Took a Midnight Train...

Chang Mai

Friday the 27th I met my tour group and leader for heading north to trek through the lush jungles of Thailand. Nice small group of 5 of us got a sleeper train to Chang Mai, after an orientation walk around Bangkok... most of which I'd seen already, so think I've had my fill of Bangkok now...

Chang Mai is another hustling, bustling Thai city, with chaotic traffic, streets filled with market stalls and smiling people that make me feel quite tall... A big moat and red brick crumbling wall surrounds the city which was built about 700 years ago to defend against Burma forces invading the city. Our hotel is very nice, with an all important shower and comfy bed.

Saturday was our first day in Chang Mai and I attended an enjoyable simple Thai cooking class for a small fee. The evening saw our group take a night out along the road of bars to see some live Thai boxing, which i enjoyed alot more than i anticipated. Its a clean and frequently funny sport, with up to four boxers in the ring, sometimes all blind folded... LOL! The ref got it a few times. Me and MAC in the group attempted our second bucket.... A hole bottle of whisky in a bucket with some coke and ice thrown in for a bit of colour(!) Three occasions now I've had to take a Tuk Tuk home now after getting halfway through a second bucket once completing the first... why do I not learnnnnnnnn!

Thai boxing - Scenes of violence

Kicking up Dust!

Sunday saw the start of the three day trek, which involved sleeping at two Thai tribe villages deep in the jungle, playing football with the locals (after a four hour trek(!)), visiting an awesome waterfall, riding an elephant for over an hour (amazing mammals) and bamboo rafting for over 10km on the last day through rapids as well as picturesque surroundings before getting a ride back to Chang Mai. The local foods made by our guides (Mr. Chi and Mr. Wit) and the villages, they were nice, chili in everything here! The Portuguese introduced the Thai to chilies only 300 years ago... Still overly popular.

Elephant ride

A soft hotel bed and shower was very welcome. Yesterday evening we visited a night market with a food court and traditional eastern dancing. A lazy pressie shopping day today. Few things to post home now.

Back on the train going anywhere tonight for the next part of my Thai adventure! White sandy beaches...? Its nice to be leaving the city and to have seen the more rural aspect of Thailand. tho even the first village had a satellite dish to receive the latest football matches!

Go on leave me comment!!