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Published: April 3rd 2009
Well hello there everyone!
Another country down and 12 more to go...nnnooooo!!! This time the country, Thailand, has flown by and seriously what a place it is. So in the last entry we had visited the beautiful islands of the south and Jit had posed with a few ladyboys, but now we are up north and it is a different kettle of fish! She isnt messing around, we love it up here, the people are so much nicer...but onto that in a min!
First stop up north, Bangkok. First impressions... we hated it and here comes the justification for this initial feeling. Jit and I arrive at Bangkok bus station after a 12 hour bus journey from Phuket. We take our time and headed over to the taxi rank knowing we had to get a metered taxi. The guy who works there asked where we wanted to go so he can translate it to the taxi driver, so we get in and Jit asks the guy outside how much is he going to charge. 300 baht was the answer...hell no! We asked the driver to turn on his meter and he refused so we started to get out the taxi. The guy outside asked us why we were getting out and Jiti said because the driver is not turning on the meter...he goes it has a meter, we said we know but he is not turning it on. The guy got progressively angry and ended up grabbing the back of Jit's head and his wrist (very aggressively) and shoved them in the taxi to show Jit that the cab had a meter. The driver was a little startled and said fine we could have the meter on...Great! Now back home, I would have kicked this little Thai midgets ass for trying to man handle me, but Thai people from Thailand know Muay Thai (thai kickboxing) and he would have kicked the crap out of me, so for that reason I bit my lip.
It does not end there though the driver was not happy he was not going to get an easy 300baht from the foreigners so took us 10km out of town, u-turned and we ended up passing the bus terminal again...Jit went mad! So instead of paying 50-60baht for a short journey we paid 150baht because this taxi driver was still trying to rip us off! THEN...later in the day we met another rip off guy who got angry at us for not taking his friends tuk tuk. He sold us this story that his English teacher was from Manchester and that the government today was giving all the tuk tuk drivers free petrol and we should not get charged more then 10baht for any tuk tuk journey. This is the usual story they give, so their tuk tuk mate can drive you around the city from gem shop to gem shop and force you to buy worthless stones!
But then when we refused to get in his mate's tuk tuk he shouted at us! Seriously what is wrong with these people...we work just as hard as they do but we don't rip people of in the process! Calm down Kay, its just what tourism will do to a place, a poor place with poor people. They will do anything for money and I guess there are a lot of dippy westerners who get caught out which highlights the saying "if you can doing, then why not!"
We went to see the Grand Palace and I had to where these bright purple MC Hammer
Trousers and to top it off i had on a pink t-shirt...so embarassing. And then I found out later that purple is the national colour for gays. That explained why so many people were laughing at me
Well we carried on and saw some temples (wats) and buddhas - the sleeping one was by far the most impressive. We met up with Jit's cousin Vips and Jit can tell you the rest as he was the one drinking the most!!! Man i really miss wine!!! Well Vip took us around town on the first night, on a river boat and to downtown Bangkok. So much nicer than the backpacker scum area that is Khao San Road. We had a great time and ended up having a few bevvies with his mates. It made a world of difference being with someone who spoke Thai. Everyone became so much nicer. The next night we did a little shopping which was great. Then ended up in this German Brewery and ordered Loads of this massive jugs/beer flute type things. There ended up being loads of us and having a great time. Then onto a pub called the londener which was so wierd.
After a few drinks I actually forgor I was in Thailand until i stepped out into 30 degree heat. And thennnn onto a club. This place reminded me of Blade.....walking down a dingy allyway and this big guy shines a torch at this big door, we go through the door all the while thinking Im going to get murdered, down some stairs into this bling club. These types of clubs are illegal in Thailand but most are owned by dodgey Coppers so we were ok. Had a few more bevvies and ended up getting ratted. Nicely done if I do say so myself
Ok so the next stop in Thailand was Chiang Mai and the first impression here was a lot more positive. The people smile, they don't want to rip you off and they have the best food - Chiang Mai sausages and Chiang Mai Noodles. Apart from the food (Sangs i am not getting bigger!) we saw and did the most amazing things thus far on this trip.
