After two days in the jungle riding elephants, I should just take a day off to relax. Backpackers often do that. When we think we need a break from sight seeing and moving from place to place, we like to just take a day or two off.

Besides all the things I have been writing about, there are a lot of other things a backpacker must take care of . For instance, when we are at one guesthouse exploring the area, we have to be thinking ahead to the next move. What place will we go next and how will we get there and where will we stay. We need to keep our visa dates in mind, also, so we don't overstay our visa. And, if we are moving on to another country, we have to apply for the visa in advance of our trip. These things need to be thought out in advance somewhat. Also, there are e-mails to keep up with and for those like myself that write a blog, and clothes to wash. There is always a lot of catch-up work needed to do. So, a day to chill is usually filled with these type of things.

Okay, so now you know what I should have done after my 2 days in the elephant camp, but that's not what I did.

I had a kayaking trip planned for 7 a.m. the next morning after arriving back from the jungle camp. This all-day kayaking trip would take us deep into the jungle. From the starting point we would navigate through the overgrown, lush waters of the northern Ping River in mountainous Thailand .

I was picked up at the hostel early and once again loaded in the back of a truck for the adventure of the day. Once at the kayaking office, we are signed in and given life jackets and bottled water for the trip.

The owner of the business and two guides will be leading us through the jungle today. The owner will take his full size truck, with rear passenger seat. A couple that he has known for a few years will ride with him and he needs one other person with not too long legs to sit behind him as he drives (he is tall and needs lots of leg room as he drives). For once my height pays off and I get to ride with him in the soft seats and air-conditioning. The others all pile back into the truck with hard bench seats and no air for the long 2 hour ride into the mountains.

The owners name is Aido. He is an American from Hawaii. He has been living in Thailand for many years and owned this outdoors touring place for several years . He will often take a group on a kayaking trip himself, with a couple of boys working for him. He will leave someone in the office to take care of the paperwork. He just enjoys kayaking so much himself, he would rather be on the water.

On the way to the mountains, he talks about his life in Thailand. He says when he first took the business, he required all his workers to speak good english. All foreigners, regardless from which country, speak some english as a second language. So, his workers needed to know english well.

He said first thing in the mornings he would give them all their instructions for the day. At the end of the day he would ask them each if the things had been done. It would be things like moving a certain number of kayaks from one mountain point to another for the trips the next day. If one group for the next day needed more kayaks or lifejackets, etc. they would move them from one storage spot to another. The kayaks were kept in the mountains at the starting points .

Anyway, he would ask them if so many kayaks had been moved to where he asked. The Thai boy responsible would say "Yes". He would ask the next one if he got a replacement paddle. The boy would say, "Yes". Everything he asked at the end of the day seemed to have been done. He thought this was going to be a great group of employees to work with. Everything was always done just as he asked and ready for the next day.

The next day, though, he would discover these things had not been done. It turned out the boys did not want to upset him, so they just always said "yes" to everything. I think I wrote before that Thais do not like conflict and will avoid it at all costs. So, they just say what they think someone wants to hear.

After that, Aido said he learned to just keep asking the same question over again for a half a dozen times and eventually he will get the real answer from the boys.

Even now, if one of them does not do exactly what he wants, they claim they did not understand the instructions in english so good . Thais are really different to work with than Americans, Aido says. I thought it was interesting insight into the Thai culture.

The two hour ride into the jungle was pleasant and once we arrived at the camp, it was time for school. Aido used a chalk board to draw a picture of the route and explain the danger points to watch for. Most of us had never kayaked before. There would be a lead guide and one in the middle and then one to follow up the last kayaker.

Once the kayaks were in the water we all got to paddle around a calm area for a little bit to practice maneuvering our kayaks.

It was more like a creek than a river, yet had a good flow to it. The creek wound its' way through the bamboo jungle and forest. It was a beautiful trip downstream the rest of the day with some nice views of undisturbed nature in this mountain country.

