CarlaTracy

With an invite from our tuk tuk driver turned friend, to visit his mother’s house for lunch, I was predicting that today would be one of our most memorable experiences in Cambodia. Dragon’s friend Wan was also coming along for the ride and when we jumped in the moto, it was Wan that was in the driving seat while Dragon accompanied us in the back and gave us a commentary on the local sights. With a 50kg sack of rice below our feet, the moto was a little slower off the mark than usual and when we veered off the main road onto a dirt track, I was having my doubts about whether we would even make it. I wasn’t recognizing a signal part of this journey to the orphanage that we had made the ... read more

“Take us to see some countryside” I asked the moto driver; a look of confusion. It wasn’t the response I was hoping for. Our original plan for the day was to see Tonle Sap, the largest Lake in Aisa, when we found out it would be 20 dollars to even see the lake we scrapped that idea immediately. In the moto drivers mind we wanted to see Tonle Sap and now whatever we asked him he replied “Tonle Sap”.... “No, no Tonle Sap…countryside,” but It was futile. Ste dashed into the hostel for some advice. There was another lake called West Baray that we could visit for free! It would be no Tonle Sap but it would certainly save the pennies. “West Baray” we asked “ahhh there is nothing here” he shook his head “Tonle Sap?” ... read more

What I love the most about Thailand is the simultaneous predictability and unpredictability of everyday situations. To some, walking down the street to a constant chorus of “Where you go?” “Hey you!” and “Tuk Tuk, Tuk Tuk” could really rattle the cage, but to me it provides a constant source of amusement – on a good day that is. This constant harassment is the predictable side of Thailand; it happens all day, every day. What was also predictable on this particular morning was a woman in official train staff clothing, trying to convince us that the particular train we required had no seats – not ‘no seats available’ but that the train was lacking anywhere to park our backsides for the 2 hour trip to Ayutthaya. Of course she knew a taxi company that could ... read more

For the last two months in Thailand, I had rejected any offer of riding, seeing, touching or feeding any elephants. I had saved myself for today! I had spent considerable time researching the kind of elephant activities that were on offer in Chiang Mai and it was actually in Phuket that I came across a blog about ‘Woody Elephant Training.’ I was instantly sold on the idea, the photos looked fantastic and there was none of this hideous sitting in cages on the elephants back while it goes in circles for 11 hours a day. In this one day (up to 3 day) activity, you are taught the Thai commands for controlling the elephant, how to ride bareback, how to feed, care for and bathe the elephant. By the time the morning arrived I was SO ... read more

I remembered vaguely a story I had once heard about a solid gold Buddha that was disguised with such intricacy, that for hundreds of years people believed it to be just an average plaster Buddha image, until it was knocked during transport and the plaster chipped away to reveal the gold jackpot inside. Arriving in Bangkok had me wondering whether this famous gold Buddha could be close by. It wasn’t until last night, while flicking through our seldom used rough guide to Thailands beaches and islands that it was there, staring me in the face under the Bangkok coverage section! ‘Wat Traimit and the Golden Buddha’ this Buddha was in fact cast in the 13th century and brought to Bangkok by Rama III, encased in stucco, which was common ruse for concealing precious images from thieves ... read more