CHIANG MAI TREKKING: PART 3
On the final evening of the trek, we were treated to some traditional hill tribe entertainment as we spent the night in a second village, and our hosts were treated to some traditional Yorkshire entertainment.
While Golf and Opal were preparing the dinner, the rest of us started drinking the local moonshine. By the time dinner was finished, most of us were steaming drunk. Golf and Opal took advantage of this, and I (having been deemed to have the thickest skin) was singled out as the fall guy and challenged to a little game, which involved some string beans being placed on the table in front of me and I then had to cut them with a knife. The handicap was that I had to do this with my eyes covered. Golf stood behind me and held his hands over my eyes while I attempted to chop the vegetables. As he pulled his hands away, everyone burst out laughing at me and then they started taking pictures. I looked down at the beans and I hadn’t done too bad a job, but my fellow trekkers and the villagers were howling with laughter. I couldn’t get anyone to tell me why they were laughing, but one of the Aussies in the group handed me his digital camera and there on the LCD screen was the answer. My eyes were totally black. Golf had rubbed his hands on one of the soot-stained cooking pots before he covered my eyes. I have to admit, they got me good style there. Indeed, I was so traumatised that I just had to pour myself another drink.
Next the real entertainment began. Ten young hill tribe girls sat across from us around the long table at which we were sitting. The girl on the end stood up and started singing and then the others joined in. Once the song was finished, she sat down and the second girl stood up to lead the others in song. One by one each girl took her turn. As this was happening, I leant over to Canadian Dave and jokingly said that once the girls were finished it would be our turn to sing. My joke turned out to be a prophecy because that is exactly what happened.
The Aussies sang Waltzing Matilda, an American couple sang a song about a cowgirl and then it was my turn. Fortunately, I was already very drunk, so singing was easy. I stood up and bellowed out a Leeds United football anthem. Strangely, no-one joined in with me.
Next it was time for some traditional dancing. The hill tribe girls started but, fuelled by the moonshine, we all joined in pretty soon. I don’t know whether I’ve mentioned this before, but I happen to be the world’s best dancer. It’s a gift. I thank you.
The next day was the last part of the trek and saw us taking to the river for some bamboo rafting. It wasn’t the wild experience I had been expecting. The rafts were already made and waiting for us, and we started right next to a main road. I paired up with Dave again and we were the first to set off. It was pretty sedate, although a couple of rapids provided mild excitement and ensured we got wet. The trek ended just as it started with the American lizard freedom fighters providing some unintended comic relief. They were paired up on the raft behind us and one of them somehow managed to fall in. I don’t know if he fell or was pushed, but he was probably trying to rescue a fish. Even without the involuntary comedians, it had been a great trek and I plan to go again some day.
Paul Snowdon – Excerpt from Naked Farang: Four Weddings and a Coup
Related Article: Loy Kratong in Chiang Mai
Related Article: Chiang Mai Trekking: Part 1
Related Article: Chiang Mai Trekking: Part 2
Receive weekly updates on all the latest from Naked Farang by joining our Facebook group: Click here to join or log into facebook and then paste this link into the address bar:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11498592846
