Got ourselves up at a more reasonable time this morning and was at breakfast for 9am. Back to the muesli and yoghurt...really fancied a sausage butty though.

We arranged with John to go to one of the natural hot springs. He just charges a small amount for petrol so it's cheap to get out and see stuff. Took about 20 minutes to get to the entrance to the hot springs area. Had to pay about a pound each to 5 guys who control the entrance...5 people! One asks how many people, the next takes the money, one guy gives you the ticket, another controls the barrier and the last one watches TV. And it's not a huge busy place, it's a little wood hut that's got a manual barrier.

Then it goes a bit off-road - John's 4x4 really comes in handy for the steep muddy hills and crossing the stream. There's a bridge instead of driving through the stream but it looks very dodgy. Just made from a couple of big logs and some bamboo!
We got to the spring which was in the middle of the woodland. Nobody else was there either as it's not really the one that's advertised to all the tourists - that's the good thing about being with someone who knows the area. There's no big concrete steps or railings, you just climb past the trees and get yourself in. And it's lovely and warm. It's amazing to be sat in a warm pool of water in the middle of the woods. We just sat around and relaxed for a while.

John decided to take us to see the hilltribe villages. We drove up and down steep (really steep) hills through the lovely countryside. It was about 10 kilometres into the hills on dirt tracks and through another stream. Pretty rough ride and there's no way you'd make it without a 4x4. We passed a couple of army vehicles too and these roads are literally for one car. When you pull up on the verge, if you make a mistake and go a little too far over, you're rolling down the hill. A hummer came past, then a big truck with the army guys in the back - that was a close call trying to inch past, whilst I looked out my side of the window down a long steep hill!

We finally made it up to the village. As we were driving through, we waved to a few kids but they didn't wave back. Hopefully they don't want to eat us is what I was thinking. John dumped the pick up truck at the bottom of the village and we walked up to the village shop. They speak no English, and very very little Thai. They speak their own tribal languages out here. Still managed to get a can of Chang Beer out there, but not cold from a fridge. And coca-cola...there's nowhere that that stuff isn't available, from some cinemas at home that sell crappy pepsi.

We sat down just outside the shop and suddenly had a bit of an audience. Some of the little kids, aged from about 4 to 7, were peeping at us through the fence, at a distance. Then they'd stand at the gate and if we looked at them they'd hide. John said the trick is to kind of ignore them which makes them more intrigued about you and they get closer. Then two little boys came down, laughing and giggling but we couldn't really communicate. Then they stood a bit further away near the trees. Then it was the girls turn. They were very shy and giggly and kept covering their faces and turning their backs. John told us to be careful about taking pictures, but said it was fine to take them of the younger ones. Therese took some of the kids but they were very shy and running off. She managed to get a couple and walked up to them to show them the picture. They were all giggling and went very shy.

We finished our beers (just me and John, Therese is being careful) and went for a wander around the village. Nobody came up to us and told us to get out of their village or anything. They just laugh and smile at us. It doesn't seem to bother them. The children are very interested though, and we soon had a little crowd following us around. We made it down to their little village school where they have a football pitch too. I was going to have a kick around with them as I found the ball, but they didn't seem very interested. It was interesting walking around the village and just looking around at the houses and how they live. The people are all so pleasant too, and seem very happy. Must be weird having some big nosed White folk walking through their village though!

It was brilliant to get right out there and see the villages. Not something we would have done if it wasn't for John. Even the drive out there and seeing the views was an experience.

We got back to Quinlins (the name of our accommodation) and had a nice big baked spud with tuna and Gaynor stuck Coronation Street on for us...I kid you not. She downloads them and then plays them on the big TV. Then she went out to get the food for our Roast Sunday Dinner...yes, again, I kid you not!!

After that we had a bit of nice relaxation time, obviously in the hammock for me. And a bit later we did our bit of exercise for the day - some laps in the swimming pool.

Roast Sunday Dinner for late tea tonight. I love English food more than I realise. Roast chicken, carrots, sprouts (not my favourite but definitely one of Therese's!), roast potatoes, and some aaaaah bisto! It was absolutely lovely. Say what you want about being in Thailand and eating English food, I don't really care.