Thailand Travel Journal
November 4th |
Start of Trek to the Hill Tribes, Nov10thWaiting for our tour driver we were picked up (thought we were being taken to start the tour) and taken to the bus station by mistake. The driver got us mixed up with two big black guys who were going to Bangkok. Can’t quite figure that one out!! The driver is an American living here for some tiime now. Said he likes the laid back way of life here. The right truck finally arrived, a jeep like affair with seats on the sides in the back. On the tour with us were a young German couple, an American couple from New Mexico and a chap from Scotland. We drove to Chaing Rai where we had lunch. Met up with three other couples here. Two couples from France and one from Switzerland. We then took a longtailed boat up the Kok river to a jungle camp. The trip was very pleasant, quite fast. It took about an hour. Interesting landscape on the way, strange high pointed hills and jungle. We arrived at the elephant camp where there were lots of tourists. This is where we started to walk to the Lahu hill tribe village. Very hot still. The trail soon got very steep. Even in the shade of the long grass it is pretty hot. One guide found a stick for me and carried my pack part way. Brought too much stuff as usual. It was dark for last bit of walking and getting settled in. Quite different. Everyone hot and sweaty. We were able to wash up sort of. Sat out on a porch like affair and had a beer and talked about our day. The guides cooked a great dinner and we sat around on a straw mat and ate. Seems like a great group. Everyone is very nice and considerate of everyone else. The women from the village appeared wanting to give us a massage. Nearly everyone had one. 50b. Felt good. It is there way of making some hard currency. Mats on the floor for sleeping in a large room. Seven in my room. Was OK, everyone is quiet. Roosters had there usual warm up, then quiet and then started again . Pigs are squealing under the hut. The huts are all on raised platforms. Took our boots off before entering.. I felt dizzy again to-day. What is wrong with me? I felt so good in Nepal . Slept well. I later realized it may have been the Lariam I took for Malaria that was making me feel so terrible. Had just started taking it about a week before we left Nepal. |