Trekking in Northern Thailand

So, it's been while since the last post and I have almost finished my stint in Asia:

From BKK I headed up to Chiang mai on the night train - this was an interesting experience! Second class sleepers are not a great way to spend the night on your own as they just convert the chair into your bed in the corridor which people walk past. Thankfully all the local people on the train were really frioendly and I met a really nice lady called Ann who used to teach here 30 years ago and heard a lot aboiut her interesting life here - and surviving both maleria and dengue fever twice!

Arrived in chiang mai feeling a little disorientated and got a tuk tuk to Julie's guesthouse - really nice little hostel. Met Yasmin, John and RaHim here originally then Adam. Sopent the day catching up with myself mostly then in the evening went out with them for dinner - met Tori, Emma, Matt and Kim. Tori and Matt were from Lancaster too as was Kim so we all bonded straight away over our mutual love (?) of North West england. Went to the night market then a random club before making way back to the hostel.

Got up early the next day and hired bikes with Yasmin and John. We went to a couple of temples out of town at Wat Son Dork and Wat Umong. The second was set in beautiful forest with underground tunnels. We spent quite some time here. Everywhere there were interesting notes and phrases pinned to trees. There was also a big lake with turtles and massive catfish in it! Came back and I went off to my cooking class - my teacher Liu was very welcoming. We had a tour of the herb gardens seeing hioly basil, mouse shit (yes really) chilli, thai ginger and eggplant etc. After this we had a tour of the market and got some ingredients then came back for the class. I made thai green curry (including the paste)vegetable spring rolls, tom yum soup and pad thai chicken. Really enjoyed the class and Liu gave me a lift home at the end of the evening. That night went to 'full moon party' on the river side with some people from the hostel but didn't stay long as trekking next day.

Trekk: guide was Woody, interesting guy, very charismatic. Met Ros and Dan from UK, Claire and Ed, Jamie-Lee and Matt, Anton, Justin, Jane and Rodney and it was a really great group of people. Went first on an elephant trekk then walked for about 4 hours up and up and up into the junlge. We saw banana trees, looked down across the whole valley, crossed mountain streams and waterfalls, it was beautiful. We reached the top in time to see the sunset across the valley. The hilltribe village at the top were part of the Red Lahu tribe and welcomed us amongst them. Woody and one of the tribal elders made our food for us - thai green curry. We ate together in the bamboo hut, played several drinking games with some locals whilst the local kids sat by playing rock, paper, scissors. Sat outside around a glowing campfire, looking out at the moon and stars through the tree tops - beautiful.

Next day got up early, eggs on toast for breakfast then set off trekking again. Downhill, not to physically tiring but took a lot of manoevering to get down without faling! Stopped at a few waterfalls to swim and take in the views. Stayed the night at the waterfall camp where we had a campfire, ate thai red curry sat around the campfire chatting and playing drinking games it was a great night with the dogs and three little puppies sitting by us and so silent amongst the trees.

PAI: After Chiang Mai I headed to a little place called Pai with Emma, Matt and Tori up in the mountains about 3 hours north west of chiang mai towards the northern burmese border. The drive in itself was just amazing through the mountains winding around roads with a sheer drop on either side of you. Arrived in town and realised it was the king's birthday so extremely busy! Got accomodation at Twin Hut lodges down on the riverside. Went out for some street food and a few drinks to Jikko bar where we took over the music system. Over the next few days we explored the town and took in the views before setting off on the minibus from hell to Laos via the Friendship Bridge...