Chiang Mai and jungle trek
After a night chugging along on the sleeper train we arrived in Chiang Mai and were picked up by our car!!! We were taken to the office for a briefing on our jungle trek!!! We listened to Mr Pon and were given a list of things to take. He also gave us a map of Chiang Mai and some tips on what to see. We decided that after checking in to our guest house we would visit the famous temple at the top of the mountain; Wat Phra Thad Doi Suthep.... It has 306 steps up to it. So at 10 am we were driven to the temple, ventured to the top and took in the views and took photos of the temple in all it's 'bling' glory. There were also people having a blessing... Well soaking from a monk, who was actually laughing!!!
On our return to the guesthouse at 1pm we decided an afternoon in the sun beside the pool would be the best way to recover from our travels and prepare us for our jungle trek tomorrow!!!
At 7.30 am we got up and prepared for our 8.30 pick up, backpack of essentials from the list and a nice strong coffee prepared us for our hour or so journey up to the mountains outside Chiang Mai. About 40 minutes into the truck journey of picking up others for our trek we arrived at the tourist police. A copy of everyone's passport was given to the boss who proceeded to give us a warning lecture!!! Not deterred we got back onto our truck and drove another 40 mins and stopped at a market where any items needed could be purchased... Sarah loves a shop, so more mozzi cream, another rain jacket, some biscuits and water later we were off!!! Within 20 mins we stopped by the river and were told this is where we would do our bamboo rafting. We had to be in groups of 3 and sarah and I didn't really want to split but did the valiant thing and did so!!! So there were 3 Dutch girls on raft one, sarah and a Spanish couple on raft 2 and myself with a French couple. It was a cross between the polling in Botswana but without the seat and getting wet no option and white water kayaking down the ardeche but without the safety equipment!!! Poles of bamboo tied together with a Thai man polling from the front with 3 of us sat inline behind.... Occasionally a snake would be pointed out, (Sarah reports snakes being poked and a spider running across the water, my poller just pointed them out thank goodness!) and then there would be areas of fast white water type sections.... Quite good fun but again Sarah told me that the area we got out to walk around the 'worst' section her group stayed on!!! Anyway we survived our first adventure at the hands of Thai guides!!!
Back on the truck we drove another 10 minutes to what seemed to be a persons home for lunch and to change ready to start our walk / hike / trek!!!
Off we set at 2pm to trek to our camp by a waterfall .... Through paddy fields to the uphill trek!!! Humid is the word I will use because within a hour we were saturated in perspiration!!! We stopped often for water and to be entertained by our guide, Am!!! We arrived at our camp... 5* NOT but the refreshing waterfall wash, a few beers and great food cooked by Am and some matchstick tricks made up for lying on a deck with a leaf roof and smelly blankets, but made into a fab den by Sarah. The next day we ate breakfast to ready us for a 5 hour trek through the jungle (uphill!!) to our next camp in a village 2000m high!!! It was already very hot at 9am so we knew we wouldn't stay 'dry' for too long!!! Before setting off we packed up and Sarah found a bamboo walking stick, which would become her trusty sidekick!!! Not much to explain really, as walking uphill in the humidity with regular water breaks and viewing what's around you is the same same. It really becomes a time to think and get inner strength to keep going and get a steady pace going. The odd check to see if each other is ok is all you can manage really. Don't get me wrong I was loving it and it was about time we did some real exercise but it is not just a walk in the park!!! We stopped to rest and have noddles for lunch at some random lady's home in the middle of no where and trekked on!! Finally, the ground we were walking on started to flatten and Am would tell us 2 more ups and we are there.... So the flat was short relief until the 2 more ups!!! We arrived at a mountain top village about 4pm, Am told us about the small community of about 6 families (large families) that lived there and that we were to stay in one of the traditional homes at the edge. Arriving, the relief to be able to sit and take off back pack and shoes were immense, but the views were even more immense. This is the place I will wake up on my birthday!!! After a cold beer and Sarah set up bed as a den again we showered under a tap at head height... The 'best' shower ever!!!! Waiting for dinner we were entertained by the children of the village, one little 3 year old boy hooked onto me showing me his balancing and climbing skills, Sarah bought them all snacks from the 'jungle 7/11' and we took a wander through the village. Life is simple there, but very relaxed and organised in an un organised way!!! As sun set one side of the mountain the moon rose the otherside, wow!!! We ate dinner and Am set up a camp fire and told us all about Thai customs as we sipped beer!!! The other trekkers retired at 7pm, but Sarah and I sat chatting, star gazing and enjoying the peace before retiring ourselves at about 10 pm.
Woke up after a lovely sleep, helped by the beers the night before.... to a lovely happy birthday from Sarah, she gave me a card she has been carrying for months and a hand made bracelet she bought from the villagers and not forgetting the home made toilet seat from a rain coat for use in the drop toilets!!! What a way to spend your birthday... A down hill trek to a waterfall followed by the final downhill trek to an elephant ride and lunch. Actually as I found out downhill was harder than uphill!!! But the waterfall swim was amazing and the elephant ride was ok once I got off without falling off!! I do think I prefer watching elephants in their natural environment than riding them... Just for the record!!! All of this and we still got back to the guesthouse for 4pm... Rest, swim, shower and out. We wandered through old city of Chiang Mai and along the streets of the Sunday night market before for a lovely Italian meal (my favourite choice of pizza for my birthday!!) finished off with cocktails in a bar before bed... I did try to stay up but too shattered (wanted to extend my birthday into British time but I'm way too old now!!)