Up north for some hard walking and unusual showers

Waterfall one
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Well after a bit of quietness, i have managed to update.  It has taken me so long because to my suprise, there are no computers in the jungle...oh dear.  Well anyway we survived an 8 hour daytime train straight up to Chiang Mai and then attempted to walk to our hotel...and then gave up and got in the tuk tuk (how much do i love these things??!! you'll find out further down). arrived, did the usual checking in..and then found a GOOD MEXICAN RESTAURANT!!!! We both knew we'd be on rice for the next 3 days so there was no way we wanted more.  Fantastic tacos, am off for one after i finish writing this again.  Went out on the night with a group of the people we were going trekking with.  Unfortunatley they also do fantastic magharitas at the mexican.  And then we had beer.  And then some whiskey..oh dear....! Next morning i did not feel bright and pretty as a daisy but got up anyway for the trek.  First stop, heffalump (elephant) riding! Fantastic, almost like riding a horse, but the have a more uncomfortable gait and beg for bananas.  After we stopped for lunch and then started the walking.  Thank god it wasnt too hard otherwise i might have rolled myself off a hill, and then it did feel satisfying to jump in the waterfall at the end. Stayed in BASIC accommodation (it didnt even had a door) but had toast for breakfast, and after not drinking last night i was more or less prepared for a full day of trekking.  Trekked all day, punctuating it with waterfall washing and sliding.  Arrived at the next places accommodation, sat round a camp fire and had a couple of cans of beer, and got cozy..again, another place with no door.  Next day we trekked for a bit and then got to the place we were eating lunch.  Afterwards, we went bamboo rafting.  I must warn you, if you plan to go, they like to push you off. Jay managed to lose his raft stick about a million times and i fell off and cracked my ankle (dont worry, its fine now people) but apart from that it was a wet and happy end to the trek.

Our bamboo veranda and view out of our rooftop hut
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We got back to the hotel and i took an hour long hot shower and washed my hair, before most of the trek group got together for a night at the muay thai boxing.  I was shocked that they have little kids doing it (young as 12/10) and there is blood...a lot of blood.  I much preferred the older people doing it, felt less gruesome!

Next day Jason and Line (danish girl) went on a bungee jump while i chilled out and said goodbye to nick and dave (sailor boys) before we met up for lunch and had a wander round chiang mai.  The next, and final day in chiang mai we decided to get up late, grab a starbucks frapacchino (it was SUPER HOT) and have a wander before going for some lunch/dinner at da stefano, a fantastic little italian-2 courses each for about 12pounds, what more could you ask?!

Me freezing my bits off in the waterfall
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Upto laos on a slow boat which will take a couple of days, before docking at luang prabang.