3.29.2013

Thailand- Chang Mai (Zip-Line)

I used to think that being a mother would tame wild hairs.  I thought that I'd suddenly be one to always play it safe and take extra caution in everything I do.  But I find that exactly the opposite is happening.  I've had more fun in the last 7 years than I've had in all the others combined!  And a large majority of that is due to our recent time in Thailand.

I LOVED our time in Bangkok... shopping and eating are my first loves.  But Chang Mai was full of some of the greatest experiences.  After a day with tigers and elephants, we headed up a mountain into some very thick vegetation for a day of zip-lining.  If you've never done this, add it to your bucket list!  And if you ever find yourself in Thailand, be sure to look up Flight of the Gibbon... you won't be disappointed!

We almost didn't do this.  Max was only 4 at that time, and I know these sorts of things have age minimums.  And even if they did let him go, I wasn't sure he could allow himself to be tied to a rope, throw himself off of a ledge, and fly through the trees.  But I was wrong about both.  They were more than thrilled to see him there, and he wasn't scared a bit.

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Jack has a large amount of "daredevil" deep in his soul, so I knew he'd love every second.

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Since I wanted to catch pictures of everyone, I went first.  The first line was pretty easy, but they got progressively longer and steeper!  But you wouldn't know it by the faces.

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Most of the time, the boys "zipped" alone, but there were a few opportunities for them to go together!

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A few times, the boys didn't have enough weight to carry them ALL the way across a line, so they went tandem with one of the guides.  Neither cared about being strapped on with a random stranger... as long as they got to cross another line!

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Along the course, we found ourselves crossing some "fun" bridges.  I use that word "fun" very loosely.  I'm not much for swinging bridges that lie very high off the ground, especially when I'm on there with other people!  But the rest of my crew thought they were a blast.

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Though I'd rather cross bridges solo, I LOVED crossing the zip-lines with the boys!

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The trees where the platforms were stationed were so beautiful- huge, old, and laden with character.  And extremely HIGH off the ground!

(You can see Jack waiting his turn on the platform below.)

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I'd be lying if I said we only went for the boys though.  Jason and I had as much fun, if not more!

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The classic zip-line was a blast, and I could have done it all day.  But there were a few parts where I had to swallow some fear.  At one point, they latched the rope to my harness in the back (as opposed t0 the front as they had done the rest of the day.)  If this happens to you, go ahead and prepare yourself.  You are going to have to jump off of a platform face first.  I'd like to tell you it wasn't as scary as it sounds, but it was!

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And at the end, we repelled down one of those huge trees you saw above.  Again, I had to step off the side of a platform and basically fall.  These boys had no problem with it.

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I somehow forced myself over the edge, but I remain the "wimp" of the bunch.  It really was high!

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We've done some great things together as a family, but I think my whole crew would echo that this one ranks right up near the top!  Seriously- book a flight to Thailand soon!  You won't regret it!

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