THINGS TO DO

 OVER THE EDGE  "BUNGY"
Another opportunity for thrillseekers to experience a rush of pure adrenaline
The cords are strapped tightly around your ankles. Then, you are asked to walk a few steps before plunging into the air. As the ground gets closer, you shout as your heart pounds and your pulse quickens. But just before hitting the bottom. you feel someone pulling you up. The tension is gone by the time you are lowered on to a bamboo platform and asked to lie down on a cushion. Your muscles are still tight as you recall the fear and excitement. You stand up slowly and contemplate what you have just done; a jump from the top of a 50-meter high tower.

Bungee jumping is believed to have originated from the South Pacific, where young men have for centuries been jumping from the top of a bamboo platform on the side of a hill with only vines tied to their ankles to prove their bravery to manhood.

Modern day bungee jumping began in 1979 when a group of Oxford University students belonging to the Dangerous Sports Club leaped from a bridge in Bristol. Since then, a number of adventure companies have created bungee jump facilities throughout the world to give thrillseekers yet another opportunity to experience a rush of adrenaline.

The Jungle Bungee Jump located in Mae Rim, which is just 20 minutes from Chiang Mai, is the only professional and fully licensed bungee jumping organization in Asia. It has been operating in Chiangmai for three years and in Thailand for a decade. It is
owned and operated by Sudarat (Long) and Ian Rauner of New Zealand, one of only a handful of licensed jump-masters in the world. All of the equipment used meet professional standards.

"The thrill of bungee jumping is incomparable. The hardest part is summoning enough courage to step over the edge. Some people scream, some don't, while others want to scream, but can't," the two often say.
Fees include a T-shirt, pictures of your jump and a "certificate of courage". Call 053-290442 for inquiries.

ROCK CLIMBING, DISCOVERING NATURE

It is the ultimate sport for thrillseekers and adventurous souls

From below, you hear the two guides, Son and Kat, shouting instructions on what to hold on to and where to step. But all of their words seem faint as you concentrate on the task at hand and slowly feel a rush of adrenaline.
The ground looks distant and the rocks menacing. And yet, the top seems farther. A few minutes ago, you saw the guides scamper up the cliff like spiders. They made is look so easy.

You reach with your right hand for the flat ledge above your head and step on something called a "foothold", which is really just a small piece of rock with enough room for a toe. Then, it's time to shift weight to the right, stand on one foot and try to place your left hand on a big hole in the rock that feels like a bucket. Climbers call this kind of hold a "jug".
Amazingly, your right foot doesn't budge and you before you know it, a chain bolted on to the rock is within grasp. The voices of the guides seem louder; you stop for a second and take it all in. Standing 30 meters above the ground on the side of a cliff, only the valley and the rain forest are visible.

Welcome to rock climbing, the ultimate sport for thrillseekers and adventurous souls.
A sport that has made Chiangmai one of few places in the world that is a must destination for professional climbers, who never miss an opportunity to visit Crazy Horse Buttress, a 70-meter high limestone cliff located in the eastern town of Mae On.

Thanks to Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures, there are now more than 70 climbing routes in the vicinity.
They hold daily climbing trips and offer one to five-day courses (introduction, advanced, professional) conducted by trained guides with a combined 18 years of climbing experience. They also provide equipment rental services. Rates include, transportation, food, water, instruction book, T-shirt, and insurance.

 Trekking
A center for treks into the mountainous northern areas, especially home of hill tribes, Chiang Mai offers unique opportunities for the adventures. Lush hills and virgin forests are scenic backdrops that will make your trekking by foot or on elephant back truly memorable. The most popular trails are in Doi Inthanon National Park where over 300 bird species and a wide variety of orchids and other flowers can be seen.
 