We need to be observant as we paddle because the water is low (dry season in Thailand) and there are boulders not far underneath the water sometimes . It's easy to turn over when ramming one of these boulders. There are not huge waterfalls, but enough to make it exciting for a group of beginners. Some are quite tricky and a guide is close by to help those that cannot make it through on their own. A few in the group turned over on occasion. I came close once. I learned soon not to stay behind anymore people than I had to. I think there were 17 kayaking today. If I was behind some of them, though, and they got hung up or turned over, then it made it difficult for me to maneuver around them, causing me lots of problems. So, I worked my way up to be behind the lead guide. He was ahead of the rest of the group a little ways so he could check out the waters ahead. So, most of the time it was just the guide and myself. No one to ram me from behind or turn over in front of me. I got to talk to the guide and go at a faster speed.

The trees overhanging the river made it cool for kayaking. It was like going through a tunnel much of the day. The jungle foliage just added to this peaceful, yet exciting, experience. The abundant bird life and fish jumping along with the sound of rushing water was making for a great outing.

There were mysterious sounds from the jungle forest as we paddled, also. At one point we could see a fire that had started in the dry forest. I hope they got it put out before doing much damage.

About noon we stopped on a sandbar for lunch, provided by the company. Most of us went swimming. Aido was the first one in. He loves his work.

The only other time of the day we were out of the Kayak was at one point where we came to a military site on the river. They had constructed a dam and would not allow anyone to go over. We would never had made it anyway!

At this point we had to get out and pull our kayaks through the jungle just a little ways and put them back in on the other side of the dam.

At the end of the day, as the guides load the kayaks on the trucks, we are treated to dinner on the river banks. We are all very tired (arms) and getting out of the kayak is nice.

But, there is a sad note to this story. I did not get to eat the dinner with the group. Also, before leaving this morning Aido gave two people in the group cameras supplied by the company. He suggested we not take our cameras in case we turn the kayak over or get the cameras splashed with water. All the pictures taken during the trip would be given to each of us at no charge.

When I booked this trip at the hostel, the brochure said we would arrive back in Chaing Mai at 5:30 p.m. Just before leaving the office today, though, I asked Aido to be sure. He said, "No, I don't think so". I told him I had a bus to catch to Pattaya, Thailand and had to be back. I asked if I could cancel and take a refund. He said yes, he would give me a refund.

I really wanted this trip, though, and he could tell. He decided to take his truck and let one of his guides bring me back ahead of the rest of the group. So, when the guide and I finished the kayaking ahead of the rest, we jumped in Aido truck and headed back to Chaing Mai. The downside was the rest of the group had not arrived and not only would I not get to eat with them, but I would not be here to get a copy of the pictures today.

Later Aido uploaded them for me but I could not unzip the files on my ipad. I asked Karla to download them and send me a few by e-mail. I think the resolution on the cameras must have been set low, though, because they didn't turn out clear. So, not many pictures of my jungle kayaking trip.

During the two hour drive, the guide, a Thai (from Burma) ,with good english, and I had a lot of time to talk. I asked him about the little number tickets in the cases I see all around. He said they were lottery tickets. We talked about so many things I had wanted to ask a good english speaking Thai. He told me the reason there is so much traffic in Thailand is because of the government. We talked governments and customs on our 2 hour ride.

A few years ago the Thailand Government decided to give huge rebates to any citizen that would buy a car. Thousands that could not afford it before now could. The end result was too many cars crowding the small streets and the pollution out of control, and the government in debt. Many people here wear masks all day long.

Governments like to "fix" things. Reminds me of a country I am very familiar with.

I am leaving the charming city of Chaing Mai tonight. I have great memories from here and hope to return someday. Chiang Mai has about 200,000 residents, but seems like a small town. The old city is in the middle, surrounded by the walls, and the newer city streets radiate out from the old city. The old city is the heart of Chiang Mai but Chiang Mai is a modern city with a growing infrastructure of modern shopping malls and condominiums. The contrast is part of the town's charm. I'm so glad I came to this northern Thailand town.