Chiang Mai, What an amazing place

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We were set for 4 days in Chiang Mai. We got an absolute bargain through Wotif.com on the Centara Duangtawan hotel. A very plush 4 star hotel for 50 bucks a night instead of $250. Fully equipped with everything that you need. However for most things such as food and internet, you would walk less than 100 metres and find it for 20% of the price. The location was perfect though, as the famous “Night Bazaar” was less than 200 metres away. The Night Bazaar is a nightly market where you can buy everything from food to designers clothes, sunglasses and watches (All genuine of course…..). This first night we just strolled around to get a feel for things.

Our second day involved a tour into the outskirts of Chiang Mai where Hayley fulfilled a dream of riding an elephant. Hayley was so excited about the fact they a 3 foot tall baby ephelant (spelling mistake intentional). In fact there were more photos including the baby elephant than the rest of the 4 days in Chiang Mai put together. The elephant ride went for about and hour and well all got the opportunity to sit on their neck and “attempt” to guide it. The mahouts make it look so easy. They sit cross legged over the top of the elephant’s head without even wobbling and we were unsure of every step. At the end we had a very brief opportunity to take a photo with the baby. We were able to get one half decent shot in that time. As you can imagine, it’s a little difficult to get an infant elephant to follow instructions. We were then off to see two hill tribes, firstly the Karen tribe then the Mong tribe with a visit to Maeweng Waterfall in the middle. It was interesting the see how primitive the conditions were as well as seeing an elder lady making a silk cloth. All that time and effort for us to buy a beautiful 2m silk table runner for 200 baht (AU$8). The same thing at home would probably go for $50 at least. April is the hottest time in Thailand and the temperature was well into the high 30s with humidity that we had never experienced before. Having said that, as soon as we got to the waterfall, we were in the water as fast as we could for instant refreshment.

After the Mong hill tribe and a bite to eat it was off river rafting, on Bamboo. There was nothing spectacular about the rafting itself, particularly with water levels being extremely low, but the high point of the day was rafting though communities of bamboo huts overhang in the waters edge. Families and friends were getting together with a few beers and many more whiskeys by the looks of it, for an afternoon of Music, food, and general fun in the water. With every community we went through, there was a little army of little kids and big kids alike ready for a splash fight. Its amazing how the simplest things bring about the most fun and happiness.


There is more to come for this entry

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Photos

Elephant riding
If feel like I'm about to fall off

Karen Hill tribe
THis wamans teeth are black because she eats a certain type of bean

Maewang Waterfall
Such a relief