Chiang Mai, Thailand
18° 47' N 99° 0' E
Sep 10, 2007 12:58
Distance 522km

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Elephants & Waterfalls

Text written in: English

CHIANG MAI, Thailand. We got the night train up to Chiang Mai. I was expecting it to be really bad but it was actually pretty decent and after a couple of cans we got a goods nights sleep. Beats Irish rail for service thats for sure! We stayed in a very nice and cheap guest house called Jonadda near a busy backpackers part of town. We were all very impressed by Chiang Mai and how laid back it is here. Everybody very chilled and smiling. The heat is not as bad as Bangkok thank god because we're up in the mountains here. We rented out 3 mopeds here and took a spin up through the mountains for about 120km. A great way to see the place and some great views.

Then we headed on a 3 day trek further north of Chiang Mai. This was brilliant. The first day was a 3 hour trek through the forest until we got to the village. It was unreal to see people living here with little or no electricity and totally away from everything we know. Our guide Nigon, took us through the whole thing and cooked lovely Thai food for us. That night the locals performed a dance for us. We had a few drinks and slept in a hut (about 13 of us). Our second day was a 5 hour trek to a different village in the mountains. In the middle we stopped of at a waterfall for a dip. The third day we went on an elephant ride which was great and a little scary when the rope came off the back of mine & Sineads elephant. After a couple of minutes our guides tied it back on. PHEW! That evening the last part of our trip was white water rafting which was about an hour long through some steep rapids. Wasn't as hard as the time we did it with my brother Ciaran & his wife Megan in USA but was very good all the same.

 When we got back to Chiang Mai that night we all met up again for drinks and ended up in a nightclub called Spicy's. This place was pretty mental. Next stop, Pai...

 

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Photos / videos of "Elephants & Waterfalls":

Rob & Gary on night train Fin Sinead and Stef on night train 5 amigos up for breaky in Jonadda guest. Good place run by an Ausi Fin Sinead Stef and a friend from the guest house, Courtney from Canada [image] Biker Sinead Taking in the views from the mountains Taking in the views from the mountains Who knows where we are here [image] [image] [image] [image] On top of the bus to the trek On top of the bus to the trek [image] Ready for some serious walking [image] Break time [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] Nearly at the village [image] [image] Where we slept [image] [image] Guys on the trek with us [image] What is happening in this world NEEEEH?? Dinner time Fun with bugs Tribe kids Tribe people sing and dance for us [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] Day 2 walking Lovely dinner!!! [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] [image] Elephant having a bath [image] Look what showed up when we were having breakfast! [image] Class [image] [image] [image] [image] Shopping! Coming home on the bus Becky Sinead & Beth All the trekking crew back in Chiang Mai Becky, Gary, Finbarr & Beth Stef & Sinead Ilan, Ian, Finbarr , Rob & Gary [image] [image] Shooting some pool the next day in O Malleys Pub [image] [image] [image] Boat ride in Chiang Mai [image] [image] Playing a "Martin" Backpacker guitar at the hostel.
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