Monkey trouble

Arrived in Bangkok fine, met Kim at the airport, spent 2 days in Bangkok and it was actually cool! Well cooler than INdia! Saw the grand palace, lots of temples including a 45m buddha, reclining buddha, emerald buddha (he was blue). Saw snake farm and how they got the venom out and then got taken to loads of random places trying to get us to buy stuff including jewellry, tailors (wanted Russ to buy numerous suits ha ha !! and they didnt understand what casual meant)

Took a trip to see the floating markets full of tourist tat but good to see how they sell stuff from the boats. Then saw handy craft place, world war 2 museum full of dusty tat and a bridge which the Americans bombed. A tiger temple where we got to touch and have photos with the tigers themselves. It was in the afternoon and that was why they didnt eat us!! We also went to see a local waterfall and Kim got wet running behind the waterfall. We spent the night on a floating house boat, it rocked all night. Amongst the other tourists on the trip was a family from Woolston, small world!! Some New Zealands with very annoying laugh, greedy Russians who ate all our dinner even though they thought that she, the girl was a glamour model! On the next day we climbed 1.5km up to the top of a 7 step waterfall. It was really hot and sticky. A mixture of tree roots, wooden steps and off beat paths. Cooled down at the top by paddling, but got nibbled by hungry fish so got out rather quickly. We swam in a lower waterfall, the water was cold, but refreshing but had to keep moving before the fish ate us alive!!

Back to Bangkok and spent our last day there walking around Chinatown. Many markets, mostly all selling pork crackling in giant sacks. Got a local bus into downtown where the main shopping centres are. Had lunch in a fast food noodle place and then took the sky train (like the DLR) to a victory monument and walked to the highest hotel in Thailand and 28th tallest in the world. Got a lift to the top 84th floor, good views thank goodness it wasnt smogy that day.

Left Bangkok and got a packed train to Ayuthuya, famous for its 400 temples, we saw a few. We hired quality bikes this time, but still with no gears but with a better saddle so Russ's bum didnt hurt and toured the town in the roasting sun. Everyone got sunburnt!! Oops. Visited 2 elephant villages offering rides, a Dutch and Japanese settlement, the ancient palace.....was hot. We took our bikes on the ferry twice, it was fun trying to get them on and off the little boats especially in the monsoon rain. Then got the train to Lopburi which is very small. Spent today walking and looking at more temples well bits of temples that are still left standing, a palace, a monkey temple. Went to Tesco's!! We were very excited restocked up on emergency rations for our overnight train tonight. Unfortunately we lost some supplies to a theif in the disguise of a monkey, Russ then hit it with a bottle of water!! Thank goodness it only took some sweets the Ritz crackers are still intact:)

Heading up to Chiang Mai this evening (North Thailand), planning to trek, elephant ride and raft through the jungle on an organised trip and also planning to visit Chiang Rai- where there is a long neck tribe. Update you if we get there.

From
Carina (who's feet stink!!) Russ (who needs to shave and has very impressive t shirt marks) and Kim (who is getting really bad sandle marks:( )

---

---