Life-a learning experience: Flight of the Gibbon

After returning back to Chiang Mai from our excursion to Chiang Rai, Jon and I decided to dial up the excitement to "extreme" and signed up to do the Flight of the Gibbon. Jon and I were also happy to finally do a group activity and mingle with some other tourists.

What better way to get the energy flowing then zip lining through the 1,500 year old rain forest and soaring through the jungle canopy with the endangered and high flying gibbons.

Gibbons are apes who have mastered the art of swinging from branch to branch at distances up to 50 feet (15 meters) and speeds of 34 mph (55 km/h). They are the fastest and most agile of all tree-dwelling, non-flying mammals.

A tour guide can make or break any given experience. Fortunately for us, our group was paired with two outstanding Individuals. Cash (or as I took to calling him, Cash Money) was the outspoken and funny one, Pele was the quiet and thoughtful one. Together they made a dynamic duo who kept us laughing and enjoying every moment.

Our group was small and consisted of just four other people. Two adorable young girls from China who spoke little English and a wonderfully engaging Father and son. It just so happens that Gary and David (Father and son) were Philadelphia natives as well...what a coincidence?!.

The Flight of the Gibbon puts you on zip lines, one of which is .5 miles (800 meters) long, to simulate the feeling of being a gibbon. As we made our way through the forest we even had the opportunity to see a family of gibbons in one of the tree tops. Watching them in their natural environment was a special gift and the perfect addition to a flawless day.

With a wonderful day of adventure completed, we said goodbye to Cash Money, Pele and our group. But the universe definitely had plans to keep the Philly connection alive, Jon and I ran into Gary and David again at the insanely busy and crowded Sunday night market in Chiang Mai. Another coincidence, I think not.

Side note: Jon and I set a goal to get invited into the home of local people somewhere along our trip. During our visit to the night market in Chiang Mai we befriended a group of street vendors and were invited to "hang" with them as they sat around a makeshift table eating street food and chatting away. Sak, Vulkan and the others were welcoming and eager to share everything they had with us. So while we technically did not get invited into an actual home, we considered the evening a success and checked that goal off our list.
Our flight of the Gibbon experience.