Setting Off

Getting Started

After a decently timed start at 9am we headed out in the Tuk Tuks, a small convoy of 6 machines. All being chauffeur driven except the South African couple. Although he enjoys driving, I think he regrets this choice as his wife didn't take the test so it means he completing all the driving and she is sat in the back. It has meant he missed out on the elephant walk and rafting as was moving the tuk tuk. It also means he cannot drink during the day.

We are headed to Meaklang Luang and the Karen Tribe village for our stay tonight. Knowing that she has her own tribe has sent Karen even more power crazy!

Sunshine Start and Pushing the Tuk Tuk

The drive started in the sunshine and we quickly got the steep and windy roads as we ascended to about 1000m. The roads varied from proper road to tracks. But even some of the roads had potholes that would embarrass Sheffield as parts were one side of the road had collapsed or was covered by a mudslide.

The noise the tuk tuks make as they struggle up the hills is worrying and we think the regular stops are as much to let them cool down as for us to get coffee etc. Unfortunately despite the stops our tuk tuk needed a rest, stopping half-way up a hill and refusing to restart. We pushed it a 100 yards to the next rest point and after allowing it to cool down for a while we set of again with not further issues

Why Does it Always Rain...

The scenery of the mountains as been impressive and the area is full of polytunnels for various crops absolutely hundreds of tunnels on some hill sides. Where there are no polytunnels the hills tend to be full of trees or crops so a mass of different greens.

At lunch time we had a thunder storm and torrential rain, this meant our afternoon activities of a hike and looking round some gardens were cancelled and we had a lazy afternoon at the hotel/resort.

Maeklang Luang Resort

The itinerary did warn this is the most basic place we stay but has amazing views. It was right on both parts, the room are basic but for 2 nights that's fine. It reminds us of some of our Central America stays.

For tea if was a BBQ where we cooked it ourselves, This was fine until the lights went out (to stop the May flies swooping) then trying tell if the meat was cooked became a little harder, the next morning I felt fine so hopefully all was cooked for me. We did see torches in the valley below us and apparently it's the frog catching season and these were people catching frogs. The guides said frogs are eaten in Thailand as a standard thing rather than a delicacy and the whole of the frog is eaten....hopefully not by us.

At the tea there was another couple and the lad was sporting injuries from a motorbike accident, that gave us memories of James calling home after crashing his motorbike.

The food was nice and the chat good, although after we had been told not to feed this dog, a lady next to me still fed him. When challenged, after the South African chap had told on her, she said it's okay as the food came out of my mouth!