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Published: November 21st 2008
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So the adventure has begun. We flew into Singapore Monday night, and stayed one night there in our little hostel in Little India. Our room was a double bed, and not much more - each wall touched each side of the bed. The shared shower/toilet was all in together so when we had our cold showers we stood above the loo and the entire area got soaked. We definitely jumped in the deep end of the backpackers' lifestyle with this joint. Singapore was interesting - although my view of it was rather jaded due to the sinus pain I endured for two days after touching down. Little India was incredibly dirty and stunk like a damp dog covered in incense and poo. After almost breaking our ankles over the uneven concrete footpaths, we were walking past an open store front when we had to stop short - four men were carrying a large plastic bag-covered body out and into a waiting police van. We wandered through the streets in shock after that one. We had the most flavoursome and delicious Indian curries we have ever tasted at a little place we found through our trusty 'Lonely Planet Guide to South East Asia
on a Shoe-string'. We had another great find with these fruit juices they made fresh infront of us - pineapple, and star fruit (which sort of tasted like leaves but in a good way). Orchard Road was something else - a long pristine stretch of shopping mall after shopping mall. We popped into one to escape the heat and were met with nine stories of stores - this place made Chady look like the runt of shopping centres.
Bangkok the next day was a whirlwind of spruikers, smog, humidity, people, tuk-tuks and concrete. This place was huge and CRAZY. You can't walk anywhere without tuk-tuk drivers and taxi drivers shouting at you or the waft of spice and sewerage bowling you over at every street corner. We had breakfast at a little place near our hostel, where Perry tried out his Thai and said thank you. A few minutes later, the waiter came back with a Coca Cola and we discovered that Perry might need to improve his Thai pronounciation somewhat. It is like a giant concrete jungle but nearly all the buildings are run-down and decaying. It's true that you cross the street at your own risk! We
were pros by the end of the day, barely giving a sideways glance as we stepped off the footpath into oncoming traffic. There are Thais in tuk-tuks every step of the way trying to convince that they'll take us where we need to go. We bargained the price with one lovely man who said he'd take us to the train station to buy tickets to Chiang Mai. After about ten minutes, he dropped us off at a dodgy looking TAT store and told us to get tickets there. We walked in and straight back out again as Perry realised the scam - this place sold tickets but at an inflated price and the tuk-tuk driver got a commission for bringing us there. After another 20 minute walk, we found the train station and got our tickets but only after swimming through a sea of dodgy spruikers trying to get us to go to the TAT.
We decided to cut our stay in Bangkok short and head up to Chiang Mai via the sleeper train. We had two upper beds in second class which were surprisingly clean and comfy. The only downside was the two Dutch guys near us who
Bangkok
Faithful Buddhists provide monks with their day's food. were insistant on drinking themselves into unconsciousness and then sleepily peeing all over the floor near the carriage door during the night. So we arrived in the much more laid back Chiang Mai early this morning. This city is near the hills, and has got almost a bohemian vibe to it, with lots of cool little restaurants, lots of green and more space. We feel like we're in the Park Hyatt at the moment as our room actually has its own bathroom/toilet and lo and behold - hot water! Tonight we ate at the Pratu Chiang Mai food market, my mouth was on fire from the spicy Thai chicken curry - we realised Perry has a much higher hot-food threshold than his wife. We decided to risk our bums and ate it from a street stall. We ended the night at the Night Bazaar which was very cool - long line of streets and alley ways set up with stalls selling 'funny funny t-shirts - you buy now', fake Tiff & Co, sunnies, jewellery, clothes and lots of Thai handicrafts and art. The people here are less 'in your face' than Bangkok, and very friendly.
Well, that's our first
Train to Chiang Mai
The road less travelled ... going through northern Thailand entry done, will post again when we get the chance! :-)
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Vicki
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Life int the real world
Well done ...getting all that down for us...hope everything improves as you go...glad to hear no dodgy guts yet!!...lol!!! all well here..Oscar was attacked by Lilly but he is ok...very shocked but ok....Clare is settled in...you now have good reception on your TV...Love to you both...Happy travelling ...MIL/ Mum