Travel Update - China & Thailand

Well, not even sure where to start.

We sure have been busy.

After spending a wonderful Shabbat in Shanghai and then wandering
around the old town of Sozhou ( a town in China means roughly a couple
of million people live there). Sozhou was quaint with gardens and
canals but still a large city by our Western standards

We decided we had enough of urban living and needed a change of pace.
So, we altered our plans and instead of heading to Kunming in Western China headed straight to Bangkok, Thailand.

In one day in Bangkok we managed to deal with dental work, shopping,
kosher food, and build an itinerary with the tourist authority that
basically planned out the rest of the adventurous honeymoon.

As a direct result, a day later we flew to Chaing Mai in Northern Thailand.
Finally, a scenic town with less than a million people.
It also happens to be a haven for israelis.

We spent Friday exploring on a scooter.
We found amazing waterfalls, temples in the old city and unusual landscapes.

We hooked up with the local Chabad for Shabbat, with at least 100 israelis.
The entire evening was Hebrew only, from the Rabbi, to the guests and all speeches. It felt good to be with the community.

Getting eaten alive by mosquitoes and hanging out at the Riverside Cafe
debating with an Israeli couple drinking cocktails was the order of
business for Saturday night.

Sunday we began our 3 day trek through the jungle.
The hiking was intense, and we went straight up to the hill top tribe
village where we would spend the evening. Rustic is a very nice way to
describe the primitive facilities. The 2nd day was more hiking and we got caught in a torrential downpour. Muddy hiking and soaking wet but warm and slipping and sliding through the very green surrounding is an experience Mike & I will remember always. I was in sandals and as an experienced hiker managed ok. Mike and his Converse shoes did not fare so well.

By the 3rd day we were pretty worn out, flea bitten, dirty and
remembering fondly our home in Beverly Hills. Luckily, the last day
was fun day. We got to ride on elephants, white water raft and then get
pulled along some kind of bamboo make shift raft through the brown and
murky river. Arriving back in Chaing Mai and ordering kosher food and
probably our last meat until after the 9 days was a highlight too.

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