Day 3 to 6: Chiang Mai

Day 3:
We had our first night bus experience - one hour in and Kim read that we  had been ripped off paying 1400 baht when it should of only been 700 baht. VIP bus but definatly not a VIP toilet (DIY flush water bucket - say no more).

Day 4:
9 hours later we arrived in Chiang Mai, with no rooms at the inn, we wondered around at 5:30 am to find out it was a huge flower festival making Chiang Mai busier than normal.

After stopping off for breakfast we finally found a cosy hotel at 10:00am called CM apartments. We went straight out to explore what Chiang Mai had to offer. Lots of Monks strolling around, temples everywhere, smelly markets with live animals for sale (dead by the end of the day). After a wonder around the market we jumped on a tuk tuk to tiger kingdom. We fed tiger cubs which were super cute and playful. As well as posing with some larger tigers for photos (I think they may have been drugged?). The Thai assured us that they slept 18hrs a day and were very well trained when awake.

We went out for mexican food (as you do in Thialand). Jack was sick of the Thai food some how even though he had yet to try any. We went to the flower festival which was full of flowered floats, traditional Thai dancing and Thailands very own version of Justin Beiber. We had stroll around the night market before having an early night.

Day 5:
The next day we were up nice and early for a fun filled day to find Jack and Kim hadn't set an alarm...ooops. Taxi picked us up for butterfly farm, Elephant Riding, Jungle Trek to a freezing cold waterfall, White Water Rafting and Bamboo Rafting.  We met some lovely people 2 Germans (one nicknamed Rambo), a guy from New York City, a guy from California and a couple from cormwall. I (Kerry) tried to take down the Newyorker (Nick Brown) with me on the white water raft boat after almost falling over board. We taught the americans and germans some English words including 'dodgy' and 'fizzy drinks' which they found hilarious. We then gave them a lesson in English accents...Bristol and London and how not to use your Ts. The butterfly farm was a quick stop, used mainly as a toilet break. Once we saw 3 normal sized butterflies, we all decided we had seen enough.  The jungle trek was quite long but worth it. We all stupidly wore flip flops causing us to slip and slide off rocks. A little Thai boy cycled past us and kicked nicola randomly (cheeky), the Newyorker told him he would throw him in the river if he did it again so he cycled off. With the day coming to end we made a quick stop off at a local tribe and to look at a leaf, which if you ate when drunk will give the ability to pass a breathalyser...... a lady in traditional tribal dress was waiting for us at the tribes traditional ancient gift shop.

We arrived back and decided to sample some street food. Picked one on the street with some tables and chairs in the road...we dined in but out.

Recommended to go the bar Zoe's for a night out as it was the main backpacker drink place. Got there to find one Thai man clutching a bottle of wine. We agreed it was only 11 so we got a bucket and waited for the other backpackers to arrive. They didnt. We decided to leave and see if there was anywhere else to go and literally as we turned the corner we discovered another zoes full of backpackers...in amongst them was the New Yorker Nick Brown...probably there to promote his new album I assume. Bavers got talking to aThai lady (a constant reacurring theme on this trip) when Nicola perched herself on the bar stool next to him..as you do. Next thing you know Nicola felt the Thai ladys hands wrapped round her stomach trying to pull her off the stool...her Thai friend had arrived and needed somewhere to sit...maybe customary in Thailand? Were still not sure. Bavers tapped the lady on the shoulder in typical english fashion to give her a telling off when she punched him square in the face (fiesty one). After too many buckets we dragged Nick Brown back home to give us a rendition of his latest single. Kerry taught him the peter song hoping to get signed. We also taught him pile on which hed never played before.

Day 6:
Nicola and kerry woke up bright and early on a quest to buy bus tickets for a very long journey ahead to koh tao. They took their first traditional tuk tuk to the bus station, taking some selfies on the way. Everyone had sore heads after the night before so we went out for lunch for some traditional thai food....not (american diner for some greasy carbs). Jack decided to sleep the day away but us girls went for tourist day! We saw more monks, ancient wall built to prevent the buramese from invading, temples with giant gold budhas inside and a giant dong.