Blogs from Northern Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 2

It’s time to start my travel ramblings..... so put your hands over your ears if you don’t want to hear! This year I’m planning a gentle, relaxing time away and hoping to replenish body and soul. I’m planning to do a lot of walking, eating, reading and resting so it may be a bit boring for you, the reader. But I like to do it and it helps me to remember where I’ve been and what I’ve done ..... otherwise the days melt into each other between leaving and returning. Pat dropped me off at Malvern station to get the train to Birmingham International. I’d left Lottie-dog at home with Ruth, who’s going to look after her and the pigs and the house while I’m away. My flight to Zurich was delayed by 40 mins, and ... read more

We knew we had to get out of town during the new year celebrations as the streets were already seething with tourists walking at a crawling pace. It was by a chance encounter sharing lunch with a Californian that we learned of Wat Pa Tham Wua up towards Mae Hong Son. The next day we booked our minibus and were on our way. Wat Pa Tham Wua, or the forest monastery, hosts anyone willing to spend at least 2 nights and committing to following their schedule of Buddhist style vipassana (as opposed to Goenke style). The only rules are: show up to all events on the daily schedule, men and women can't touch or stay in the same bungalow, and no smoking/drinking. Even the meditations are Mickey Mouse: 1 hour walking through the lush grounds then ... read more

hell! We cleaned all the elephant houses out, and were visited by two elephants who came over to say hello. We got to pet them and they seemed happy to hang out with us for a little love and a photo op. Not long after the big ladies moved along, Jodi, a very passionate elephant advocate who has been at the elephant park for years came to our group. She is a tiny redhead from the northeast who moved to Thailand years ago. She is always covered from head to toe in long sleeves, pants and a hat with a huge brim and a flap that covers her neck as well. Somehow even though you can't see her, you know it's her every time. She gathered our group to tell us that Lek (the woman running ... read more

After countless hours in a plane we at last reached Chaing Mai around 1030pm Saturday night. Wow I forgot how long of a trip that is! We were greeted by two Thai men in matching shirts with my name on it at the airport and they ushered us to a pretty sweet ride. We climbed in and started driving through the night. They didn't say anything to us and about 40 minutes into the ride I had to ask "how long until we get to the hotel?" The looked at each other, then back at the road, saying nothing. There is usually at least one moment in every trip where you are entrusting a stranger to not rob, murder and dump you in a river... This was that moment. 20 minutes later we arrived safe and ... read more

Wednesday 10 February Every one here in Thailand is very respectful and we are greeted with clasped hands prayer-like to the face and either 'hello' or 'thank you very much' in Thai, wherever we go, village or city. There is a male and female form, unfortunately the pronunciation of both is very difficult to Western tongues, Paula decided it was easier to mumble it behind raised hands saying either Cardboard Car (female) and Cardboard Crap (male) and so far it seems to work. Given time She could bring a complete 'Stanley Unwinism' to the Thai language! (Yes, Paula had to google Stanley Unwin to understand this statement) Following Alf's careful directions, we make our way to........... Boots the chemist at the East Gate of the city. Same, same - from blue plastic shopping baskets to familiar ... read more