Friday 27 November 2009








Sunset on Ko Lanta,

Gee meets ladyboy.

Dee meets the demons.

and its back to Bangkok

Well, we left Ko Lanta peace and serentity and no we are back in the crazy world that is Bangkok. The journey here involved a ferry back to Krabi, a 3 hr journey on a rather crumby local bus to Surat Thani, driving through the winding little local roads stopping every few mins to pick up and drop off. Then finally picking up the 'luxury' VIP bus at about 8pm. (we left Ko Lanta at 12!) We then travelled in relative comfort. with real air con, reclining seats and VIDEO!!! (Twilight, Nicola/Paula! I enjoyed it and wanna watch the sequel now) We actually slept quite a bit and were rudely woken up at 04.45 in Bangkok, where we were dumped on the side of the road! But, hey, those canny taxi drivers were there! They dont miss a trick! a good price negotiated and we were whizzing thro the 'quiet' streets. You dont often see them like that. We walked into the very plush Bel Air, and the night staff, never faized, started trying to get us to pay for another day, 1,500 bhat! Did we look like we just fell off the back of a lorry??? well, yes actually! we looked pretty dammed awful, and probably smelt rather ripe. Ha!
So we just dumped our bags and went off to find an all night cafe, a 24hr MacDonalds and watched the entertainment, well this is Bangkok! Yes ladies of the night were still out, although most of them were just after a 'big Mac' (narf, narf) by this time.
When we could get into the hotel, we crashed out for a few hours and enjoyed the luxury of 5 stars!!!! Oh the bliss of clean white sheets/towels and no cockroaches or ants!!!!
Later, we poshed ourselves up a bit and went to a 'Ladyboy night' Off the scale on the 'bizzare meter' The most georgous 'women' in the most fabulous costumes and headdresses entertained us miming to a selection of Thai and Western music. looking very demure at times and saucy at others. Constantly winking and smiling at the young Japanese boy (called Will, Ha!) sitting next
to me.
Boy, did it all change when the show ended and we were invited to take photos at 50Bht a go. we got out into the foyer and were mobbed by these 'beautiful women' screaming at us to "take my picture, take my picture, you promised, you promised!!! Suddenly they were'nt feminine or demure any more, they were most definatly male, and would have ripped your head off if you messed with them! We didnt!!! We took a coupe of pics and got outta there pretty quick.
Today we thought we ought to 'do' a bit of culture! and paid for a charming 'real' woman to take us (in a limo, with driver) to The Golden Palace, which is the home of the very famous Emerald Bhuda. A lovely morning, looking at the intricate workmanship, all gold leaf and coloured glass mosiac, back to hotel for lunch a quick swim and then out for a walk, where we found a massage parlour, where they use 'live fish'. You put ur feet into a tank and hundreds of tiny fishes come and nibble away at you! after a soak, we were then pummelled and poked for about an hour, and it was really, really nice!
We then walked on and sat in a park watching a solitary figure doing Thai Chie, whilst behind her was a group of young cheer leaders practising, ha! and now we are in a shopping mall, its 9.30 at night and a band of 'Beatles' lookie likees are bashing out Beatles hits!!! That ol bizzare meter's taking a hammering today!
sorry for poor spelling, its late an I'm tired! xxx

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Forgotten where we're up to.

We're on Ko Lanta Island enjoying a few days in the sun and staying in a beach bungalow a few yards from sea. Had dinner on the beach for the last two evenings with Austrian friends. Nevwirth and Herbert.

Explored the island yesterday on motorbike, the day being interupted for a swim every now and then. The first few days here were overcast but sun has come out now.



We are leaving here tomorrow for minibus back to Krabi and then overnight coach to Bangkok for three days there before we return to UK and December weather, Christmas etc.

May get some piccies on tomorrow but sun is about to set down by the beach so it's cocktail time!!!

See ya!

ps Sorry Harris we didn't get to Pattya, we were seduced by Ko Lanta!

Saturday 21 November 2009

You think this is a lot - wait till we get home!




Photo One - Our Dive instructor friend Zoe.

Photo two - Chop, chop, bang, bang. Thai Cooking course, so its photos and Thai curry at our place then?

Yet more ......






Photo One - Master Thai Chef finals

Photo Two - Flowers made from real fruit at local festival

Photo Three - Graham's pulled!!

Photo Four - Friend for Will, Happy Christmas!

Photo Five - Synchronised snorkeling!

More photos





Photo one - "The two headed beach monster"
Photo two - "Beauty on the beach"
Photo three - "Daniel Craig eat your heart out!!"
Photo four - Happy birthday Dee I got you a boat.

Photos






Photo One - "Mermaid!"

Photo Two - "Harris" our Thai cultural and language advisor, thanks Harris!

Photo Three - Gee and Dee before the big swim!!

Photo Four - Dinner with Norwegian friends Gier and Justina

Photo Five - "Happy feet"

Friday 20 November 2009

too busy enjoying ourselves!

