Apologies for the delay in a bigger update but we've just not had the chance yet! When we get on the computers, it's either photo uploads or blog time. You can't do both! These computers must be male.

So.... we've done so much. Where do i begin... Let's start from where we left it..... The Trek!!

We got to Chiang Rai and prepared ourselves for the worst - left behind more luggage, bought energy drinks, made sure we had our rain macs handy and worried about the coming days! From Chiang Rai we headed out to a small village about an hour away where we met our first hosts, viewed our room and went for a walk around the place. The heat was giving us a warning of what we were about to trek in but we still had the energy (and enough sweat!) to play volleyball with the local school kids.

Later on we sat down for our first taste of homestay food (both enjoyed it) accompanied by the school kids performing traditional Thai music followed by a traditional war dance. This was superb as the kids seemed more than happy to approach us afterwards and teach us a thing or two in exchange for us teaching them some English. Early to bed in order to be fit and ready for our first day of walking.

We set out on the back of farm trucks into the mountains. An hour down the road and we were left to be supported by our own two legs and a bamboo cane!

The weather started hot and sunny but a big dirty raincloud kept staring at us - grrrr. It only took half an hour for the rain to come and when it rains it certainly pours! Rain macs on and still soaked. Lunch came and we didn't have much shelter but we stopped by a lovely waterfall to eat out of our banana leaves. I enjoyed lunch, mainly because i was starving but sam wasn't so keen on the pork and rice! Albeit warm! She ate it through the tears and we soldiered on. The rain died down shortly after lunch and, after seeing a snake, we slowly emerged from the rainforest/jungle with an additional member to the group - the leech on sams wrist! Only a baby but not nice. Left a mark on her wrist that lasted days - maybe even weeks!! haha.

We made it to the village about 3pm and it was time to scrub the mud from our legs and feet then enjoy a cold shower! The hut we stayed in was purpose built for the trekking company and was very nice with beautiful views. The local tribe put on a market for us selling their local goods, very cheaply and they cooked for us (with sams help). The tribeswomen also gave us traditional Thai massages for 150 Baht/Hr. A great way to relax those aching body bits!!

Egg and toast for brekkie next morning then a trip to the local school. Certainly the highlight of sams trip so far and similarly for me. The children were amazing, friendly and so happy. Sam taught them and sang songs while the 3 guys played footie outside. Brilliant. Just try taking a photo of them without them wanting to get involved and take photos of you - on your camera!

Shortly after lunch we set out for the second day of trekking. An easier trek but the heat was more exhausting than the first day. This wasn't helped by the fact Sara decided to get lost and myself (being the hero) and one of the far more fitter (and definitely more used to the heat) guides ran back to find her. We split up and found her but i was shattered! The rest of the group were resting and i was running around sweating buckets!

The third village we visited was far bigger and much more people were out and about. Clearly a very happy buzz surrounded the area and, even though we were away from civilisation, mobile phones were aplenty!

Friendly children keen to see you, a market put on for us, a visit to their yearly harvest festival swing and local food was the order of the evening. This was completed with the Akha women performing their traditional dance - accompanied merrily by some visiting westerners!

The accommodation wasn't as comfortable as the previous night but did the job! Only to be rudely awakened by the cockerill's at a very early hour!

Farewell to our hosts and the final day of walking. Probably the most distance covered today but mainly downhill so it's all good! I also decided to pay for a local porter to carry our bag today for 300 Baht (about a fiver). These guys were great as they not only carried your bag, they also made sure you didn't fall over, helped you across streams and sometimes pushed you up muddy hills (Karen!!).

The afternoon came and we made it back to our pick-up point just before the rain came and a lift to our hotel in Chiang Rai beckoned.

At the hotel, we were told that a laundry service would come and pick-up our dirt and find some clothes in there somewhere (for 10 Baht per item, 50 Baht for trainers).

Enough rice for a few days caused us to sway towards a pizza place for dinner - a welcome change for all. This followed by a great sleep in our nice, comfortable, air-conned, double bedded (yes, one each!), hot-showered rooms. What a night!!

Next day we were taken to the golden triangle, where Myanmar (Bhurma), Laos and Thailand all meet and given the chance to go to Bhurma and Laos. We only chose Laos because Bhurma was almost 10 pound each. All we saw in Laos was a local market, where i tried snake whiskey and they sold some interesting goods for slightly cheaper than Thailand. Also visited the Opium museum today.

On our way back to Chiang Rai we picked up our laundry. This must be the most suprised any of us had been in years! We just couldn't believe how clean our stuff was. My trainers weren't even white at the start of the trek and they came back as new! Unbelievable.

A night out in Chiang Rai followed and most of us went to the Teepee bar (a small, rock music orientated and decorated bar). This was a great little place and half of us stayed til 3am. Dare i say it we had a few drinks this night! We then walked down the road and found somewhere else still open, had another drink and some food then got back to the hotel at 5ish. Stayed up chatting for another hour, went to bed, then got up at 7 for a 4 hour bus journey back to Chiang Mai, of which i slept pretty much all the way!!

In Chiang Mai we had an afternoon free then got the overnight train back to Bangkok. Oh... did i mention sam left her small backpack in an internet cafe in Chiang Mai? Fortunately, we realised about 10 mins after we left there and Sam ran back to find it was in the same place she left it. Lucky, i here you say? Yup. Very. It had our passports, ipod, camera and mobile phone in it!