Hello all just a little blog to update you on our 5 lovely relaxing days in Chiang Mai!

After our suprisingly comfortable sleeper train journey where the seats turn in to cosy little bunk beds, we arrived in Chiang Mai at about 9.30am on the 24th of Jan. It is alot cooler here with no horrible smells and half the traffic so i would say it is much better than Bangkok. Booked into a hostel called Julies, recommended by one of Sean's work friends, very hippyish and had a layed back vibe. We got the last room which was very basic with just a fan and a rock solid bed, but for 2 pounds a night you cant complain. Really loved the place and for the next couple of days we just relaxed and swang in hammocks on the roof terrice reading books and chatting to other travellers. In the evenings went to the Night Bazzar and had dins in the fish market, (the food is still alive when you order it) so very nice.

We then booked a 2 day 1 night trek to the Don Inthanon National Park to swim in waterfalls, ride elephants, stay with the hilltribes overnight and finally do bamboo rafting!

We had a good group of people with us, I think 13 of us from all different places (Irish, British, Korean, Danish and Chillian people). Overall the walking was very hard (well for me anyway, i really struggled at somepoints) but the trip was well worth it! We both had an excellent time and was so glad to go. Initally was weiry of the snakes and spiders and whatever else lives in the jungle but soon got used to it, waterfalls were lovely and very refreshing, the food in the hilltribe village overnight was great and sampled their homemade rice whisky and bananna leaf ciggies round the campfire. The next day more trekking up and down the mountains, very steep and lot's of falling over, another waterfall to cool down and finished up Bamboo rafting down the river, all good fun, and to Mum and Dad (Kim and Debi) the waterproof camara worked a treat!

Our guide Mr Po was very funny and when we got back he took the whole group out for a session in Chiang Mai. (take a look at the pics to see the trip, to follow)

Our next step is to take a 4 hour bus journey to a place called Pai further north and spend a few days there tomorrow.

That's about it for now, thanks for all the messages, we will reply back to you all soon! Hope everyones well!

Lots of love

Jen & Sean XXXXXXXXX