DAY EIGHT The breakfasts at the hotels here are giant buffets with all kinds of foods, not just what we would call breakfast foods. They have rice, chinese food, thai food and then all the american breakfast foods also. Whenever you order eggs you just go  to the ‘egg station’ and they fix them however you want. As soon as we get to the room for breakfast Charlie and Coleman hit the ground running and love picking out all of their favorite things. We headed up the hills…way up the hills to see the Hill Tribes, a little village all set up to see how the people up in the hills used to live. The drive was beautiful and long and bumpy and windy. It was much cooler up there, which was nice. The boys enjoyed climbing and exploring again which was great. We bought some souvenirs and gifts as well. We all held a praying mantis that Andy found. We saw lots of interesting plants and flowers growing…some poppies and even some marijuana…very exciting. On the way back down from the hills we stopped at a palace which had beautiful landscaping. We ate lunch at a little place that was just cut out of the jungle. This was one of the best meals we had. And another day was ended with shopping at the night market, one of my favorite activities here. I took Charlie and Coleman this time and I think they liked it for about the first ten minutes. They did find some cool toys. This market was a little bit different and was under cover. It was so hot. We were all sweating. I was pretty proud of myself this night since I bargained with a man who was selling the toys that the boys bought. I thought I did quite well, although when I looked over at Sutthida and Jongjit they were just laughing at me. A little market up in the hill tribes Granny Josie and baby Josie Coffee up in the hills The whole Hirschman gang The little market built into the hill A mock village was set up here An attempt to get all the kids on the ladder which was about 6 inches wide Coleman just taking a little rest All that’s missing are some s’mores The praying mantis A temple under constuction The boys look down as we head down in the gondola A cool coffee shop we found called Wawee Coffee Blue cat Coleman and his back float. He learned to swim today!