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Published: November 24th 2006
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Cookery School
This was at the Thai cookery school, note the matching pink aprons and cool headgear. I think this was the day after Fraser shaved his Bayfield style goatee. I don't think there is a danger of Marie remembering any of the recipes. So we have been away for approaching a month now and its been a pretty amazing time having done quite a variety of stuff. First stop on the RTW trip was Chiang Mai which is Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai
After spending the best part of 24hrs travelling (incorporating free drinks in the BA lounge thanks to James Fedarb) we arrived to a pretty cool hotel in Chiang Mai really near the centre of the city. Hotel had a/c, swimming pool and private bathroom which will be luxuries which we won't have for most of the year.
Chiang Mai was a really cool first stop, it was a really relaxed little city, very friendly, easy to get around and with minimal scams. Within the first day we had Marie drinking beer, eating curry and watching some Thai Boxing (read 12-17 year olds engaging in some serious fighting). Other highlights of Chiang Mai included a Thai cookery course which was a day of cooking and eating a variety of dishes (pleasingly Fraser and I were given matching Pink aprons - see picture). We also did a tour on a tuk tuk (motor bike driven carriage) which involved numerous drinks stops
Cleaning Elephants
Swimming with elephants can you spot the seventh elephant? (Hint wearing blue and looks a little like someone Stavros romanced at university) to fill up on Beer Chang (best drunk through a straw on a tuk tuk). We also visited an elephant camp where you even got to wash down the elephants which was pretty cool (though there was a very boring video).
Whilst we were in Chiang Mai it was also a major festival for 2-3 days so we spent most of the time in the evenings down by the river watching all the fireworks (there were 000's). These were let off by everyone and anyone and it was pretty mental with fireworks occassionally whizzing past your head and bangers going off all the time. There were also lots of lanterns being launched in to the air and candles being floated in the river but I think the fireworks were a lot more fun.
After a few days in the city we headed out on a 3 day 2 night hill tribe trek which was exhausting but very good fun. It was very hot 30+, and we were walking up to 6 hours a day (up pretty steep slopes in jungle terrain). There was also a bit of swimming in waterfalls and the like. You stay in Hill tribe
Lighting a lantern
Lighting a lantern at the festival in Chiang Mai. Looked more fun than it was. villages overnight in huts pretty much sleeping on the floor but the evenings where pretty funny because of the people on the trek (mainly the guides and a Japanese Samurai warrior).
We then had a couple more days in Chiang Mai just chilling out staying in a Hostel. One evening was pretty funny spent in a Bob Marley bar chatting to a Canadian couple.
Malaysia
From Chiang Mai we flew to Kuala Lumpa where we did a bit of a variety of stuff including going on the sky Bridge between the Petronas towers (see pic), going to the top of Menara KL Observation tower, visiting a bar on the top of a 34 story building with views over the city and a swimming pool (Sanj - this was on a par with the beach bar in Germany), visiting the China town market, having a big night in a beach club and eating a shed load of food. We head back to KL after the Philippines so more on Malaysia then. We had to get up at 4.30am for our flight to Manila.
Philippines
We spent a night in Manila which is not the nicest place
Bob Marley Bar
These two were pretty funny. The dude on the right was sick during his cooking class as a result of a rather heavy previous night. in general (though the part we stayed in was pretty safe). Went to a Hobbit bar where bar staff where dwarfs and also a flinstones bar. Both had a lot of comedy value. After a night in Manila we flew out to the Islands. Flight came complete with inflight trivia and games.
First we based ourselves on Alona beach (which is on Panglao islands in Bohol) for 3 nights. The beach was really nice and very quiet which is what we expected. It was nice to have a few days relaxing. Fraser and I did a day trip to the chocolate Hills. The Chocolate Hills are considered one of Philippine's natural wonders and Bohol is often referred to as the Jewel of the Philippines. There is basically 1000 conical hills and the locals believe they were formed by two giants fighting. They turn brown during the summer, hence their name. It was a funny trip which involved a 1 hr 1/2 each way on a local bus (read 3 people to a seat, people sitting on the roof). The scenery on the way there was stunning though. We also ate a lot of fish grilled fresh on the BBQ.
