Have had a great couple of days here in Thailand.
On our last day in Bangkok we decided that we would be true tourists and go around all of the temples. Visited the Grand Palace which was incredible! The buildings were beautiful and the statues were so amazing. The site was massive and I cannot explain how beautiful it was.
We then moved onto the Reclining Buddha or Wat Phao which I am sure manny of you will recgonise. The Buddha was massive and pretty impressive and had the biggest feet that I have ever seen!!!
We then went on the sleeper train. We were both a bit apprehensive about our twelve pound seats that we bought as we were told that these were the only seats left on the train as the beds had sold out. However when we were on the train it was absolutely fine! The seats reclined very far back so we slept easily and they also gave us dinner and breakfast. Elle was very twitchy about the cockroachs and had a few panis attacks when she saw them! Elle was also doing a bit of sleep talking to the amusement of me and the man infront of us!!
When we got into Chiang Mai train station there was a man holding a sign saying "Lotti" so we knew that we had arrived in the right station! We jumped in the back of his taxi- the taxis here tend to be like jeeps that you sit in the back of- and went to Funky Monkey guesthouse. Really, really nice and the owners, an English man and his Thai wife are so lovely and helpful!
We decided to book a three day, two night trek into the jungle which was only 26 pounds. We were both really excited about it and it has been one of our highlights!
There were 13 of us in our group and luckily there was another english girl from London who was really nice! We embarked on our little adventure and our first stop was at a butterfly farm! The butterflies here are massive and their colouring is bright and bold. Photos to be put up here later!
We then went off to ride elephants! Elle and I were very cautious and we did not want to ride on the front of the elephant and instead sat on the seatts (be very proud of us parents, we dont want to call up our insurance company just yet!) We went into the river with the elephants and took lots of photos!
We then went on a MASSIVE trek to the village. I thought the trek wouldnt be too hard but nothing prepared us for this! Our legs were burning, our water bottles empty and the path just kept on going further and further up the hill! Definitely not a leisurely walk on Leckhampton Hill!
We arrived at one of the hill tribe villages and I felt like Bruce Parry! We were shown to our wooden hut where all 13 of us slept. Very basic and very uncomfortable. Pillows, blankets and mattresses (not sure if you can call it a mattress, maybe a very thin blanket) were filthy so very glad that I brought my sleeping bag liner with me!
Our guide cooked us the most delicious supper ever, like a pumpkin and chicken curry with lots of veg in, the food here is amazing! The view from our hut was beautiful overlooking the jungle and we have both taken lots of photos!
After supper our guide talked to us about the importance of natural remedies and the medicine man here in the village as there is not a hospital or doctors nearby. He then started to talk about drugs as how the villagers sometimes use opium for natural remedies. The two French men then asked whether they would be able to get hold of some despite our talk with the tourist police before about how not to take drugs! They got hold of some from the medicine man and started lighting up and smoking it! Don't worry parents we both declined when we were offered!
After a very uncomfortable nights sleep we trekked into the jungle again and swam in two of the waterfalls which were amazing and the path that we took was not too demanding but very dangerous! We were walking along rotten wooden logs and planks! Didn't like to think what would have happened if any of us had hurt ourselves!!
We then slept in the jungle camp which again was so uncomfortable and the mattress situation was just as bad. The loo situation was horrific and Elle and I were only going in emergencies as there we just holes in the ground!! Mum, you would have hated it!!
Went white water rafting today and bamboo rafting which was fun but the river didnt have much water in as it is the dry seaon and so not much white water! Really fun couple of days and craved a shower by the end!!
Tomorrow doing a cookery course so will let you know how that goes!
XXX
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