Around Pai, Thailand

Besides enjoying our time in Pai, the trio had a couple of great adventures just outside the city.

As a tourist town, there were tons of different tour operators competing for your business. We weren't keen on hitting absolutely all the sights (some of the tours started at 4am and went to 6pm). We wanted to see Pai canyon at sunset (too hot during the day), on our schedule, and we didn't think we could handle renting scooters.  The alternative presented to us was this contraption:

Yes that's a scooter with a metal frame cart. No we didn't drive ourselves. Anna and I scrunched into the cart while jazzy rode behind the driver. 

Anna relaxed perched on the cart while on the highway.

It may look like I'm laying on the road. I'm actually crouched into the little teeny cart. It might be my preferred way to travel.

All these shenanigans were definitely worth while when we made it to the canyon. The setting was beautiful.

The red dirt was the canyon. You might be able to make out it snaking to the right. The mountains were hazy in the distance.

This was the treacherous path that jasmine coached me over. You know how on a mountain walk often the path drops off on one side while the other is up the mountian? The canyon's path drops off on both sides. Very steeply. Darling jasmine held my hand and got me over the edge. Once over the pass, it was tons of fun.

We scrambled bare foot up and down the rocks like a couple of kids!

Anna and jasmine on the far side of the canyon (I eventually caught up to them!)

The trio at sunset on the canyon.

We had arranged for our driver to come back and get us at about 6:30. Come 6:45 we were getting a little anxious. Will he come?

Or will we be forced to hitchhike in the dark in Thailand? 

Don't worry mums, he came!

After such a fun and successful trip on Thursday, we used the same outfitters to go on a trek on Friday. Unfortnuately Anna fell ill, so could not join us. (She is feeling much better now).

Jasmine and I, a nice couple from Manchester, and our guide set off at 9am for a 15km hike through the jungle (is it jungle here?)

We started off hiking through local farm towns. They mostly grow garlic as it is a relatively profitable crop. 

The beginning of our walk. Not very shady unfortunately... We were quite warm by the end.

Jaz and I on our walk.

I have to admit I got a little tired and focused on the steep incline we were faced with, so I have no more photographic evidence until about 4pm when we finally made it to the waterfall:

Sleepy Jaz and mangey stray relaxing at the waterfall. Well earned break!

We are back in Chiang Mai tonight and then cross the border in Laos tomorrow. On Monday we begin the highly anticipated gibbon experience which will allow us to live for two nights like the Swiss family robinson. It does involve ziplining above the canopy in a developing country (with one of us, me, being very scared of heights). Hopefully I'll tell you all about it next Thursday with all my limbs in tact. Also jasmine and Anna deserve an award for whatever they're about to put up with from me. I might be forced to blog about solo travels after this!