Number 1: Tiger Kingdom! wow, Wow and WOW!!! This is what started the trip and i tell you it was better than we thought. We spent 15minutes each with 5 month old, 8 month old and 11 month old tigers as well as hanging out with lion cubs...you know as you do! Words cannot describe how big these beautiful animals were. We both could not stop smiling and struggled to comprehend that we were actually here after 10months of planning and stroking this huge tigers! The cubs were awesome...there was one chilled out one (Neal) and one very active crazy cub (Nishil!)...and it was Nishil who went for me for no reason at all! I telling you words cant describe, the best feeling to be so close to something so beautiful and powerfull. I mean if this thing sneezed it would rip off your head. Amazing!!!
Number 2: 3 days and 2 nights trekking. This was a big one for Jit and I mainly for the bug aspect...but this was not the case in the end. The bugs and mahusive spiders was not our demons at all it was the monster up hill trekking that killed us in the end. After riding the elephants for an hour which was just amazing we trekked the hardest and steepest hills know to man which were totally unforgiving...we officially have buns of steel! This was a no nosense trek. We thought it wouldnt be that hard as its geared to the tourist who is usually middle aged and fat, but flipping heck, half way through I honestly thought I was going to die and almost threw up.
The night brought much entertainment in which we saw two locals fight infront of us and one drunken and stupid guy drew a machete on his friend...the whole group's jaws just dropped and we all froze. The locals all came to get him but it did top an entertaining night under the stars. As the saying goes what goes up must come down and thank god for us the second day was not so intense. We trekked up and down (mainly down) for 5 hours taking in some amazing views and splashing around in the waterfalls. However this evening we were sharing our bamboo huts with the biggest spiders i have seen, but luckily we were shattered and passed out. oooo and i beat the local thai guy at draughts...come on!!! The final day was a little more chilled out. We trekked a little more downhill this time avoiding bush flames to get to the white water rafting area...this was so cool and the first time for the both of us. We larked around a lot and got absolutely drenched by the French and Robin Hood (he was from Nottingham!), and finally chilled out on some bamboo rafts and drifted down the river. When i say drifted though it was more submerged (Jit was a little heavy!) Oi shut it. You forgot to mention we saw elephants doing it. Was so funny. We had the whole river shouting elephants sha*$&#*( to pass on the message to the boat behind us. Too funny.
Number 3: Thai cooking. We met up with Matt and Laura (the couple we met in Malaysia) and did a full day of cooking. We made 5 dishes and learnt how to make the spiciest paste...which by the way ended up being a competition as to who could put the most chilli in a dish and sustain eating it. Matt won as he put in 11 or something, thats just asking for a fire bum in the morning.
To be fair Jit had a head start as he eats raw chillies at home but Matt was did extremely well and ended up being the human dustbin as he licked all our plates of cooking dry! Best dishes had to be the Chiang Mai Noodles and the deep fried bananas with vanilla ice cream...check out the chefs!
So now Thailand is done and we are onto Laos...slow boats, holes in the grounds and plenty more mosquitos to come!
I cant believe the time is flying and again we have seen amazing things and met amazing people. I'm really loving this travelling lark and it has surpassed my expections a million fold.
Until next time folks....stay sexy!!!
Love you all...xxx
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sangita
non-member comment
Hi Mama
Nish - Hi Mama, and K Masi......I like the pictures of you with the tigers, lions and the leopards. That was cool and I really want to go there will you take me? Miss you loads. HAPPY EASTER Neal - I love your pictures, I like the elephant and the tiger and the leopard. You look funny with your cooking hat. Will you make me food when you come back. Missing you lots love you HAPPY EASTER Sanj - Purple trouser like that you'll be starring in the next batman movie, and that being the cartoon version you joker. looking forward to the oriental meals when you guys get back. enjoy, looking forward to the next post. I'm sure to be seeing a different watch in the next lot of photos LOL Sangs - Hi guys just to let you know this has all been dictated to me by the boys and I have written it word for word as you know Nish he will go mad if I write something different. They found you calling them lions very funny. Well looks like you are having a ball o a time, looking forward to reading about your next adventure. take care and make sure you miss us guys loads LOl missing you BTW Nish has told all of us to say HAPPY EASTER