A wim bo wa a wim bo wa... in the jungle

Posted by Brian

Posted on July 31, 2007

Trekking in the jungle north of Chan Mai for 3 days and it was unbelievable.

DAY 1:

The first day we got a bus that dropped us off somewhere in the jungle. There were 12 of us I think and 2 guides (Tarzan and Promise). We trekked through fields, rivers and jungle pathways to some huts about an hour or 2 in where we stopped for lunch. The heat was incredible but the walk was flat so we were ok... for a while. After lunch we trekked again for hours through the jungle again but this time for hours. It was much harder. With many hills (we were on a mountain!!) Our destination was a tribal village of the White Karin people. Sweating was not the word. Although it was never too hard or hellish it was tough. The last part of the trek was up a very steep muddy slope to the village and of course the heavens opened!!!! I've never seen rain like it. Rivers flowing down as we tried to slip our way up. Saturated by the time we reached the top. We then settled into our hut, all 12 of us in the one place. There was only little running water and electricity was from a government supplied solar panel. Not to be wasted on us :)

After getting into dry clothes we sat down for food and drink by candle light. The craic was mighty. All laughing and joking. The 4 Irish girls brought a bottle of vodka with them and kindly shared. The tribes people sold us beer at a fairly high price, but it was still only 1 euro. It gets so dark so early up there that at half 9 we thought it was about 12! It was nice and cool there though so that when we got to bed air con wasn't missed. (When I saw bed... bamboo with a sleeping bag. Very hard to sleep in maybe rocks would be as comfortable :) )

DAY 2:

Because of 2 English girls who thought a trek would be more like a stroll we didn't walk too far on day two. The people only staying one night left before us and then 4 of us started off towards the waterfall where we were staying the second night.

The water fall was unreal. We swam and had a shower under the water fall, just generally relaxed and took it handy. So easy going. Not much I can say about that place though. Have plenty of pics, they speak for themselves. Main point is though that I cannot speak highly enough of it.

DAY 3:

Today we left the waterfall and headed to the elephants. After a short walk we got into the back of a pick-up truck when again the heavens opened. I was wearing a poncho which was useless. I was still soaked so just took the thing off. When we got to the elephants it was still lashing. They took one look at me and called in the biggest elephant they had. It was huge. We got on that then and went for a ride. I tell you, the knackers should ditch the horses, these things rule. Not very comfortable but these things were going up and down mad steep slopes, no bother. Me and Jonny holding on for dear life.

After that it was back into the truck for some bamboo rafting. That was so much fun. We didn't go terriblely fast but we nearly fell off a couple of times. We then started throwing what looked like crab apples at each other. What a laugh.

When we got back to BMP we had a hot shower. Its amazing how much we take them for granted. Was nice to be clean again. Alhtough if I could have had a shower in the waterfall again I'd take that any day.

So we are all heading out now tonight and off to the Laos border tomorrow. Bring on the good times.