Another Day in the Neighborhood.

Thai adventures never cease to amaze me.  I seriously step out of the office for just one day and things turn a little haywire.. in a good way.

This past thursday was such an occasion. Divya (my volunteer/partner in crime) and I were working on our tourism idea (bring sustatinable income to Warm Heat and increasing local economy through tourism packages to the country).  In order to work on this idea we have to get a good idea of what the attractions are in the area. Phrao, for such a small town, is actually full of cool things.  There's a horse trekking place (owned by a german guy named Boris), at least two waterfalls, a temple thats situated in a batcave, and spa that charges 400 baht for two hours (about 12 bucks) of pure bliss and bungalow after bungalow that sits empty.  So, in the name of research Divya and I set off (with a few thai guides) on our motorbikes to check out the other waterfall.

Neither of our guides decided to tell us that we'd be off roading on clay roads on motor bikes up and down the lower hills of a mountain range. Nor do they explain that they're not exactly sure where they are going.  After driving around in one big circle, Divya's bike getting stuck and a hard ride we give up and head over to the horse trekking place to meet Boris. 

Boris is probably one of the most interesting people I've met since being in Thailand... which is saying something when you think of the characters I've met thus far.  He's married to a Lasu woman and also had a grandchild running around as well.  The treks he does are up in the jungles of the hilltribe people and range from a few days to over a week.  The horses are the short stocky kind and instead of beautiful are more "we're the kind of horses that get shit done".  Let me tell you, it takes a certain kind of crazy to lead horse treks through the mountain junlges of northern thailand with only the hilltribe people for company.  Boris, obviously, was a wealth of information.  

Regardless by time we were done with an offroad adventure (which I can't fully explain the awesomeness of), talked with an East German horse dude named Boris and then made it home we were properly exhausted.  

Monday...we will find that damn waterfall. Adventure awaits!