Well my week in Chiang Mai was very enjoyable apart from the bus trips
there and back which were 12 hours each way (overnight). Originally I
was not going to do a trek in Chiang Mai as they seemed too touristy.
When I got there I soon discovered that there is not much else to do
especially if you are alone. So I signed up for a 3 day trek. It turned
out to be worthwhile mostly due to the group of people I went with.
There were 9 of us. Two Czech couples, a Swiss couple, 2 blokes from
Italy, and me. The trek was to be in the Pai area and the first day
involved a long drive followed by a 2 hour walk. We spent the first
night in a hut with a hilltribe (Lisu) family. The Lisu people originate
from Tibet and their economy is based on opium, rice, corn, and
livestock. The next day we started walking at 8:45am. We took a 1.5 hr
lunch break and finally arrived at our camp at 4pm. We were all
exhausted (we walked fast) and sweaty so the first thing we did was jump
into the river. We spent the rest of the evening/night eating, talking,
and drinking around a fire. The next day consisted of bamboo rafting and
elephant riding. Then it was back to Chiang Mai and a hot shower.
The weather in Chiang Mai was refreshingly cool and the people are
friendly and relaxed. After a few days there I felt quite at home. Since
I love Thai food while in Chiang Mai I took a 1 day class in Thai
cooking. Fun was had by all and much food was eaten. I also flew (as a
passenger) for the first time in a microlight. It was a brilliant
experience and the closest I will ever come to being a bird. I thought
it would be scary (a kite with a lawn mower engine as a friend put it)
but is was not at all. The flight lasted about 20 minutes and we only
went up to 200 feet.
In a few hours I leave Bangkok for Sydney to spend Christmas with a
friend and his family. Originally I was going to spend Christmas day in
the Khao San Road area which I think might have been fun. I am very sad
to be leaving south east Asia. I feel very alive when I am here and I
will miss it.
Rupert
|
Sydney