weelise

I did actually add another entry the other day but it has clearly got lost in cyber space! So I made it to Auytthaya as planned just in time for Songkran ( Thai new year) celebrated over 3 days by chucking buckets of water and smearing each others faces with flour and water. I managed to avoid it the first day but hiding out in my guest house but the next day got completely soaked and floured several times when I went out on the bikes to try and see some temples. I got fed up have to stop and wring out my clothes so gave up on the sightseeing! But from what I did see Ayutthaya is an impressive place, it has many ancient temples and is the place where you find the head of ... read more

Well here I am in Pai, a town in the mountains about 4 hours from Chaing Mai. I only really spent 1 day in Chaing Mai, checking out the markets and went on a river cruise to a fruit farm. On Monday I went on a 3 day jungle trek. Me, trekking I hear you say!? Yep me! It was really hard and had I realised just how hard it would be I may not have done it but am so glad I did. The first day we went on an Elephant trek, feeding them as we went through the jungle. I really loved it being so close to the Elephants. After lunch by a waterfall we set off up the mountain, about 2 hours up hill in 30 something degree heat!It dam near killed me! ... read more

So made it to Bangkok in one piece! Bangkok isn't what I expected at all, it's a lot cleaner and nicer than I was expecting. Certainly after Mumbai anywhere is nicer! Mumbai airport was not a pleasant experience. Arrived there with 8 hours until my flight to Bangkok to be told that I couldn't enter the building until 2-3 hours before your flight! I was then hassled by a couple of taxi drivers offering to take me to a hotel for ' cheap price' I declined and plonked myself down on the kerb ( no waiting areas) wondering what to do for the next 6 hours, especially that it would be dark in an hour or so. Shortly after that a fellow backpacker sat beside me and after striking up a conversation I discovered that she ... read more

Happy St Patrick's day folks! Not that there seems to be any Paddy's celebrations going on here but I'm sure I'll find something! Not a lot to report, I have been doing exactly what I said I'd do and that's not much of anything. Been soaking up the sun, doing a bit of reading and enjoying the Goan/Indian food. Went to a party on Saturday ( tell us something exciting I hear you say!) but it was a bit different. It was what they call a headphone party. It's like a normal club night up until 11pm, and the I can only assume, to keep the locals happy and keep the noise down, after 11pm everyone puts on headphones and choose between 3 DJs to listen to. When I was told about this, I thought what ... read more

Not alot to report, I've had a nice chilled out weekend, checking out the beaches. Went to Colva and Benaulim beaches, fairly touristy ( Colva more than Benaulim) but not too bad. was fun watching the parasailing ( rather them than me!) Found a lovely quiet beach yesterday not far from my hotel, Bollywood beach, a real paradise beach. White sand, hardly any people and no sellers! Tan is coming along nicely! It was quite revolting having to pass the area where they dry the fish in the open air, that apparently the locals like to eat with a beer! Off to do a bit of exploring today. Going up to Ponda to see the temples and the Spice plantation, hopefully feed some elephants... Big hugs...Lx... read more