Our trekking group

From left to right … Youri, Lisette, Jonathan (back), Nicholas (front), Tim (back), Andy (front) and Fred.  

The arrangements were a bit rushed last night and our guide, Mr Sai, is late so we hope we’re still trekking. He does eventually show up and we head off in a trishaw to our starting point.  We have a really nice morning heading uphill through increasingly beautiful scenery and pretty villages.  Its pretty hot though and we’re all glad to stop for lunch and a rest in a village called Pan Kam.  After lunch we visit a local school which is good fun.  Its a middle school and there are kids of all ages sharing the same classroom - some working independently, some messing about and one little girl fast asleep the whole time.  The older kids speak a little English and the younger ones are just lovely.  Johnnie teaches them some valuable lessons, like farting with your armpit, and we head off.

Its another 90 minute walk to the village where we’ll spend the night, Htan Sang.  As we arrive there are some locals crowding around a recently killed and chopped up wild boar.  Its rare apparently and Mr Sai, who we’ve come to realise is slightly bonkers, is very excited and buys some.  

We have a few beers before dinner and Andy entertains everyone around the campfire by playing violin, accompanied on drums (plastic stools) by Youri and the two young girls of the house, and on percussion (whisky bottles and sticks) by Johnnie and Tim.  We have a good old sing song but are told we’ll have to keep the noise down later.  They go to bed around 8.30pm here apparently and are up early.

After a lovely dinner and some more chat around the fire, we head to bed around 9.30pm.  Its been a fun day with some great new friends.