Excerpt from my travel diary.

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF TREKKING THROUGH 3 COUNTRIES IN 4 DAYS

It all begins on an early morning in the heart of the booming city, Chiang Mai at Tanya's Guest House.  Eight strangers gather at 6 Am for an early meeting about our next four days. 

Amongst us we find 2 women, possibly German sisters (they never spoke so we never found out).  Also a very Aussie/ Brit couple, the oh so delightful Spanish honeymooners, Tarzan and Jane.  More about that later on.

The morning rolls around and we pile into the back of an old truck and off we go for our next adventure.  Our first stop is the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Burma (now Mayanmar) and Laos meet.  And this is where it all starts.  It could have been the make or break of the entire trek. 

Joy (my good friend and travel buddy) excited and eager to get the perfect shot, leaps out the truck and does a nose dive onto the only piece of cement for hundreds of miles.  The camera hit the ground first, making a loud shattering sound.  Then this almighty THUD, Joy's forehead making contact with the ground.  People rushed over from all over to what had happened.  Before anyone could help, Joy was up and running, running to hide behind the nearest bush.  No one could get close for a few minutes. 

Once the pain had subsided, the camera inspection began.  It was not a pretty sight.  The lens looked shattered and the pride too.  I too was not welcome to asses any damage or injuries, which were now bleeding and full of Thai Golden Triangle red mudd.  It was an unfortunate way to start a four day trek on foot and by elephant.

Once on our way again in the truck, I made an attempt to have a good look at the scrapes and breaks.  They were not pleasant.  A swollen ankle, a rather prominant bump on the forehead and a deep triangular wound on the knee. 

We managed to get the lens in question back into working condition, obviously with a filter and finally had a good laugh about the whole episode.  It was going to be an exciting trek!

Excerpt from my travel diary.