kenoathtravels.com - thailand trek

For something different Edna and I decided to book an organised tour through Northern Thailand with Intrepid Tours.

In · trep · id adj. fearless, bold, not hesitating at danger.
Well, that's how the dictionary describes Intrepid.

Edna thought the word just mean't cautious . . .
This 16 day tour included a 4 day Hilltribe Trek so straight away we thought our fellow travellers would be young, fit and probably capable of doing a tri-athlon before breakfast.
So both of us, being in our early 40's, thought that we may have a bit of a problem here. Could we keep up the pace? How far do we really have to walk each day?
WE HAD NO WORRIES ! ! !

Roadside stalls have just about anything.

SUNDAY 3/9/00
We packed, filled up the water bottles and went downstairs for a group meeting at the Viengtai Hotel dining room. With pep talk concluded all 12 of us, and our 'leader' Elly headed out into a steamy Bangkok with bags in hand, shoulder and back.
After walking to the river and jumping onto a longboat we arrived at Wat Po where the Reclining Buddah is housed. A few too many tourists for my liking but that's how it is where the big fella resides.
We then went for a canal cruise through the damper areas of Bangkok and had lunch at a floating market. More aquatic touring till we got off to board a bus to Kanchanaburi. On arrival we were met by very excitable rickshaw drivers. With baggage, and of course ourselves on board, we headed to the Hotel VL. Spent the arvo having a good look around which included a visit to the War Memorial. A yummy dinner at the local night market and then a squiz at the local 'Myers' to do a bit of shopping.

Buddah looked after us in Thailand, all 900 million of them!
(give or take a million or two)

Monday 4/9/00
After breakfast we all piled into a Songthaew. These vehicles are like a covered ute with a bit of padding to sit on. Elly our 'leader' had a wisdom tooth removed the previous week and was having a hard time with the pain so she opted to leave our group and left us on our houseboat. A leisurely cruise up the river and we stopped to have a look at some temples. A bit of lunch, a swim and a rest in the arvo. After a big dinner it was time to get into a few beers or 20! All the group slept in the top deck of the houseboat.

Edna demonstrates the ancient art of flushing a squat toilet.
Caution must be observed when using squat dunnies, especially if you have dicky knees.

Our luxurious houseboat on the River Kwai.
Downstairs for entertaining, upstairs for sleeping and out the back for piddling and swimming.

Wednesday 6/9/00
8.30am start and off to Ayuthaya, which was the second capital of Thailand before the Burmese blew the crap out of it. More Buddahs and temples and back to a day hostel where we had a bit of a rest before boarding our overnight sleeper train to Chang Mai in the North of Thailand. A pep talk by the rail officers in regards to keeping all valuables hidden and watching out for pickpockets.
A good night time trip as the train rocked everyone to sleep.

Friday 8/9/00
Another day in Chaing Mai. More shopping! Found some great little eating houses where you could get your fill for about A$1. Off then to the Hill Tribe Museum to get an idea of what we were to expect during out Hill Tribe Trek. Then to Doi Suthep Temple where we witnessed more Buddahs and Monks doing what Monks do . . chanting a lot. Took the chairlift up to the temple and then back down (OK, we felt a bit lazy this day). Rang the bells for good luck. While waiting for our ride back to the Hostel we were set upon by an assortment of street sellers. They were ruthless. Big feed back in town and more shopping!

Thursday 7/9/00
Arrived safely in Chaing Mai, pilled into a mini bus and after a yummy breakfast we booked into our hostel. Then it was off to have an elephant ride. Elephants are neither built for comfort or speed. Back to Chang Mai and into the shopping! The markets are great and the Hill Tribe women who tend to follow you everywhere are absolutely gorgeous in the way they, well, just hassle you. More shopping and then a late night snack of yummy spring rolls and a couple of beers.

While on a fast boat at the Golden Triangle Edna begs the question:
'Where's the shopping?'

Hail boat here!

Saturday 9/9/00
Stored our shopping and other big items at the Hostel as all we needed was our treking gear. After a 3 hour bus trip to Mae Ai we arrived at our homestay which was Joe's Place. A former border patrol captain, he took us to 'no man's land' on the Burma/Thai border. Not much action from the Burmese army, and the only life from the Thai post was a bloke whipper snipping a paddock. After a look at a tea factory we headed back to Joe's Place for a night of eating, drinking and dancing. The band were kept happy with a bottle of Mekong Whiskey which went down a treat by the boys.

