Continuation from:-
Good Morning Chiang Mai
Kalare Night Bazaar
Elephant Riding
The Hike
A Day and Night in Karen Village

4th March 2009
============

“Good morning Chiang Mai!”

“Good morning people!”

Good morning cows, dogs, boars, chicken and good morning trees!!”

That’s what i wanted to yell on top of my lungs that wonderful morning.

The sky was so clear and the wonderful warmth bath of sunlight up on that height was simply delicious. Despite having another bouts of fever in the middle of the night i was feeling refreshed and ready for the descend.

Rise and shine people

I almost feel sorry for waking the entire house last night attempting to find Panadols stuck at the bottom of my backpack. And stumbling clumsily to the toilet. Thank god i didn’t trampled on anyone.

It was a moment that i am utterly grateful i’m living in civilization and a world with electricity. Having no lights is a nuisance!

Well, the cows was making so much noise with the bells on their necks clanging the whole night anyways.

And i don’t feel so smug now for booking the bed in the far corner by the windows. The window is useless because we are always outdoors during the day and by night it will be shut to ward the cold wind. It’s a long crawl from our sleeping space to the door without torchlight too.

Good morning doggies

After a breakfast of butter, jam and toast, we got ready to head back downhill.

It was the happiest day of my life knowing that a well made bed and warm shower awaited us at the guest house. I was more keen to start the journey compared to anyone else. LOL.

Ready to go

Bye bye Karen Village and all the doggies. I shall miss you all.

Herd of cows

The heat wasn’t that terrible because we started early but descending wasn’t as easy as i imagined even in the pleasant weather. Part of the journey was really steep that we had to hold on to trees to avoid tumbling down. Half of the time i almost trip on my own foot and most of the time i stepped on slippery rocks and kind of slide down dangerously .

My Reebok’s grip was giving and i’m a total klutz.

Nonetheless, i managed to keep in pace with everyone else without seriously injuring myself. I did fell on my bum one while jumping across a small stream. Oh the embarrassment!

Snake!

Just when we thought we had the difficult part over and was feeling a little mundane, we came upon another stream with big rocks scattered at the side. A very good hiding place for creepy crawlies and… snakes!

Someone in the group (i think it was the Italian lady i forgot her name :P)  screamed. Those behind were like in a panic, we didn’t know what was going on. Jeb ran towards the bushes near the big rocks towards the snake. It was crazy!

We din’t even know if it’s the poisonous kind. We shouted at him to leave it alone but Jeb kept running around jabbing at it with a bamboo stick. I thought he was protecting us from it, how noble. That was only half the truth.

A moment later, he emerged from the rocks with a dead snake in his hand and a wide grin on his face and said “Dinner tonight!”. And so that was the end of the snake, wrapped in glee in a big green leave to be brought back home as a dinner “guest”. Haha.

You know according to Jeb the area would be crawling with snakes if it wasn’t summer time. *shudder*

Petrol station

Almost towards the end of our journey, the heat became unbearable. It was noon, the the sun is at it’s worst.

We came into a small residential town where we saw few grocery shops were operating. You could not imagine how relived we were to be able to replenish our supplies. Boyfriend and i only have another half bottles of water left.

We settled down at a local eatery, had a rest and a quick lunch.

Opposite the eatery we found something interesting. It was a petrol station of some sort.  Look!

Petrol tanks

Haha. Innovation at it’s best.

Gentle giant

We bade good bye to the locals and me to the giant retriever by the pavement. From here we rode the truck to the river further down for our next adventure.

Bamboo rafting!

taken from http://travel.webshots.com/

Didn’t take any picture here because we were advised not to bring cameras since we’re going to get wet. And because there’s a cameraman ready at the embankment to capture our picture and earn a few Baht. LOL.

We didn’t purchase the photo though because all the couple didn’t want to be split up and we were to split into groups of 3 for each raft. A guide standing in front to navigate the raft, 2 in the front and another to sit at the back of the raft. Boyfriend and i volunteered  so we didn’t get to pose together for the photo. Too bad.

