Namkhong Guesthouse Chiang Rai

... 3606;ึงวū 3;ดร่อง&# 3586;ุ่นปร ;ะมาณเ 585;ือบ 3 โมงเย$ 55;น คุณพ่$ 29;น้องเ& #3610;สท์ขū 3;บรวดเ&# 3604;ียวถึ ;ง ...

This morning we were pleasantly surprised not to wake up to the heavy rain of the previous two mornings. But this morning was an early start, as we had a seven Kilometre walk to attempt before reaching the elephant camp on the other side of the Mae Kok river. Despite the scorching heat and epic trek, we kept ourselves amused by making jokes about Mae Kok. The walk seemed like it would never end, but Freddie and Flick led the pack, setting a pace that was grueling for ...

... surrounding area. i got my first moped and was an amazing day of cruising around villages and going 80km (which on a moped in thailand is quite a feat!) to the nearby national park, which is home to the highest point in thailnd. it was truly amazing how this moped (In mostly first gear) made it up some of the steepest and windy roads i have seen. it was fun coming down though! i had the pleasure of seeing many waterfalls and stunning views. the ...

... dusk, but the sun never really sets. We enjoyed another evening with our new friends and then headed out the next day, in the rain, in the back of the pickup again, only this time with about 12 of us in there, all standing, and ducking the low branches that came along often. We were unsure, but thought we may stay in the town of Chiang Rai, but after a lunch in town, our two new German friends passed by in the sangtheaw (converted ...

I will write this soon. Maybe. Basically really busy (and hot) when first settling into Chiang Rai. A Not For Sale group came, then I (at short notice) organised for a visit from Gerald from Volunteer Medics Worldwide, and my Mum came, and it was Songkran, and we are trying to unpack, and we have a baby, and we need to find schools for the kids, and Antipodeans wants me to do all sorts of work for them, and ....... Arrghhh. It all worked out, but it has been a busy period.

... questions like these, unfortunately, because our guide speaks only about as much English as I speak Thai. Less, maybe, since Thai has been his language of choice with me. And, while it's been interesting watching words pop into my conscious brain from where they've been buried for ten years (I lived in Thailand ten years ago and at the time could speak quite well), I'm afraid I haven't yet remembered the words for "pig poop" or "housetrained." Despite ...

... and to have spent what little time I had to offer in order to learn as much as I was able to have taken away with me. I was able to enjoy the basic conversation - via hand signals and other bodily gestures - in order to figure things out. Overall, it was a true pleasure to watch the women weave and to have the opportuntiy to buy a few simple items that were made by the vendors who made them with their own hands and tender love and care. It was amazing how much one can ...