Wednesday 14th January 2009

Back from our trek which we really enjoyed. We spent three days & two nights in the jungle within a few kms of the Laos border. After a drive from Nan through teak and Bamboo forest, we had a steep uphill trek to our overnight stay. A 'homestay' in a Hmong (Thai hill-tribe) village. We stayed with a local family, in a purpose built hut next to their house & were made very welcome. The father was the local knife maker and had an old fashioned forge, with hand bellows, although the effect was rather spoilt by the electric grinder! We ate our evening meal with the family & even managed to get some sleep between the rooster calls and dog barks. Tigers are to be found in this area and the village lost a few cows to them recently. We didn't see any though - only poo. A good hard trek on day 2, with 18 river crossings. We camped (in a bamboo hut) in night two in the national park, miles from anywhere. The guide cooked for us & lit a fire & we sat looking at the stars with the only sounds the sounds of the forest. Bliss. Back to Nan yesterday, we had a mini-splurge last evening & ate at one of the riverside restaurants. Nan has a boat festival every year - Henley regatta thai-style - and the river side is very pleasant. We sat there watching the crews practise; it could have been Henley, except with a meal for two (crab, river fish, beer & lots more...) coming in under six pounds each, this was definitely not Henley prices.