Nevertheless it was great fun and super relaxing. The water was really cooling. I nearly got knocked off the raft a couple of times when there was strong rush sweeping the raft hard and sometimes hit some dead tree trunks in the water.

It was fine for the people in front because the guide manage to move the raft in time. But when the raft shift so suddenly, the back of it will sway towards the opposite side and hit the trees. I have no idea how to maneuver so i dodge the trees by pushing hard at it with my hands.

Hard work but super fun :).

To be continued at:-

Note:
All photos are taken with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX8.

Continuation from:-
Good Morning Chiang Mai
Kalare Night Bazaar
Elephant Riding
The Hike

3rd March 2009
============

Our accommodation for the night was not the most luxurious. In fact, laid on the floor of the wooden stilt house was just 8 old, dusty and thin mattresses and worn-out blankets to keep warm at night.

There were nothing else, not even a pillow, no fan or lamp. When night came we would be enclosed in complete darkness. I could just imagine tripping on the many legs, stumbling my way to the toilet.

A Maglite would be very useful… if we had remembered to bring it along.

Sleeping arrangement

The only compensation is the sleeping arrangements - each bed comes with a mosquito net. We quickly pulled down the nets over the beds even though it’s not yet dark hoping to keep away the mosquito and creepy crawlies.

In any case, i’m still going to slab on as thick layer of insect repellent as i can before slumber.

View from the window

Once we had settled in, we opened the windows to get some air. The room was extremely getting stuffy in the hot weather. The view however was great, overlooking the lush green hill and mountains nearby.

Cows everywhere

Below the wooden hut, there are cows wondering around looking for grass or just resting. To whom does they belong to i don’t know. The cows do as they please and wonders around the village and surrounding hills freely.

The locals didn’t seemed to be bothered at all by their presence or by the cow dung scattered everywhere. we nearly stepped onto piles of dungs a few times but we soon learned to automatically scan the ground to avoid disaster.

Our camping site

The house we were staying at actually is belongs to a small family. There are 2 wooden houses on the compound, one occupied by the family and another (currently occupied by us) meant for hikers.

Here at the village you’ll get the sense of what it means by living with bare necessities. What you see is what you get.

The empty wooden premise serves as a common room in the day and sleeping quarter for the whole family by night. Just like us, they share the spot with mattresses on the floor to sleep on.

Kitchen

The kitchen consists of a small space with a wooden rack to place the little crockeries, tin pots and pans and utensils they own and a water pipe standing at the corner to wash cooking ingredients and the dishes.

The water supply comes from stream nearby and looks clean enough (it was very clear) but we did not dare to drink for the lack of a proper filter. Having been warned first hand not to drink anywhere except from our own water bottles we avoid the risk of getting sick.

At night when no one is around, dogs and cows and i wonder what other farm animals comes to the basin for a drink. I hope the basin is cleaned and refilled with fresh water before cooking the next morning. LOL.

Water supply

The cooking is done without a stove but by using dried branches to set the fire. Our hostess nearly set the trees on fire while cooking dinner for us. Fortunately the pail of water was enough to put out the small fire. LOL.

Here’s the young daughter who’s always wiping nasty bogey on the clothes hanging on the drying line! She’s gross but very adorable and super friendly. Haha!

Bogey girl!

And here’s the outhouse, located right next to the kitchen. It consists of a squatting toilet and a water supply for bathing. The toilet doesn’t comes with a flush. Yyou have to manually flush the waste away by pouring water down the hole which is not very easy and takes some time. It’s a bit gross so i try not to go to the loo too often.

Outhouse (toilet)

With time on our hands (before dinner is ready) we decided to poke around the neighborhood.

Karen village

There are no fences to surrounding the houses in the village. Each family occupies an open plot of land.

