Chiang Mai National Park.

Wachirathan waterfall.

Highest peak in Thailand which...

...is also the beginning of the Himalayas! (The gateway).

You've seen the washing powder advert?

The King & Queen pagodas, this is the Queen pagoda.

Doi Inthanon (2hr drive from Chiang Mai)

• Wachirathan waterfall
• Highest peak in Thailand
• Gateway to the Himalayas
• King & Queen Pagodas
• Royal project rainforest and waterfall
• Karen hill tribe village

We spent today travelling arounf the huge Doi Inthanon (national park) of Chiang Mai. If you haven't gathered already it is also the gateway to the Himalayas, which explains why it was much cooler up there.. think English summer..

The highest peak is where the last ruler of Chiang Mai is buried, but then we were taken on a short ride to an amazing mountainside park, containing stunning gardens and the huge pagodas commemorating the King's 60th birthday (to the left) and 5 years later the pagoda built for the Queens 60th birthday. They're huge and what makes them special is the modern take on traditional temple's and archtectural influences. The views alone are fantastic.

Next on to the royal projects - the rainforests here were originally the opium gardens way back when. The projects aim is to teach the people of the mountains new ways to make money through agriculture and education, it was originally subsidised so they made the same amount of money as when they sold opium! They now have a booming business in organic products and food.

Not far from the royal projects live the Karen hill tribe.. similar to the tribe we met previously, but their main source of income comes from weaving. They also have a 'guard pig'.. lol.. it's the only pig Bev has ever met that growls and barks at you if you try to stroke it (as she soon found out).

Later on in the evening - beer from 7-11 (by the way it's 25p for a beer over here!!) and food from the night bazaar, but this time eating where the locals eat.. total cost for 2 meals = 40p.. real cost = "happy days" :-)

On to Phuket tomorrow so the blog might fall behind a little as we go exploring the islands and rest our tired feet! (Very excited).

Elephants & Ox Carts...

Elephant painting.

Me & Bev with the elephants (which we got to ride later on - show you the pics when we get home!)

Riding the Ox carts to see the Lisu hill tribe people.

Maetang

• Elephant show
• Ox-cart riding up to the Lisu hill tribe village
• Elephant riding
• Bamboo rafting

After driving an hour up into the mountains we reached Maetang, where the elephants play football and paint pictures of other elephants (apparently they dont like the jungle anymore *cough* and have a good relationship with the people *cough* *cough*).

Mum, look away now - we then jumped an ox cart ride over to the Lisu hill tribe village, looked like a film set and pretty hard to imagine people still live in a traditional wooden hut.

Mum, ok to look now (she once had an "adventure" with an ox cart up a Greek mountainside, lets not mention any more.. apart from you should have taken the horse!).

The elephants took us through the rainforest, mainly so they could stop around every corner and eat the bananas! Then dropped us off for bamboo rafting along the river and rapids.

10min drive later...

Chiang Mai

• Orchid & butterfly farm
• Back to hotel for swim & steam
• Dinner at the night bazaar food market
• Muai Thai cocktails at the Imperial

The orchid farm wasn't much to shout about, and the butterfly farm had at least 3 butterflys. There was also snake and monkey shows.. I don't think they liked the jungle any more either *wink*. Back at the hotel and a quick swim and chill out in the steam room, we decided it would only be right to finish the day with a Muai Thai at the Imperial Mai Ping Hotel in the centre of Chiang Mai.

Good Bye Bangkok.. Hello Chiang Mai...

The ancient wall surrounding Old Town Chiang Mai.

We left for Chiang Mai at 10.30am...

or at least that was the plan but the taxi didnt turn up until 10.45am

... and then we got trapped around the University because the bloody graduation was still going on (apparently the King makes an appearance) - not good when your flight gate closes at 12pm and it takes about an hour(ish) to the airport.

Chiang Mai

Having arrived and checked in and nicely wheeled my trolley over some poor backpackers foot.. I think we managed the ultimate walk around Old Town Chiang Mai and Downtown Chiang Mai,

The pace is much calmer than Bangkok and it feels more like a holiday resort.. the prices are also double Bangkok too..

Pira Singh (main temple).

Stack of cow pats with a mini Buddah on.

(Not really.. apparently it's the grave of the guy who built Chiang Mai).

• Thapae Gate
• Ratchadamnoen Road (Street Market)
• 3 Kings Monument
• Chiang Mai Art Museum
• Pira Singh (main huge temple)
• Silver Temple (Srisuohan)
• Wua Lai Road Saturday Street Market

..finally arriving 4 hours later (with a very sore arse and legs from all the walking) at Changklan Road - otherwise known as the Night Bazzar.

Changklan Road (Night Bazzar)

• Red coconut lemon grass curry at 'Lemongrass'
• Far too many temples to mention...

..I think I'm about templed out.. where's the bar?