Chiang Mai

---

---

We arrived in Chiang Mai after a trip on the night train (cue the Guns and Roses song from '87). It is a very nice city, albeit very touristy in areas.

We took a 3 day trek in the Thai jungle north of here. It was pretty amazing as we hiked to remote villages, had an elephant ride, whitewater rafting, floated on bamboo rafts and got to know the people in our group (from Israel, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovenia...). It was an experience sleeping in bamboo huts on stilts under mosquitoe nets and using showers/toilets that had their water supply fed from the flowing river by a submerged hollow bamboo trunk.

Lucky we finished the trek when we did as I (Scott) am reacting badly to the malaria pills and haven't been able to keep food in me for almost 3 days. Either I chance it by not taking the pills anymore, or try to find a different malaria pill here... Too bad as we had a day trip booked to see some of the northern natives (people who wear the metal rings around their neck to stretch them) and the Golden Triangle.

We saw the weekend market here which is famous and was absolutely massive. It was much better than the one we were at in Bangkok.

Heading to the Laos border and catching a slow boat down the Mekong river into Luang Prabang.

PS: We heard it is -40 C windchill back home - stay warm everyone!

All for now!
Linds and Scott

---

Photos

Trekking
We came past this waterfall - was a very nice spot.

Elephant Ride
Our Elephant didn't want to walk very fast but he did eat all the bananas. The picture shows him grabbing a banana and he ate them in one gulp, peel, stalk and all.

Weekend Market
This market in the old city was massive!

Comments

[Nathan]

Looks like the two of you are having an unbelievable time!!! I Cant wait for more updates. Good commentary Scotty. Take care and make sure you two come back alive, as you two have a wedding to attend, June 7. By the way, it was actually -47 here with the wind chill....Sssso Ccccoooold. The Nathan Sensation

[Ruttle]

Rot Gut
Ahhh - holidaze that hurt - way to go Scott you are the first one to get sick.