made it back from the jungle alive!!! It was really scary at times and probably one of the hardest things I have ever done! But I did it and came out the other end and honestly think the experiences I have gained will be with me for life!!! The walking was really hard and so many times I just wanted to give up but I was determined to do it and and even though the sun was pounding down on us I managed to walk for hours hours a day and walked up 1500 metres to one of the highest mountians in Chaing Mai! The steep hills were killers but the straights were wonderful and I felt like I could have just walked for miles and miles! Daydreaming and thinking about everything! It really puts life in perspective when you are up there!!! Not a care in the world except the nature and life around you!! It was ace and makes you realise as well just how much the English worry themselves over such trivial things!!! So on the first day we started by doing an hour lond elephant ride! It was amazing through streams and everything. It felt like that scene in Jurasic park when you see the dinosaurs for the first time!! Here I am surrounded my massive elephants which are just minding there own business and going about their daily duties! They really were the most gentle creatures at the same time though despite their appearance! In a way you just wanted to cuddle them and I couldnt stop feeding them bananas!! Anyway after this went on, our trek for miles and miles began! Stopped for a cool down at a waterfall where we had a swim! Also an amazing site! Then went on another trek up to the next village! On the way saw a poisonous water snake who had just caught a frog! It was eating him inches away from us but for some reason (i think its because the Tai people just see it as a norm) I wasnt scared at all! Got to the village and saw the accom! The village was seriously back to basics no electricity or even running water!! Just a waterfall, a hole in the ground for a toilet, and a shack/shed which was completely open to the wilderness for us to sleep!! Our bed was just a blanket on a wooden floor where you could see down to all the spider webbs lying inches below you! We had a few other blankets and a mossy net so I made my 'bed' as much as I could to feel a little more comfortable (although far from perfect) put my warm clothes on and thought what the hell! Went down for food. Everyone else was lapping up the home made food made from the bare minimum of the mountains! I tried but was really scared as to what the hell was in it! But then it turned dark and we lit a fire and all of a sudden you could just see nothing but stars and the smells, atmosphere and just about everything was perfect!! I completely forgot I was sat amongst the spiders. A Tai guy could play the guitar and we all started singing from Bryan Adams to Britney Spears!! We played games (you will probably see from the state of my face in the pics I lost a few!) and I ended up staying up the latest with the Tai guides and another Oz girl! Drinking beer, of all drinks! Slept like a log and actually quite enjoyed the feeling that I was dirty and didnt really care! It kind of made sleeping with the spiders a little easier! Next day was hard walking further and further up the hill, with waterfalls and the experience of general Tai life up in the North! 2nd accom was a bit harder and I didnt sleep as well however the stars and camp fire were beautifu again!! Needed loo half way through the night and soo scared tried to hold it off but had to go in the end! okay though morning soon came and breakfast was served. Got a little more experimental with the food and ate so healthily for three days as just eating all natural fruit and veg! Remind me I love watermelon and pineapple as eating it eveyday! 3rd day --easyish walk back and I was head of the troup up there with our Tai guide Louie (i taught him how to play Greenday on the guitar and also we have made all the village people start saying 'oh my buddha' as apparently we said 'oh my god' quite alot)! Then went bamboo rafting down the river!! Very fun sat on bamboo tied together buy bits of old car tyres (we made it to the bottom though however capsized quite alot)! Then back to civilisation! Our hotel (the one we stayed at before we went,-- which I said was quite basic) it was luxury and already from these three days think I have learnt a lot about the value of life! Best thing I have done and I am definatley just going to go for everything on this trip even if I am scared to hell about it!! In the end thats where our experinces come from! Met some great people! The two guys that were on our train trip from Bangkok(Phil and Phil) were there! Gave them my no and we are gonna meet up in Phi Phi islands as thats our next stop and they are there too (they are both from Ireland and we went to see the Tai boxing together on the Friday night, that was another experience---so many cant keep up already)! Also met couple of girls from oz, kalista and alex, nice girls and Kalista came into town with us on Mon night for dinner! Got her no too and prob meet up in oz and said they could come to england whenever they wanted too!! Also met a copuple from london and got email address and couple from germany and couple from sydney!! Great experiences-- next stop Phuket by air. Leaving on Tues 28th morn.