Hi everybody,

Yesterday we spent 3 hours updating the blog and uploading photos only for the signal to die just as we were about to save!!! Not happy people but that balances out the amazingly good time we are having.

The flight to Chiang Mai and subsequent departure to Chiang Dao went like clockwork and we arrived at our Northern Thailand slice of heaven refreshed and raring to go. However, first impressions of the bungalow area were "what the .............are we doing here?". After a long cold drink and a stroll around to get our bearings we began to understand that this was not luxury Royal River Hotel of Bangkok, this was bamboo hut in mountainous jungle!. It really is an idyllic situation, the views are spectacular and relaxing, the Thai people so friendly and obliging and the food....................wow! This is our scene..................it's going to be hard to leave!

The day after arrival (Sat) we hired local guides who walked us through the jungle to an extensive remote cave system. This we explored on hands and knees and by contorting our body through impossible angles. We somehow arrived an hour later at the point where we started having witnessed amazing rock sculptures, huge chambers and serene silence all with the aid of our head torches -thank you Leah!

We returned to the local Lisu village where they had prepared a chicken, veg and rice dish in a superb coconut cream sauce...........yum, yum! The second half of the day involved a trek along a tiny stream bed trail high into the mountain where we were led to a secluded waterfall for a much needed 'splash-about'! A long (uphill) walk in the late afternoon sun bought us to a second local village from where the views are stunning (see photos when we can upload them!). We were finally met by a pick-up truck which delivered us back to our bungalow hot, sweaty and filthy and much in need of a shower and cooling drink. This magnificent day was capped by yet another fabulous Thai meal.

Sunday became a 'domestic' day, catching up on washing, etc., and socialising. In the afternoon we both had a full 2 hour Thai massage. Here they use incredibly powerful hand and foot pressure to move and manipulate every muscle and joint in your body. At times other parts of their body are used to massage your body..................quite an intimate experience really! The final hot-oil treatment is bliss and compensates for the pain that had previously been administered!. Overall, a fantastic experience which we will both happily do again. Not going to mention last nights amazing Thai meal (don't want to bore you!).

Today we rose early and climbed 500 steps to a local monastry set in a cave high in the mountain. Because this is a religious holiday the cave was full of monks about to be served breakfast by the locals. The chant invoked feelings of piety even in the likes of us and was a thoroughly rewarding experience. We were invited to join in with breakfast but graciously declined since ours was waiting down the mountain.

After breakfast we walked the 5-6 km into the village of Chiang Dao and incredibly have found an internet cafe!!! Hope this one succeeds.

PS. Good to see Blues back at the top!