Back to Pai

After enjoying so many days of trekking the hill area near Cave Lodge, We checked out and took the local bus to Pai. It was 3 hours, I think, but seemed like more. The funky old bus was really old and completely packed. Al was allowed to sit next to a monk (Al wanted to give me the seat but monk motioned "no" which I knew meant he can not sit next to a woman) so I stood along with many others. Lena had a nice hot seat on the motor cover next to the driver and poor Alex sat on the door step with the door open, hanging on for dear life each time we took one of the many hairpin turns. We were so glad to get to Pai and find a place to stay. Said goodbye to our new friends and hope to see them again in the USA or in Europe. We rented a motorcycle for a few days and hiked several trails to waterfalls. One in particular was very beautiful. I will attach a picture later. It was a 2-3 hour hike in and the same out...very tired and happy.

Trekking

Here are some of the views along the way to the northern villages. We were very near the Burma border at times.

Karen village

After our cave trek we visited the school in the karen village. Lena and I enjoyed the children. they were studying english!
Here is Al coming out of the cave.

Sappon to Cave Lodge

We went to Cave Lodge which is a bit remote from anything else. From the small town of Sappon we had only one way to get there....we each hoppped on a motorcycle taxi (unbelievable how they fit our backpacks and extra bags and us on back...but we did make it there. i had my eyes closed the entire way. This lodge was recommended by Al's friend Henry so we had to see it. It is beautifully situated in the midst of the main trekking area. We were able to do daily treks and get back to our bugalows by dark each day which was a nice plus....and we didn't have to back pack. We made wonderful friends while there and enjoyed the peacefullness. Great hammock for reading and napping! Took a day trek with our friends Lena and Alex up to the Karen tribe village where we found a guide to take us up to the caves beyond...guides are necessary here for some treks. We would never have made it. Beautiful Cave...even though I am timid about it I went in and enjoyed the experience...very long. Took us about 30 minutes to go to the end then another 30 to get back out.
They next day I trekked with Lena and Alex while Al rode the mountain bike into Sappon and the ATM. That night we visited Thom Lod, the big cave which puts on an incredible night show. Swallows swarm by the thousands outside above the cave and twilight then at sunset they swram into the cave...and bats fly out. Many people like to come here for this strange show.
This picture is of our guide for the 1st cave.

Northern Thailand

After leaving Chaing Mai, we headed north by the local bus to Pai. This town is unusual in that it is a bit like Boulder mall, Sedona New Age and Thai. It the midst of beautiful mountains, it is a mecca for Thai tourists and international travellers as well. We hit it at a peak time... Valentines Day weekend. They were promoting the celebration of wedding and vow renewals and love and all of the Hallmark type stuff which I would not expect to find here. Anyway, livley weekend with bands and street markets and events everywhere. Quite busy. But fun. After 3 days we were full of the frantic pace so jumped the bus to Sappon. Bus is quite a mainstay here....frequent and cheap and they go everywhere. They are also incredible old and impossibly running still. Can't beleive the old clunker made it up the gigantic steep grade...again and again. Hairpin turns, steep dropoffs...if you don't get sick from the dizzy movement you could still suffocate from the packed lot of humanity sharing the ride.
Here is a picture of the night market in Pai...the local hill tribes bring their stuff to sell..

Orchids

Some of the orchids were unbelievable

Elephants and Orchids

Today we were tourists and did the typical activites. Visited the Elephant camp which was really intersting and fun. Al got a bit too friendly with a big momma and she wanted to put his hand ...which should have had a banana or something in it but didn't...in her mouth. He found that arm wrestling with an elephant is not possible. It hurt. Other than that they were very entertaining and yes they do paint the most incredible pictures...it is amazing. We visited the orchid farm which too your breath away with the beauty. Then saw the silk factory...worms cocoons looms the whole process. We are unfortunatly on a tight budget and could not afford to buy their lovely silk garments or even a scarf. Very sad about that.
Then went to the silver factory which again was lovely to see but not in our price range....still having fun.
Al has developed a terrible cough and visited the pharmacist so we hope he gets well soon

Food

I have to admit to being a bit obsessed with the food here. It's because it is so wonderful...and different and exotic (to me, at least). So I have taken lots of pics of the vegs and fruits in all the markets as well as some of the dishes we have eaten....whether from street vendors or restaurants. It has been an adventure.

Wats and Wats!

Yesterday was buddha day here...one of the holy days in Buddhist realigion. So it was a perfect day to visit some temples. Chaing Mai has tons of them...called Wats. Sincer there are so many and since we had decided to do a walking tour, we picked a few of the most famous. Went to Wat Phra Singh...very beatiful. We purchased the traditional incense, candle and flower. Al very devoutly lit them and plced them and bowed and prayed. It was a wonderful and very unusual sight to behold. Then we walked around to eat and shop at markets but kept bumping into more temples at what seemed like every other block. We now have so many pictures of temples. Will share some of them

Chaing Mai

what an awesome area this is!! Today I took a Thai cooking class. It was amazing. We were picked up at our hotel, brought to the big open market where our teacher showed us all the different kinds of rice (didn't know there were THAT many kinds) and what they were used for. she then took us around to the herbs and vegetables. After we looked and took pictures awhile we were off to the farm. My class was with the Thai Farm Cooking School...they have a website. They are an organic farm and grow all their own herbs, fruits and vegs. OUr teacher's name was Nice. What a nice name! She was wonderful. we each chose our menu and cooked what we were to eat. I cooked a Green Curry with chicken, Tom Som soup with shrimp, chicken with cashews, srping rolls and for dessert, sticky coconut rice with mango. Amazing! We ended up with a beautiful cook book, a very full belly and lots of food to take home. Brought the spring rolls home for Al and the dessert dish. The soup I made was the most delicious and simple dish I have ever tasted...honestly. I feel I now know more about why the food here is so delicious. Also, since we have--so far--not had any stomach issues in the 4th week here, iI realize that the Thai are very clean conscious when it comes to food. Al did not go with me today (I was gone from 9-4) but instead went to the Snake Farm (not my thing!) and to the Cultural museum to buy things. He also made all the arrangements for the "visa run" that we have to do on the 15th. Great day!

Ko Phi Phi

Have not had much chance to use the internet lately and so much time has passed. Hard to boil it all down to simple sentences. The trip has been wonderful and the Thai people are so beautiful and sweet....everywhere. From Kho Tao we went to Koh Phengan (different spellings of this on every map but south of Koh Tao). This is the famous place for the Full Moon all night beach parties. We were not there during the full moon but could get a good idea of the party atmoshpere that generally prevails there. It was a wonderful island to do beach running so I loved that part. We explored the interior on motorbike and saw alot that way. Afet that we went to Ko Lanta...more laid back. Less of the travelling backpacker set and more of the suitcase set (with small children). Again, nice running beach. Explored some caves in the interior and did lots of sightseeing on the motorbike again. Passed and elephant on the road which was a first!
we are now on Ko Phi Phi. A small island but crammed with folks who want to snorkel and dive. We enjoyed incredible snorkling today...great variety of fish and unusual coral. Tomorrow we will dive. After that we are debating the next step. Need to see some of the North but would like to do more ocean before we leave here. This island was really hard hit by the tsuanmi and has recovered quite well. I try to imagine what it must have been like to experience that...what terror. 1000s were killed. No sadness here tho...the people must be grateful and living each day to the fullest....not a bad idea!