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Published: December 21st 2011
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So arrived in chaing mai on Friday after a quick flight over from bangkok, which was obviously delayed again but only by an hour this time. Chaing mai is surrounded by beautiful mountains and jungles and is alot more relaxed than bangkok. As soon as we got here, we dumped our bags at the hostel and went for our first thai massge! We both had a 30 min foot massage for only 2 pounds! Which was amazing so obviously had to go back for a few more at that price! Caught a more successful tuk tuk to the Night Bazaar which is a massive out and indoor market with thousands of stalls, lanterns and hundreds of people (tourists) where we went and watched some thai boxing. Wasnt at all what we were expecting, we had pictured a dingy dark cellar with bare knuckles and blood but turned out to be a ring in a car park with lots of bright lights and boxing gloves, still pretty brutal though!
Got up bright and early for our first full day in chiang mai and for the free brakfast, which was a choice of alot of different combinations of eggs, then set off
for Doi Suthep which is the most famous temple in Chaing mai located very very high up in the mountains. We caught a 'bus'.. a openback van up through the jungle with alot of very sharp corners, glad we werent driving or on a moped! The views were amazing, after climbing up about 200 steps to actually reach the top. Alot of performers including children in traditional thai dress dancing and playing instruments.
On sunday we made our way to Chaing Mai Zoo, very surreal compared to zoo's back in england, it felt as though you were walking through the hills in a rainforest as the animal were so wildely spaced out. Most locals drove around in their cars but we decided to solider on through the sweltering heat and walk it! Saw some amazing aminals, the panda being the highlight! That night we went to the sunday market, which was a 3km street full of stands. At around 6pm the national anthem was played and everyone stopped, stood up and paid respect to their king.. which they love, it was so surreal as there were thousands of people! Went for dinner and had our first wontons which were
lovely, follwed by a duck curry in which Lauren thought a chilli was in fact a red pepper and ate it all in one mouth-full. Soon realised very quickly that in fact it was a chilli, and started suffering very fast. Hilarious, learnt a lesson here!
Monday was the best day of all. Got picked up in an actual minivan about 8.30am and met our guide for the day 'Ed' who was lovely and very knowledgable. We drove into the moutains for about an hour and stopped on the road side where there stood about 6 elephants and their babies. The nerves kicked in for Rach as we soon realised we will be riding the elephants and she isnt a fan of heights! Hard to explain as it was just so amazing, it was daunting at first as you're sat on the back of an elephant which is scrambling up dry mud banks in the jungle but when you stop over thinking it, it just just the most amazing sensation ever! Towards the end of the trek the keeper said Lauren could climb down and sit on the back of its neck and do the rest of the ride
from there. Rach on the other hand was very happy sitting in the secure seat! Next we went to the visit a tribe village to learn about there culture. Ed explained to us that soon it will die out as the new generations arent learning their old tradtions anymore. From the village we walked out 15 mins (in our flip flops) past rice fields and through the rainforest to this beautiful hidden waterfall. To get across the fast flowing river we had to walk over bamboo bridges, 4/5 bamboo canes tied toegther, and a good sense of balance was needed! After a quick bite ot eat it was off to our last activity of the day, bamboo rafting! It was literally 7 large bamboo poles that rested below the water by an inch or so. Both had a go at trying to punt this raft down the river and rapids which was rather challenging so left it up to our driver, who's mission was to get us as wet as possible. Towards the end we approached some more serious looking rapids so he made everyone get out as it would be too much weight, but kidnapped Lauren for the journey,
in which she looked petrified but seemed alot of fun! After he had chucked rach in the river, which contained river snakes, it was the end of the ride and we were all soaking wet. The day was incredible and summed up Chaing Mai! Finished the day off with the most brutal back and shoulder massage where we had to put on the most unattractive yellow clown trousers and a white blouse, not knowing if we had them on correctly, but it was hilarious along with some of the positions they put you into, felt abit tender after!
Caught a bus to the Tiger Kingdom yesterday morning where we were able to play with some baby tigers which were only 1-2 months old, the most adorable things ever! Then spent all day sunbathing reading our books back at the hostel as we were feeling knackered by this point as had pretty much done everything we could in Chaing Mai.
Off to Phuket for the night tomorrow and then catching the boat over to Koh PhiPhi for christmas, we cant wait to finally see the sea and go snorkelling. So will update you with some more amazing adventures and
pictures soon! Hope england isnt too cold!
If we dont get a chance to say it before, hope you all have an amazing christmas, and not too jealous were sunning ourselves on the beach, lots of love. xxxxxxx
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