Well I did not die today

So this sadly will be the second time I write this post because it is Thailand. And I am going to write it a little differently than before because this time I am sitting in a coffee shop in Chiang Rai rather than on my bamboo balcony overlooking mountains, jungles and rice fields.

So after the end of the last post things got real. We took a blue suntow to our hotel from the old bus station. We also met an elderly Aussie couple that is staying at our hotel as well. So the suntow starts driving and driving and driving. Out of the busy traffic of the city and into the country. After 45 minutes it stops and we have to transfer to a World War II era jeep. Now the fun begins. Traveling up and down those mountains made me feel like I was actually going to die. And I just thought, hey if we get stuck or fall back down the mountain or sideways and down the mountain into the river below that I will just deal with the situation the best I could. I mean, I was already jammed in the back of a jeep, what else could I do? The inclines we went up and down were ridiculous and we slid our way through many patches of red clay mud (yep they have that here).

At one point the incline was so steep that the driver had half of us get out and walk it. Our knees were touching our chest as we climbed the curvy incline road through a rural mountain village. The village was skattered with tiny chicks and dogs and children who yelled out "Money, money!!" when they saw us :-( I was really glad I wore my Tevas because even with them I was sliding backwards on the wet rocks and red clay mud.

So then we get to our hotel and it is beautiful. Completely made of bamboo and wood and on stilts on the side of the mountain. Mosquito nets hung like a princess canopy over over our beds and it reminded me of the beginning scenes of The Secret Garden. And we have a bamboo balcony with a hammock. And the view. I will try to upload pictures when I finish this post. I figure I had better before I drop my camera down the side of the mountain. But it was beautiful. Amazing.

We had dinner at the group dining hut with the Aussie couple and a British family. Then we walked in the dark back to our hut by way of makeshift tiki torches down the bamboo stairs. We get into our hut and began playing "Get the bat out of the cabin." What?! You've never played this game? It is quite funny. Afterwards we all had the most amazing sleep.

Then this morning we took a trip into the city in the back of a pick up truck which was another terrifying experience, but hey! I am still alive! And now I am having cheesecake in a cafe and cell service and internet. No telling what all is going to happen in the next few days!