Week Two!

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Hi everyone,

It was a long day last Sunday travelling from Ko Samui to Chiang Mai (unforunately we didn't have a direct flight so a 5 hour wait in BKK airport). We got to the River View Lodge, it's a really eccentric old guesthouse, full of nik naks (well Junk really, mum would have a field day on a car boot).

The first 2 days were cloudy and raining but it didn't stop us! We looked around Warorot market & the night bazaar, the bartering for goods is great fun & the prices are unbelievable. I still can't believe how much mum can shop. Apparently the monsoon season is over in Chiang Mai but I don't agree, as our guesthouse is right next to the river & the rain hasn't relented at all, the toilet was blocked so couldn't be used & to get out of the guesthouse driveway we had to have a lift on a motorbike (mum was a bit dubious at first but then loved it - watch out dad, she may want a bike for xmas).

Yesterday we had a day at the Thai Cookery School which was absolutely brilliant. We learnt how to cook:

Red curry paste
Paenang curry
Fish & chilli salad
Chiang Mai curry
Black rice pudding

The amount of chilli's was enough to blow anyone's socks off! The day was very educational as well as entertaining & we loved every minute of it. The others on the course were really nice too - Sean from Canada, Nicole & Matt from Boston, Anne & Michelle from Switzerland. There were a few people travelling around for a couple of months doing a similar route to me but I reckon I'm the only one spending so much time here. I'm getting a bit nervous about being left on my own next week but after a couple of days I'm sure I'll meet up with some others.

Tomorrow we are off for a day trekking, riding elephants, having a lift in a cart pulled by an ox and bamboo rafting down the river - should be good fun. After that we are heading back to Bangkok so no doubt we'll have a bit more news.

Enjoy the pictures - if I can get them to download.

Bye
Jen & Mum

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Photos

Chiang Mai
Cookery school

Ko Samui
View from Pool

Ko Samui
1st elephant ride

Ko Samui
Emerald Lake

Ko Samui
An Thong National Marine park, arrived by speedboat