No doubt one of the main source of income comes from tourists. Many of the villagers around here have a spare house turned into tourists quarters. Everywhere we go we would bump into other group of hikers also exploring the village.

Crop terrace

The wooden stilt house we stayed in was well maintained but rather old compared with some of the quarters the other hikers are staying at.

Wooden huts

This is one of the newly built houses with solar panels out at the compound. Few solar panels are scattered around the village to generate sufficient energy for basic usage.

New houses with solar panel

Thus, village is not entirely without electricity. Even our host has a television set in the common room although there are no electric lights or lamps. Go figure.

The electricity are also used to keep the only grocery store in the village mostly frequent by tourists no doubt.

Grocery store

The boyfriend was particularly excited when he saw the satellite built on a wood stump. Geek *rolls eye*.

Satellite

Th villagers mostly lives on produce of their own cultivation. There were terraces of dried crops further away. Unfortunately we didn’t get to witness the plantation since it’s the dry season.

Around the village you’ll see livestocks like cattle, chickens and even wild boars.

Hen coop

I had a start seeing a wild boar for the first time. The villagers ties the hogs to the bottom stilt of their wooden houses where they are fed.

Wild boar

The dogs and particularly puppies are very friendly here. They are very adorable, not at all afraid of strangers. You know how i am attached to doggies and i just can’t resist taking photos of them.

The brown ones rushed up to us at the crop terraces, jumping up and down at my feet. I guessed they want to be fed but we were not allowed to feed the dogs (there was a big signboard that says “Do not feed the dogs”). That didn’t stop us from “accidentally” dropping a few crumbs of biscuits on the ground on. LOL.

The black pup was extremely attached to us. He spent the night on the premises, greeting us the next morning. Such a good pup. Awww.

Adorable pups

Night came very quickly up here. The whole place suddenly was pitch black before we knew it, not even the full moon above did any good. It was pretty creepy yet peaceful. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Then you start to hear crickets and other insects calling. You could hear the sound of the slight breeze sweeping over the village.

Our host quickly set some candles on the long wooden table and got out their torchlights. That’s the only source of light for the night. Unfortunately, out of 8 of us in the group only one of us had the sense to pack their own torchlights so we had to share the one Maglite and another spare given by our host.

Jeb counted our heads and armed with a light, went out looking for those who did not get to the base in time. It is dangerous out there when you can’t see a thing.

Guessing game

Dinner was prepared by Jeb himself. We had rice, really bland curry and a dish of mix vege. It wasn’t the most tasty meal but we happily helped ourself because we were so hungry.

I particularly enjoyed the night, part because it was so cool as apposed to the afternoon heat and part because we had quite some fun playing guessing games. Why are Germans so quick and smart?! They almost won all the games!

Arm wrestle!

I had a great time laughing at the arm wrestle between Jeb and Rambo. I would have bet on Jeb but Rambo won. No surprise there. Look at his huge arms!

Just before we turn in for the night, 2 of the locals came to our table for a chat. He tried to sell his handmade instruments to us but none of us did. He was a good sport though and urge us to try the weed he was smoking. Boyfriend had a puff or two but i didn’t. Oh, regrets :(.

Then everyone got tired and head up to the stilt house to settle for the night. It was a torture getting to the end of the room without trampling on someone’s foot. We slab on a thick layer of insect repellent and stank of lemon grass before we closed our eyes.

To be continued at:-
Heading Downhill

Note:
All photos are taken with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX8.

It was night time in Karen village where we was to spent the night. We were immersed in darkness with only few candles on the long wooden table for light.

Jeb began telling us amusing stories about the locals and about his ventures. We played games by the candles.

I don’t know how it started but all of a sudden we were clearing the table for a arm wrestle between Jeb and “Rambo”. What a night!

I told you that Jeb is really strong. Look at his muscles!

Ok, he lost to “Rambo” but it’s not a fair match and anyways he did great and was a good sport LOL!

