This weekend was probably my favorite so far. Oh, I loved it! We started it off with elephant riding (my new favorite animal). We then went hiking through the mountains through different hill tribes. We ended up at a beautiful waterfall where we camped for the night. It was so fun to sit around the campfire singing random American songs that one of our guides knew on the guitar. Our guides were from the Karen hilltribe, where we stayed. They were born and raised in this little village and they were so excited to show us their home. I loved it because I didn't feel like it was the typical touristy zoo thing. They weren't in it just to make money. They honestly loved their job and we loved the experience. The next day we took off again, saw a few more waterfalls, played a soccer game with another hilltribe, and ate lunch out of banana leaves. That is hilltribe backpacking food for you. Forget Chunky soup, stick some fried rice in a banana leaf! We hiked about 10 miles all together and it was some pretty steep terrain. I am definitely sore today. After our hike we rafted down the river on bamboo rafts. We might have stopped to do some cliff jumping and swimming too:) To top it off, we went and got pizza and root beer and some more delicious Swenson's. As we were finishing our sundays, we saw fireworks in the distance...somebody else was celebrating too:) Oh happy day. I have never felt so patriotic than when celebrating my country's birthday somewhere else. I love Thailand. But it has really made me appreciate the freedoms and opportunities that I have as and American. We are truly blessed.
Tut Tut Tut
And so it begins....across the rickety bridge #1
beautiful terraced rice fields
Rambo: one of our guides (check out his awesome machete)
the waterfall where we camped
where we slept
our lunch
Jenessa and I playing in the waterfall
Margo and I LOVING a delicious sunday from Swenson's!
(Dad you would have loved this weekend. I kept thinking of you the whole time, pretty sure I even dreamt about you being there:) We will have to do it again, right?)
What about me? I want a baby elephant! Well I look like a baby elephant, but glad you are having a blast, looks so amazing!! Miss ya!
ReplyDeleteGrant loves the picture of you riding the elephant. Was your guides name really Rambo or is that just what you guys called him? I wouldn't be suprised either way. That ice cream looks so delicious. I remember how McDonald's ice cream cones seemed to taste out of this world when I was in China. Everything you did this weekend looked so fun. I am so glad you got to do all that. I wish I could do that with you as well.
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