Northern Thailand

A collection of the best pics are at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020182&l=2c5f9&id=220000480

Mon 29 Oct

Long-ish flight over (glad I'm not going all the way home yet) no problems with immigration and finding my way to my accommodations for the night. After meeting the crew I was going to be travelling for the next week, we had a quick bite to eat (the smells and the heat hit you as soon as you get outside) and a good nights sleep before we set off the next day

Tues 30 Oct

Early start to an amazing day! Took the bus to Kanchanaburi (so thankful for the aircon!) The traffic in Bangkok is pretty crazy and best thing was somebody strapping a fridge to the back of a songtaew (ute with a roof). We checked into a pretty cute little guest house and dumped our bags before heading out the Tiger Temple. Awesome to sit and play with all sizes of tiger from cub right up to the big guy with his head on my lap - they were pretty relaxed and used to people after living with the monks and it was an amazing experience. Spent the afternoon at the JEATH war museum, look a longtail boat to the Allied War Ceremony and then the Bridge over the River Kwai. Pretty heavy afternoon so had a relaxed dinner at Happy Frog and a pineapple filled with fried rice was just the answer.

Wed 31 Oct

Pineapple pancakes are the best way to start a day especially as we had more war histroy coming up. Look a long songtaew ride out to Hellfire Pass and the museum. It was pretty shocking to see information about the POWs of the war (and some people conscripted from captured lands) who were forced to build the Burma-Thailand railway and in particular the cutting. In the afternoon we cooled off with a swim in the waterfalls at Erawan National Park, gorgeous and blue to swim in if you dont mind the fishies nibbling at your toes. Re-energising Thai Massage before dinner was just what I needed

Thur 1 Nov

Ayuthaya was worth the 5hr local bus ride, and totally appreciated the day room at the hotel with the pool and a shower at our disposal. Had a crazy bike ride through the streets to Wat Maha That - the first temple Ive been to here, it was amazing but pretty sad with a lot of Buddha's missing their heads. Had a great adventure navigating our way back on the roads with every other kind of traffic available and then getting off tiny boats with our huge packs before boarding our overnight bus (an hour late leaving) and heading towards Chiang Mai.

Fri 2 Nov

Love overnight trains, not only do you not have to pay for a nights accommodation but its awesome to wake up in an entirely new city! Roast duck from a roadside food stall for lunch before making our way to Doi Suthep Temple. This was a very different style of temple to Wat Maha That with dragons running up the 309 step path to the main Buddha, really enjoyed our afternoon there and pretty special (as a woman) to be blessed by a monk. Checked out the Hill Tribe Museum after that to find out what we're getting ourselves into and then checked out the famous night markets and crazily ran into Brady and Jordan there - the world really is a small place!

Sat 3 Nov

Crazy to start the day having banana pancakes in Chiang Mai and ended up sleeping in a hut at one of the hill tribe villages, what an adventure! Headed off at 10ish, stocked up on some snacks and pressies for the kids, pad thai from the roadside stall for lunch and then we started our hike. It would have just been a nice little hill climb but the rain added an extra challenge, turning the stream crossings into full on rivers! Great adventure trying to keep our feet dry to no avail, not fall off the skinny bamboo bridges and the last downhill just turned into an absolute mudslide! But it was all worth it to spend a night with the villagers and have the best homemade green thai curry ever!

Sun 4 Nov

Today was another one of those days that when you get to the end of it you cant believe where it started. Woken up in our hut by the roosters outside and left the village mid morning on elephants, a short songthaew ride and then bamboo rafting down the river. Went to play with some monkeys in the afternoon and spent the evening shopping in Chiang Mai’s famous night market for a few goodies to take home

Mon 5 Nov

Had a free day so decided to go on an authentic Thai cooking class – it was a great opportunity and I had a great time making some traditional dishes that I’ll easily be able to cook back home too, helps that they gave us a cookbook at the end of the day. With a small group of 5 of us and a really professional kitchen we got to make (and eat) pad thai, spicy and sour soup, spring rolls and green chicken curry all in four hours – yummy! Night train back to Bangkok

Tues 6 Nov

Great to spend our last day with the group having a free day in Bangkok, checking out markets, the air conditioned mall, took the sky train to a department store and then tuk tuk’d it to Khao San Road. Really busy and crazy but did a bit of wandering around the markets and then spent the afternoon outside at a pub just people watching in this crazy place. Somewhere between the beers I managed to convince Bronwyn to get her braided and mine dreaded – as you do : )