Trekking

Today was such a great day. We weren't too sure if trekking would be too touristy because of our last day trip, but it ended up being such a great time.

We started by riding elephants. Marissa + I shared one while a thai guy rode on his head. It was so fun. There were about 3 different huts to buy bananas at (always trying to sell us). Marissa + I got a bunch of bananas, but boy was our little guy hungry. Everytime we gave him one, he would put it in his mouth + stick his trunk right back up. He was pretty cute.

Feeding + riding on the elephant

Here I am on his head

We went through the jungle for about an hour + then got back in the van to go to the start our hike. We hiked for a couple hours through the jungle. We saw the Meo tribe + the Karen tribe. The Meo was a really tiny tribe. We weren't too impressed. We continued on through all these tiny paths + across bamboo bridges and ended up at a waterfall. We got to go swimming for a little, but it was too cold for us.

There is a waterfall behind us, I swear

We then trekked on to the Karen tribe. Marissa + I were a little disappointed because we really wanted to see the long-neck women, but turns out there a several types of Karen people + we would not be seeing the long necks. Still, the tribe was interesting to see. Basically they survive on the tourists so we ended up buying some scarves + necklaces. It is pretty sad that we just go through their huts + take pictures. But at least they make money on us?

By then it had been raining + we were wet + tired + cold. We went to have lunch, which was quite delicious. Stir fry + Curry...

Our last activity was bamboo rafting. We would rather have just gone home then, but we sucked it up and it ended up being soooo fun. We had met a 30ish Indian couple from Chicago who we really enjoyed talking to, so we went with them + a guide on the raft. Basically you are submerged in water the whole time sitting on the raft. The Indian guy was standing in the back, helping to stear with a bamboo stick + then we went over a rock + he flew off. Pretty funny. We spent about an hour going down the river + then we got back into the car so wet + ready for a hot shower.

Luckily the ride home was only about an hour. Our shower pressure is a little lacking, but hey we got to shower! Not too shabby. Our tour guide, Mai, ended up being really nice + knew a lot about Chiang Mai + the hilltribes. It was an all around great experience.

Our tour guide, Mai

Once showered, around 6, we went to get a much needed massage. Luckily they wanted us to come back at 7 (when we thought they closed), so we got to go grab some food at our organic smoothie shop with internet, but it was closed! So disappointing. We got a meal next door, a pancake with fruit + a grilled cheese + booked a hostel for tomorrow night in Bangkok (we have to wait a day to go to the southern islands). The food was tiny + not filling. So we went to a Parisian place next to our hostel + I got 2 eggs over easy (haven't had that in a while, seriously I eat scrambled eggs daily). Marissa got ratatouille + was a little disappointed.

After 2 meals, it was 7 o'clock, so we went to get our massage. I fell asleep multiple times. It was even better than yesterday.

Then we went to the Sunday market that we both read a lot about. It was a 2 minute walk from our hostel. I really like the location of our hostel. Next door to a massage place, 2 mins from the sunday market, 10 minutes from the night market, 2 minutes from organic internet heaven that isn't always open + we got picked up for everything else. Not bad.

At the Sunday market, Marissa + I each got black + white drawings of elephants that were so elaborate + really really interesting. The man who drew them was so nice + put them in tubes for us. I have too many souvenirs from Thailand, so I'm not allowed anything else. I might try + go to a post office...everything is so cheap here, maybe that will be too.

We have to wake up early tommorow for our 845am flight back to bangkok. Our flight to Surat Thani is the next morning at 945am. So we will be spending a night in Bangkok tommorow. We booked our hostel on Sukamvit Road, which is a nicer area of Bangkok. We aren't really sure what we will do tommorow, but probably relax, eat, + perhaps more massages. We are very excited for the islands + kind of wish we didn't have to go back to Bangkok. Unfortunately, we already booked our flights before we left the states, because we thought we wanted to go to Ayutthaya tommorow, which is right outside of Bangkok..