Continuation from:-
Good Morning Chiang Mai
Kalare Night Bazaar
Elephant Riding

3rd March 2009
============

T’was a long, long journey uphill. Everyone was really quiet, minding their own business. We didn’t even introduce ourselves to each other, didn’t even know each other’s names (besides those i managed to catch during the interview with the tourist police in the morning) but eveyone else didn’t seemed to be bothered so i slided lower in my seat and enjoyed the view instead.

Starting point

It took us maybe about 1 or 2 hours to reach the starting point, I’m not too sure. I lost track of time and might have dozed off for a bit but i remember my rear being really numb and it definnitely wasn’t due to the elephant ride earlier in the noon.

Thank god that we had transfered into a van instead of travelling by songtaews like some of the other tourists that passed by our us enroute.  It was bad that we were suffering from stuffiness and lack of leg room… and hand room for that matter, having to suck dust and have it blown all over your face the whole journey would be agony.

Getting ready

Jeb (our hiking guide)  beckoned us down from the van to regroup at the foot of the trail. A ‘prep talk’ was in order - about safety and health and all the other regulations we were suppose to abide to. With that out of the way we tightened our backpack strap and had a sip of water before trudging ahead.

Foot trail

I was vexed about my limited water supply. It was obvious that the sun would not relent today and we would possibly risk dehydration. My skin was already lobster red merely at the start of the hike. As we went higher up the hill, the sun bore down directly on us and it was immensely hot.

Boyfriend and i would have to be careful not to waste our 2 bottles of water. I knew bringing just 1 backpack for the hike was a huge mistake.

Way to go bonehead -_-”.

Amazing view

First part of the hike was fairly easy. We just ploded along the well-used trail taking in the view as we go higher. it wasn’t so bad if it wasn’t for the hot weather which already had us soaking in perspiration. The view was amazing although i was finding it harder and harder to concentrate because i was busy wiping sweat away from my face and eyes.

I was feeling feverish again but as you know i’m always feeling gungho at the wrong time, so against better judgement and the boyfriend’s pleading i continued with the hike. Both of us dropped behind however to save energy and so not to block the other hikers in our group.

I can’t believe that boyfriend and i were the youngest in the lot and we were beaten by people in their 30’s, 40’s and even 50’s! They (Jeb and the other 6 hikers) practically ran up the hill while both of us were walking slowly but panting profusely as if we had ran a hundred miles already! Quite embarrassing when they had to stop a few times for us to catch up.

Banana trees

I suspect Jeb made us stop for rest more times than was planned for i was dropping really behind, once or twice they were so far out front, boyfriend and i could barely catch our breaths hastening our pace. But Jeb didn’t say anything except made a few jokes while we gulp down water and neither did any member of our group complained.

Red ‘berry’

On one stop Jeb went into the bush and come out with something wrapped in his fingers. Seeing the wide grin plastered on his face, i wondered if he had caught a spider or some other insect.

I braced myself for i thought that he was about to scare us with it, maybe flick it onto one of us because he’s such a joker and show-off. But he opened his fingers there were small red fruits like somekind of berries on his palm.

The berry was supposed to help quench our thirst but i was anxious and suspicious. Come on, it’s picked from the bush by the hill, it could be poisonous! I has a vision of my skin covered in itchy rashes before developing into puss filled poxes. I guessed the disgusted and reluctant expressions on our faces clearly betray us so he volunteered to take a bite before we did. Thus, we had no choice but to be a good sport and sunk our teeth into the red fruit.

I spat it out immediately, it was awful! Tasted really raw and weird. I’m almost sure it was Jeb’s idea of a joke -_-”.

Professional walking stick maker LOL

The picture here shows Jeb expertly making walking sticks out of bamboos for each of us. We needed it to continue the harder part of the hike.

He really looks quite tiny for a hiking guide doesn’t he? Haha. But the minute he takes off his shirt, it’s muscles all over and he is super agile too. I bet… no i guarantee he can run up to the Karen village in less than an hour as oppose to the 2 hour hike we are doing.