Trekking group
This was our trekking group. The Japanese girls definitely did not come prepared. Note the guy in the white shirt and bald head. He could talk a lot (unfortunately). We then headed off to Siquijor.
On the ferry from Tagbilaran to Siquijor, Marie got chatting to a Filipino lady who had just spent 600 Euros bringing a dog over here from Germany - based on the state of the dogs we have seen since we have been in the Philippines, it is hardly surprising. The lady's driver gave us a lift to the Kiwi Dive Resort where we stayed for 6 nights. We had a two storey cottage on the beach and were pretty much the only people staying at the resort.
As the place was pretty quiet, me (Fraser) and Andy went out for a walk on the second night armed with a headtorch as it was dark by 6pm. We stumbled upon a "bar" which was pretty much someone's front room where the whole neighbourhood were sat watching television. We stopped off for a few drinks there before being escorted by around 10 of the men from the village down the road to the Rotary Club in Larena for a local disco. It was a surreal experience with Andy teaching the Filipino's an array of dance moves - they particularly enjoyed dealing the cards! (note
3 athletic machines
This was the three of us trekking near Chiang Mai on the second day (about 15 mins after Marie was sick). from Andy: Its a strange experience having about 10 people try and set you up with their sisters or/and their cousins - its not something I can imagine Sanj doing).
The next three days were spent completing our PADI scuba diving course with our American instructor Gary. Possibly the most annoying person we have met since we left the UK, but we managed to tolerate him long enough to complete the course. We did four dives in total, going down to nearly 15 metres on the fourth dive in Siquijor Canyon. On the evening that we completed the course, the three of us were required to complete the snorkel test involving drinking a bottle of San Miguel beer through a snorkel. All 3 of us succeeded - well done to Marie who looked to be in a severe degree of pain whilst performing the stunt.
We also went to a Karoke bar one night with a couple of the locals we met before, the Philippinos love Karoke. I (Andy) did a beautiful rendition of Hey Jude to a very appreciating audience whilst Fraser introduced them to Wonderwall. Found ourselves a very nice beer in the Philippines. Its 50p
Yuta the legend
The legendary Japanese Samurai (Yuta). This was a pretty funny evening. for a litre bottle, called Red Horse, and is between 7-9% (varies by bottle). If you want to go somehwere the painted horse definitely takes you there quicker.
Marie and Andy also did an island tour for a day visiting waterfalls and beaches - very romantic!
We have now left Siquijor and are spending a couple of nights in Dumaguette (a university port town) for a festival before heading up to Cebu City via the dive resort Moalboal.
Hope everyone is doing well. Drop us all an email to keep us up to date with the goings on at home (with the exception of Lutons drop down the table).
Other Random stuff:
Andy's snoring annoys Fraser.
Marie chatters her teeth in her sleep.
It is difficult to sleep without aircon.
Red Horse gives you bad hangovers.
Eating is fun.
Mosquitos bite lots.
Sanjay has gone soft.
Andy was offered many people's sister's hands in marriage at the Larena disco - some as young as 13.
Walking with a hangover is not fun.
Diving with a hangover is not fun.
Motorbikes are dangerous.
Marie is a lightweight and pervs over women's bums.
It's disturbing to see
End of Trek
Another picture of the trekking group. The guides were pretty funny also and good cooks to boot. old and/or fat pasty white men walking around with tiny young Thai/Filipino women
Thai massages hurt.
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Sarah M
non-member comment
Envy
I just compared your sunset to my view of a factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Sometimes I prefer grey but not when it comes to a view. I am so jealous but really glad you are having a great time and are all well. Keep the information coming - despite the envy it brings a little sunshine into my day! Take care Sarah x