Ground control to all blog fans. Roger that. I'm (Anna) reading an army book about Iraq, it's so good! I finished my last one and I'm on a roll. Fran's read like 10 book and is currently converting latin into arabique or something. As ya do.

Anyway since the last blog, in Koh Tao, we had a HUGE 24 hour bus journey up to Chaing Mai which was horrendous - neither of us slept even with sleeping tablets because there was no room on the seats, so we had a curved couch. Sounds like it'd be comfy, but NO! Then we arrived at 230am in Bangkok and got a tuktuk (which are potentially the most life threatening thing I've ever incountered - open backed carraiges travelling at 200mph meandering around the traffic, very fun though) to the station where we had to wait 7 hours for our train. So we slept, on the floor, with our rucksacks for cushions.

However, Franny's electric razer kept turning itself on and waking us up! It was very unnerving because at first we didn't know what it was. Then a few hours after very interuppted sleep, we were woken again by a security man bashing his trunchon on my rucksack, shouting for us to get up and move. How embarraasing. We were SO annoyed though, but we went to buy some donuts which were tres sugary to keep us awake.

At about 8am (our train was at 830), everyone suddenly stood up and faced the front. We did the same becasue we didn't know what was happeneing, though it was hell because we could hardly move with exhaustion. The national anthem played for a while, and people saluted and stuff but we didn't because I don't really feel obliged to, even though they love the royalty over here, there are shrines everywhere, even over the moterways. Just where you'd want your face to be.

Eventually we arrived in Chaing Mai and went to the nearest place, and crashed out. The next day (yesterday) we explored a bit, went to some temples and the night market in the evening which was brilliant! So many different things to buy! and it's really well known for its handicrafts and there were some really beautiful hand made things there like bed spreads that we really wanted but couldn't affford and felt bad offering 1000bht (20pounds) for somethings so lovely and handmade.

Today was the best though, we went to an elephant sanctuary - it was incredible. I tried to upload some pictures but can't! Will try again at another internet point. First we learnt how to communicate with them so we could direct them when we were riding them, and we practised the commands and the hand movements you do. Then we were shown how to get up onto them and how to sit etc. The fed them and played with them a bit, this was amazing and they kissed our faces! Like big wet slopppy kisses! So cute! They are such huge animals but so gentle, you can't help but love them! (Possible 21st birthday present pareents?)

Then we had a bon lunch, and after we went trecking on them! We went up to this view point which was amazing and fed them more beany things which they loved. I can't really describe it well enough without the pictures but I will try and upload them again. Me and Fran were on one elephant called Christina and she was lovely, they eat none stop! We took it in turns sitting on her head and steering. It was pretty hard work though, and you have to remember all the commands and shout them loudly and firmly. The views were unbelievable and really breathtaking, though I don't think you can capture it well enough through pictures. I've got me some crackin' mental ones though.

Then we took them down to the river and washed them and played a bit more with them. I was a bit worried they'd roll over and squish us but they are so peacful and do what they're told. Then we sat on them in the water and they sprayed us with water which was ACE and hillarious! Then they filled their trunks with water and made them floppy so we could aim them at each other and the guides, like a water fight. This was the best!

After we'd cooled down in the river (it was so hot sweat was literally running of ourself) we went into a lake on the elephants and they swam for ages whilst we were still on their backs, every now and again diving down with us on it to! The guide had our camerass the whole time so we could just enjoy the experiences and he took loads of pictures for us, which we really appreciated as they are really good pictures! He also filmed bits for us too which demonstrate the general amazingness.

We're knackered now though but have had such an amazing day! Tomorrow we're going trecking and in a couple of days we're on a cooking course! Jam packed week. We're also going meditating with the monks after that, and the zip wire through the tree tops! I am enjoying the north more than the islands (though the islands were still very bon) and will be sad to leave back to Bangkok in a week!

Keep checking for the pictures, I will try and do them soon and you can really appreciate it then!!

Until then, dear fans. Peace out.