Well, what would YOU do if YOUR mother let YOU?

   In Thailand the concept of government safety regulations is a bit nebulous, and if you combine that with an exchange rate where the odds are always in your favor, suddenly you start to feel like maybe anything is possible.  Does your local Zoo Safety Commission refuse to let you into the cage with the tigers?  Come to Thailand!  Always wanted to light something on fire and send it flying into the electrical wires overhead? Thailand! Want to fish for crocodiles with a chicken tied to a stick? Shoot off fireworks in the middle of a crowd? Float down a river within feet of a nervous mother elephant? Send your 5 yr old zip-lining 200 ft above the ground, completely unsupervised? Thailand, Thailand, Thailand!

We did all of these things, with the exception of crocodile fishing, because who really wants to catch a crocodile? The only thing I can say in defense of the excesses of our recent trip to Northern Thailand is that when I was planning it my kids (and I) were very sad about being away from family for the holidays. Fortunately, we're easily distracted.