Hey there all!

 So, I'm now in Pai and I have to say that I have found one of my favorite places!!  Its excellent here and full of travellers.  I'm staying at a guesthouse called 'The Family' and it really is.  All the travellers there chill out on cushions and in Hammoks together and then we go out, very friendly and very nice.

 I arrived last Friday after an overnight bus, then another 4 hour bus ride through the mountains, deciding to bypass Changmai for now although I may go there on my way back to Bangkok.  That evening I stayed in a tree house, of which I've put pics on the site and who did I find but Beth, the girl i had been travelling with down at the islands!!! She was with her sister and neither of us had planned to be in Pai at the time we were so it was a great coincidence that we were.  I spent that night with Beth and the following day embarked upon a three day trek!

The trek took us through the hills and for two nights we stayed with the local tribes there.  The first night with the Lahu tribe and the second with the Karens.  We walked a fair distance too across rugged terrain in the sweltering heat.  Thank goodness we had some pretty great guides who kept the water levels up and fed us incredible food! 

Once we arrived at the first village, the local women showed us  some of their handy work and then sat with us whilst their children came to find out what we were all about.  We had a great time learning the Lahu language and playing with the kids.  We also ate a banquet made by our guides and then listened to the children singing to us.  Unfortunately they then wanted to hear us sing a song so me, Aly, Matthieu and Annais tried to find a song that an english, american and two french people could sing together, hmmmm.  We managed it though and gave them all a treat, I think not!!  Afterwards we were given traditional Lahu massages and fell into a deep sleep...

 Before we knew what time or even day it was we were woken by the shrill call of the Cockrall, ahhhh!  It must have literally planted itself outside our window and started up at about 5.30am.  We had to get up as it was unbarable but were greated with a scrummy breakfast so we were all happy about that.

We walked all of the second day and finished in our second village belonging to the Karen Tribe.  They are the largest hillside tribe so their village was a bit more up to date than the Lahu.

Again we were shown the handycrafts and then ate our fill.  That evening the local lads came over to drink Thai Whisky with us (we had no choice) and then an older women asked us to come to her sisters as her nephew had died.  Although this was a strange request to us we agreed as it was obviouslt important.  We went and were immediately sat on the floor nest to the primary mourning party.  I was placed next to the father of the 24year old that had dies and across from me was his mother and grandma (who was wailing).  The strangest thing for me was that it was granma that got all the attention from everyone else and mum was literally sitting in the corner on her own rocking.  I asked why this was and in their tribe the mother and grandma are seen as equal in raising a child and the grandma even more so as she is older and therefore more respected.  Very strange but there we are...

The final day consisted of a hilarious rafting experience where we all fell off!  I was the first to go and literally flew head first past Aly who was infront of me and into the water.  Very funny!  We then went into a huge cave and had a wander round and this was the end of our trek.  Totally worth it and an amazing experience!

I'm literally just going to chill for a while and go to the pool.  Pai has that effect on people, some have come for a week and still not left...that was two years ago.  Don't worry mum, I'm not emmigrating!  There's so many likeminded people here that its totally safe and just nice to rest for a bit before getting back to the hussle and bussle of Bangkok.

Ok, better go, no doubt I'll be in touch soon...if I can get out of the hammok!

Much love

Gem

xxxx