Sorry not been on here for a while, we have been doing loads!
From Pai we travelled by bus back to Chiang Mai and then flew to Bangkok and then straight onto Phuket. Phuket not the nicest place but did good boat trip from there to islands, where we enjoyed swimming and snorkeling in sea the colour of jade. Clear as crystal, with a wealth of fishes and beautiful sights under water.
Riding our 125cc motor cycle through tropical rain storms, was a bit scary!
Bused on down south to 'Krabi' much nicer place. Enjoyed the snorkeling so much that we went out again yesterday and we are doing a Thai cookery course today! We wil treat you all to a banquet when we get back!, you will have to sit on the floor though! Ha!
We have met some interesting people down here: Harris, a Thai speaking, French Canadian who has given us loads of tips on Thai culture and language, and how lucky to go snorkeling with a young English, diving instructor/ Marine biologist who gave us lots of useful help and pointed out some of the huge variey of marine life.
To be continued......

Tuesday 17 November 2009

Thank you!

Cheers youall, we got ur comments loud an clear, thanks for that, it makes it all worth while! It sounds like it is more complicated than we thought, so big thanks!

It is raining here like you wouldnt believe! We were riding back to the hotel when it came down and we almost got washed down a storm drain!
Write more soon!
xxx

Saturday 14 November 2009

next bit!






Starting to get confused about dates and times now, but this is the next bit!
After the excitement of crashing though the jungle on elephants and then crashing through the river Ping on my backside, we decided to have a quiet day. We consulted 'The Lonely Planet' and thought a nice walk exloring Chiang Mai, with a few 'Wats' to see. It turned out to be very hot so we didnt get very far and colapsed into a cool spot for coffee and then another cool spot for lunch, and the last blog entry!
In the evening we were picked up from the hotel in a minibus to go to the Thai cultural centre for a traditional banquet and Thai dancing and music. It was actually rather lovely. Seating on a carpeted area under the stars with strange triangular cushions to lean against. We were brought various dishes of foods, the band played on a variety of strange instruments and the dancers were lovely. Exquisite girls(we think!) Ps thankyou for my happy birthday wishes!!

!2th Nov
My actual birthday spent first four hours in a mini bus driving to Pai.
Just imagine a road that felt that it had been wound like a ball of string, with the packed in passengers being thrown this way and that ( apparently 1628 bends in the road). We went way up over the mountains, with the most majestic views all around. We are now in a valley very north of Thailand not far from the borders of Burma and Laos. We emerged from the minibus hot and dusty and realised the place we were staying was still 7kms further on. We had thought we might get a moterbike for this part of the journey, but as there are two of us and two bags that are almost as big as us, the picture was a bit daunting, so we jumped into a cab! (150Bht about 3pounds)and we arrived in paradise!!
Lush green tropical plants, dear little bungalows with pretty pergolar roofs, hammocks hanging under the trees, a discreet pool, sweet sented flowers and the most enormous butterflies. Tiny little chiruppy birds, and would you believe a real Siamese cat in Siam! how cool is that!
The down side is big black beetles that scuttle around, but we have had a chat and decided that we will leave them alone if they leave us alone!
Loadspeakers with Thai music and then some sort of announcement greeted us at 7am totally indicipherable to our western ears! We found out after it was the local chicken farmer calling his workers in! An early morning dip and breakfast and then into town to hire a motorbike! yes, Nasher, me on a moterbike. Saints presrve us!

P.S
If anyone is reading this could you write some comments, please, as we have no way of knowing.

PPS
Pictures for you Will, you know which ones!!!!

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Days 8 - 10 continued!







After the excitment of the morning with the Elephants and exploring the bottom of the Ping river we then got aboard bamboo rafts which looked like the sort of things made on a team building exercise and not meant for real rivers but soon we were back in the Ping with a raft man whose mantra was "No wet, no fun!" so having been warned just wear swim gear were then splashed as he fought off pretend crocodiles and snakes, tipped the raft to the point of capsize while whistling the theme from Titanic!! Great fun, we haven't laughed so much since we've been here. Finshed off with a swim in a more peacefull part of the river and some rather adventurous jumps from the rocks overhanging, what we were assured of was, a "deep bit"!
Back to Chiang Mia for beers and food with our English young travellers who were great company for evening and then to watch our bruises and aches develop overnight. What fun, what a day, what a fabulous place.

Next stop Pai but we have booked a posh meal with what is advertised as traditional Thai dancing (hopefully not Frank Sinatra this time.) this is to celebrate Dee's birthday tomorrow. We saw the weather in England on BBC World news! Didn't snigger at all!! It's about 30 / 35 degrees here at the mo.

I'm gonna attempt to load some photos now, wish me luck! Hey it's worked!

