Chiang Rai (Day 4 - Final Day - Trekking!)

Day 4, the last full day, was our adventure day.  We took an all day day-trip, which brought us to tribal villages in the mountains, boat rides, anaconda snakes, tea plantations, hot springs, and elephant rides.

The mountains were inspiring, the hot spring steamy, and the snakes heavy.  Other than that, I am going to let the pictures do all the talking.  As always, click the photo to enlarge it.

Boat ride to our first tribal village (you can see my bee sting in this picture)

Elephant ride through the Akha hill tribe village 

Big snakes, big lizards!

Me as a (dry) pink marshmallow - starting our mountain trek to  the other hill tribes 

Beautiful view from the mountain

Rest stop, and goofing off

Beautiful waterfall, with a couple of nerve-racking crossings

Tea plantation

After visiting the hill tribes and sharing a cup of tea with them, we saw a tea plantation and then went to the hot springs for some rest and relaxation.  We did not take any pictures in or of the hill tribes because some people living in the tribes believe that if you take a picture of them you take away a part of their soul.  You are supposed to ask before you take a picture of them, and/or offer to send the picture back to them (which they believes allows them to reclaim that piece of their soul).  

The next day we packed up and left for our flight.

We had a long and wonderful mini-vacation!

Next to come - the trip I took this last weekend to Cambodia!

Lots and lots of love,
Kelsey