"Well our hill tribe trek was cut down by the rain, and it had stopped this morning. Off we went in the pick up trucks to Chiang Dao caves, which have a temple inside that people visit to pray. The temple had also been flooded a couple of days earlier so there was mud and sand everywhere.
Then came the elephant ride. I went on one with Janice and we got the baby who always wanted to eat. It was still quite wet and the elephant had to go on it's knees sometimes to slide down the hill.

"The lady boys show was hilarious and Josh and Greg got pulled up onto the stage. We got a bit stunned outside though when they were waiting for photos for a tip - no one told us to take small notes!!!!!"

Our car ride back to Chiang Mai was another beautiful one, though we saw the same creek we'd seen a few days before, swollen to the brim. It had washed away portions of the road, drowned several houses, and even taken a few lives. We drove through one village that was in the middle of a funeral when our cars snapped the electric cables... and the guides handled the live wire with bare hands! We also saw a bathroom, carried away by the water, in the middle of the creek. A quiet ride home, as most of us were reflecting on the trip. I even saw a tarantula scuttling across the road!!

Back in Chiang Mai, the river had broken its banks. Cars were piled up, trying to get across the bridges that still stood. Much of the city had closed down because of flooding, and Tommy advised us to just stay put and enjoy the hotel before everyone headed off to the lady boys (a very elaborate drag) show. Jordanna, Caroline and I wanted to get out and explore a bit, so we got showered, dry and dressed and were really quite comfortable. The rain had died down, so we decided to try for a tuk tuk ride to the mall to gather some things we needed and grab a bite to eat. We hire our helpful tuk tuk friend to take us out there and two minutes later, while we're on the streets of Chiang Mai, it begins to utterly pour. The three of us laugh at first, admiring how we're getting wet once again. Then it rains harder. We huddle closer. We get splashed by a passing vehicle. I'm practically sitting in Jordanna's lap. I stop laughing, as does Jordanna, as does Caroline - in that order. I lean forward and beg the tuk tuk to turn around and take us back to the hotel. He's laughing at us laughing, and nods. I wonder if he's understood? Well, I guess we'll soon find out. I don't know the streets of Chiang Mai well enough to tell if he's turning around, but soon, we roll up at the hotel. The helpful old man drives us right up to the port-de-cochere (sp?) and I hand him money. Phew! Now, I'm just interested in keeping dry and getting some food.

I'm not going to lie, this night is not the best for me. It starts off here and carries through the next day and into the train ride the next night. Not many stories to tell of that, because it's not a time I like to remember. But, most of the crew went to the Lady Boys show and then to cooking school the next day.