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Published: February 23rd 2006
Khao San Road, Bangkok
In our beginning Bangkok days we spent many a time walking up and down!!! This is manic!!!Well here we are in Thailand…its only been a week (but what a packed week!!!) Sorry about the looong entry but there’s a lot to say!!! We arrived in Bangkok on Sunday 12th Feb late at night - after flying on Singapore Airlines - “the life of Riley” (we want every flight to be with them, they’re great!!!) Stayed in a hotel in the Siam district (for convenience of booking in advance - also didn’t want to trudge up the Khao San Road all new & innocent in Bangkok late at night!!!)
Moved to the hotel where our tour up to Chiang Mai was due to start on the Tuesday (just so we didn’t have to move again the next day). We were quite scared of Bangkok at this point - big dusty polluted city - but soon felt loads better once we’d moved and the hotel was nice too. First few steps out of the hotel to explore though and guess what happens…we get scammed by a ‘nice’ man trying to help us with directions (as he saw us looking at a map!) Next thing we know, we’re being scooped up into a tuk tuk and taken on a
tour of some of the sights nearby. Turns out the tuk tuk is only so cheap because half-way round they took us to a suit shop ‘Top Ten Collection’ and, if we buy, the tuk tuk driver gets a free petrol coupon. Jamie has no need for a suit so refused and the tuk tuk driver ‘kindly’ left us at the final destination (the Golden Mount). Still we were quite pleased because we hadn’t paid him yet (and he’d taken us to 2 places already) - it meant that we saw more and found our bearings better by walking back!!! Still - won’t be falling for that one again - better make sure we actually read our Lonely Planet book (it’s the most written and talked about scam!!!) At least we had the last laugh!!!
Next we discovered the much talked about Khao San Road which we thought could be a bit of a disappointment but - quite the opposite - we instantly loved it and strolled up and down it taking in the atmosphere many times (reminds us of Glastonbury!) Good place to sample the cold (cheap) Thai beer!!!
The next day (Tuesday evening) we met up
Jamie in the Bottom Bunk
Jamie enjoying the train bunk beds far too much! - Go to sleep!!! with Tee our guide and the other trekkies on the hill tribe tour and had a great night (10 people on the trek, including us). Went for dinner together and then to a bar for a few. Good way to get to know people and then couldn’t wait to leave for Chiang Mai. Just before we did though…had one more full day in Bangkok to sample the sights (our way this time, rather than the tuk tuk drivers!) Took the river taxi to Wat Po Monastry and saw the Reclining Buddha, then to the Grand Palace to see the Emerald Buddha. Great sights but its soooo hot (particularly as we were told to cover up in long trousers, covered shoes AND a top with sleeves). Arrrgghh - we were ‘slightly’ sweaty!!! Time to change before we head to the station to get the overnight train to Chiang Mai with the rest of the group.
The train cabin was air conditioned which was luurvly - especially on a 14 hour long journey!!! Actually a lot more comfortable than we expected and we had a really good laugh. Met a nice couple from Holland - Yorg and Emily - very friendly
View across Chiang Mai from Temple
Karen braving the Heady Heights!!! and good to talk to. They mixed in with our group and even the friendly porter joined in our party (“Sa-wat-dii Khrap”) . The only problem was - everyone has to be quiet by 10pm - so all the beds get made up beforehand. Woke the next morning a couple of hours away from Chiang Mai (arrived about 10am) and we were pleasantly surprised (as we’d been dreading the train journey a little!)
CHIANG MAI:-
Very clean place and a bit cooler than down south!!! We all freshened up after the journey and day 1 in Chiang Mai was spent together touring round in the truck - we went to the Hilltribe museum and to a temple in the morning. In the afternoon we went to several factories to see how they make silver, silk and laquer-ware. Very interesting - especially the silk worms!!! We got back to the hotel and meet our Hill tribe guide Susan - he preferred to be called Jackie Chan (and Rambo - his fellow guide)!!! After all this we still had time to sample a delightful Thai massage before dinner - sheer luxury. They even picked us up in a mini bus
Jamie & 'The Tower'
Jamie sampling some of Chiang Mai's BIG beer!!! to take us there. It was very surreal to start with as they took all 10 of us into the same dimly-lit room - a few of us had the giggles!!! Once we relaxed though it was amazing. It hurt at times as they stretch you quite a lot and put you into some embarrassing positions!!! (Jamie - my lady took a liking to me - she said I had a big body, asked how old I was and if I was married. (If I get fed up with Karen then I know who to see!!!) Then went to the night markets which were good for bargain-hunters. Also, in the centre square they had ladyboys miming (extremely badly) and dancing to songs. Very funny though and kept a few of us entertained while the others shopped! Finished the evening in a bar by the river with a couple of ‘towers’ of beer between us and a great band singing cover songs that we wailed along to - we were very, very drunk!!!