Holistic healing for your wellness and well-being
There are plenty of stress relief services such as traditional Thai massage, Swedish, Shiatsu and Aromatherapy massages available in spas in the city and in resorts. A highly recommended place, which offers a renewed sense of wellness, is the Tao Garden located on Doi Saket. The Tao Garden offers appropriate therapy to balance the body and mind, thus enhancing a peaceful inner self. The spa offers five unique therapies including aromatherapy, Chi Nei Tsang massage, Ayurvedic oil, and acupuncture as well as body wrapping. Tai Chi Chuan offers an intensive 10-day course three sessions daily, 7.00 to 9.30 am, 1.00 to 2.00 pm & 4.00 to 6.30 p.m. Call Keith at 0 5330 6012 ext. 201

Cycling tours/ Mountain biking
Chiang Mai’s mountainous terrain and scenic destinations make the province perfect for both cycling and mountain biking. Many tour companies offer biking tour programs that include guides, food and overnight equipment. There are also an increasing number of travel agents providing full-day cycling tours to several interesting destinations.

The tours usually head north from the Asian Games Stadium through the Mae Sa Valley. Alternatively, it is possible to experience the scenery along Maenam Ping, which flows peacefully through villages, old temples, farms, etc. For those who are serious about cycling, a longer route to Chiang Rai is available which includes visits to small villages of Lahu, Lisu and Akha hilltribes. Call 053-234239 for more information.


Rafting
Chiang Mai also provides good opportunities for rafting using bamboo or rubber rafts, as there are lots of rivers and streams flowing throughout the province. Popular routes include Mae Kok, Mae Chaem, and Mae Tuen rivers. All rives flow through lush forests and hill tribe settlements. Contact your local agents for more information.


Boat trip
To see most of Chiang Mai from a different perspective, take a leisurely boat trip from the Nawarat Bridge. The trip operates five times daily, 10 a.m., 12 noon, 2 p.m., and 5.30 p.m.

Sightseeing in the air
An alternative way to get a bird’s eye view of Chiang Mai is to board a Micro-light craft to see the city’s environments and its localities. Flights are available daily from 6 to 12 noon and 3 6 p.m. The pilot, your guide, will point out and explain places of interest visible from the air. At the end of the flight, you will receive a photograph taken by a camera mounted on the planes wing. For more information, call 053-868460 or visit the Chiang Mai Sky Adventure at 143 Moo 6, Chiang Doi, Doi Saket sub-district.

Go-kart
Enjoy the speedy go-kart at 254 Mu 8, Hang Dong District. There are 4 types of rides available, ranging from beginners to competition models. Call 053-430059 for more information.

Cooking classes
Thai cooking classes are fun and delightful. An increasing number of foreign tourists join Thai cooking classes to learn new skills that can be used at home. The Banthai Cookery School offers mostly vegetarian cooking lessons, conducted in an old-Lanna style house. It is located on 11 Ratrchadamnern Road Soi 5, opposite Wat Pan On. Call 053-357339 for more information.

Alternatively, the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School (Tel. 053-206388) offers a 5-day course that includes an introduction to Thai ingredients, paste-making, a tour to the market and vegetable carving. Call 053-206388 for more information. 


Bird Watching
Endowed with rich natural deposits, Chiang Mai has a lot to offer to bird lovers. Its forests, perfect wildlife sanctuaries, are good observation spots for bird watching activities. Among several popular places are Doi Inthanon and Doi Suthep. 



Elephant Safari
See elephants at work and ride them into the forest, where you can enjoy being closer to nature. Maetaman Valley, just 50 kilometers north of Chiang Mai, provides an excellent base for this activity. The whole trekking package may include trekking on foot, bamboo rafting, whitewater rafting or kayaking, an ox- cart ride, and an overnight stay at a hill tribe village. Call 053-206047 for more information.


Yoga and meditation class
After a long adventurous day, one may choose to be pampered in one of the spas in the area. Alternatively, it is possible to achieve freedom from the routine and mundane life by finding your inner path through either yoga or meditation lessons. Take time to heal the body, mind, soul and spirit and let time stand still. Many tourists and locals have found the practice extremely beneficial and awakening. Contact Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidialai (053 278967) for more information on a 2-day program on meditation for foreign visitors. It is offered at Wat Suan Dok and Wat Phalad. Yoga enthusiasts can call 053-271555, Hatha Yoga Center for more information.

Jungle revving
Experience the rugged terrain of Chiang Mai on an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), imported 4-wheel motorbikes. The tour offers daily treks. Call 053-939113 or visit MAC ATV Tour at Km. 10 Mae Rim Samoeng Road. (near the Maesa Elephant Camp)