Jungle Trekking

Hello All

Our next adventure took us in to the North Thailand jungle - probably one of the most strenuous activities we've done yet!! We started the day being picked up by a pick up truck from our hostel, and shared the ride with our fellow trekkers to the jungle. Our group was made up of a Swedish family (I have met more Swedish people in Thailand then I have in my life!), 2 Aussie girls, a quiet Korean guy and a couple (one of which wasnt really that fit and lasted about 5 minuets on the trek.)

We started off at out trek at our Thai guides house for some noodles and fruit and then started on our jungle path. I dont think I was quite prepared for what a 'trek' entailed as did about half the group. As the name suggested, it was a hard core trek along some dangerous tiny path, mainly up-hill through the sweltering jungle! Both of us were among the fittest of the group, but were seriously sweating it out, my heart was going double time, but, when you did conquer some rediculously steep hill/more likely mountain, you did feel elated and the the view were spectacular! The rolling mountains, greenery, waterfalls and occasional hill tribe members made the whole experience amazing.

Finally, we reached our destination for the night which was a hill tribe in the middle of the the jungle, which was built right next to the river on stilts made completely of bamboo. Our sleeping area was one large bamboo room with mattresses and mosquito nets, which was FREEZING at night. The children in the tiny village were so cute, one of the little boys constantly had 1 hand holding up his pants! After a lovely and filling dinner, the villages built a fire - which was quite dangerous considering the entire village was built of bamboo and the fire was basically on a bamboo platform on the from porch!! That night the guide taught us a bit of Thai and some local tribal customs, like how they prepare cobra to eat, but leave some of the poison so it keeps them warm at night when they eat it. Aparently this is not a good dish for the old as it send them blind!! Also local customs, like how they marry and start having children at the age of 14!!

After a sleep less night and an early morning becasue of some stupid cockrals, we found out that our group had been whittled down to 5 as the Swedes and the the couple coudn't cope with the pace of the trek. After a similar 4 hours of trekking we reached another hilltibe called the Karon tribe where we rested and had lunch. A dog we had befriended had come all the way to the village and on until the second night. We named him scratchy, because although it seemed like the nicest dog - even barking a some buffalo when they got in our way- it had some kind of disease meaning it was constantly scratching so none of us could touch it except with our shoes! Again after another 4 hours of har core trekking we ended up at out final hill tribe where they again prepared us dinner. This village was slightly larger and again was right next to the river. Taking the cue form our guide, Elliott, one of the Aussie girls and I donned our swimsuits and prepared for a swim. I'm not too sure I can call it a 'swim' as it took us about 15 mins to find the courage to take the plunge. It was the coldest water I have even been in my life!! Refreshing, I think I heard it being called. The current was so strong that it pulled you donn the river if you were too deep - Elliott loved it!!

That night was spent round a campfire with the locals with a guitar. They sang there hearts out with often a seroious expression they're faces - but they were completely rubbish singers!! The only English song they knew was 'country road' - well not much of it actually - only those 2 words and the general sound of the chorus! After 2 days of trekking Elliott and I fell asleep quite easily - only to be woken up by some more cockrals - they dont just crow at dawn, they start at about 1 in the morning and then carry on all day!

The next day started with out 1 and a half hour elephant trek. It was brilliant. The elephants had to stay close to the water, so we spent a great deal of the time wading in and out of the river. For us the currents were so strong but they managed it much easily. At the end of the elephant trek, our last activity was floaing down the river on a bamboo raft, which had been made that morning by the villages. Our guide, Nong, was at the fort directing the raft over the rapids and a few of us had bamboo poles to push the raft. It was brilliant. Elliott had a go at the front of the boat and was really good, but at the final rapid the river got far too deep to get the poles in to direct the raft so we ended up crashing in to the rock and an Aussie girls ended up on her ass - very funny!!

After almost 4 hours of rafting and getting wet, we finished by having lunch at Nings house and driving to a waterfall. We were told it would take 20 mins, it ended up mpre like 1 and a half hours - Thai time, what can you say! The waterfall was worth it - it was stunning. There were so many layers to it, it ended up a trek in itself just to find the top. The water at the bottom was much colder than the river, and obviously Elliott was the only one brave (/crazy) enough to get in it!! So ended our 3 day trek in the North of Thailand. An experience we will both never forget, the whole trip was amazing, and we've both got the muscles to prove it!! x