We LOVE Thailand!!

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Geo: 19.91, 99.83

We started as most do, in Bangkok. After research and plenty of advice we were skeptical about this city. We wouldn't really describe ourselves as 'city people' so booked a couple of nights in a fairly central hostel (but away from backpacker central Kao San Road) and decided to have a look around while we were there and while trying to figure out where to go next. What we experienced in Bangkok was nothing like what we were expecting. We found ourselves surrounded by lovely people, amazing food and fantastic transport! We have no idea what everyone was talking about when saying how 'hectic' it is there! (We're wondering if these people would have a different definition of 'hectic' if they'd been to Delhi). In Bangkok we visited a few places such as the great palace (the streets surrounding the palace were thronged with people going to pay their respects for the dead king). We also visited the temple of the emerald Buddha (after visiting wat pho we were expecting an emerald giant but we had to look twice and squint a lot as it wasn't much bigger than a cat). Overall we found Bangkok to be a fantastic welcome to Thailand and we couldn't wait to see what the rest of the country would bring.

We decided, contrary to our original plans to head south and peruse a few islands before heading north and moving clockwise through Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. In actual fact, it was slightly cheaper to buy a 1.5 hour flight to Krabi from Bangkok than the 15 hour bus journey! Happy days! From Krabi we took a short bus to Ao Nang where we found a great hostel that offered 2 free bbq kebabs every night with your accommodation! After a couple of innocent drinks leading to an impromptu night on the dance floor at the local reggae bar and Sooz discovering the banana daquiri, we hastily added on a few more days in Ao Nang (at least 2 of those for the hangover alone). Once we were feeling slightly human again, we decided to take a trip to Railay and Tonsai beaches. Paradise! At this point the weather had started turning and the rain was threatening our southern Thailand bliss but we decided to plough on through as it seemed to clear up in the afternoons. We headed over to Koh Phi Phi and soon realised that there wasn't much to do there when it's raining. After hearing news that Koh Samui and Koh Tao (our intended next destination) were flooded, we decided to accept defeat and booked a flight north to Chiang Mai. We did manage to spend one lovely afternoon in the sun in Koh Phi Phi before we left.

Chiang Mai was brilliant. We took a cooking class for a day which included going to the local market and getting quizzed on the spices (Phil got most of them!) and taught about the herbs and spices, noodles and tofu, how they're prepared and what they're used for in cooking and herbal medicines. We then spent the rest of the day cooking different dishes and eating the result! Delicious! Chiang Mai was also great for the markets and trying different foods. We then spent a morning rafting down the Mae Taeng River. This was a hilarious attempt because the water was very low as it's winter and we kept getting stuck on and in between rocks. We spent most of the time with a German guy and two guides throwing ourselves from one end of the raft to the other, jumping up and down and rocking back and forth to un-wedge ourselves. In the afternoon we went sliding down a waterfall. Loads of fun!

Then we hoped on a bus north to Chiang Rai. Here we visited Wat Rung Khun (or The White Temple). This is a fairly new Buddhist temple that is designed by a local artist. It is a work in progress and apparently won't be complete until 2070. It is stunning! Such a contrast to all of the other temples we've seen, we loved the modern touches such as the marvel character heads outside hanging from trees and the murals within the temple providing a puzzle of 'spot the pop-culture character'. From Michael Jackson to superman and finding nemo to George Bush riding a nuclear bomb, surrounded with Buddhist imagery, it was definitely a thought provoking, entertaining and magnificent take on the world and human life.

One thing we must say about Thailand is that we are absolutely blown away by the quality of the food. We can't remember a day where at least one meal wasn't unbelievably delicious! From fragrant and spicy curry's to wholesome and fresh noodle soups and crispy and flavoursome spring rolls. We were in food heaven!

A week previously Sooz applied to volunteer with the veterinary team at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai for a week. It was too good an opportunity to miss and an amazing Christmas present from Phil �� After Chiang Rai, Sooz travelled back to Chiang Mai to begin her week and Phil continued on to Laos where we would meet up in a weeks time. We would say that the goodbye was emotional, but that would be lying. After spending 2.5 months in each others back pockets, it was a welcome break. So a quick handshake and a smack on the bum later, Sooz was on the bus ready to change her life forever...

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Comments

[Ann Carroll]

Oh wow it sounds amazing! I can so imagine you guys running up and down a raft ! Hilarious fun! I'm not surprised Phil knew lots about the herbs and spices! He is a connoisseur !!! Xxxx

[Zoe]

Happy new year!!! Sounds so awesome guys!! Am insanely jealous!!! The weather over here is jus about to turn apparently it's gonna snow! Even down here in Cornwall! Everything is much the same, work, Netflix, cold water surfs (not many) and
making soups n stews! Enjoy every second over there my lovelies it's flippin flying eh?! Safe travels n hopefully speak soon xxxxx