The accommodation at the Karen Village was basic, and we didn't manage to receive a full night's sleep but it was quite pleasant sleeping to the sounds of the jungle...like a relaxation CD. There were a few funny moments during the night, mainly involving Eddy (local guide) scaring Rich including Eddy jumping out of the dark whilst Rich was brushing his teeth, scaring the hell out of him!
We had a breakfast of eggs and toast to fuel our long day of trekking, and unlike yesterday when we were grateful for the rain to break the heat, today was very hot, very humid and there were no rain clouds in sight. Not a good combination for 4 hours trekking through the jungle!
The walk started off pleasantly enough, a slow walk through paddy fields with a brief stop for some sling shot action (I don't want to brag but with one shot I came the closest to hitting the water bottle target...a right Dennis the Menace!). We also saw a trap for catching rats (which would then be eaten) which I accidentally broke (but not beyond repair).
It was after the walk through the paddy fields when we reached "Mama" hill that the heat started to take it's toll. Even though the walk up Mama hill took around 30 - 45 minutes, the humidity in the air was really stifling and progress was much slower than expected. The walk was very hard, the distance and gradient of the hill were not difficult as such, it was purely down to the heat...the unrelenting, inescapable heat of the jungle. By the time we reached the top it felt like we had taken a shower...it was not exactly morale boosting to be told we had another 3 hours to go!
The rest of the walk passed without real incident, the only thing worth mentioning again would be the HEAT, but otherwise, stunning scenery and an incredible walk. We walked for hours and did not come across any other person, it was wonderfully quiet. Well, quiet in between Eddy making animal noises or rustling the bushes and shouting "tiger".
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