It being festival season in Thailand and all, we were smack in the middle of town as a carnival prosession was getting ready to kick off. Kids marching, bands playing and 'little Miss Thai girls' on floats - all very nice as we sat atop the Th Phae Gate where it all started. As we were chatting amongst ourselves, we both jumped as 3 huge fireworks launched from between the city gates - about 20ft away from where we were balanced!
It was all underway and after watching the first few dozen groups pass we noticed something quite phenomenal in the sky. Tradition of this festival says that the city dwellers get these paper hot air balloons - powered by a hefty wick and flame. The wick is lit and 90 seconds later, the 4ft glowing white jellyfish are drifting skywards. Some times modified with extra fireworks trailing as they float toward the stars. Within 30minutes it was all you could see - no stars, just a big full moon and hundreds of these things drifting along. It was seriously alien! (Click on the picture - it's not great but is the best I could manage with my snappy cam)
Our first full day we got up and headed straight for the Lanna View golf course. It was much more of a classy affair than we'd been used to so far - we had to pay a couple of quid for caddies to accompany us - money well spent as it turned out. The sunshine beat down for all 9 holes as we tried our hardest not to lose balls to water, sand and sprinkler systems. It was a perfect way to spend a day though. Although my score card was far from perfect! I blame the rental clubs!! We felt a little underdressed in combat shorts and rolled up T shirts but the members took great humour in seeing some Westerners striding their course... or they were just laughing at our shots!
Next up was the Chiang Mai 1 day trek. It allows you an elephant ride, a short trek to a waterfall and an experience of white water rafting. A really cool day started out at the elephant sanctuary. A couple of women were placed on the elephants seat and then the Thai guy said
something like: "You man, sit up front"I laughed it off thinking he was messing with me. He pretty much grabbed me and sat me atop the beasties head! I was a little taken aback in honesty but after an initial shaky first 5minutes - me and the trunked one were exchanging life stories. Through squishy mud and rivers we went - a few times headed off into the shrubbery but a great experience I'll never forget!
We saw the waterfall which was a little bit of a non event after the ones we'd seen in Nepal then had some lunch. Afterwards we headed to the beginning of the rafting river. I'm pretty sure they just like to make the tourists look as ridiculous as possible but after donning my fluroescent helmet, we were headed off. Nick and I were doing the work as our only other passengers were a couple of young lads who were just along for the ride. After getting a few heavy soakings through the rapids we were done for the day.
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