Into the Jungle.

Ok so we have been slacking on our journaling of amazing adventures!! What have we done?? For starters we went on a dare devil adventure (thanks to recommendation by YY) trying out the Flight of the Gibbons.

Upon first glance it would seem that it is just a day of zip lines, wires and harnesses and platforms transporting us from tree top to tree top in the northern jungle area of Chiang Mai. (Okay, maybe that sounds pretty awesome) But, in addition to being a totally rad thrill-seeker's paradise, it is also a great organization built on principals of preservation and education.

The jungle houses 2 adult Gibbons (monkeys, whom were rescued from abuse and captivity several years ago. Now, they are thriving and have a baby. Proceeds from the program go to support them throughout the world (apparently they are the only known gibbons living not in captivity). One interesting little tid-bit about Gibbons: they mate for life. If their mate should die- the remaining mate will not find a new mate, and usually dies soon after it's partner. So our guide said it is a really special thing that these two Gibbons survived and mated and now have a baby Gibbon.

Plus, the zip lines were so rad. We'll try and load a picture or two (our internet is not too trilled about the idea and may protest vehemently). We were so high above the canopy at times. Completely breathtaking (not just because you're screaming either).

Back in town...

Per the guidebook a day in Chiang Mai without visiting all the wats (temples) is a visit not completed. So enjoying the heat and humidity we ventured out in town and did the Chiang Mai walking tour. The wats are amazing and full of life as the Thais head into the new year and are decorating and cleansing the temples. It's such a different experience from our trip to Indonesia- where the old Buddhist temples are no longer used for anything but tourist attractions. While visiting the wats here in Chiang Mai we were able to observe monks meditating as if the world were not turning so quickly around them. That's the funny thing about Thailand: you see all this industry, developement, modernization, 7/11s. And they are jutted up right against this old world very spiritually enervated and reflective culture. Totally trippy.

Tomorrow we plan to go mountain biking... gulp. Let's hope this is an innate skill we just didn't realize we had. We'll keep you posted.