The so where next blog has an exciting moment today as Tom and Alex met up with none other than Robbie (ie me), not that fake one who they mentioned earlier but the real one. Anyway, Bangkok, how best to describe this most oxymoronic of cities?
After meeting Tom and Alex in Bangkok airport we took a cab ride into Bangkok with officially the craziest cab driver in the world - lane markings meant nothing to this guy! The Khoa San road is famed as backpackers central in Bangkok as this is where we duly headed and found a Spartan but relatively cheap room. The evening was spent ambling down Khoa San being offered everything from genuine ray bans and Armani suits to tasers and ping pong shows. Personally I wasn't in the mood for table tennis.
Our first full day in Bangkok was spent touring the sights that made Bangkok what it is. Rama I decided to move the Thai capital to Bangkok in the 18th century and build his royal palace and this is where we duly headed, despite at least 3 locals claiming it was closed, we weren't going to fall for their scams! The 90 acre sight contains an array of temples and royal residences all of which are as opulent as the next. The crowning glory of the palace is the 3 metre tall emerald Buddha which was made from a solid block of jade in the 15th century. After ambling round the palac we went to Wat Pho which houses a 49 metre long reclining buddha plated in gold, pretty impressive! Apart from his toes, which were all the same length, weird! In the afternoon we went to Siam Center which has 4 large malls adjacent to each other and enjoyed trying to brter with the stall holders who were selling 'genuine' designer clothes and goods. A few drinks back on Khao San and a great first day for me was done.
A nice lie in on our second day helped me get over my jet lag and in the early afternoon Alex and I headed off to Wat Traihit to see the Golden Buddha, which is a 3 metre solid gold statue, very impressive! We had rranged to meet Tom in Chinatown, or at least what we thought was Chinatown. The only problem was that we walked the wrong way for about 45 minutes! While it gave Alex and I a great opportunity to see the real Bangkok, away from the tourist trail, it did mean we were 50 minutes late meeting tom. Due to Chinatown not being where we thought it was we headed off to the night market. Unfortunately this involved heading through Patpong - Bangkok's red light district. We were constantly bombarded not only by seedy looking men offering us ping pong shows but the bars themselves bringing the so called entertainment right upto the street's edge. I think we all died a little inside while walking through.
Rob
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Ko Tao
We heard that the weather on Ko Tao was going to be slightly worse then on Ko Pha Ngan and this quickly became evident went our boat was bouncing around like a tennis ball. I, rather luckily seem to be immune from sea sickness but the same could not be said for alex who was using all his concentration on not throwing up. NICE!
We arrived and checked in to Mr. J's guesthouse but decided against buying his homemade condoms (buy 10 get 1 free). He was weird. During bad weather is not the best time to see Ko Tao and so we were unfortunate not to see it's true beauty. We made the most of what we could though, meeting up with Tiffany to explore the island; we found a beauiful secluded bay and also mini golf!!! Alex won :( but only just.
Next stop Bangkok to pick up Robbie, all that stands in the way is a 9 hours night boat to Surat Thani followed by a day of waiting for our flight bad times.
Tom
We arrived and checked in to Mr. J's guesthouse but decided against buying his homemade condoms (buy 10 get 1 free). He was weird. During bad weather is not the best time to see Ko Tao and so we were unfortunate not to see it's true beauty. We made the most of what we could though, meeting up with Tiffany to explore the island; we found a beauiful secluded bay and also mini golf!!! Alex won :( but only just.
Next stop Bangkok to pick up Robbie, all that stands in the way is a 9 hours night boat to Surat Thani followed by a day of waiting for our flight bad times.
Tom
Ko Pha Ngan
I think upon our arrival we proved what seasoned travelers we are now. Whilst everyone else was frantically running around searching for accommodation Alex and I decided to get some food and then leisurely took a stroll and managed to find the cheapest accommodation on the entire of Haad Rin beach (where the full moon party happens) and it came with a free hammock.
We spent the next couple of days on lying on the beach, inventing a new sport called "Alex and Tom's beach tennis", disturbing other people with our poorly aimed frisbee throws and generally relaxing. In the area there was an abundance of bars and restaurants that play friends all day (you thought e4 was bad) which originally we mocked but soon found ourselves strangely drawn to not mentioning an awesome falafal joint.
