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Published: September 8th 2007
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Howdy Folks
So when we left Vietnam we flew back to Bangkok where we spent a few nights. During our time there we didn't do much apart from lounge by the pool and go to the cinema a couple of times, seeing Transformers (awesome) and Oceans 13 (very good). In Bangkok we also parted ways with our travelling companions for the last 6 weeks, Dave and Paul as we were heading north, Paul was heading south and Dave was heading home to the UK.
So we headed north to Thailands' second largest city, Chiang Mai for a few days of chilling. Our first couple of days there were very relaxed as we did a little bit of nothing apart from a bit of sight seeing around some of the local temples and catching some Thai boxing in the evening. The boxing was great, we got to see 6 fights, starting with younger kids and then progressing each round to the older boxers who were still pretty young. We started the night stood up in the stalls with a good aerial view but then for the last round we decided to to stand ring side which really showed us how
hard they were actually punching, kicking and kneeing each other, it was pretty brutal!!!
The first of the two really great things we did in Chiang Mai was to go to the "Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary" which is home to 32 Elephants whom are are all orphans or have been rescued from mistreatment at trekking camps or from their brutal owners. There we got to feed the Elephants, wash them in the river twice and basically spend the day with them and it was truly amazing! It was also very educational as it taught us how mistreated the Elephants are in Thailand, mainly because of the process they go through to be tamed, which involves beating them until their spirit is broken and also because the primary working use in Thailand for Elephants is in Trekking for tourists which is actually really bad for the Elephants health as they are extremly overworked. The sanctuary is working hard to bring better working conditions to the Asian Elephants and show that Elephants can be taught through positive reinforcement, just like with other animals, so that the Mahouts (Elephant trainers) will no longer put them through the terrible process they currently have
to endure. It really was a great place and we have both vowed to go back and volunteer for a week or two, hopefully in the not too distant future.
The second great thing that we did was something that all travellers have to do in Chiang Mai, take a cookery course! Yes, we spent the day learning how to cook lots of great Thai dishes such as Thai curry, Chicken with roasted Cashew nuts (so good!) and Thai fish cakes to name but a few. The day started off with an educational trip to the market where we picked up all the fresh ingredients and then we spent the rest of the day preparing food, cooking food, then eating food! It was awesome and we were both stuffed by the end of the day! In the evening we did manage to take a trip over to the local night bizare to start getting ideas for pressies and simply to have a look around. The following day we had time to spare until we were heading back to Bangkok on a night bus so we just chilled by the pool and Verity tried to top up her tan one
last time before we head for India where it will be Monsoon season.
So once back in Bangkok we just bided our time until we were to head for Mumbai and even managed to get in some last minute shopping for ourselves and others. It was also where we met up with Paul one last time as he was passing through Bangok again too before heading off again so we met up for one last Thai dinner of Phad Thai (naturally) and then said our final goodbyes yet again.
So now we're in India, after a bit of a bumpy flight to Mumbai (Bombay) through the monsoon rains. This is our last country on our tour and in three weeks today we will be on a plane home!
Ciao for now
G&V
xx
ps. Our cooking photos will be up soon and also if you look back at our blog from the Thai Islands we have finall managed to add some more photos!
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