Chiang Mai & Jungle Trek

Here are some photos from the three day trek into the jungles of Northern Thailand. Our guides for the trek were from the Karen tribe, and they hadn't used a modern toilet or seen electricity until they were eighteen. During the trek we actually got to stay in various Karen villages. It was a lot of walking, but the views were great and so were the waterfalls.


Here's a photo of our guides playing the national sport of rattan ball (I think that's how its spelled). This game involves keeping a hollow ball made out of bamboo up in the air as long as possible by using every part of your body, but your hands. Points are scored by hitting the ball over the net into the other teams court. Its like a combination of hacky sack and volleyball.


Taking a break in one of the many waterfalls in the jungles of N. Thailand




Kicking back in my jungle bungalow




One of our guides drank way too much Thailand whisky (aka rum) and later forced us to assume the soldier position and sing the national anthem - everyone was laughing so hard it was amazing no one fell into the fire pit.



Strangely, this massive soccer court is right in the middle of the jungle. The tribes around there must really love the game.




Hanging out in a classroom at the "Jungle School." In the past the king and government of Thailand forced many young men and women to leave their tribes and relocate to the city, which led to one of the tribesman committing suicide. After this death, the tribe fought back against the government, and the relocation process stopped. A school was also built in the tribesman honor, and children from the jungle are allowed to study here for free.





Riding a big ol elephant - I was the only one who got stuck riding on the head. This position was great fun, except my elephant kept spraying me with his trunk.



Bamboo rafting - it was basically a massive water fight





Relaxing after the trek with all our fellow trekkers in Chang Mai - except for the kids on the right who were trying to sell us flowers.



Eight year olds fighting


This was taken at the kick boxing stadium in central Chiang Mai - this stadium is primarily geared towards tourists, and therefore the fighters are not as talented and are often times just kids. The main stadium in Chiang Mai on the other hand has some of the best fights in Thailand. When we went to the main stadium four of the eight fights we saw ended on knock outs - it was quite intense. The fighting in both of these stadiums is continuous, because the moment one match ends the next fighters jump in and began fighting. The first two rounds are not usually exciting and this is the time in the match where the fighters feel each other out. The third round is the most action intensive and depending on how the third round went the next rounds will either be really exciting (if it was a tie in the third round) or the fighters will avoid each other (if one of the fighters clearly won in the third round).

Knock Out !!!!


Pumped up after seeing some Muay Thai Kick Boxing (Bryce's friends from UPS on the right - Mike and left - Sam)


Ready to cook at the Chiang Mai Cookery School


Now I'm a professional Thai chef



The temple of Doi Suthep - on top of a mountain overlooking Chiang Mai.



One of the many photos of the king hanging in Thailand - these photos are hanging throughout every city in Thailand - some of the picturse are less grand than others, for instance one of the photos of the king captures him in what must be a stressful situation because there is sweat hanging off his nose and considering the size of the photo this ball of sweat is larger than my head (next time i see that photo i'll be sure to get a shot of it)

Auytthaya

Auytthaya is a town about 2 hours by train north of Bangkok. Bangkok is absolute madness - making Auyttaha an extremely relaxing change. Most of all of the temples in Auytthaya are ruins, but they are still breathtaking. Bryce and I rented some bikes from a Police Station of all places and we later learned what a big mistake that was. Not only were are bikes extremely small, but they were absolute pieces of junk - my chain was much to big for the gears and fell off about 40 times and our brakes didn't work. Only after renting did we learn of the various other places that had nice bikes for rent - hindsight is 20/20 eh. None the less it was fun to peddle around all the sights.



Here's the trio of chedis at Wat Phra Si Sanphet - I guess these chedis were used as models for creating the chedis found at the Wat Phra Keo (huge temple complex in Bangkok). There are a lot less people at the ruins of Auytthaya than the Wats of Bangkok, which makes it easier to take personal photos.




Here we are on our sweet rides - a great photo to attach to a Hell's Angel application



Bryce can't believe how small he is in comparison to the towering prang at Wat Phra Mahathat






5 baht to get your bike and body across the river - not bad



Largest wat in Auytthaya - Wat Chai Watthanaram






There are vehicles of all sorts painted with elaborate depictions such as this

Bangkok, Thailand 02/14/06 - 02/17/06

Sorry it took so long to finally see some photos from Thailand, but it was very difficult to find an internet cafe with a truly high speed connection - hope you enjoy the shots & I'd put a more detailed explanation for the photos but I've seen so much since then that I've forgotten a lot of the history and surrounding these places. It's unbelievable how many Wats litter the country of Thailand - after a while they all seem to mesh together in your brain, but one thing is for sure they are all quite amazing.




Shooting pool Thai style on Khao San Rd (the main hangout of the West in Bangkok)


Part of the Reclining Buddha (100 Ft) at Wat Pho. Bryce and I got an hour long classic Thai massage at the Wat for a mere 300 baht (about 7 American dollars) it was well worth it.



Some pillars (I forget the specific name) at Wat Pho.




Part of a long string of paintings (probably around a km if you straightened it all out). It's strange how the figures themselves are not particularly complex, but the skin or attire of the figures are very detailed.





Part of Wat Phra Kaeo, which is the largest temple complex in Bangkok, and likely the biggest in Thailand. You could walk around this complex for days and still not see everything - pictures sadly cannot do this place justice.



The Grand Palace, which is part of the temple complex at Wat Phra Kaeo.




Tallest Buddha in Thailand about 150ft. At the foot of this Buddha there are little temples, which are strangely filled with cats and kittens.


Bryce demonstrating his awesome power at Wat Sraket - showing that anyone can be king for a day.


On top of Golden Mount the highest wat in Bangkok. This wat looks like a massive spiral fortress from afar.





Getting in touch with my inner chi at the bottom of the Golden Mount.



Wat Benchamabphit - the marble temple


Inside the marble temple





This is the inside of the Lucky Buddha Wat & it is supposedly open only one day a year, but that's the word of a tutut driver.