AmyHuang
Hilltribes of northern Thailand: Trek day 3
(continued from previous post)
Our last day was the easiest but also full of interesting moments. After breakfast we were herded down to the river where bamboo rafts, built earlier in the morning were waiting for us. These basic crafts were our means of getting to the end of our trip, and it meant a good four hours on the raft, down a river with slight bends and rapids, steered and pushed along with long bamboo poles. The bamboo rafts look shabby but they are stable and cuts through rapids like nothing else. Where rubber boats might splash and wobble these bamboo rafts stayed flat and carried us through. On the way we met villagers using similar boats to fish and saw buffaloes hanging out by the river side.
When we eventually pulled up at our destination, and was trucked back to our hotels, it was hard to say good bye. On the trip with us were another Australian couple, a pair of sisters from the US as well as a French family of five. Each and everyone of them had become family as we relied on each other in basic living conditions and it just felt so natural to be with each other. To Sombat, who was our guide, first aider, cook, translator, rower, teacher and companion, thank you.
We have since returning been resting in Chiang Mai. Had a massage each, visiting temple after temple and enjoying browsing through the markets that run from street to street. I'll write about this quirky little place later.
Our last day was the easiest but also full of interesting moments. After breakfast we were herded down to the river where bamboo rafts, built earlier in the morning were waiting for us. These basic crafts were our means of getting to the end of our trip, and it meant a good four hours on the raft, down a river with slight bends and rapids, steered and pushed along with long bamboo poles. The bamboo rafts look shabby but they are stable and cuts through rapids like nothing else. Where rubber boats might splash and wobble these bamboo rafts stayed flat and carried us through. On the way we met villagers using similar boats to fish and saw buffaloes hanging out by the river side.
Drifting down the river on our bamboo raft
Passing by villagers fishing
When we eventually pulled up at our destination, and was trucked back to our hotels, it was hard to say good bye. On the trip with us were another Australian couple, a pair of sisters from the US as well as a French family of five. Each and everyone of them had become family as we relied on each other in basic living conditions and it just felt so natural to be with each other. To Sombat, who was our guide, first aider, cook, translator, rower, teacher and companion, thank you.
We have since returning been resting in Chiang Mai. Had a massage each, visiting temple after temple and enjoying browsing through the markets that run from street to street. I'll write about this quirky little place later.
