(spent over an hour updating this and crashed - very frustrating!)

Ok, so trek started well enough, even though it was so hot (what with backpack and being 90 odd degrees) that everyone was covered in sweat within the first five mins, and pretty much stayed that way for the rest of the treking. 

I should note here that I was wearing a brown T, green 3/4 fisherman pants (I had brought the night before from night market) ankle socks and white trainers.  What style ;-)

We were told that the first day was the hardest and there would be five hills to climb along with some flat and a few down hill.  Well, what they call hills I call mini mountains.  My goodness I was out of breath as soon as we started the first one, and it wasnt long before I was behind everyone else, which was fine as I took it at my own pace and always had (porter) Spiderman behind me.  (Spiderman has the type of face I love, full of smiles and charecter).  Made it up the first hill and joined the others on a break and had the best water melon I have ever tasted. Took rucksack off and collapsed onto ground a big soggy drip.  After ten mins it was time to start again.  Joy!

When we were going flat or down hill I stayed with the group, but as soon as we started uphill I let then go pass me and went at my own puffing, wheezing snail pace.

The whole walk took about four hours of mainly going up very steep hills (mini mountains), and even though it was tough, very hot and sweaty I made it.  Though I will admit at some points I did want to give up, but, I would look behind me and Spiderman (who does not speak any English) would smile and wave forward.  I would set myself little challenges of making it to the tree half way up the hill and then  have a break.

Thank god for pro plus!!!!!!!

Mind you when I stopped I did try and take in the beauty of my suroundings as when walking all I could do was concentrate on making the next step.

 The last hill was the worse.  It was downhill, but, sheer(ish) drop with only good footwork, trees and my trusty walking stick to help me down.  Yes.  I did fall down a few times.  But, that was part of the fun!?

The camp we stayed at was great.  There was two bambo huts one for us and one for the porters, a wood table (with bambo roof cover) and a bambo hut with flat toilet and bucket/scoop flush.  Our hut had mosq nets around everyones sleeping area so even though sleeping with 10 people in a hut, still felt a  little private. There was a pipe that ran constantly into the bucket flush(in the loo hut) so the floor was constantly flooded.  It is a skill to not only hold your trousers whilst squating, but to hold them up from the floor as well.

We dumped our stuff and  changed into our muu muu thingy's and went down to the stream to wash.  Which was fun when trying to wash your private bits with dignity under a muu muu.    I was the last one down the stream (as washed my T and trousers), and decided to dry and dress top half down there, which was a bit of a struggle trying to put a bra on over a towel and wet muu muu whilst not flashing any bits.

Had a great meal in the evening (prepared by porters) of rice, green curry (yes, I ate curry). tofu, meats and one fish that had been cut into three.  I was happily enjoying my food when all I could hear was the girl next to me crunching loudly, I turned around and she was eating the fish head.  Eyes and all.  That was the end of my dinner for the night.

After that we were entertained by B.o.b in the porters hut with jungle moonshine (tasted like fumes), chat, magic tricks and jokes etc.  A really fun night.

Everybody was in bed by 9pm.  Took me a couple of hours to get comfy, what with laying on a bambo floor and all and only having a sleeping bag and my trusty blow up pillow. Eventualy fell asleepl istening to the stream and the sounds of the jungle.  Only to be woken a couple of hours latter by a crowing c*** with stiff hips and aching legs (last bit me, not crowing cock).  Ready for another day of treking.