A canuck in Oz: August 2007

View from our Guest house

Orchid Farm

Around Chiang Mai

"the smallest bar in the world" when that door opens there is only a counter!

some artsy shots

the cage we had to take to cross the river

the waterfall we trekked to

ELEPHANTS

Some of the kids in the village

the Village

Chiang Mai

Tour Group....Lindsay, Colette, Neil, Rachel , Amy and I

country side

Chiang Mai/Singapore

Once we were all reunited in Chiang Mai it was off to find a hotel. We found a little place that was called the Thailand Guest House.....it was cheap ($2 night) and clean, so we decided to stay there....althought it was in a dodgy area but what can you do. After getting settled in we headed off to book our trips for the next couple of days and then had some dinner. Once dinner was over we headed to the night market. WOW yet another crazy market with tons of great stuff for really cheap.
The next morning it was up early for a crazy day....We headed North on our tour to the 'Jungle'. Our first stop was at a small village. Then it was off for our Elephant Trek. I think the highlight of trip for sure.....we went for about an hour and then headed to do some treking through the 'jungle' to an amazing waterfall....i only fell twice!! WOOHOO scrapped my leg up pretty bad...but hey war wounds! After our trek it was time for Whitewater Rafting. It was then time for bamboo rafting- yet another amazing event!! That night it was an early diner and early to bed. We had another early morning the next day.
Day 2 in Chiang Mai- Today we did a less physically demanding tour. We headed North again, today our first stop was at the orchid farm....very pretty flowers! Then it was back in the van and headed to the Karin Tribe in the hills at the Golden Triangle which is where Burma, Loas and Thailand meet. It was a close second to the Elephants if not even a tie. I studied this society in my undergrad and it was so amazing to actually be able to see these woman and talk to them about their life. We then had another stop at an area that had many different Budda's. We then had dinner and headed to the Saturday night market. (more of a local's market then a tourist's). This place was a gold find.....i got some amazing art work that i am excited to put up somewhere...lol Then back to the Guest House, and to bed.
In the morning it was time to go so we headed to the airport and waiting around for our flight. Once we got back to Bangkok we said goodbye to Amy and Colette as they were off to spend a few more days in the city and we were off to Singapore.
Singapore was alright, nothing exciting, we didn't really do much cause we only had about 12 hours in the city, so we just found a cheap hotel had a good rest, shower and did a little bit of shopping before heading back to the airport and returning to Sydney to meet up with mom!!! Lindsay and I were on different flights coming back, hers left an hour before mine, so we just hung out in the Singapore Airport (which is amazing!) saw her off and just waiting around for my flight. I lucked out i had all three seats to my self at take off, but then i moved over to the window seat and someone came to join me, so he sat on the isle seat. So I still had more room then normal. It was an alright flight, long but not too shabby.