Thailand
12 Feb 2008
Thailand seemed like a perfect destination for our Christmas holidays. We had booked well in advance, and from September were already looking forward to two weeks under the warm Thai sun.
First we spend a few days in Bangkok. It is a lot cleaner than when we last visited it, around ten years ago. Then we spent a day in Bangkok, on our way home. This time we stay longer. Today we take the river taxi to visit some of the sites. We start at Wat Arun.
After that we visit Wat Po, a big temple complex, most famous for the reclining Buddha.
He is lying there, the full 45 meter lang, but you can never photograph the whole statue. The building seems to have been build exactly around the statue. There is room to walk around the statue, but that's it.
Our next stop is Grand Palace. An immense complex, and it looks like gold is the main decoration material used. They were working hard on the restauration, a real monks work.
In the evening we visit Khao San Road, for a long time the backpackers paradise, but the police van with bars shows that things have changed.
The street is filled with bars, restaurants and shops. It is very busy but there is a good atmosphere.
The next day we explore Bangkok on foot. We start with a walk along the river and on the way we pass various small markets and food stalls.
We also climb all 318 steps up to the Golden Mount
At night we take the bus to Chiang Mai and when we get there, we rent a bike to losen the muscles after the night long bus trip. Of course we pass various temples, but we only visit one: Wat Chiang Man.
At night we have dinner at one of the many night markets: Anusan. What would you like to eat? Just point out the fresh fish you want to eat and specify how you want it cooked. Delicious!
The next day we join a tour. North of Chiang Mai is a village where Longneck people live. This is very special, so we would like to see them. But a tour to only visit the longneck people is not possible. So we first visit a butterfly and orchid farm. There are (again) no butterflies but the orchids look great.
After that we are taken to a paperfactory gebracht, they make paper from elephant dung...
And finally we are there, in the longneck village. The girls look very pretty. The urban legend that they will die when they take off the rings, is exactly that: a myth. We're shown a photo on which the women are without rings.
In the evening, back in Chiang Mai, we go to a Muay Thai tournament. This means: Carlos is watching the fights and Lenette is in the back, reading a book...
Finally the day has come that we go on a three-day mountain trip. We travel in a small group: four other Dutch: Xandra, Ruud, José and John. And two Israely girls: Taly & Orly. Next to the hiking, there is an elephant trip scheduled on the first day.
There we go, up and down the mountain...
In the evening we sleep with local mountain tribes. There the guides prepare a delicious meal and we enjoy the beautiful view and colorful sunset.
The next morning we take our time to get up and have breakfasst. By the time we are ready to get going, workers come from down the mountain with a full bushel of leaves to repair the roofs.
On the way we take regular breaks. One time to take an refreshing dip in the river, or to practise shooting with a catapult.
The second night we spend at another mountain tribe village. Again we get delicious food and the guide joins us to test us with various games. We had a great time.
On Monday 31, December we start our way back to Chiang Mai.
We arrange to meet eachother later that evening at a square in Chiang Mai. It is decorated with lanterns and that seemed a nice place to celebrate the new year.
It is a Thai tradition to buy a balloon/lantern and to let it up in the air. It takes a bit of fiddling before we get the fire to burn, but finally our balloon is filled with hot air and ready to be launched. Together with our wish, which is part of the tradition. Now we are hoping the wish will come true....
At such a location, even drinking champagne from a plastic cup tastes good...
The next night we take the bus to Ko Chang, the last leg of our trip. We spend it on the beach of Ko Chang, go for walkes, enjoy Thai food, drink cocktails from small buckets, enjoy the view and most of all: relax...
A perfect end to a perfect vacation.
First we spend a few days in Bangkok. It is a lot cleaner than when we last visited it, around ten years ago. Then we spent a day in Bangkok, on our way home. This time we stay longer. Today we take the river taxi to visit some of the sites. We start at Wat Arun.
After that we visit Wat Po, a big temple complex, most famous for the reclining Buddha.
He is lying there, the full 45 meter lang, but you can never photograph the whole statue. The building seems to have been build exactly around the statue. There is room to walk around the statue, but that's it.
Our next stop is Grand Palace. An immense complex, and it looks like gold is the main decoration material used. They were working hard on the restauration, a real monks work.
In the evening we visit Khao San Road, for a long time the backpackers paradise, but the police van with bars shows that things have changed.
The street is filled with bars, restaurants and shops. It is very busy but there is a good atmosphere.
The next day we explore Bangkok on foot. We start with a walk along the river and on the way we pass various small markets and food stalls.
We also climb all 318 steps up to the Golden Mount
At night we take the bus to Chiang Mai and when we get there, we rent a bike to losen the muscles after the night long bus trip. Of course we pass various temples, but we only visit one: Wat Chiang Man.
At night we have dinner at one of the many night markets: Anusan. What would you like to eat? Just point out the fresh fish you want to eat and specify how you want it cooked. Delicious!
The next day we join a tour. North of Chiang Mai is a village where Longneck people live. This is very special, so we would like to see them. But a tour to only visit the longneck people is not possible. So we first visit a butterfly and orchid farm. There are (again) no butterflies but the orchids look great.
After that we are taken to a paperfactory gebracht, they make paper from elephant dung...
And finally we are there, in the longneck village. The girls look very pretty. The urban legend that they will die when they take off the rings, is exactly that: a myth. We're shown a photo on which the women are without rings.
In the evening, back in Chiang Mai, we go to a Muay Thai tournament. This means: Carlos is watching the fights and Lenette is in the back, reading a book...
Finally the day has come that we go on a three-day mountain trip. We travel in a small group: four other Dutch: Xandra, Ruud, José and John. And two Israely girls: Taly & Orly. Next to the hiking, there is an elephant trip scheduled on the first day.
There we go, up and down the mountain...
In the evening we sleep with local mountain tribes. There the guides prepare a delicious meal and we enjoy the beautiful view and colorful sunset.
The next morning we take our time to get up and have breakfasst. By the time we are ready to get going, workers come from down the mountain with a full bushel of leaves to repair the roofs.
On the way we take regular breaks. One time to take an refreshing dip in the river, or to practise shooting with a catapult.
The second night we spend at another mountain tribe village. Again we get delicious food and the guide joins us to test us with various games. We had a great time.
On Monday 31, December we start our way back to Chiang Mai.
We arrange to meet eachother later that evening at a square in Chiang Mai. It is decorated with lanterns and that seemed a nice place to celebrate the new year.
It is a Thai tradition to buy a balloon/lantern and to let it up in the air. It takes a bit of fiddling before we get the fire to burn, but finally our balloon is filled with hot air and ready to be launched. Together with our wish, which is part of the tradition. Now we are hoping the wish will come true....
At such a location, even drinking champagne from a plastic cup tastes good...
The next night we take the bus to Ko Chang, the last leg of our trip. We spend it on the beach of Ko Chang, go for walkes, enjoy Thai food, drink cocktails from small buckets, enjoy the view and most of all: relax...
A perfect end to a perfect vacation.