"Wats and water." Days 8 - 10






Sun 8th
Left Sokathai after really relaxing few days visiting Wats of the old town and taking in the country. Left on local bus for four hour ride to Chiang mai. One other european on the bus and uneventful journey until Chiang mai. get off bus and surrounded again by taxi/tuk tuk drivers trying to grab our bags and get us into their wagons. This time we resist and call hotel first, they tell us the price we should pay and we negotiate from a position of strength!!
Visit old city in the evening dodging traffic, eat delicious Thai green curry in streetside cafe (given up the "don't eat from local traders and don't have drinks with ice in" rules!!!)
Hotel cheap but adequate.
Mon 9th
make onward travel arrangements - we have booked flight from Chiang mai to Phuket for next Mon and arranged to visit Pai between now and then for relax in hotel with pool. bargain for less than 25 pounds a night.
Tues 10th
"The day we nearly lost Dee!"
Joined group for trip to forest/jungle south of Chiang Mai. Four English students and Polish couple. Fantastic Elephant ride for hour through forest, brilliant. The trek on foot to get nice and hot and sticky.
we then arrived at a waterfall and were invited to swim, it had to be done so we lauched into fast flowing river at base of the waterfall. Gee swam to other side and found it hard to swin in current, tried to warn Dee but too late, dee was white water rafting downstream with no raft!! Actually very scary as she disappeared beneath water several times, Gee launches into main stream to try and get to her and we are both being bashed about by rocks as we tumble towards next rapids. make it to the other side desperately hanging on until a guide could get close enough to pull us out! A bit shocked and bruised but survived to enjoy the rest of the day.
Trek to hill tribes nursing our cuts and bruises but soon we are visiting the friendly and happy but desperately poor people of the Karen tribe. It didn't feel too intrusive as we watched them weaving things which we could buy to make the deal seem fair.

Friday 6 November 2009

Day 6

Dee's and Gee's bit

What we did:

Left Bangkok on 8.30 train, station came to a standstill at 8.00 for national anthem! cant imagine that at Paddington somehow?
Lumpy, bumpy train with all sorts on it. Very smart ticket inspector who took his job very seriously! a hostess who supplied us with drinks and first a snack and then a HOT MEAL! all included in the price of 411BHT (approx Four pounds), hotel was strange, very oldie worldie sort of colonial style. not the nicest food ( jill, do you remember the meal we had in Chinatown in London?) but dancing girls to compensate.
Really bizare evening in Phisanalok, we sat in hotel eating bad food watchin a lady feeding her dog on her lap, listening to three Thais playing piano, drums and bass and singing Perry Como songs!!! Dee is trying to avoid drinks with ice cos they are bad for you (not bottled water!!) so she drinks cocktails in one go before the ice melts, what a fun evening! Then we watched a talent show for girl Thai singers, when they finished each song no one claps, except Dee who clapped enthusiasticaly in sympathy!!
We then travelled to Sukothai today by bus, the super air conditioned bus drove passed us as we boarded a local cross between the clampets lorry and a highly decorated cattle wagon. We chose this so that we could experience the real local stuff. Everyone was really friendly and helpful. There is a definate difference in all things geared towards the tourists! The air con involved opening the back emergency exit and the front door which replaced old stale hot air with fresh hot air! But it only cost about 60p each for the whole journey, we then got ripped off for the taxi from the bus station to the hostel for 5 quid. Hey ho!
Today we visited a magnificent Budha (all gold) in a very beautiful Temple. Locals very reverent and made us feel quite humble. Apparently one of ther most revered in all Thailand.!
We are now in a very chilled place. We have hired some bikes and are off exploring for 2 days. We leave here on Sun 8th to travel up to Chiang Mai.

Ami- have a lovely birthday and good firework night to all.
xxxx

Wednesday 4 November 2009

day 3

Gee's bit
Lots of Gok Wan lookie likies everywhere. I'm too scared to have a massage! Happy to be leavin tomorrow for Phitsanulok then on to Sukhothai for a day, tippin up in chiang mai on Sunday. travelling by local train and buses. Why does pronouncing thai places make you sound like a cat meowing!!!!\
Dees bit,
I just bought a pair of 'loon pants', dont quite look like a local yet, but working on it.
as G says it will be nice to leave the big city tomorrow, a city of extremes. Searing hot Thai food, fabulous hotels and workers on the local building site with bare feet! beggars with near naked children and MP3 players in their ears. Looking forward to the journey , will we have chickens on the roof of the train??. Time to pack, early start tomorrow!
Hope to get some pics on hear soon.

Monday 2 November 2009

day 1- Bangkok

Dee's bit
very hot and steamy. we slept off an on lots yesterday and now think we know which way is up?
we boarded the sky train last night and found our way to a magical garden where a festival of water and light was being celebrated. It involves pretty little boats made of banana leaves and candles being floated out onto the lake. The Thai people make prayers and take it very seriously. It was very beautiful. x
Gee's bit;
Bangkok likes - Skytrain, temperature, happy people, busy nights, pronouncing words in cartoon voices. The thought of booking train ticket to Chiang mai and no idea where we are going to stay! 29 days still to go!!
Bangkok dont likes - Old fat western men with beautiful young thai girls who wear fixed smiles. Working out how much a coffee is in Bhats/ Pounds!