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Published: February 22nd 2009
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My last few days in Bangkok were awesome. They were so much more than I hoped they would be. I had a very “Some Like It Hot” night on the way to Bangkok from Chiang Mai. It was an overnight train complete with my cars own man who turned down the bed and waiter that would get me anything I wanted anytime. I was really looking forward to just some time in my bunk with my book and laptop so it was the perfect evening. I finished the book Marley and Me (highly recommend it by the way) and got a phone call from a friend back home then watched episode after episode of West Wing. I finally worked up the emotional stability to watch the series finale of Gilmore Girls. I cry every time I watch it. I love that show…it never should have ended. When I went to sleep I woke up the next day in Bangkok. Too easy.
My “suite”in Bangkok was fantastic. Basically a hotel room but only 35 dollars a night. Not too shabby. I went downstairs to find my old friends Mike, Hamish, and Dave. Yay old friends!!! Ended up hanging out with them
and members of their posse the rest of the time in Bangkok. Nothing too eventful happened except for some dress buying, some drinking, some more dress buying and a massage until the day I took my highly anticipated tour to the Tiger Temple. A friend of the boys decided to go with me and it was an amazing day.
First we went to the floating market. We paid about 5 dollars to be paddled down canal after canal of market stalls and boats selling fruit. It was neat to see but a little annoying when its all said and done. Markets inherently bother me. I prefer a nice store with a price that I can go…”Oh that’s 7 dollars I think I will buy it.” Here its “Oh for you good price..200 baht…” Until I say “No its only worth 100 baht” to which I receive the reply “no no I cant do it. Too cheap. I can give to you for 180 baht” This can go on for ages. Its tedious to say the least. A lot of people thrive in the haggle area. I would rather just pay the extra 100 baht and get out of there.
Ha.
After we headed to a snake show. We saw a man kiss a cobra, another man bite a snake to pick it up, we saw a mongoose fighting a cobra and win. It was exciting but a little inhumane. I felt a little dirty after watching it like I contributed to the harm of animals but hey I got to pet a cobra in the mean time.
We went to the Bridge of the River Kwai which I still don’t know the significance of until I read up on it. All I really know is that men died building it during the second world war. I thought, being the woman who loves world war 2 documentaries and books I should check it out while I was in the area. The sun was intense and I started to get a tiny dehydration headache. I was ready to get to the tigers after only 15 minutes of walking the bridge
Onto the tiger temple….this temple is run by monks and handlers of the tigers. They are rescued from poachers and raised with humans always around them so they are pretty used to being touched. There were about 15 in
the area where people could go. Tourists are only allowed with them for about 3 hours in the afternoon when they normally nap in the heat of the day. When you are in the area with the tigers you are always holding the hand of one of the handlers and they place you next to the tigers. Four of us on the tour decided to pay 1000 baht total (250 a piece..or about 7.50 US) to go in and get loads of pictures and I was chosen to have a very very large tigers head placed on my lap. It was absolutely amazing. He was just snoozing away and I sat there and contemplated the fact that I could very easily be eaten if he so chose. After I got to walk around to about 7 of the tigers while they took hundreds of pictures of me with my camera. One of the them at one point moved as I went to scratch his belly. It was just a minor freak out that occurred when he moved but I made it thru ok and ultimately gave him a good belly rub.
It was a great day and I will
never forget hanging out and touching those magnificent creatures. I'm now in Sydney Australia. I relaxed in the Blue Mts with my Aussie family for 5 nights now I'm partying it up here in the city. An English guy (John) and I bought tickets to see a Midsummer’s Night Dream in the Opera House on Thursday. Im going out to dinner with a friend of a friend tonight in Bondi Beach. All together I think its going to be a good time here in Sydney til Scott flies in on March 3rd and we begin our four day adventure in a rental car on our way to meet our other friend Sheridan in Byron Bay. Im SOOOOO excited to see Scott and Sheridan and mainly SOOOO excited to be back in Byron.. More later. Love you all.
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Abby
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I remember my parents made me watch Bridge over the River Kwai when I was younger...there is some wistling song that is associated with it if I remember correctly. Glad you made it safe and sound to Australia. Love you!