Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia

Monday, November 8, 2010

Monday November 08, 2010

Chaing Mai was so interesting and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to that area.  We have seen more temples than we probably ever thought existed.  Dave is Buddah’d out!!!!!  We seen more gold Buddhas than ever and also some jade ones – in fact one yesterday that was carved from BC jade.  A donation from a wealthy Canadian.

We went to the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre near Chaing Mai and had an hour long elephant ride.  We were in seventh heaven.  Got to feed them bananas and sugar cane and also got some big hugs from them.  What a thrill.  We  went to see a Mom and baby elephant – 10 months old – and got to feed them too.  We watched them play soccer, paint pictures, move some logs to show how they used to work and then they just played to the crowd.  We saw them bathing in the river and what clowns they are – they all have such great personalities.  Definitely a highlight of the trip.  Lainy darling you would love the elephants – they are so big but so gentle.

Yesterday we had a ride in a longtail boat up a river to visit a Hill Tribe.  We were on the river for about an hour weaving this way and that through some trees and rocks and had a wonderful ride.  We saw a 69 kg Boa Constrictor which two of our travel mates decided to pick up and put around there necks.  Very, very brave!!!!!  Went to visit the Karen Hill Tribe.  They are a Christian group so as it was Sunday they were on a day off.  No selling of trinkets, etc. much to our delight.  Everyone in this area is always selling something and we are constantly bombarded with requests to buy one thing or another.

Our guide is a real character too.  She has already determined that Dave isn’t really into temples.  She said last night, with a twinkle in her eye, “Tomorrow is a Temple Free day”!!!  So we are off to visit a couple of the Hill Tribes – the Yao and another one which I can’t remember the name of right now.  We are also going to the Opium Museum today and we are all wondering if getting a sample or two might be a good thing.  Guess not!!!!!

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