Blogs from Thailand, Asia - page 2905

After two nights in Ko Pa-Ngan with a mixture of torrential rain, homesickness and overwhelming depression, I had decided to move on. I was fearing my necessary visit to Bangkok as I had heard that it was busier, dirtier and smellier than KL. It was, yet for some reason I really liked it there. Whether travel had hardened me, or whether Bangkok just has a great atmosphere I do not know. Walking down Khao San Road during the day was pretty interesting, but at night when the traffic is closed off it is an amazing sight. The street is filled with backpackers and travellers walking up and down, passing jugglers, street vendors, hawker and endless lights from the signs of bars and hostels - it has to be seen. Here is where westerners are a majority ... read more

The journey from Penang to Surat Thani in Thailand took around 10 hours, all in a tiny minibus - apparently air-conditioned although I felt the heat had got to this also and caused it to give up the will to live. After this achievement for my knees (the pain had set in after an hour), any journey I now make will seem easy - at least until I get to Mexico. At Surat Thani a short ferry trip across the water took me to Ko Samui, an incredibly touristy island. The beaches on Hat Lamai were stunning, although far from secluded, and very near to the town, gave a welcome break from city living. It was a shame my ability to swim was non-existent otherwise I could have spent weeks there doing very little. As it ... read more

Heading down the highway, looking for adventure, and whatever comes my waaaay, BOOORN TO BE WIIIILD............... I just bought a motorbike. Well a glorified scooter actually. Is 110cc and has at least 2 horse power. NZ$280 worth of motoring glory. It’s a dream... no really it’s a Dream (Honda). Her name is Lola. Have done my CPR course and have a free bungalow on the beach for three nights. Going for a deep dive tomorrow to 40m on enriched air. Excellent. Hot and sunny here. Must have a beer. I hate my life. 30th September I got a Thai sim card for my phone, so now you can call and send text messages etc, which I am sure you are all dying to do... Bit weird seeing as I am on a small island in the ... read more

We slept a few nights in Phitsanulok, from where we did some excursions. Phitsanulok served as the capital of Thailand for about 25 years. Sukothai is the original capital of the first Thai kingdom. It is one of Thailand's World Heritage sites. It was so huge that we used rented bikes to move from one part to another. There is a story about a general standing behind the Buddha statue, pretending the Buddha was talking to the troops, hence the name "talking Buddha". Wat Phra Si (the exact name is actually Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat) contains one of Thailand's most copied statues. In fact, afterwards we visited a small factory where bronze copies of that statue were made...... read more

Near Bangkok, there are other interesting places worth a visit. In the huge canal system surrounding Bangkok, there are several floating markets. We visited one of them, namely Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. When you see pictures of these markets on the internet, you usually see the wooden canoes filled with multicoloured fruits and vegetables, and the Thai women wearing straw hats. All this was nice to see, but I also remember seeing lots of tourists (including me of course ;-) touring at the canals. Some canoes didn't sell any fruit like in the old days, but sold souvenirs instead. So I fear a little bit the disappearance of the original character of this... Wat Pho is the oldest and largest wát in Bangkok, featuring the largest reclining Buddha (46m long, 15m high). It is also the ... read more