THAILAND: Chaing Mai (July 10th - 12th)

So after two crazy days of traveling, we finally made it to Chiang Mai.  This quickly became another highlight all-star We didn't have a lot of time here, but we had heard so many awesome things about this area of northern Thailand we really didn't want to miss out...and were glad we didn't.  We packed a lot into our limited time.  I could probably write a book right now about everything we did so instead, I'll try to keep it short and let the pictures speak for themselves. 

Our tour leader from the islands had called ahead and arranged a variety of activites to keep us busy.  On our first full day we took a Canopy Tour or "Jungle Flight" which is basically a treetop zipline tour through the jungle.  This took most of the day so when we got back to the hotel we showered and got ready for a Thai cooking class....seriously awesome!  Em and I have fallen in love with Thai food....and I must say...... you will be pretty dang lucky to have us cook you a gourmet Thai meal when we get back.  So much fun!

Day two was even better.  We took a tour of a village outside of the city and learned about the difference in Thai culture between the different regions.  Next, we went on a gnarly hike to a waterfall.  This was the second time we were extremely disappointed for not having a water proof camera.  After jumping off rocks and swimming under the falls we had an adventurous hike through the pouring rain to another village to meet our transportation.  After stopping at a roadside cafe for lunch we took a trip down the river on a bamboo raft (ask Emily sometime about the spiders).  Finally....we were ready for what we had been looking forward to for a long time....riding the elephants!  Yep.....not much else you can say about that.....we road an elephant......awesome.

After swimming in rivers, hiking in the rain through the jungle, drying out on a bamboo raft, and riding on the back of giant mammals for the day.....we were nasty....and I mean ripe.  But since we had already checked out of our hotel and were pressed for time, we had to go straight to the airport.  Emily headed straight for the restroom to burn through almost an entire pack of wet wipes in substitution for a shower.  I was fine wallowing in my own filth...we were heading back to Bangkok after all.  Yah....that lasted for about five minutes until Em took one whiff of me.  She sent me sulking away with another pack of wet ones...extra scented. 

Gearing up for jungle flight

Look at the form

Riding double

Don't look down

At some sections we had to repel down to the next platform.  The guides liked to mess with Emily and drop her down really fast.  She didn't think it was too funny.

Not what you're thinking

The market where we went with our cooking instructor to buy supplies and ingredients.

The monkey brains are to the left Dr. Jones

We made hot and sour soup, green chicken curry, pad thai, and fried bananas

pad thai.....freakin delicious

hot and sour soup....spicy as...you know what

She said we were great students

A rice field we walked by at the start of the hike

I know what you're thinking...go higher...trust me, its higher than it looks.

Soaking wet from the monsoon, at the end of our hike

Hard to tell from the photo....but bigger than my hand

Emily rode most of the way sitting directly on the elephant's neck.  The Thai man driving couldn't have been happier.  It was cool though, the elephant would use his ears to help hold Emily on when it got bumpy or steep.

Making friends

This is little baby....treked along side mom and dad the whole way.

Bamboo rafting