Chiang Mai, Thailand Part 1

There apparently was something wrong with the train on the platform from which I was supposed to board, so we had to switch tracks. The train is pretty standard compared to those in the States, but it was comfortable. The meal (curry chicken with rice) was so-so. When they collected the trays, the attendant separated the food from the flimsy tray...either that's for recycling or re-using. Anywho, check out the pics.

Motorcycle taxis outside Hua Lamphong Railway Station

Hua Lamphong Railway Station

Number 9 Train to Chiang Mai

Scenes from my window

I arrived at Eagle House around 9PM, found my key on the table, went to my room and packed for the 3-day, 2-night Eagle House exclusive trek in the Doi Inthanon National Park the next morning at 8:30.

Our guide, "Doh," came to get us in a modified pick up truck - apparently a form of local transportation. There were 5 others - 3 New Zealanders, 1 Brit, and 1 German. It was the beginning of one of my best experiences in Thailand.

We drove south of Chiang Mai for about 40 minutes to the Mae Wang Market to pick up some supplies (mosquito repellant, water, food, etc.). Afterwards, we drove a bit further to the Mae Wang Elephant Camp. The elephants carried two passengers along with a trainer along a path in a small reserve...along which we were given ample opportunities to buy bananas and sugar canes (20 Baht) to feed our elephant. The first time we made the mistake of feeding everything to the elephant right away, resulting in it poking its trunk towards other riders who still had food left. Despite their enormous size, the elephants' steps were gentle and the ride went smoothly.

Mae Wang Elephant Camp

Feeding bananas and sugar canes to our elephant!

Tight walk!

I guess the path was too narrow for this one!

We then drove another half hour or so to the mountainside for lunch. The ride from then on was the bumpiest ride I've ever been on - bumping up and down as well as winding left and right as went traversed up and down the mountains.

Bamboo plays a very important role here - its leaves are often ripped off to wrap food in or to roll tobacco, and its shoots are used for making rafts (which was the case on our third day), constructing huts (which we stayed in), or even cooking sticky rice (on our second day). So it wasn't a big surprise when Doh pulled out our lunch wrapped up in what else but bamboo leaves.

Doh looking for bamboo leaves to wrap our freshly picked strawberries.

Lunch!

Our sweet ride.

After we finished eating, we drove for two hours, parked, and began walking for three hours to the Karen Hilltribe village of Mae Thala Klang, where we would have dinner and spend the night. With a population size of about 300,000, the Karen are the largest Hilltribe in Thailand. Originally from Myanmar/Burma, the Karen weave and embroider their own clothing.

The hike on day 1 was not too bad as we meandered through the jungle and walked through dried rice paddies littered with a landmine of cow dung that would become perfect fertilizers once the wet season came. I am glad that I brought trail shoes with good grip. Without them, I would have undoubtedly slid down the mountainside as we trekked up and down the one and a half foot wide trails. I don't have really good pictures of the paths, so use your imagination!