The stream

The foot trail had vanished. Into the jungle we went.

I regret that i didn’t take any photos of this phase because i was concentrating really hard not to roll down the slipery hill or get poked in the eye by protruding branches or scratched and punctured by deadly thorns, all the while looking out for snakes and giant spiders under giant dry leaves on the ground and trying not to grip too tightly on the bamboo walking stick because my fingers was red with blistered, slightly bleeding.

Yeah it was fun! *grin*

Cooling down by the stream

Not long later we came upon a stream. It was like an oasis in the middle of the desert. Ok, not that there’s lack of streams in the area but because we we extremely exhausted and the cool stream water seemed so inviting that we were elated to see it.

Rambo (the American guy) obviously was the happiest among all of us. He wasted no time stripping down to his shorts, ran into the stream and dunk his head into the water.

While everyone else gladly went to cool off their body, splashing about in the river to ward off the heat, i rested under the shade by the stream drinking as much water as i dare - afraid the water supply would run out before we reach our destination. Mom always told me not to play in the water when having a fever else it’ll get worst. I took to her advice.

Blazing sun

Cool water from the stream freshened us up but we were reluctant to move on. All i wanted to do was to stretch on the long bench and enjoy the light breeze under the shade.

Nonetheless Jeb managed to coax us. It was getting getting late even though the sky was still bright as morning.

Paddy field

Not far ahead we came upon a plain. As we got closer it became clear that it’s a paddy field, abandoned during the hot weather. The lanscape was still amazingly beautiful.

Walking accross the embankment gave a feeling of euphoria.

Beautiful field

The landscape after the paddy field slowly evolved into a more level terrain making it easier to travel.

This i was grateful. Calves muscles visibly bulging aside, the blisters between my thumb and forefinger were getting worst so that gripping the walking stick became a painful affair.

Resting hut

There was an unpretentious waterwall a good way ahead. We spotted from afar a few wooden huts on the plot. I heaved a sigh of relief at the opportunity to rest my aching feet.

Waterfall

The huts as it turned out, some were resting huts with wooden bench and others were changing rooms and squat lavatories.

By now i’m getting used to the hole-on-the-ground-without-flush type of lavotory but i still find it awful to scoop mirky water from the big pail in order to wash the waste down the hole. But that’s how it is here and you can’t expect a 5 star lavotory in the jungle right? Right.

Wooden huts

The girls chucked their bags on the long bench and ran into the huts to change into bikini’s while the guys stripped down to their shorts before running gleefully into the waterfall.

Backpacks

Look, there’s our group under the waterfall

Under the waterfall

I wished i could played in the water too for everyone was enjoying themselves. They were so enthusiastic you would have thought it was the first time they saw a waterfall haha!

Resting our aching feet

Instead, boyfriend and i took out our sneakers and relaxed under the hut.

zzzZZZzzzzzZzt

To kill boredom, i point my camera everywhere LOL.

Please don’t ask me about the cat or the chicks. I have a thing for animals.

Chickedies!

When the clothes on the hang-line dry (which was amazingly quick with the help of the sweltering sun), we pack our bags quickly because it was almost evening although the sky was as bright as ever.

Feeling rather cheery after the break, everyone was smiling and laughing when we heaved our bags and continued the hike. It was supremely good luck that the journey ahead is not a difficult one, we are to travel along another foot-trail.

Drying line

Jeb promised that we weren’t far from the Karen Village and sure enough we came upon the village within a short while.

Almost there

To be continued at:-
A Day and Night in Karen Village
Heading Downhill

Note:
All photos are taken with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX8.

At the Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, we purchased this photo (taken while we were buying bananas from the seller on a raised wooden platform) for USD10.

Peace!

It’s really expensive for a cardboard frame but it’s the most our most photogenic photo LOL.

Notice the peace sign? *cringe in embarrassment*