! The following day was alot more fun as we hiked DOWN the mountain! haha! We also got to ride elephant, part-take in white water rafting and bamboo rafting!!!! We also experienced our first night of Thai boxing!!! WOW is that a full on sport!!! We bought tickets for 400 baht and sat ringside. We overheard fellow Australians saying they paid 1500baht for similar seats! So we were pretty stoked!

Today is a little more boring, woke up late and are now wandering around inside the 'old city' walls and looking at the temples. Tonight we are on another overnight train to Bangkok and tomorrow afternoon we fly to Cambodia (Siem Reap).

But enough about us.... how are you all doing?

10 comments:

Bec and Dave said...

Haha bec...you went on a jungle trek in THONGS???!!!

Bec and Jarratt said...

yes, not my brightest moment! hahaha! - Bec

Carls Deano & Tayla said...

hey guys only you bec could go hiking with thongs i bet you were CDB hope you are havng a ball you said you had a boring day how can a permanent holiday be boring? enjoy deano

Bill W said...

While you were trekking in thongs Adrian was out and about in his new Dinner Suit with bow tie. Brent's team is coming second in the comp. He came over in the EH looks good.
Bill W

brentus maximus said...

yes i did

mum said...

Hi guy's good to hear from you mmmmm!
Lobster! Thongs? haven't you bought walking shoes yet? We are all well, missing the hikers though!Dad would love to see the Tigers not sure I would like to cuddle one though! Have fun. Love Mum.

awyatt said...

Yes I was

Bec and Jarratt said...

bow tie A'sy? thats a little dorky isnt it?

:P

hehe - Bec

lin said...

bec thongs!
i thought you would have learnt from Rome feet!
glad u guys are having fun.
miss you both dearly

:)

lin said...

be thongs!
i thought you would have learnt from Rome feet!
glad u guys are having fun.
miss you both dearly

:)