Survived Trekking

Wohoo, wow, we survived!!!

Came back from the wilderness last night after 2 days trekking around mountains, did a bit of rafting (white water and bamboo), had lots of water fights! And elephant riding! Our lovely little baby Nelly!

 

 I can just about walk today, getting down stairs is the hardest! Can just about get down from pavements! Col's not as bad, but has more injuries (blister from stuff in shoe, bruise+cut from getting leg stuck between bamboo sticks on raft and a few cuts from slipping over...Can't remember what else! Too many to remember,eh?!)

 

Last night was just a matter of showering and going to bed. Got our lovely massive room back, bit lucky! Getting the normal backpacks back up the stairs from storage was what killed us off I think! Had some crisps for dinner, need to get some salt back into the body after all that sweating! And I don't even sweat (well, pre-Thailand anyway).

 

Will try to write some more about the actual trek, but think Internet time is up. At least you know we survived and are back in Chaing Mai : )

Buddhist Rituals

Gary,

do you know what these are?? Went to a temple and some people praying were shaking this until one fell out...Never seen it before...

Guess who..!!

Forgot to mention!!! Guess who we saw on our last night in Bangkok?!?!

My little bro Johan's mates Fredde and Simon and gang who've been travelling around the last few months!!! We were in the sam,e restaurant (cool corner, near khao san) and there they were!!! So funny!!! Had a chat with them and they were getting ready to head home to the snow!!!!!

It's a small world after all!!!

Chiang Mai Monday

Been a hectic day today. Sorted out visas for Laos and Vietnam, booked bus to the Lao border, booked a 2 day trek (too unfit for a 3 dayer!), picked up our washing, had a wonder to a market looking for a DVD player/TV thingy. They all were over 300 quid!! Unreal! We were looking forward to watching films in the evening (especially as all new releases are so readily available - even saw the Da Vinci code in the market last night - didn't even know they had finished making it!) Oh, well. Maybe we can pick one up in Bangkok!

 

Don't seem to be socialising too much with the fellow travellers, they're all weirdos! Everyone seem to needy or something, and we don't care much for the boring "where have you been, where are you going" thing... Actually, that would be a bit different, most of them don't even ask, just ramble on about themselves...! BOOOOoooring!!! Miss our normal (that's you) friends!

 

Got a bit of shopping done last nighgt at the big bazaar, got a pair of sunnies, taken me weeks to find a pair I like, very fussy (poor Col), and a little pressie for Sez! Ahhh! Was so exhausted on our way back I almost fainted! Had a bit of a wobbly belly and not sure what else! Feeling a biut better today though, hoping to survive tomorrows trek! (we'll be riding elephants, white water rafting and bamboo rafting!!! OOooohh! And see some long-necked people too!!)

 

Best check my online banking now though...! See how much I've managed to spend! Not too much I hope!!!

Phitsanulok + Sukhothai

Just a quick recap of our days between Bangkok and here (Chaing Mai).

Took train from BKK to Phi'Lok, stayed at a place called London Hotel, couldn't resist really! It was really lovely, around the corner from the river and the night market (great!).

The whole place had such a nice atmosphere, people jogging, giggling school girls, friendly shop keepers (nice surprise after BKK). We didn't see a lot of other westerners which was nice for a change. Had problems with veggie food though - none existant! Did have a glass noodle salad, which turned out to be noodles and chilli! Now I didn't see the chilli until my mouth had 3rd degree burns and tears were rolling down my cheeks!! Oh dear!!! Took quite a few hours to recover! Have had some good food since then though, people are very accomodating and will try to do anything for you.

 

We had a lovely daytrip to Sukhothai Historical Park the day before yesterday. Rented us a couple of bikes and cycled around this massive big area covered in temples and Buddha statues. Absolutely stunning! Lots of it is about to fall down which is a shame, but some temples do have a lot of caracter left. I especially enjoyed one which used to be a Hindu temple but had been converted to Buddhist. Lots of the carvings on the outside had been preserved and was very unusual looking.

 

Made friends with the guy who rented us the bikes afterwards. He was such a sweetie! He once caught a fish which weighted 36kg you know! We saw photo proof! He even sang to us! Cool dude!

Chaing Mai Sunday

We're now in lovely cool Chaing Mai! Arrived here last night after a 5.5 hour train journey (which was just a pleasure as we were in 1st class and had air-con, the only way to travel really!)

 

We're getting ready to go trekking, learn how to cook Thai style and maybe learn Thai massage...I'm all for just receiving the massage really! Were gonna have one the other night in Phisanulok but was just too hot ans sweaty.

 

Off shopping tonight too at the big night bazaar which will be a treat! I think one of the highlights on this trip will be shopping! I might just go a little craaazy, there are sooo many nice things! Will have to buy a couple of bags and fill up!!! Let me know any requests and I'll see what I can do!!!

 

Really like this place, everyone's so much more chilled compared to Bangkok. Not too many people harrassing you!

Will prob be staying here for a week or so

1 March

Nothing much going on today. Trying to arrange tickets to go North and Col did some shopping. Got some new t-shirts and flip flops and stuff. I got some cream for my lovely rash so won't look too weird from now on.

Gonna post some more pics now so have a look!