The night life on Ko Pha Ngan is something special. You start out with a couple of drinks in a bar before heading down to the beach to drink whiskey buckets. The leading entertainment, aside from the music is to watch thai men playing with fire in different ways the most intresting of which is a rope swing which tourists leap over until the eventually get hit by a flaming rope. We gave it a miss ourselves...
The climax of the weeks fun was the Full Moon Party on thursday. Early in the day the multiple bars and resorts along the beach begin erecting stages and dance floors in preperation for the evening. The party technically begins at about 5pm when the music starts but it's not until about 10.30-11 when everyone is suitibly drunk, suitibly painted in glow amd the moon comes up that the real fun begins. Alex and I spent most of the evening with Mark and Owen who we'd met on the beach a couple of days before. Eventually, well after the sun rises, the party begins to wind down and the last few ravers stumble back to their guest houses.
Too soon the party was over and we were making our way to Thong Sala port to go to Ko Tao
Tom
We spent the next couple of days on lying on the beach, inventing a new sport called "Alex and Tom's beach tennis", disturbing other people with our poorly aimed frisbee throws and generally relaxing. In the area there was an abundance of bars and restaurants that play friends all day (you thought e4 was bad) which originally we mocked but soon found ourselves strangely drawn to not mentioning an awesome falafal joint.
The night life on Ko Pha Ngan is something special. You start out with a couple of drinks in a bar before heading down to the beach to drink whiskey buckets. The leading entertainment, aside from the music is to watch thai men playing with fire in different ways the most intresting of which is a rope swing which tourists leap over until the eventually get hit by a flaming rope. We gave it a miss ourselves...
The climax of the weeks fun was the Full Moon Party on thursday. Early in the day the multiple bars and resorts along the beach begin erecting stages and dance floors in preperation for the evening. The party technically begins at about 5pm when the music starts but it's not until about 10.30-11 when everyone is suitibly drunk, suitibly painted in glow amd the moon comes up that the real fun begins. Alex and I spent most of the evening with Mark and Owen who we'd met on the beach a couple of days before. Eventually, well after the sun rises, the party begins to wind down and the last few ravers stumble back to their guest houses.
Too soon the party was over and we were making our way to Thong Sala port to go to Ko Tao
Tom
Ko Samui
We slept in Bangkok airport for a couple of hours before boarding our Bangkok Airways flight to Ko Samui. The flight was only forty five minutes and so seemed like a waste of time but it saved us a solid days traveling, plus we got a free snack!
Ko Samui has unfortunately become a popular spot for western tourists looking to take advantage of the readily available Thai prostitutes a lot of which are actually men... This was emphasised by our guest house's staff, all of which were ladyboys. Alex and I spent a lot of time watching Wimbledon, yes we know it's pathetic but we had to watch it, despite the best efforts of the prostitutes to distract us in the bars.
Soon enough we were treking along the beach to catch our boat to Ko Samui. I think we were both a little surprised that we were actually about to get to Ko Pha Ngan, home of the full moon party, something we had both been looking forward to from the start.
Tom
Ko Samui has unfortunately become a popular spot for western tourists looking to take advantage of the readily available Thai prostitutes a lot of which are actually men... This was emphasised by our guest house's staff, all of which were ladyboys. Alex and I spent a lot of time watching Wimbledon, yes we know it's pathetic but we had to watch it, despite the best efforts of the prostitutes to distract us in the bars.
Soon enough we were treking along the beach to catch our boat to Ko Samui. I think we were both a little surprised that we were actually about to get to Ko Pha Ngan, home of the full moon party, something we had both been looking forward to from the start.
Tom
Chiang Mai
After crossing the border at about 9am in the morning we entered Thailand and quickly found ourselves transportation to Thailand's second city, Chiang Mai. After sorting accommodation we experienced our first Thai curry and it was GOOD. The heavy rain meant we only had time to book onto a cooking course for the next day.
We were picked up early and taken to a morning market where we were given a detailed description of all the ingredients that we were going to be using in our curries. After this they took us to the "farm" where the owners grew a lot of the other ingredients needed. First lesson was how to make a curry paste after which we made a curry using our own paste. The other dishes they taught us were chicken with cashew nuts, pad thai, a chicken coconut soup and finally a sweet, banana in coconut milk.