Sunday 10/9/00
We left for Ban Tha Ton where we waited for the cops to give us a permit for the Trek. Jumped onto a longboat and headed to the Elephant Camp, official start of our Trek. There was a bloody big snake in a cage which comes out every now and then for the amusement of tourists.
Next, the trek! The 12 of us, our 'leader', Joe and 3 others headed off into the humid environment of the hills. Got to the first village, the Lahu, and set up camp.
Very basic accommodation and amenities. Very friendly locals.
This was an experience and a half, not too many tourists get to see this part of Northern Thailand let alone stay in these kind of villages.

Monday 11/9/00
After a brekky of banana pancakes we headed off to the next village, the Aka. The trek, heat and humidity took its toll on 3 of the group and they had to pull out (there were no tri-athletes on this trek!). Arrived later at the village and was greeted by the local children. Again basic digs and the local bath was down the bank to the river! I got the impression by comments I was hearing from the group that they had not looked in the dictionary to see what Intrepid meant!!

A Hill Tribe girl waves to our camera

Wednesday 13/9/00
More yummy pancakes for brekky (you can't half tell the tucker made an impression on me) and off to the bus stop where we were to be picked up and taken to Doi Mae Salong, a bit of a Chinese Provence up the top of Thailand. Said our goodbyes to Joe and the boys and got into a nice hot shower. Then into a couple of nice cold Leo beers. The full moon was on so the locals let off heaps of crackers most of the night to ward off the evil spirits. Funny place this Doi Mae Salong, they still carry side arms and the bloke at reception where we were staying seemed to have a bazooka under the counter. Still, ace tucker everywhere in town and of course friendly people. The local kids shot a skyrocket towards my direction, which I ducked just in time. Of course this was friendly fire and one of them ran up to me with a rocket so that I could fire back at them. This 'rocket' could have put a satellite into orbit, but it was insisted that I fire at the mob down the street. I did, and fun was had by all! Thank God I didn't hit anyone, the image of that 'bazooka' behind the reception desk was still fresh in my mind!

Oh no, those bloody westeners have arrived!

The track from the village to the dunny

The dunny!

Tuesday 12/9/00
More pancakes for brekky and off to the next village, the Lisu. Rained most of the way and was very slippery. At one stage our guide suddenly headed us into the scrub through the jungle where there was no track at all. I had to laugh when Katie, a little Pommy sheila on our trek said 'who's idea was this?'. I was a bit slow, I should have said 'yours, of course, you did book the trip!'. Got to the village early arvo and settled down for a relax, and of course that every present yummy food!

Thursday 14/9/00
We left the 'wild west' of Thailand and headed to the Golden Triangle where we went on a wild speedboat ride between 3 countries. Then off to Chang Rai where we stayed the night. The hotel we stayed at was called Yoo Sook. Strangely enough this is where the 3 who pulled out of the trek had been staying all this time!
More shopping, good tucker and into the cot later that night.

Local Hill Tribe children adjusting their TV antenna so that they can pick up the latest episode of JAG.

Friday 15/9/00
Left Chang Rai and off again the Chang Mai. Arrived back at the Hostel and reunited with our large luggage and of course the shopping we had done so far.
Saw a bit of the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, it did not make me homesick at all.
Last minute shopping and then headed off to the railway station later on in the afternoon for our sleeper back to the big city.
Had a feed on the train and a few beers and with the slow rocking movement of the train fell into a deep sleep which lasted all the way to Bangkok.

Saturday 16/9/00
Arrived in smokey Bangkok early in the morning.
We all piled into taxis and headed back to the Viengtai Hotel for the last day of our tour.
Some of the group left to fly home that night but most left in dribs and drabs over the next few days.
A final dinner was on tonight and we all said our goodbyes.

So there you go . . .
A trip with more twists and turns than the Great Ocean Road.
If anyone that was on the trip with us has more to add to this, let us know, we'll include it in future updates.
If anyone wants to know more details on certain aspects of this trip, again, let me know and I'll elaborate further.

So, who was on this trip, and where were they from?
Emi and Katie from England
Bob and Chris from Sydney
Sarah and Clayton from Sydney
Darren and Heather from Sydney
Kylie and Angela from Sydney
Ken and Edna from Alice Springs
Jason 'our leader' from Australia (but wizzing around Asia)

Thanks to Angela who supplied some of the pics that appear on this site.
Where are the rest?? You must have heaps . . . and that goes for the rest of you!!
Also a big thanks to Joe Cup who looked after Edna on the Trek.
He wanted her to give him her backpack to carry but Ed refused and plodded on regardless.
You don't have to be fast . . . just consistant!

cheers
Ken and Edna