After a week of diving in the Gulf of Thailand, an all night full moon partyand driving around Koi Tao looking for a sunset, we flew to Northern Thailand to Chiang Mai. We had a busy three days, starting with a tour of the paper parasol factory with hand painted designs, the silver crafts shop, the silk making factory and the elephant poop-paper making factory.
On day two we went to Baanchang ("elephant home"). They rescue elephhants from the lumber industry, shows and zoos and other places that have elephants they can no longer care for. We became Mahouts for the day, feeding,riding and batheing elephants for the day. The home is privately owned and they rely on donations of food and money and the money collected from groups like us to feed and care for the elephants. Then we toured a few of the older Wats(temples) in the area and learned quite a bit about the Buddist religion from our guide, who was a monk for seven years.
Back in Bangkok for three days with the group seeing the Royal Palace, the reclining budda and many other interesting sights. Had some good food and drinks and shows at night. The group left on Saturday and we checked into a time share for a few days of R&R and some more sightseeing.
Today we went for a trek to a waterfall, then after a quick lession, we got on rafts for a little white water paddling and then bamboo rafting (the guides called it "bamboo submarines" because with 6 people on it, it actually floated totally underwater). Had a ball!
After a week of diving in the Gulf of Thailand, an all night full moon partyand driving around Koi Tao looking for a sunset, we flew to Northern Thailand to Chiang Mai. We had a busy three days, starting with a tour of the paper parasol factory with hand painted designs, the silver crafts shop, the silk making factory and the elephant poop-paper making factory.
Overnight bus from Paxse,Laos to Bangkok,Thailand where we hung for three days waiting for the group from Phoenix. shopping and sightseeing in hectic Bangkok then on a plane and ferry to this island for diving and visiting. All Night Full Moon Party on one of the other islands, kind of like a rave, I'm t told, drunk kids everywhere. Today, we sat on a beach waiting for the sinking of a retired Thailand Navy ship to make an artificial reef. Last night we went to a local party,fireworks,a band and dancing kids. And a Cabaret troup of He/shes,all looked like showgirls, all were men, some modified by surgery.
front porches we've enjoyed. (I hope, I've had problems with the internet.)
