17.08.13

I have always been a little dubious of green drinks, but since Sarah’s spinach and mango smoothie I am converted. Today begins with a green drink  and 30km cycle ride to Huang  Hung Thar lake, I think. The perfect way to recover from the night before!

This is the first thing we have planned that actually happened, as in we made it there without any mini adventures or monsoon storms.

Hairy and Melon have lunch, a slip by Sarah that has stuck!

Finally I have a papaya salad, ‘not hot’ says the lady without question mark, ‘Hot’ say I. For future reference, it’s a really good way to shut me up!!

Much snoozing followed on my part.

Hmmmmm, don’t think I didn’t see you sneaking a photo of the little British lady in the lake!! He chuckles as I play him at his own game.

Thank you Sarah, for this recommendation, what a peaceful day.

and then………………….

Captains Blog, 4pm on the 18th August 2013.

Sarah and Helen meet. Directions, check. Bikes, check. Random warrior type pose whilst saying “go girls” check. Here is a later more dramatic recreation…….

We take no mercy, one way roads can’t stop us, not today. Extra water, snickers for Sarah, Reeces for Helen, check. (Quite excited just to try new chocolate bar when we reach the top). sorry, focus!

We look that mountain right between the eyes, tonight, nothing can stop us!! We are women on a mission!!

Leaving our bikes at the Zoo we walk up the hill. Oh yeh, you heard it right, that nice helpful man at the zoo who told me to go back down, it was the right way!!!!!!!!!

We have since found if you ask anyone if you are going the right way up the mountain they shake their head and say go back down, as why would you not take a car or motor bike??

Then there it is, the entrance to our trek…….we’re going in……………

The walk begins, we’re already feeling the previous days bike ride and our ride to the hill, but no, onwards, upwards. Two and a half hours is bound to be Thai time.

 The peace, quite, and fresh air from a somewhat polluted city, is what we have been craving.

That is except for some noisy bugs, the name I will have to check. They basically live at the bottom of the trees, mate at the top of the trees, make the most piercing noise in the world, the whole forest being their bedroom(I am being polite about this), and then for the males, sorry guys, game over!The monks have tied orange ribbons to mark the way.

Still doing good. Sacred ant hill!!

We stop but only very briefly, applying Deet like suncream,  as the mosquito’s are out in storm.

So glad I didn’t wear my mini skirt to trek up a mountain, as it’s a long way back down!!

At the mid way point we get to this Temple, it is breath taking, and our breath is also taken…. 

We are dripping, and yet if we could we would have felt goose bumps.

We put our feet in the crystal clear waters, and feel our blood and minds cool. We both envisage just staying here, a spiritual world you could get lost in, it feels like Narnia. 

 

 

 

 

This is the last photo for the following hour and a half, out of a total 3 hour trek, no mean feet in the heat. As quite frankly we were too shattered!

About 2 mins later my throat tightened, my nose began streaming. I mumbled, but thankfully didn’t, the words throw and up. We had really come that high, it took a few minutes for my body to adjust to the altitude. There was only one thing for it……chocolate.

We were aware that it was getting dark and still had, as we found out, the steepest but of the climb to come. I couldn’t have wished to do this with a better companion than Sarah, as each time we wilted, we didn’t wilt, we found a new spring in our steps, laughed, and onwards!!

After 3 hours we reached the road, saw a shop, and thought, more chocolate, but instead we ended up sitting on the curb with the best tasting can of beer in the world!

And then, there it was…….

Absolutely hilarious!!!

Ooh tourists, how we have influenced the world’s treasures!!Up the steps we go…..then…..breath taking! There were only a few other people there it was so late. The temple just glowed against the night sky. I do not have the word’s for how it felt, as it is to do with it’s spirituality. The millions of prayers that are held within it’s walls. The thanks that have been given. The faith and hope that has been listened to. We felt like crying but instead had a big hug.

 

Hundreds of these little bells filled the silence with a beautiful hum.

The view across our city. Within which is a little guest house, with a little balcony, that has become to Mary, Sarah and I, our home. Our comfortable, enjoyable, hilarious, honest, sharing, safe nest that is our friendship. Already we are aware it is coming fast upon us the time to say goodbye. We all have so much in front of us, but a part of us likes it just where we are.

Friendship makes life make sense.

xXx