Julia & Lance

Chiang Mai

Lovely Helen and Neil joined us for an action packed, fun filled two weeks of hilarity, adventure and memories we will laugh about for ever. We travelled from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and then down to the beaches of the south of Thailand. We trekked in the rain, survived capsized crafts, encountered tarantulas, monkeys and mosquitos, paddled canoes in turquoise waters, bathed elephants, got soaked in the monsoons, fell off motorbikes and laughed, morn ’til night. It was lots of fun and we missed them madly when they left.

After a day in Bangkok we flew to Chiang Mai to start our holiday. Doi Suthep is one of the main attractions and was our natural first stop in Chiang Mai. It is a shimmering temple perched high on a hill overlooking the city. The Naga serpents flanked the steps leading to the stupa (the longest Naga balustrade in Thailand). Little children dressed in costume danced about, wanting a picture. We snapped a few and of course had to pay for the privilege. Business is business and they start young here.

Doi Suthep is one of the most important temples in Thailand and was very busy with devotees praying, lighting candles and making flower offerings. We lit candles and gave flowers for our families’ health and happiness. A beautiful place with a very positive energy.

You can’t come to Chiang Mai with out going on a trek. Due to the rainy weather we decided against the over night stay (best decision ever) and plumped for the day trek. We were picked up bright and early under clear skies (yay) and an hour or so later arrived at the village – our starting point.

There was a sinking feeling as we were led to the trail head which was not much more than an animal path carved into the side of a slippery hill. We assumed it would get better – nope – our guide (never got his name) up ahead was using his machete to clear the way…thwack, thwack… the trail just got crazier and crazier.

Super hot, steamy weather turned on a dime and the heavens opened. We got soaked. It poured, real monsoon rain, rivers of water on the trail. We were already wet by the time we had frantically dug in our back packs and found our rain gear. What can you do but laugh and we did. Love Neil’s face it says it all – We can’t get any wetter than this can we?….. Naaaa….wrong!’

As we were slipping and sliding along the path a shout went up from the front, “Spider.” Not so exciting we thought until we saw what kind of spider – a beautiful tarantula in his hole. Pretty nice, and for me the highlight of the day.

We were finally gifted some sunshine and it was lovely timing as we emerged from the forest into this beautiful clearing.

And so the photos end, as after our lovely jaunt in the sunshine, we decided to take up the offer of paying a bit more for a bamboo raft ride down the river. Lovely. Don’t take your phones, our guide warned, maybe get splashed (luckily we didn’t… not quite a splash mate!)

The raft looked like it had seen better days. As we got on it hundreds of beetly thing scurried in various directions – yugh unfortunately, we learned later, they hadn’t fled the craft, but stowed away. Several times during the “cruise” there were screams as various large leggy things climbed aboard the passengers. Determined to enjoy (dammit) we settled back to soak in the scenery. So many lovely birds we wished we had brought our cameras with us, finally the day was turning out great…

…until a large water snake boarded the vessel freaking out the “captain” resulting in him losing his oar and setting us adrift. Our second in command struggled to keep the raft steady and his oar snapped. Panic ensued and we crashed into the dock tipping the raft so we all fell headfirst into the grubby river. YEP REALLY – soaked to the bone.

Uh yes it was possible to get wetter.

OMG what a day. Thank goodness we hadn’t had our camera and phones with us… we did laugh well we had to!

It was a long ride home in our undies !! and they charged us for the raft ride – scoundrels

Needing a zen kind of day we thought Elephants. We carefully found an outfit where the ellies were treated well. I think these guys have a great life here. Fed by tourists, scrubbed by tourists, free to roam about and ignore us if they want to, not degraded by having to do silly things like painting or playing soccer.

Degraded however we were. Having to wear these ridiculous costumes. The trousers were comfy however, maybe I could get used to them.

What a bunch of posers 🙂

Neil looking dashing and honing his mahout skills.

Helen winning the day commanding 2 pacyderms with one suger cane – and Lance doing the horse whisperer thing but with an elephant. He really is like Dr. Doolitlle.

Bath time

Hiring a driver is always a great thing to do if you are more than 2. And so we did up to Doi Suthep – Pui National park. A nice place for a easy hike up the ten level Mae Sa waterfall.

Beautiful gardens where we stopped for lunch.

The old king, who everyone loved, did great things for the hill tribe people of Northern Thailand, here is a great example. This village, where opium growing was the main source of income, was given money by the king to start up new farms growing vegetables and flowers. It was a a highly successful project. A beautiful place where Thai tourists love to visit.

And for those Thai tourists go carts. And of course Neil and Lance had to had a go.

The Beach (not like the Leonardo movie)

A two hour flight took us from Chiang Mai to Krabi for the beach bum bit of our vacay.

Always a favorite spot for us to enjoy blue waters and white sand, although this time it was busier than Lance and I had ever seen it, lots of folks enjoying the coast. That was not a problem tho’ as we spent most of our time on Tonsai Beach a little more secluded and away from the day trippers. It is a fun clamber over the headland, and it kinda cool there.

From our hotel in Ao nang we caught the long tail boat which chugged 20 mins or so to Tonsai.

Walking to Phra Nang Beach

Oh my a fertility cave on Phra Nang beach.

Super fun and very hot paddle around in canoes. great to get up close to the limestone Karsts no photos as too worried about losing my phone in the water.

Lovely Tonsai beach

Jee whiz those darn silver leaf monkeys are everywhere here! We spent a full day looking fthem or in the forests of Malaysia and now turn up here common as muck, hanging over our table in a restaurant like they are 2 a penny. Hilarious

Our fave restuarant in a parking lot kinda.

Colourful characters promoting their drag show. Neil no where to be seen!

The next Helen and I had a lovely day sitiing by the pool making these malas from beads we bought up in Chiang Mai.

The boys rented motor bikes and ventured off on some crazy trip unfortunately at the very end of their super fun day a few minutes from the hotel lance skidded his bike around a corner and rather badly hurt his leg. A hospital trip and x rays showed no broken bones only a bad sprain and burn. Now on crutches.