Highlights of Chiang Mai city:
- amazing temples and ancient architecture.
- the night bazaar - a collection of 100s of outdoor stalls where you can buy cheap fake versions of everything from billabong t-shirts to new release DVDs, as well as cool Thai handicrafts etc... Harry likes the cheap English Premier League soccer strips, the girls like heaps of things... the tops, the pretty flower soaps, the pretty lights.
- the Zoo and aquarium (see nosey panda below)
- zooming around the streets in tuktuks...kind of like a motorbike with a cab at the back which can fit our whole family, at a squeeze!... yep, Mum and Dad fit in there as well... somehow.
- the whole family getting a meal and a massage (just a foot massage for the kids - Harry looked like he was in heaven! - and more strenuous for the adults!) from the inmates at Chiang Mai Women's Prison, as part of their rehabilitation programme.
"What you looking at punk?"
Very relaxed after our foot massage at the women's prison!
Highlights outside of the city which we explored today on a tour:
- bamboo rafting down the river... a bit tame for Uncle Hen though.
- riding elephants
- elephants that can paint pictures, play soccer, slam dunk basketballs, and the babies are so cute!
Harry the mahout (elephant trainer) leads us into the jungle...
The girls attempt to train their elephants
The baby elephant tries to see if Harry is ticklish
And the one enduring thing that doesn't go away... the heat... whether its cloudy, sunny, raining or whatever... its always warm... often stuffy and sometimes too much... but better than the weather we left behind... although... I don't think Harry, Jessie and Sophie could always be convinced of that after walking around in the heat for an hour or two.
Check out those elephants! Opa really liked the photo of you Harry trying to talk the baby elephant into coming to NZ to play for your soccer team!
ReplyDeleteI sent him a colour copy of the blog pages and he wants the auckram tribe to make the font size larger!
I am glad to read no one fell off an elephant like I almost did when I was in Chang Mai - if it wasn't for a Brad Pit look -a -like (dream on Auntie Rose) who swooped his arm around my waist just in the nick of time I could have become the first ever judder bar in Thailand!
Fab to see your huge smiles....keep having great times xx
Hi Auckram family
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though you are all having lots of new adventures and loads of fun. Wow, can elephants really paint pictures? While you are complaining about the heat and sun, we are all complaining about the cold wind and annoying rain. Miss Gray is very jelous about the massage, she wishes she could get a massage, especially a foot one. We all think the tuktuks look like golf carts.
We are off to lunch so will say bye. We can't wait to see you all in 2 weeks time. Have fun, and enjoy Thailand.
From the Tutti-Fruity Twos.
Hello Auckram family!
ReplyDeleteWe loved reading about the elephants and seeing the wonderful photos. We especially liked the one of Harry being tickled! We also loved the Panda bear! We think that you should consider sneaking back a couple of elephants and a Panda into New Zealand so room 6 could have some new exotic pets! (Just Joking!)We hope that the rest of your trip is as exciting as what we have seen so far and we look forward to reading lots more blog posts!
Happy Travelling,
From the Super Star Sixes!
HI Harry! IT's Zac here. Did it tickly when you put your hand under the elephant's trunk?
ReplyDeleteHey Auckram's- looks like you are having a fantastic time- bring us back some of that sunshine please! Enjoy your last few days! Kath, Craig and Em.