Hill Tribe Trek

Here is a shot of what our sleeper train experience was like. We both had upper bunks and we were right across from each other. We took some gravol which knocked us out for the night and woke up in Chiang Mai! A great way to travel. We were actually impressed with how clean it was and we were glad we decided to try taking the train instead of flying.













This is a picture of our trekking group. It included two Belgiums (Nele and Dre), two Germans (Sebastien and Monica), two English guys (Steven and Dean), and a Chilien dude named Ben. We absolutely loved our group and we got along really well with them. The trek included a lot of uphill walking during the hottest part of the year so that was a challenge, but definately enjoyable. We stayed in elavated bamboo huts on mat on the floor as a group, and had our dinner on the "deck" outside. Great curry and vegetable dishes.














So in order around the table clockwise starting on the left: Dean, Steve, Nele, Dre, Wayne, Me, Sebastien, Monica, and Ben.





























The kids had some singing and dancing prepared for us that evening. The hill tribe people choose to live apart from everyone else and they hold fast to their customs and way of life (except they let tourist live in their village - everyone needs an income I suppose).

Wayne, Ben and I in the truck back to Chiang Mai. We were there during the "Water Festival" which is in celebration of the new year. There were little kids along the road with huge buckets of water ready to soak us at every corner. And they did a good job of it too! It was actually a lot of fun once the shock of the water hitting wore off.