Day 2 - Trek starts. Truck picked us up at 9.30am and this is where it all begins. Drove for an hour to the local market (where
Riverside Bar - Chiang Mai
Getting to know some of the group with a few beers(our fellow trekkies). they stopped to buy food) and we all got our last junk food fix! Next part of the journey took a couple of hours driving - very windy, rocky mountain roads. A few people got out their truck looking a little green! This is where they saw my sleeping talent (Karen) - as I slept all the way and amazed everyone!!! Had fried rice lunch and then - uh oh - this is where the walking starts. We walked through the hot sweaty jungle hills for 2 ½ hours - looking rather red. Arrived at the first tribe that we were staying with - the Lisu tribe. A really small village with wooden huts . We were staying in one big hut just down the track from the main village - all 10 of us in the 1 hut with bamboo beds (Jamie - I just hope they can put up with my snoring!!!) Managed to have a much-needed wash. They had a hut with a squat toilet (uumm!) and then a huge bucket with cold stream water in that you could wash with - by throwing over yourself (not much but sheer luxury to us and the way we
View of Lisu Hilltribe
Our first site of the Lisu Tribe - after Walking and getting all sweaty and red - we made it!!! were feeling!) The dinner they cooked for us was delicious - green curry and stir-fry veg (probably the best Thai food we had eaten so far). During dinner the tribes people came down and sat and watched us eat as they were intrigued by us. Then we all danced round the camp-fire together holding hands - with us (trying) to copy their moves. It was great fun and the people were really friendly.
Day 3 - The big one!!! A Five hour long trek through the jungle terrain to the ‘Karen’ tribe starting at 9:30am. Up a huge hillside. It was tough going especially on the knees going down hill - we knew the trek shoes would do us proud!!! We were pleased that we did it as we’re not the fittest - I think at times we were definitely the reddest and sweatiest of the group!!! Jackie Chan made us cooling leaf hats - it really helped. Arrived at the elephant camp just in time for some noodle lunch - scrummy! Next stage after lunch - elephant riding!!! Wow we were on a huge elephant for 2 ½ hours as it went up hills, down hills, through water
Group Shot of 'Trekkies' with Lisu Tribe
A few of us pose with the accomodating Lisu people after dancing. and along cliff-tops. Arrrgggh - very scary stuff at times - one traumatic peak when I thought I would have to get off (Karen) - mainly because the drop to our left side was so sheer I would have been petrified to walk along it - let alone do it sitting on top of a HUGE elephant with nothing holding me on (or nothing to hold on to!!!) Amazing experience though and - we made it!!! This time - no washing facilities - so a quick dip in the creek before a tour of the village. Karen tribe is quite large and has a school for the villagers and surrounding tribes - teaching Thai, Northern Thai and English. They have a Catholic Church too. We played football - Karen vs Trekkers. Karen won 6 - 3 (Jamie - Although I scored an excellent goal!). What an experience!!! Another gorgeous dinner - yellow curry, sweet and sour veg and pumpkin and egg (sounds bizarre but don’t knock it until you try it - delicious!!!) After dinner - another surreal situation because we got to watch the football (Liverpool vs Man utd). All the tribes were given solar electricity from the government
Trekking with our Bamboo Leaf Hats
Made especially to fit by Jackie Chan - they actually kept you cooler - and, of course, made you look a lot better!!! 5 months ago and one person in the Karen tribe has a television now. So off we went to his ‘hut’ to watch the important match. It was great - loads of people gathered in the one hut and sat on the floor (it was quite big) and - to Jamies delight - they all supported Liverpool. Good result too as they won 1-0. Yahey - never thought we’d be watching the match like that (although I do know Jamie will go to any length to watch Liverpool!) All headed back to camp rather jubilant and sang songs round the camp fire, while Tee and Jackie Chan played the guitar.
Day 4 - The last of the trek. The last stint back to the truck to Chiang Mai was spent Bamboo Rafting. Floating down the river for 4 ½ hours - encountering some tricky rapids. There were 5 of us on each raft plus we had Jackie Chan and the others had Tee & “Rambo” as guides. Jamie, along with Will, had to steer etc (although us girlies did have a go! (Yeah right!!!)) It was fantastic - definitely a highlight of our trip (although it has all been
View - 2nd day Trekking
One of the many beautiful views as we were trekking. great). There were some funny moments where the raft would get stuck on a big rock or branches and it had to be repaired a few times but most of it was just drifting and getting wet over the rapids. We passed absolutely stunning scenery along the way.
Finished with some lunch of Pad Thai and then back in the truck for the 2 hour drive back to Chiang Mai (sad that the trekking and activities are all over). Back at hotel freshen up with HOT water and a shower! All went out for our ‘last supper’ at a lovely restaurant by the river.
Day 5 - Wandered around Chiang Mai for the morning and left at 3pm to get the overnight train back to Bangkok at 4pm. Definitely is all coming to an end :-(
The train back was hilarious - same set-up as before - cabins to sleep but fan-cooled this time rather than air-con. At the back of the train they had a dining cart cum disco in which we boogied and celebrated fellow trekkie Andrea’s birthday!!! Another high scorer on the ‘surreal-O-meter’ dancing to a tape machine in a train cart with disco
Us at the start of 2 1/2 hours on the elephant
This smile was more of a grimace (as we had just got on) - not too sure if we'd make it!!! (It's really just like riding on a bus!!!) lights!!! Arrive at Bangkok train station at 6am Tues 21st Feb (what is this hour of the day???!) Say goodbye to everyone - Andrea, Christine, Gareth, Catherine, Kaylene, Will, Jason & Jess. Will really miss them - had a great laugh with them all and we feel lucky with our group. But…on to the next chapter….an hour wait at the station before boarding a train to Ayuthaya (1 ½ hours north of Bangkok - the old ancient capital)…….
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