In the evening we met up with Ulrika and Amelie and had a couple of drinks before Alex and I departed for Bangkok where we would catch a flight to Ko Samui. Thai islands here we come!
Tom
We were picked up early and taken to a morning market where we were given a detailed description of all the ingredients that we were going to be using in our curries. After this they took us to the "farm" where the owners grew a lot of the other ingredients needed. First lesson was how to make a curry paste after which we made a curry using our own paste. The other dishes they taught us were chicken with cashew nuts, pad thai, a chicken coconut soup and finally a sweet, banana in coconut milk.
In the evening we met up with Ulrika and Amelie and had a couple of drinks before Alex and I departed for Bangkok where we would catch a flight to Ko Samui. Thai islands here we come!
Tom
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Luang Phabang
Luang Phabang is another one of those towns whch are plintiful in Laos which are just really pretty. On arrival we went to the charming nightmarket which while having many hundred stalls, only stocked about 4 items, bags, scarfs, lanterns and bracelets. They were ver nice bags, scarfs, lanterns and bracelets though.
The following day we rented some bicycles and set out on a very ambitious 30km round trip to a famed waterfall, we soon saw a sign to a different waterfall and changed course. After a long hill climb and many many stairs we realised there are infact no waterfalls and set out on the far more enjoyable cycle home. The journey to the waterfall had been fine, for me, I was given a good price on a mountain bike with good gears in return for fixing the bike, much to the others irritation, all of whom had pretty rubbish shopping bikes, oh well, their loss.
Soon we set out on the 3 day journed to Chian Mai in Thailand. The journey consisted of two day long 'slow boats' then a night on the laos border before doing the final 4 hour bus to Chiang mai. Personaly I enjoyed the boat, it was cool, relaxing, we played cards, did some reading, and the scenery was amazing.
We stopped the first night in Pakbeng, where Tom was offered the challenge of a game of pro evo for a free meal, which he took and won, only to have the free meal skillfully removed 'i offered you, but you didnt accept'
The only exciting thing to happen in Houyxai, the boarder town was an all you can eat barbeque restaurant. Myself and boat friend Ben abused this as much as we possibly could.
Now we are in Chian Mai, and the next post will be written by Tom, a far more thorough journalist I feel.
Alex
The following day we rented some bicycles and set out on a very ambitious 30km round trip to a famed waterfall, we soon saw a sign to a different waterfall and changed course. After a long hill climb and many many stairs we realised there are infact no waterfalls and set out on the far more enjoyable cycle home. The journey to the waterfall had been fine, for me, I was given a good price on a mountain bike with good gears in return for fixing the bike, much to the others irritation, all of whom had pretty rubbish shopping bikes, oh well, their loss.
Soon we set out on the 3 day journed to Chian Mai in Thailand. The journey consisted of two day long 'slow boats' then a night on the laos border before doing the final 4 hour bus to Chiang mai. Personaly I enjoyed the boat, it was cool, relaxing, we played cards, did some reading, and the scenery was amazing.
We stopped the first night in Pakbeng, where Tom was offered the challenge of a game of pro evo for a free meal, which he took and won, only to have the free meal skillfully removed 'i offered you, but you didnt accept'
The only exciting thing to happen in Houyxai, the boarder town was an all you can eat barbeque restaurant. Myself and boat friend Ben abused this as much as we possibly could.
Now we are in Chian Mai, and the next post will be written by Tom, a far more thorough journalist I feel.
Alex
Vang Vieng
Vang vieng is a backpackers town if there ever was one. It is famed throught south east asia for it's 'tubing'. Tubing literaly consists of sitting in a tractor tyre inner tube and floating down the river, great fun in the sun. In Vang vieng however it is slightly different, the river banks are lined with bars serving unbelievabley cheap drinks. Each bar has either a 'swing' or a zip line, the sort of thing that throws you in to the water from anything up to about 8 metres in the air and would be about as legal as cannablism in the uk. Needless to say we all LOVED it, as does literaly everyone.
We later enjoyed an evening sampling the local nightlife before boarding yet another bus, this time to the town of Luang Phabang.
We later enjoyed an evening sampling the local nightlife before boarding yet another bus, this time to the town of Luang Phabang.
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