Chiang Mai, the largest town in Northern Thailand is the launch point for a huge variety of physical activities.  So let’s go . . .   Our Littleton friends, Julie and Carl (from the Bangkok fame) met us in Chiang Mai.   During a one day tour, we were able to go elephant riding, hike to a waterfall and finally on a raft trip down the Mae Tang river.  It was so much fun.  One of the guides explained that instead of saying Oh My God!! Thailand being a Buddhist nation, use the phrase Oh My Buddha!    OMB for short.    My government self naturally goes:  Office of Management and Budget – Oh my Buddha – no!

The other interesting thing to note is David says crap.  That’s right; you heard it here, CRAP.  Of course, Karen says Ca, so what’s the difference.  If you remember from Laos we explained Sa Wad Dee is hello or welcome.  The same word is used in Thailand but a male uses crap (really spelled krap) at the end of the phrase, and female uses ca.  Hello crap, . . . has a nice ring to it.