trekking

ok, where was i? yes, back to loosing my sneakers! after what felt like hours of driving, our truck stopped and dropped us at a small village. another group also was dropped off - there were 14 of us total. out of the 14 - 3 went on for a 3 day trek -- the rest of us just 2 days (but i really could have done 3 days, kind of wished i had, but maybe not in flip flops!). the 14 of us- one more single girl traveling, french, who had been studying english in australia, an english couple traveling for a year - had been to south africa, eastern coast of africa and were now doing the southeast asia thing - india at the end of the trip -- they were really nice and interesting people - really liked them - she was ethnically indian and he was from ireland and i reckon they were about the same age as me - or older.
also in the group, 2 young english girls who were taking a gap year before starting university - they had just spent a few months volunteering in tanzania - teaching. and then finally a sweet japanese couple celebrating thier honeymoon -- they just got married in phuket (a beach in the south of thailand) and they were from fukui! its really close to kanazawa. they were lovely and i got to practice my japanese with them! and then the 4 germans and 2 koreans.

there were 2 trekking guides, ray and james - both young, funny, energetic thai guys. so we set off. me in flip flops. up up up up up up we go with packs on our backs. it was difficult. funny because all day was really relaxed, driving here and there, waterfall, swimming and then THE TREK STARTS! the land was dry and dusty, big bown banana leaves covering most of the ground, and for the first part we were on a really small thin trail in the forest climbing higher and higher. at the point where i thought i might not be able to go on (and iwasn't the only one!) we stoppped for a little break. james and ray tried to fool all of us and said that they were now going to smoke opium. it was really dry tree sap, but they broke it up into a fine white powder and then james rolled up a big green leaf and then they put the "opium" into the green leaf tube. then lit a lighter at the end and james blew out the white powder and a big flame burst out! hahahahaha! lots of laughter!

more walking. then down, and into a lush green valley. really incredible part of the walk. again we took a small break and sat in the field. there were 2 hill tribe women digging in the dirt, we asked what they were looking for - james said crab - we thought he was joking - then he dug one up!

finally we reached the village we would spend the night in. we slept in a big bamboo hut- on planks of wood on the floor - theygave us sleeping bags and mosquito netting -- it was all set up when we got there.

of course, the hill tribe children came out selling little beaded neckalaces and bracelets - i bought one.

james and ray cooked dinner - a really good vegetable and chicken stir fry - (possible the best i've had since i've been here) and a fair green coconut curry (getting a bit sick of the green coconut curry!). there was beer and soda and water. also moonshine whiskey. whch i didn't get to try - all gone!

after dinner, we sat around a big fire, james, the more grearious of the two, played guitar and sang - badly! an older village guy appeared to show us magic tricks. and it was a full moon!

the next day - up at 8 - coffee and tea - then breakfast. they made us a tourist breakfast of hard boiled eggs and toast, but they made themselves a thai breakfast of local veggies - i was bummed, i wanted what they were eating.

then off to trek. after an hour of walking - james, the english couple and the french girl left - they were doing 3 days.

we continued walking - first to a lovely waterfall. we climbed all about. it was gorgous! alot of walking the second day. and have i mentioned that i'm in flip flops! so i was slower than everyone else. i just hung in the back and went slowly and tried to rememeber to look up every now and then to see the majestic views.

eventually, we reached another village. a tribe woman was weaving a scarf, i bought one. i'm sure it helps the sales to actually be making the scarf when the tourists come through.

back into a truck and then to lunch. then on to bamboo rafting! what fun! they warned us to wear a bathing suit and not take any cameras because you will get wet. ha ha. so there were 3 or 4 to a raft, long pieces of bamboo lashed together and then one guy at the front who used a different piece of bamboo to propell us forward. think venice gondola. but their real purpose is to use thier sticks to slap the water and splash the tourists on the boats! haha! what fun! we were soaked through! it didn't help that one of the korean guys started a fun water fight with our raft guide - so we were continually splashed and then we would stop laughing, relax and then WHOOSH! more splashing! it was so much fun! the raft went past a small village, some elephants hanging out, and then into sort of a community swimming hole. everyone waved. a little boy and his mother got on our raft and went down a small little fast fun part of the river. the bamboo rafting was the highlight of that day.

then elephant riding - not great. it was hot. the elephants didn't seem to be enjoying it much. and we just walked around dry land - not into the forest or anything.

and then back home.

all in all, a really good experience. my only regret is that i didn't do the 3 day. but next time i will know.

today, my last day in chang mai before heading south again, i hired a tuk tuk driver to take me out to the orchid farms. the orchids were incredible. next, a little dip in the pool, a banana shake, and then a "trekkers special" massage. busy day here in chang mai. and then dinner. can't forget dinner! last night i had an incredibly good papaya salad - good and sour and spicy -- super refreshing here in hot climates. strangly, i haven't been getting things too spicy - they see my western face and make it mild! in fact, in pai (did i tell this story already?) i ordered something and asked for it spicy, she said spicy? i said yes. she said not spicy or spicy? i said spicy. she smiled and we both nodded. it was the most mild, most bland thing i ever ate!

well, the pool is calling - you know,i have important dates to keep!