Climbing A Mountain

So I wasn't really planning to climb a mountain...it just kinda happened. I thought I was agreeing to go elephant riding, whitewater rafting, and bamboo rafting. I was wondering how that was going to last two days, but I didn't think about it too much. We stopped at an orchid farm and a snake farm soon after we left Chiang Mai, but those things didn't take too long.

beautiful orchids.


I felt obligated to take a picture even though I think snakes are gross.

Little did I know there was a trek up a mountain and down part of the mountain that took up a good portion of the two days.This is the only picture I took the whole way up because I was so exhausted I didn't feel like using any more energy than absolutely necessary. Thus, I did not take the effort to get my camera out of my bag.

Finally to the top.

Our home for the night: a bamboo hut. Did I mention there was no power on top of the mountain?

sunset from the top of a mountain. almost made the trek up worth it.

In the morning we got up and it was down the mountain to the elephant camp and to whitewater rafting. The trek down was so much easier than the way up. It was shorter, downhill, and cooler temps since we left in the morning instead of the middle of the afternoon.

the whole group before we got sweaty from the hike down.

we stopped for a break at a waterfall.

that's me on an elephant!

feeding the elephants...see the one in the back lunging for the bananas?

All in all it was a great weekend, even if my legs hurt while I am motionless. and even if my feet have more blisters than I can count. Riding the elephants was definitely the best part...I have a new found love for elephants now!