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Published: January 4th 2007
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When we woke up the next day all of the local women had set up a market to sell all of their crafts. I didnt really fancy buying any of it to be honest but made lots of guilt edged purchases of all kinds of stuff. Many can now expect disappointing presents for when I get back, unless you really love pencil cases in which case you'll be delighted. A elephant ride back out of the village was scheduled for today and we waited in anticipation, espcially since we were told that we could have a go of 'driving' the elephant if we wanted. I was well up for that, you never know, there might have been some giant footballs on the way back. The elephants arrived with their drivers sitting astride their necks. Although I've been getting used to the sight of elephants, its always an event being up so close to one. We hopped on the back (no mean feat) onto seats secured on top and we were off on our elephant trek. Its a pretty amazing feeling riding on an elephant but the actual reality is that its very uncomfortable too. At least, it was on this particular
trek as there isnt much room to put our legs coupled with a very unaccomodating metal bar jamming into the bottom of our thighs. We continued through the terrain which meant being smacked by large plants and treebranches as the elephants marched on. Each of these obstacles were partied by big red ants that found me particularly tasty when transferring to my arms. After patiently waiting a little while I excitedly tapped the driver on the shoulder;
"Can I have a go?"
"No".
Bastard. In fact only one of the group managed to get to drive the elephant and was pretty pleased about it too. That was, until I heard the someone screaming loud profanities in a Canadian accent and then watching the same elephant uncontrollably charging past the rest of us with the guides desparately trying to pull the Canadian back. There's nothing quite like the panic of a charging elephant, it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen and I unsympathetically laughed my arse off till they managed to get the elephant to a halt. We arrived back in the village all with sore thighs - and one exilerated Canadian - and
then caught some bamboo boats down the river. A pretty relaxing way to travel and this time we were allowed to have a go of steering which I found was harder than it looks, espcially when you get your bamboo guiding stick stuck in the river bed. The boatsman would have to go back for that later.
The next morning we were presented with a choice of a cooking class or white water rafting. I was suprised at how many chose the cooking class, but then I suppose they can now cook a mean green thai curry. The only setback of the rafting was that we had to get up at 05:30 the next morning after another night of drinking games. The obsession with drink jenga its getting unhealthy, delighting the locals when played. Huddling on the back of one of the pickup trucks in freezing temparatures (its suprisingly cold in the morning, espcially in shorts) on the way has been one of the worst experiences yet. Luckily, after we stopped to get petrol, the driver said there was room for one in the front. Being a true gent I insisted that one of the shivering girls take the
One of the rapids
Unfortunately tame seat, they all declined instead prefering to wrap themselves in towels and I, not wanting a good seat to go to waste, delightedly jumped in the front. I did offer. The only problem with the front the driver's strange predilection for power ballads played deafingly loud. Any more Selene Dion would have been cause enough for the cyanide tablets.
The only english speaking bloke ran us through the commands which was pretty pointless as the 2 guys going with us couldnt say them. We got into the raft and on the first rapid, 20 seconds later, half of us were thrown off and the rest just about managed to hold on. Fantastic. Unfortunately that was the best one and the rest of the ride was pretty tame. Still a laugh, but most of my experience was guilt ridden as I'd accidently caught one of the girl's toe nails with my paddle on the first rapid and split it. It looked very painful and I think I further annoyed her with the constant apologising. I now have a taste for the white water rafting and will be on the lookout for it from now on.
Later in the day
we funked ourselves back to Bangkok in the disco carriage of the night train.
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