Trekking Day 1 and 2- Chiang Mai

We left our luggage in the city and packed small bags with the essentials for 5 days, and we jumped in the back of a ute which drove us to the Chiang Mai mountians. We started with lunch (Pad Thai) and met our group of 11 tourists and 2 guides. Straight up was elephant riding which was so much fun! Em and I sat on a seat which we felt was going to topple sideways and we had to use alot of strength to hold on when the elephant went down very steep hills, I dont think the guy sitting on the neck really liked it, but Em and I had a ball. We then started our trek. It started on flat through farmland but soon got uphill. Within an hour we were drenched through we sweat, it was very humid and so many mosquitos! It really was one of the most challenging experiences to just keep moving constantly uphill, lucky I think gym classes put me in a good frame of mind- I can do it! We reached a bat cave at the top of a mountain, my hands were secretly shaking from exhaustion and was glad to see the bat cave more for the rest! We then continued walking through more jungle and head high grasses then through some farmland and more jungle to a hill tribe village on a mountain side where we stayed the night.
We all graciously showered in a waterfall and scoffed the Thai meal cooked by the tribe and our guides from local foods- soup, rice and veges. We slept well in a bamboo hut with a great feeling of satisfaction for making it through the day.
Next day was more trekking, easier than the first, we walked to a waterfall where we had a break, then said goodbye to half our group (who chose 2 day trek). We went on to another village for lunch, trekked to another waterfall (absolutely beautiful scenery) and back to village for night two. Again ate local Thai food, they also bought in snake soup which we ate. It had chunks of snake floating, I put a whole one in mouth, full of tiny bones and very chewy, also ate a snake egg, a powdery white oval covered in a cooked membrane probably full of nutrients-tasted ok. Stayed up talking with group- great people fall asleep night two...