David Attenburgh's expolits

Sorry we have still got the pictures out of order!
IT skills are still not what they should be!
We left Bangkok and took another overnight train. The termination was Chang Mai so this time we didn't miss the stop. We came to Chang Mai to do some trekking but actually found a great hotel and di d more boozing than we have done so far. We have been here for ten days or so and had a great time, but only done one days trekking but more on that later!
There are loads of travellers here and it is a really lovely place. As you can gather we have settled into eating, drinking and relaxing. It is so nice to be in a luxury hotel - it nearly feels like home - fridge, balcony, comfy bed, really clean and fab company. We have found a great Mojito bar, a lovely veggie restaurant that took three days to find and is only 20 metres from the guest house.
We hired a motor bike for the day to do a rekkie of a national park. It threw it down all day and near the top of the highest mountain in Thailand we couldn't see any further so turned round and came back. We found a local hill tribe and arranged to come back the next day. We stayed overnight and went trekking in the morning. Garry got leached but in the excitement we forgot to take a photo. The rain stayed off and we had a great walk. Then we decided to try again for the top of the mountain. The locals were fantastic and we hitched all the way to the top - in the rain again. (note the fashionable ponchos!). Fortunately the rain cleared and we had some fab views on the way down. We were treated to some gorgeous locally grown and roasted Arabica coffee.
Then we had to come back to Chaing Mai so hitched all the way back. A big thanks to the locals from Doi Inthanon National Park!
Before going hiking we did a little tour round Chaing Mai and visited some temples with underground tunnels and lakes. We were also able to wander round where the monks live and see how they live. We also went to a temple where the funeral was taking place of a very senier Buddist monk. No photos of this obviously as we felt we were intruding. His body was inan open cask with the face covered in gold leaf and his hand cupped. The monks (hundreds of them ) queued up to pay their respects by pouring water into his hand.
After this we found a lovely little cafe where we had a wonderful rice and vegetable dish.
You will see lots of photos of mushrooms as there is a big mushroom fan here (guess who?). Some are edible - some are not. Any idea which is which?



Terrapins being fed bread at a Temple in Caing Mai. The fish were the monsters you have seen before but the terrapins would paddle like billy ho and get their fair share.
Lovely lady preparing our noodle dish near the wooden temple in Chaing Mai. It threw it down but she really looked after us. Go and see her!

Out of sequence. Alison in the back of a pick up truck having hitched a ride from the National Park to Chaing Mai. We stayed in a Karen village and were very well looked after by the generous hill tribe people.

We stopped here for coffee after trekking. The most incredible Arabica coffee we have ever had. Way better than Starbucks! And they didn't charge us a penny for it!
Second attempt on the summit. Raining again. Why is it that every time we go up a hill it is always chucking it down?!

We finally made it to the summit and here is the proof. The weather did clear up and we were able to enjoy the views. We are keeping the ponchos though for the future!
Fantastic view when the weather had finally cleared up. At this point we thought we would have to walk 22 kms down the hill having already walked 18 kms, so took a decision to call our guide to pick us up. Bad decision as 5 minutes after this picture a car stopped to take us down the hill. The hill tribe people are so nice!

Dodgy mushroom photo 1!
Dodgy mushroom photo 2
Wild flowers in the rain forest.
( we have now spent hours on this blog and it keeps freezing)

Spot the iguana - may be pregnant?
Our bamboo hut in the National Park. Fortunately we have taken Samsong with us (Thai rum) and we could buy coke and beer from the local village hut.

More mushrooms!
And more!
And even more!

For those who were worried about Garry's weight, this is Garry tucking into the second plate of stir fried noodles. Apparently the heat in India lead him to lose his appetite. It is now back!
Our digs in Bangkok - cosmopolitan or what?
Not sure what type of flower this is - we called it the prawn flower. Any ideas?
This is the flower that was at Carolyn's wedding. It smells of sweet butter - any ideas what this is called?

For those of you who like orchids, this is how they're grown.
Another Orchid.
And another Orchid.
This is where we did our laundry in Bangkok. Can you imagine seeing your undies hanging outside the market?!
Garry fancies renting a little house in the country. Banana trees in the garden etc - what more can you ask for? He said this was too remote! It was taking out of the window on the overnight train to Chaing Mai.