Our Trek

GEORGE: For those who have already done it - aren't the treks in Northern Thailand amazing!!??!! We did one last week, and I have to say it was one of the most magical things I've done. Our group and guide named 'Dat' helped make the experience what it was.

ALEX: We went on a great 3 day trek from Chiang Mai in Thailand to the Doi Inthanon National Park. Started off with riding elephants at a sanctuary about 2 hours north of Chiang Mai...

GEORGE: Although loving the elephants I felt quite uncomfortable seeing them being bossed about by humans.....would rather see them chilling and doing their own thing next time.


ALEX: ...before heading further north to the point where we started walking through the jungle towards a Karen (hill tribe) village where we spent the first night.We arrived just as it was getting dark and after a quick shower - which consisted of leaving your pride in the village and taking a walk down to the river with a bar of soap, sat around the camp fire for a slap up meal and a chat in sign language with the locals. The kids were fantastic, especially three boys who were about 10 years old. It goes without saying that their names were Michael Owen, John Terry and Ronaldo.




Later that evening we were invited into the home of a Karen family which was quite a humbling experience - small bamboo hut on stilts.The conversations were fascinating with our guide translating - they were as intrigued by how we live as we were them. We covered a range of topics from snowmen to the fact that (much to their surprise) in 'our country' family members sleep in different rooms. One particular conversation resulted in a rather uncomfortable silence - we asked how old people in the village are when they get married. The father of the family explained to us that when girls are 17 they get married to the boy who has asked them to marry him. We then (I now realise rather foolishly) asked him how old his daughter who was sitting with us was. The response was quick and a little short - "17, but no one's come knocking yet".

The second day consisted of a pretty hard 6 hour walk which ended in a great camp area and very good sleep.

Day three was great - after breakfast and another "shower" we spent about an hour travelling down stream huge flat rafts made of bamboo. Great fun and everyone except George managed to stay on the raft and therefore dry!

GEORGE: I swear it was white water rafting..... fell in up to my knees but by the time I'd retrieved my flip flop I was swimming! Against all odds I made it back on to the raft....exhausted! Soooo much fun!

We have the fondest memories.
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