One day Chiang Mai tour - elephant riding,oxcart riding,bamboo rafting

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 03:58 PM

Well its been 3 weeks since we took the tour in Chiang Mai but finally I have got around to posting some of it here......

We booked the tour from the tours desk at the Novotel. The price was 1000 baht each but 500 baht for our youngest daughter.

Luckily my wife wouldnt let me stay drinking late with CMN the previous evening at the Pirates Cove which left me fresh and able to enjoy the tour without a hangover.
The minibus picked us up at the Novotel. Already on the minibus joining us on the tour were a retired Swedish couple and a Malay Singaporean and his PRC girlfriend.

After a drive of slightly less than an hour we arrived at the elephant camp where they were giving the elephants their morning bath.

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 04:03 PM

After this it was time for the elephant show. Something similar to the one i had seen somewhere near Pattaya a few years ago.
Anyway it was entertaining for the kids.

Just like me on a night out, the elephant didnt manage to score despite a few good attempts.

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 04:14 PM

Next came a ride on an oxcart.

The haze was a bit of a shame.......

well it was a fairly uncomfortable ride for us, but things turned out even worse for the other 4 members of our tour.......

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 04:21 PM

At the end of the oxcart ride there is a small village where you can buy local handicrafts and the usual tourist tat.

We did actually buy some bits and pieces just to get some 20 baht notes to give as tips which seemed to be expected from every person we encountered on the tour.

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 04:29 PM

Then it was the best (and most uncomfortable part of the day) elephant riding. I think the ride must have taken between 30 and 45 mins and took us over all types of terrain and through rivers etc. Unfortunately it was difficult to take pics due to the movement of the elephant so only a few came out ok.

If you dont have a camera then you can buy the picture they try to flog you for 200 baht later at lunch.

**slimboyfat** · 03-04-2007, 04:33 PM

And talking of lunch, thats what happened next. The price of the buffet was included in the tour and it was nice enough, especially as i was freaking starving having skipped breakfast to spend more time in bed.

and there i will think i will leave it today as I have some work to do before knocking off time

**ChiangMai noon** · 03-04-2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

and there i will think i will leave it today as I have some work to do before knocking off some bird that isn't my wife time

Good start, good luck with the lady.
Did you video your golf swing?

**dirtydog** · 03-04-2007, 08:42 PM

Cmn stop this gay talk, people dont like it.....

**kingwilly** · 03-04-2007, 10:12 PM

hey i think i did that exact same tour about 10 years ago.....

or are they all the same?

but the kids and missus prolly liked it so dats wot counts

**slimboyfat** · 04-04-2007, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by kingwillyhggtb

hey i think i did that exact same tour about 10 years ago.....

or are they all the same?

you will have to wait and see what we did after lunch

**slimboyfat** · 04-04-2007, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Did you video your golf swing?

yes they did at my last lesson.

but i think there must have been some mistake. it looked like some fat bloke who is terrible at golf

**slimboyfat** · 04-04-2007, 10:07 AM

So to continue....

After lunch we took a 40 minute trip on a bamboo raft down the river. Well it was interesting for a while but the problem was that the haze really blocked out what i am sure is wonderful scenery.......

The raft seated six of us and there was a Thai punt at each end.

At least the haze kept the temperature down. The water too was rather cold.

**kingwilly** · 04-04-2007, 10:25 AM

yep, same same! either that or you stole my pics

**slimboyfat** · 04-04-2007, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by kingwillyhggtb

you stole my pics

thems fightin words mister

**kingwilly** · 04-04-2007, 10:39 AM

off fer lunch - i'll post proof later!

(please dont throw a window onto me!)

**slimboyfat** · 04-04-2007, 10:45 AM

Now all morning the tour guide had been pushing us to go for an 'optional' tour to see some monkey training centre. This was not part of our tour package so we would have to pay extra. If I remember correctly the entrance fee was 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children.
So anyway everyone on our tour agreed to see this place.

It was all a bit disappointing really. The place itself is very small and the show wasnt as good as the one you used to be able to see for free at Sentosa. Anyyway the kids enjoyed feeding the monkeys.

Anyway here's some pics.

The monkeys for the show were kept in small cages like this. Not really very pleasant accommodation but apparently this is only their home in between shows. I don't know whether to believe that or not.

^ mind you it's not every day you see a monkey humping a coconut.

Basically the place was not very impressive, and is expensive for what it is.
If a tour guide asks you to add the monkey training centre into your tour I wouldnt bother unless you have never seen a monkey before.

**slimboyfat** · 04-04-2007, 11:07 AM

And the last stop on our tour was an orchid farm. Ok if you like orchids I suppose. My kids just enjoyed running around the plants while the sprinkler was running.

The butterfly house - apparently we were there in the wrong season, as only 3 miserable looking butterflys fluttered around.......

The gardens were a fairly pleasant place to chill out whilst waiting for the Swedes to finish looking at the orchid merchandise in the shop.

^ The gardens were overlooked by CMN's house

So that was it.....a fairly enjoyable and full but tiring day - but it was not over yet, later I met FF for a few beers at some bars where the girls are friendly. Unfortunately there were no pictures taken to record the evening....

**Deaner** · 07-04-2007, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by slimboyfat

but it was not over yet, later I met FF for a few beers at some bars where the girls are friendly. Unfortunately there were no pictures taken to record the evening....

Is there any CCTV footage?

**jte** · 07-04-2007, 08:28 PM

Thank-you for the trip report. I really enjoyed the videos.
A couple of friends took a similar trip last year and one of them said the elephant tried to take a bath while walking through the river! They also told about a couple of falang women talking about some trouble they had with a raft somewhere else so they decided to move alittle and take another raft. Good choice from what they said, seems the ladies went swimming again!
Thanks again
Jim

Thread: One day Chiang Mai tour - elephant riding,oxcart riding,bamboo rafting

Thread Tools

Display

One day Chiang Mai tour - elephant riding,oxcart riding,bamboo rafting

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions