Day 199, Chiang Mai, Thailand

High in the treetops 

Hohoho, Merry Christmas. I have never had a more unlike Christmas start to the day! Waking up in
a sleeper train in Thailand. I had a surprisingly good sleep on the train, a solid 8 hours at least; it must have been the rocking motion of the train. Like I said last night, the beds were excellent size, a large single, and comfortable. So awake at 6.00, time for a cuppa and then a very efficient man came storming through the cabin, stripped each bed and got all the bedding back in the right place. He was one busy man! 

Amy, me, Denise & Lauren

We arrived in Chiang Mai about 7.30 and straight to the hotel for breakfast. Five of us, all girls, had decided to go zip lining. For those of you who don't know what that is; it's basically a flying fox, going from one platform high in the treetops to another. Except you've got a harness on to stop you from falling and at each platform are people to 'catch ' you. Super exciting, some of you may know that heights aren't my favourite, so this was outside my comfort zone.

Real poinsettia shrub
Not the potted variety 

I absolutely loved it though, as did the other 4, Amy, Siobjan, Lauren and Denise. We (meaning me) nearly peed our pants a few times laughing, Lauren always seemed to go backwards for some reason. We ended with a 40 meter abseil. Back to base to get the tshirt, then lunch on a lovely deck setting, so that was Christmas lunch for us. We didn't get back till later in the arty, a lovely shower, walk into town, later some dinner and the night markets. Chiang Mai is a really nice town, has a great feel to it, much nicer than the big city of Bangkok. It is all the way in North Thailand.