Update from Thailand

** We intererrupt the normally scheduled post for the following important announcement ***

We're living large in Phuket!! The last two days we have been staying at a golf-villa. 3 BDS, Private Swimming Pool, Butler service... Golf course in our backyard. You know the feeling of the people on the "Real World" when they walk into their new home? That's the feeling we experienced. Apparently the Sheraton messed up on the rate and my sister was able to book the room for $150/night.

Here are some picts of our villa...









Okay.. back to the normally scheduled posting...

Chiang Mai - Continued

Breakfast was included when we book the hotel rooms at $30/day!! Man… I think I can live like a king here in Thailand. P’Dao meets us at bright and early with his infectious smile and we head out to the mountains to ride the elephants. This was the one thing that I knew about Chiang Mai and what everyone said had to be done when visiting the city. Mid-way thru our ride, P’Dao pulls over for no apparent reason. He then brings us these bamboo shoots with sticky rice inside. It tastes like the “yellow sticky rice” that my mom cooks that tastes sweet.



We mount onto our elephants and we’re off. It was basically a mile trek thru the trails. The trainers were very helpful and pacified the elephants. I’d figured I would ride with Nhi since of the weight disparity. The cool part of the ride when we would buy bananas and sugar cane and instinctively the elephants would raise their trunks back and we would put the food right on the tip. At first it was a bit terrifying but as time passed it became second nature. The elephant would blow air if food wasn’t given and would show his displeasure. We passed the living quarters which were made of bamboo shoots and we witness people playing checkers with used bottle caps. The life seemed very simple. No TV, no electronics, though we were surprised after the trip when a man presented us with a nice photo of our experience. It was only 100 baht so we had to buy it. He said that the frame was made out of frame was made out of elephant dung!!

We then headed off to a small village and it was cool to see how different the village people lived. A group of small girls approached Lauris and selling handmade necklaces for 10 baht/each. It was like flies approaching meat. There was no way we could say no. The lifestyle was very different that what I am accustomed to. It just opens your eyes when you see people living in hand made huts with kids running around peddling small gifts and the mom in the back hand making scarves. This is all they know and they seemed content.



We then headed off to the waterfalls for lunch. A pack of stray dogs approached us as we exited the car. They were actually very well disciplined as they somehow knew where we wanted to go and led us to the waterfall. The hike was around 2k and we sat on this huge rock for lunch. It was nice to have the whole area to ourselves. The falls were not huge but good size. P’Dao brought us barbeque ribs and rice. The dogs stood on the side and ate the leftovers. We then started to take pictures of the falls and enjoying the view. It was very nice.

Taking a quick shower...

We then head of for some bamboo rafting. This was cool and probably the highlight of the day for me. I remember seeing something like this on the Amazing Race (Season 2??) Basically the four of us boarded the raft and went down the river for about three kilometers. Somehow I was assigned to the back as the three of them sat comfortably on the perched seats. I think I did rather well, except for the time that I tipped over once and fell into the water and lost my Oakley’s. It was like a cool water amusement ride with no regulations. That's something we learned very quickly in Thailand. In America, there would normally be like a 15 minute spiel on safety regulations and stuff. Here, two minutes if your're lucky. You're on your own... There was one turbulent stretch where three of us had to get off and Alvaro was the only one allowed to go thru it. There was one point where he was holding for his life and he looked frightened.

We then headed back to the hotel for a quick shower then all of us got Thai massages. Alvaro and I had to stick with the original plan of at least one massage every other day. I think we ended up paying like 300 baht ($7.50) each for a two hour massage. The four of us where crouched in this tiny room with our own masseuse. Time flies when you are getting a massage.

The highlight of our last day was probably going to the Elephant academy and riding the scooters on the streets of Chiang Mai w/ P' Dao's daughter =)



The elephants are actually very well disciplined considering they could trample over anybody in their way. I think the coolest thing was the elephant art. The elephant would have a canvas and paint and each would grab the paint brush with their trunk and paint.



Alvaro and his massages!! We must stick to the orignal plan... At least 1 massage every other day