Well today we had the early start...everybody groaned there way out from under the covers to start getting ready...the beds are really comfy here with covers which are just so easy to snuggle underneath- not the best things when you need to get out of bed!
We all eventually were ready after some cornflakes and coffee and the 7 of us got into the air-con minibus for our 2 hour drive to the floating market...well as you have to on such trips...well not have to but just one of those things i have come to accept...we first stopped off at a coconut sugar factory where we could try it and see how it was made...very tasty but didn't seem to wake any one up...we then all got back into the van and made our way to the floating market- few transport problems on the canal- well it was gridlock! We made our way down the canal...along the million and one stalls selling things they think tourists wanted to buy...Took many pictures and then after getting way too hot we finally left and so got back into the minivan and of course stopped at a wooden furniture factory- this was quite impressive carving and did take some pictures for you all to see...
We then had a lovely surprise and stopped off at Tony's (the tour guide) house and met his wife (who had cooked dinner) and neice, had a lovely sweet lunch in there garden- squid fried rice, watermelon, banana and some glutonised thai sweety things- seems i was the only one who liked these...always a sweet tongue.
We then made our way to the War graves and had a wonder...we had kind of woken up by this time...and then back into the minibus for the route to the museum (seems to be a different one to the one we went to before...not that my memory is to be trusted). We then went on a speed boat type boat to the bridge and had a nosy around there.
A film was being shot so we watched an actor get increasingly annoyed and the actress still keeping her smiling pose...
More pictures taken...will update some more pictures that the other guys took at a later date but all pictures have been updated onto webshots.
Waking up tomorrow at 9 ish to leave here as soon as possible to go to the airport...i gave up on the girls to make up there mind on what they were doing, turns out they are leaving tomorrow on an earlier flight so we will see...ive said where i am staying but either way, this trip looks good
http://blogs.statravel.com/nom/blog/thailand/chiang-mai which came up when i did a search for the hostel on google:
" I was suggested Spicy Thai hostel in Chiang Mai as a place to stay - and I'm so glad I took up the tip! Although it's a bit out of the centre the owners are brilliant and I've met some more great people :-) I spent my first day her just wandering round the town and looking at a couple of the Wats (temples). The next day a group of us went off on a 2day trek into the hills - starting with visiting one of the hill tribes called Longnecks. And yes, that is exactly what it sounds - the women gradually add metal rings round their necks, stretching them...
After that we had a chance to ride an elephant for an hour, which was brilliant fun -although we all got absolutely soaked (the elephants decided they wanted to cool off when we got to the stream, and sprayed water all over their backs...and all over us) Then we hiked through the jungle for a few hours before arriving at a hilltribe village in the hills where we spent the night. The following day we hiked some more, before doing some "white water rafting" - sadly there hasn't been any rain for a while so the rapids weren't as exciting as the ones in NZ, but it was good fun all the same. "
We will see on time and everything :)
Hope everyone is well :) xxxxxxxx