Wow I am hot!!! Just got back from Chiang Mai on the over night train so it is 8am and it is already about 30 degrees with some serious humidity.
Chiang Mai was amazing, it is a big city but far nicer and a little more laid back that Bangkok. Our first impressions of Thailand werent great when we gt to Bangkok as I made the first mistake of getting shafted by the taxi company from the airport to the hotel but no major problem, will just remember for next time. The flight was delayed landing in Bangkok but we were still able to hoo up with our tour guide and get briefed on the tour ahead.
Friday: We had to catch the overnight train at 6pm so the day was spent sight seeing through Bangkok which was quite an experience. We went through on of the main morning market down the road of our hotel and we saw some very interesting things. The amount of dried fish around was unbelievable with the fish being left on the side to dry throughout the day creating one serious smell. I get the impression that Thai people like to eat as there are hundreds of food stalls lining up the streets. But unfortuately the combination of the fat they use to cook the food, the paraphine smell and the smell of constant sweage does put you off a little. During the afternoon went to the grand palace which features some amazing Woks (temples). I have a few pictures of it. The evening was then spent of the night train which was cosy!!
Saturday: Once we arrived in Chiang Mai we went to the hotel to chill out for a little while, shower etc before talking a tri to the temple that over looks the city of Chiang Mai. Our guide told us the stry of the Buddha using the amazing paintings on the wall of the temple. Have some pictures of this as well. On our way back tot he city we stopped at the Chiang Mai zoo and saw some alive but very sleepy and hot animals.
Sunday to Tuesday: This was the trek through the north Thailand jungle and i have to say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Apart from the amazing scenary and the animals it was the villages which amazed me. We went to the three in total but only stayed over night in two. All of them consisted of wooden little houses on stilts but the villages were very clean and modern in jungle terms. All three were by the river or a stream so the whole group cooled of in the lovely refreshing water. The food that the locals cooked for us was absolutely lovely with the dishes being so so nice. I even tried a thai delicacy of Ant's eggs as these are only available for one month every year and they were nice, cooked with a type of spinach. Elephant riding was brilliant with the handlers being local men and the elephants were very calm apart from going to the toilet a few times along the way. The bamboo drafting was a very relaxing experience. I have been watching to many war films as the experience of floating on a slow moving river reminded me of Apocolypse Now without the naval boat and all the other war related things. We took a long dip in the water on the way down river too. Tuesday night once back in Chiang Mai city we all went out for dinner together and myself and Lizzy had fish friters which were lovely. It was a whole fish deep fried with a combinaton of ginger, chilly, pepper corns and other spices. Usually i dont like spicy food but it was lovely. Gave me a bit of a stingy ring the next morning but nevermind. After the meal we want to a bar in the Pornpig hotel and had a few drinks and a bit of fun to finish off the tour.
So back in Thailand today and just waiting around to catch our train to Surat Thani so we can get a bus/boat to Koh PhanGan. We are going to stay on the island for about 10 days or more as it is really cheap to stay in the hotels and bungalows 200 bhats average a night which is 4 pounds!!!!!! Would be rude not to check these places out. Atfer that it will probably be a night or two in Phuket and then down to Malaysia and then singapore.