Our big adventure day. We were picked up just after eight, having checked out and cloaked our luggage. A tour group of 10, we started by looking at how they make a paper products out of elephant dung. Waited around whilst two others arrived to join our tour, then on to the elephant camp just in time to the show. First the elephants were scrubbed in the river, then they performed all the tricks for us -- carrying logs, raising flags, kneeling, sitting, painting, playing football and basketball. About 40 elephants in the camp of varying ages. After the show we took an ox cart trip up the road to a village and looked at their crafts. Then the highlight of the day, a ride on an elephant through the jungle and across the river back to the camp.
A nice buffet lunch followed, then a 4 km trip on bamboo rafts down the river back to the bus. A stop at an average butterfly farm and an orchid farm on the way home completed a great day out. Back in town it was Starbucks for afternoon tea, then a bank for money. The markets were setting up so we bought some more -- a T-shirt for Katie and a hand-painted one for Mandy. Stocked up at 711 for tomorrow's breakfast on the train. Chiang Mai is a fairly relaxed town, except for the market, and you can actually see the horizon and the mountains. Had a half hour massage for two dollars in the market, and tea of fish and chips at the Red Lion pub.
At 7:45 we headed back to the hotel where the tailor turned up again with Mandy's finished silk blouse -- she was very happy with it. Then a tuk-tuk to the station and we waited for our rapid second-class train. After a lot of fluffing around they eventually attached a sleeper car and we all boarded. What an adventure. Lots of little cubbyholes down both sides of the train with curtains covering them. Not enough storage for packs so luggage was strewn everywhere. Like a youth hostel on wheels. We had an upper and lower berth. Fell asleep as we rattled along.
The web's original travel blog
