Three wolves™

So much has happened in the last day or two it’s hard to write it all down, so again here we go with some highlights and lowlights…

Trekking into the hills around Chaing Mai was awesome. Our two guides Song and Bo were classic: really funny Thai fellas who knew how to have fun and keep us all moving along. We visted a few hill tribes villages along the way where they all live off the land and farm chickens and cattle and pigs. All their houses are built from the trees around their village which they thatch together with bamboo. There are chickens and dogs and cats running around everywhere.

We eventually arrived at our destination: another village right on the river bank. We wasted no time in getting our togs on and into the water. It was super cold but refreshing and we had time to have a wash before dinner. The evening was spent hanging out on their massive eating dinner, drinking thai beer and playing guitar. They managed to wrangle one up from somewhere, so i plucked out a few tunes as we all sat around the campfire they’d made. Good times and a real highlight for me.

In the morning, we were greeted by a lovely sight. One of the village men, the thai version of nacho libre, who had earlier been wearing track pants and a tshirt, thought he’d get his guns out as well as a few other bits and stripped down to his doads, which where a very macho leporad skin print boxer. He got out his massive machette and began hacking away at some bamboo. He did a great job of impressing the ladies, and i’m sure he got his kicks later that night, but flip it was classic.

Overnight, Alana got pretty sick and I woke up to find her throwing up outside our hut. She looked pretty green all morning and it all came to a head at breakfast where she went ghostly white and collapsed underneath the table. Thankfully tracey and i spotted her going and caught her before she dropped all the way, but the whole thing was a little freaky. We spent the next few hours with her, and the locals brought out their natural remedies and were rubbing all sorts of powders and lotions on her. She got some gastrolite in her, and eventually was well enough to join us on the elephant trekking part - although I made sure we got on the same elephant together in case she fainted again though.

The elephant ride was sweet, but we could have done with a more comfy saddle as my bruised butt is now testifying to today. We meandered down along the river, crossing at various points. We had a whole family of elephants with us, including a baby one which did it’s best to get in the way of both mum and dad - backing into them, splashing water, packing sads, and just being a general nusiance. Every now and then one of the guides would whack on the head with a light bamboo stick, which would curb its behaviour for a minute or two.

Eventually we made it to another hut/station where we exchanged our lumbering beasts for some bamboo rafts lashed together by hand the night before. It was a really fun ride down river, but as it’s the dry season there wasn’t much water in the river so not nearly as many rapids as I would have liked. Along the way we saw a few snakes, some buffalo and a few fish. We filled in the rest of the time splashing eachother and joking around, and finally hit the end of the line where we had lunch, and jumped in the ute back to Chaing Mai. Back at the guest house was each had a nice hot showers and then hit the garden bar for a cold singer beer. Sweet :)

Next day we attended a tradional Thai cooking school which I really enjoyed. We visted the markets in the morning, picking up a few ingredients and getting a good tour of the amazing variety of meat, vegetables and everything in between. Whatever food item you need, this place had it! So many different varieties of herbs and spices - I never knew tumeric came from a root plant - it’s always been ground in a packet to me! Back at the cooking school, we got to work making green curry (pounding the curry paste together ourselves in a motar and pestle), sweet and sour chicken, spring rolls, pad thai, tom yum soup (nice!), and sticky rice desserts. It was all delicious, and I just hope I can remember how to make it when I get back home.

That’s all I can remember for now. Chaing Mai is a beautiful city, and the people just go out of their way to make you feel welcome and loved. NZ could learn a lot about hospitality from the Thais. Our guest house is owned by three sisters, one of which is over 9 months pregnant, but is still up till all hours of the night waiting on the guests. She has managed to organise for us busses to Siem Reap, and the trian back to Bangkok. Such a ledged. They are a funny bunch and like to joke around. One of the sisters asked me if I liked her other sister, and I said “yes, she’s very nice”, and she told me “You know she’s a lady boy aye?” Classic. I think I will miss Thailand, especially the warm hearted people.

Next it’s on to Siem Reap via Bangkok where we stay another night. Can’t wait to see what Cambodia is like.

Till then, blessings from Thailand.