| Thailand has always held a special place in my | | | | good fitness although if it rains the mud can be |
| heart. I first travelled there in 1991, a wide eyed | | | | tricky. I was enjoying my own head space when |
| kid wet behind the ears with a bucket shop one | | | | we arrived at the first village of wooden homes, |
| way ticket to Bangkok. My grand plans of a short | | | | pecking chickens and lots of smiles, basic but I |
| beach break before heading down to the east | | | | couldn’t think of anywhere else I would rather |
| coast of Australia joining the 1000’s of | | | | have been. Chan, our guide, was a local from a |
| Pommie pilgrims earning a right of passage | | | | neighbouring village and before long he had us |
| didn’t exactly go to plan. I left Thailand eleven | | | | divided amongst our village hosts before the sun |
| months later to return home penniless, | | | | set and got too difficult for us city people to do |
| emancipated and full of great stories, which my | | | | anything without electric light. That night, with the |
| friends soon got bored with. | | | | noise of the surrounding jungle lying on a |
| I returned a few times mainly to Bangkok and | | | | mattress roll on a bamboo floor, was maybe the |
| Koh Samui happy to be back in the land of smiles | | | | most peaceful night’s sleep I have ever had. |
| but feeling slightly disappointed at all the changes. | | | | The next day’s trek was shorter and we |
| The old story of development being good for the | | | | covered ground quicker, maybe we were getting |
| locals but not good for my sense of adventure. | | | | used to the trekking but I think it was the |
| That didn’t deter me from joining the | | | | excitement of the elephant ride to come that |
| Imaginative Travellers Wilderness Adventure two | | | | afternoon. Lunch was delicious but we were too |
| years ago. | | | | busy watching the elephants wash in the river to |
| Arriving in Bangkok this time was different. I had | | | | notice. Elephants are brilliant creatures and being |
| a hotel booked so no lugging my pack in | | | | on one journeying deeper into the jungle is a |
| Bangkok’s suffocating mixture of exhaust | | | | fantastic experience. |
| fumes, heat and humidity looking for a clean bed. | | | | The next morning Chan had us up early helping |
| I had a group to meet too, this was also good, | | | | him and the village men build our rafts to take us |
| eating Pad Thai on your own looking for a fellow | | | | down river to civilization. It is all part of the |
| traveller to strike a conversation with can be hard | | | | experience helping the guys and by helping I mean |
| work. There were 10 of us, a mix of Poms, | | | | staying out of their way while they expertly craft |
| Aussies, a Canadian, an American and a South | | | | our rafts. A serene float down to the nearest |
| African. We all met for dinner and shortly after | | | | small town where our bus was waiting to take us |
| my first Thai beer I knew this would be a fun trip | | | | to a hot shower and another massage. |
| Bangkok to me means food and shopping and the | | | | We left Chiang Mai and headed back to Bangkok |
| best place to find both is the Chata Chuk | | | | where we broke the journey up to the south |
| weekend market. I headed there with belly | | | | with an over night stay in the city of angels. |
| empty and wallet full destined to reverse the two. | | | | I had heard a few good things about Khoa Sok |
| The market is huge, really huge, 35 acres of | | | | national park, not too popular with tourists or |
| cheap goodies huge and sells everything from | | | | backpackers alike due it not having a major bus |
| furniture to genuine fake designer clothes. The | | | | stop. To get there you need to stop the bus by |
| street food is fantastic but remember the | | | | the 3rd banyan tree after 17th stream near the |
| Thai’s like it hot. I left my shopping with the | | | | big hill and you will find a bakkie waiting to take |
| hotel to keep safe as I would be returning there | | | | you into the park. I’m glad we had a tour |
| once I finished the trip. | | | | leader. The first night we slept with the birds in |
| Off to Chiang Mai on the overnight train. I like | | | | tree houses the second and third we stayed in |
| travelling like this, sleeping while moving makes | | | | raft houses on a man made dam. It is a truly |
| sense to me and the train is clean, functional, safe | | | | beautiful area and a few of us spent the days |
| and fine. I think Chiang Mai is the perfect place to | | | | swimming in waterfalls, flooded caves, kayaking |
| escape hectic Bangkok. It’s a peaceful, happy | | | | and hiking and some of just sat back and took it |
| place and that reflects in the locals. Sight seeing | | | | all in. |
| will take you to the Wat Pratat Doi Suthep | | | | How to finish this Thailand trip? On the beach of |
| temple - stunning and golden on a sunny day. The | | | | course. The islands around Krabi are what we |
| next stage of the trip was trekking in the | | | | visualize when we think of a Thai beach and they |
| surrounding jungle, I decided I needed a massage | | | | do not disappoint. The Thai’s have a word |
| before we set off. | | | | called sabai, loosely translated it means an inner |
| A trek in the hills of Northern Thailand is a chance | | | | happiness and contentment. I woke one |
| to escape everyday life and clear your head. The | | | | afternoon from a napping on the beach and |
| going is not too difficult for someone with fairly | | | | understood exactly what sabai means. |