Wow - what a week!
The last few days have been quite action packed (apart from Monday).

Monday 5th ...
Lazy day. Knackered. Wandered around the city!

Tuesday 6th ...
Still tired but a bit more adventurous.
First stop the zoo. This was not the cleanest and best maintained but was interesting all the same.
Then after some bartering with the Seangtaew drivers (70 bart each / 210 for the 3 of you/70 bart each/ok 210 for the 3 of you) we headed up to Doi Sutep. This is one of the biggest Bhuddist temples in Thailand. Its quite pretty and you get a great view over Chiang Mai.
The whole place is wrapped in superstition and 'task' orientated worship. The Bhuddists are very vague about quite who they worship and there is a huge discrepancy between Thai practices and Bhuddist beliefs. They are very wrapped up in their tasks but can't really give answers as to the purpose and benefits. Its a bit strange and quite sad really.
As Nat put it "really challenging".


Wednesday 7th ...
We hired a Seangteaw (taxi) for the day which took us up to an Elephant camp.
On arrival we were taken on a 30 minute ride through the forest. Our 30 year old Elephant was amazingly sure footed although it was quite steep in places and the rain had made the ground quite slippery underfoot. Our guide was kind enough to stop the Elephant and take some photos for us with our camera. With a shout the Elephant lowered his head and held out his trunk for the guide to use as a step.
The Elephant show was amazing too. Playing football, stacking logs, generally showing off and even producing little paintings! Afterwards the Elephants come over to the visitors and allowed us to take photos whilst they gave us a hug!!!
I've got some small video clips on our digi cam which are quite fasinating.
Nat said this was the best thing she had ever done!!! - so far!!! After all Elephants are one of her favourite animals and she found it put her mind at rest that the animals were really well cared for after the experience of the zoo.
The whole experience was very invigorating.


Thursday 8th ...
Thai cooking course today!
This is one of those tourist things that you just have to do. Thai food is just the best and its great to be taught how to use the various ingredients. It was out on a Thai organic farm and all the produce was picked fresh. We were shown round the farm and the market. Our cook told us about all the differences between rices and veg and pastes. Very interesting.
We made red curry paste, Thai red curry, spicy papaya salad, Pad Thai (noodles) and sticky rice with Mangos. This is gorgeous - even I like it and I think rice pudding is gross!
The food was delicious and we were given a cookery book so we can continue with our recipes when we get back to the UK. We'll cook you somthing when we're home.
Tonight - its Kareoke night, Thai style!!!