Monday, April 25, 2011
April 23 - Chiang Dao, Thailand
What a superb day! We began by meeting our tour guide, Tony, in the morning. What a charmer! He called us "The Three Spice Girls." Our first stop was meeting the Karen long necked ladies. They begin wearing the loop around 3 years of age. It is changed regularly as they grow. The metal is also put around their calve to make them look sexy! The only time women don't wear the loop is when they are pregnant. They have a small village along with another Bermeae tribe where they sell their crafts--hats, purses, scarves, and jewelry.
Then' we went to the Elephant Training Center in Chaing Dao. We were amazed at how intelligent, gentle, and graceful the elephants are. Each elephant has his/her own trainer. We firat saw the trainers bathing the elephants in the river and the they truly were putting on a show for the spectators! Then we saw the elephants at work logging...pulling, stacking, sliding, and lifting logs. Finally, am three year old female painted a picture! I purchased an elephant painting for 600 Baht or $20...that's a steal for an original!
Next, we went for an hour+ ride on an elephant through the jungle. My elephant was a female and we trekked through a creek, mud, small inclines, as well as on relatively flat terrain,.
After lunch, we explored a cave which originally was part of Burma. This was not an experience for the claustrophobic. Bats, dampness, and crawling on all fours was not a highlight!
Finally we took a bamboo rafting trip for about 45 minutes. It was a relatively gentle ride until we saw ahead young monks swimming in the water. We wondering how we'd pass them as it appeared as rocks would interfere with our descent down the divert. Low and behold, upon approach, we saw a waterfall--not too big, but not too small. The boys just watched and
laughed as the Spice Girls screamed with delight!
Our day had come to a glorious end...we were sad to say good bye to Chiang Mai. This is a place that has much to offer, just sorry we couldn't experience more.
Then' we went to the Elephant Training Center in Chaing Dao. We were amazed at how intelligent, gentle, and graceful the elephants are. Each elephant has his/her own trainer. We firat saw the trainers bathing the elephants in the river and the they truly were putting on a show for the spectators! Then we saw the elephants at work logging...pulling, stacking, sliding, and lifting logs. Finally, am three year old female painted a picture! I purchased an elephant painting for 600 Baht or $20...that's a steal for an original!
Next, we went for an hour+ ride on an elephant through the jungle. My elephant was a female and we trekked through a creek, mud, small inclines, as well as on relatively flat terrain,.
After lunch, we explored a cave which originally was part of Burma. This was not an experience for the claustrophobic. Bats, dampness, and crawling on all fours was not a highlight!
Finally we took a bamboo rafting trip for about 45 minutes. It was a relatively gentle ride until we saw ahead young monks swimming in the water. We wondering how we'd pass them as it appeared as rocks would interfere with our descent down the divert. Low and behold, upon approach, we saw a waterfall--not too big, but not too small. The boys just watched and
laughed as the Spice Girls screamed with delight!
Our day had come to a glorious end...we were sad to say good bye to Chiang Mai. This is a place that has much to offer, just sorry we couldn't experience more.
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