Welcome to the jungle

Trip Start Apr 16, 2008
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Trip End Apr 15, 2009


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Flag of Thailand  , Chiang Mai,
Saturday, May 10, 2008

Arrived in Chiang Mai with the main objective of doing a few days jungle trek. It is quite touristy here too so there are quite a lot of activities to do - obviously with the drawback that there are plenty of 'farang'. First things first though - one more attempt at the China visa. Eh Ehhh wrong answer. Now I don't just need a flight out and my first few days hotel booking. They want round trip flights and full accommodation booking. Maybe I am not being pushy nough but it is a real pain in the rear. Anyway, I'll try again in Laos but failing that its not such a bad thing missing China coz it will give me a few more weeks to spread around the rest of asia where I was probably rushing things anyway.
So, organised a 3 day trek through my guesthouse (which was incidentally really cool, will a chill-out garden, jazz all day, free internet and breakfast). Each day consisted of some moderate hiking, which in 30+ degree heat brings on more torrents of sweat pretty quickly Mayumi (friend from night train to Chiang Mai)
Mayumi (friend from night train to Chiang Mai)
 . We all got satisafaction from seeing the guide sweating too. Each night we satyed in a tribal village. The first night we stayed with the Karen long-neck tribe which was intteresting to see but was also awkward. There is a real feeling that they are on show like at a zoo and I was reluctant to take any photos. Second night was much better with the Padang tribe. They weren't as distictive be thw village was much more authentic and they were really welcoming. They also put on a campfire show and everyone joing in to learn some dancing and sing songs. Over the 3 days we also got to go elephant trekking, white-water rafting and bamboo-rafting and lazy for a while swimming at a waterfall. Also the group was good and made some good friends.Overall really good value for 25 euro.
Took a day off back in Chiang Mai to recharge the batteries and visited a few more Wats (always a real antidote to weariness) and visited the Zoo where they have some Giant Pandas. Met up with Aurelia and Joanne from the trekking and visited 'Walking Street' market.
Then a day of downhill mountain biking. Decided on doing an intermediate course coz I figured that beginner was for real chumps. 6 hrs in total cycling. A pickup took us to the top of Doi Suthep @ 1500m and over steep dirt road and some single track we blazed down to 400m. On fell about 10 times but no real damage as I was fully kitted out with helmet, elbow guards, knee guards and body armour. Just some sizeable bruising to cherish the folloing day. It was a amazing day but man was I wrecked afterwards. Don't think I have been so tired for a long time. Couldn't even finish my dinner that night.
Off to Chiang Khong tomorrow on my way to Laos.
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