8/12/17 Fri: Potato showered relying on his phone light in the outdoor shower yesterday night, but it got too cold for me at night to even want to shower (though there is heater), so I woke up at 6+am to shower. The door could not be locked nor closed entirely, and I didn't expect Potato to "sit guard" from a distance away haha. *Thanks dear!*
Daniel, his girlfriend and friends were also awake by 7+, 8am, and we were all waiting around for breakfast and the 5km walk with Buteng and Mookapat later. PotaTOHs lazed around and took some photos of this awesome mountain homestay that we loved~ *Not that I don't know how to tie shoelaces ah~ just Potato being a gentleman there keke~*
They still boil water using kettle, for us to have coffee and tea. Karen tribe do sell some of their handmade scarfs, bags and clothes, though I was tempted at one point, I still didn't buy any in the end as it wasn't very cheap. Golo helped them prepare breakfast as well, and a simple meal consisting mashed potatoes, spicy pumpkin with beancurd (loved this!) and fried rice was done in no time.
The lady from Karen Tribe cut up some sugarcanes for us to feed Buteng and Mookapat on the way. Potato carried two bags of them, but even before we started our trail, Buteng and Mookapat finished one bag from Potato's side! *Poor Mookapat has two years before she comes to full term, and she wants her share too, but Buteng kept on snatching the sugarcanes la. Where's your chivalry eh? *
We crossed the river in single file, and then began the journey up and down the hills with Golo, the Karen Tribe lady and the elephants' trainer. Some parts were a bit slippery and steep. It's kinda intimidating having animals that weigh tonnes stand in front of you. *We can literally stand behind their butt if we want, but safety first guys...* It felt different from when I was in Tanzania Safari as I was in a car back then, and the elephants don't usually come so near unless they are gonna attack or something.
We had to wait at some time for them to scratch their skins against the trees, eat and also poop haha. Look at how Potato was being "chased" for the sugarcane too...
Potato is braver than me, I can't bring myself to stand too close for fear they suddenly come near haha.
Halfway through, the trainer brought Buteng and Mookapat to one side for their proper lunch (oh so those bags of sugarcanes were "snacks"~), Golo, Sarah, Matt, Potato and I stood behind to watch on the slopes. Daniel and the rest continued with their trekking with the other lady guide. We were talking about rescued elephants in Thailand, and I remembered something about not going near the males if you see them "sweat", said to be in musth, then they are highly aggressive at that point.
5 of us walked back later, and packed our stuff. We took a pick-up back to Chai Lai Orchid for lunch at Phutawan cafe, and saw the American couple Joe and Kathy bathing the elephants there!
We had simple phad thai there, and after that, we went onto a pick-up and Golo bought us to Maewang waterfall further down the mountains, which was our last destination on the package. Lots of steps to go down, but the weather was good. There were a few other tourist groups there to swim, and one of the guides demonstrated jumping from the cliff wow.
Golo bought snacks for us, and the lazy PotaTOHs were there to just nua and people-watch. *Look at my feet! I'm even more tan than Potato leh!*
Spent only a short while there, and we were back at the cafe to wait for our transport back to Chiang Mai Old City, which we were scheduled to reach by 5.30pm. Potato played with some cats and dogs around while waiting. We also saw Chai Lai Orchid lady boss's mixed blood son... cute o haha.
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