Thursday 6 December 2012

Bangkok, temples and buddas

Here is my final blog from our recent holiday to Thailand. As with the last blog we did some tourist stuff around Bangkok. I really wanted to go see the grand palace and the reclining budda. The problem with seeing these two sites is the fact that you are informed always by drivers, locals, persons who look like security that they are closed. The same people will then direct you to another attraction or tour. It's an interesting if not challenging arrangement. Basically they are trying to get you to share your wealth and visit lesser visited tourist sites and they are very convincing.

Our day began with a tuk tuk ride. The first one we got informed us the palace wasn't open till 9:30. ( it opens at 8:30) he whipped out his laminated tour option sheet and tried to take us to other sites. After much Haggling the driver stated it was too far but he could take us to tours. We jumped out of this tuk tuk and got another who was happy to take us straight there.







Tuk tuks are cool fun and we were lucky to be dropped beyond the people telling us the palace was closed. We tagged onto the back of a tour to get through the throng of touts and we were in!












Amazing building. The funny thing is that a condition of entry is covered toe shoes and yet you take them off to go inside to see the emerald budda.



After this we headed out to Wat Pho, home of the largest reclining budda. We got a little lost and asked a young man passing by. He informed us it was closed for prayers till 1pm so till then we could visit this and that and go on this tour and that tour! So convincing he nearly got us.
However we bid him thanks and found it about 3 minutes later and amazingly open!



Big isn't it?



And how about the bottom of the feet? All mother of pearl inlay.



While we walked around there was this constant ting ting sound, it wasn't till we got around we saw the reason. For a small donation you get a tin cup full of copper coins and you place a coin in the tin bowls as you walk along, I believe to bring good fortune.






Susie has a whole load of good luck and fortune coming her way.
After a quick visit to a fortune teller ( sues outliving me) we had our fill and headed back to relax and shop.
So as an end note I thought I might list the traffic offences I saw in my time in Bangkok. I would have filled 10 books. So here we go!

Use mobile phone
Fail to wear seatbelt
Travel in rear of ute
Pillion fail to seat facing forward
Child under 7 on solo
Solo, fail to wear helmet
Pass, fail to wear helmet
Ride on footpath
Drive on footpath
Fail to remain in lane
Drive in emergency lane
Fail to indicate lane change
Ride at night no lights
Disobey red light
Travel wrong way
Fail to secure load
Overload vehicle
Use unroadworthy vehicle
And the list goes on! Made coming home with all this space a bit weird.
Hope you have enjoyed the blog,hopefully next one will be next year from Cambodia and then another New Zealand mountaineering trip planned.until then
Uke complete me!

Location:Home

Friday 30 November 2012

Floating markets and bridge over the river Kwai

We are actually back home now, got home around 3pm. It would have been a little earlier if it wasn't for a young twit taking sues bag off the carousel instead of his own. Didn't even notice ours was security sealed and the rear straps zipped inside. Fortunately he had only got to the car park however it still took him 30 minutes to come back with our bag! He then wanted to know where his was! Sue's words. "not my problem!" we left him to sort it.

Any way back to Thailand.
We decided to spend a day on an organized tour to the floating markets then head to the river Kwai.

If you ever head to bangkok,do yourself a favor and head to the floating markets. It's wonderful to see,so colorful and full of life and it's local people making a living.



We got off the bus. There was only 8 so not too group like. And we jumped on these low seating long tails and travelled through the canals.






The houses and lifestyle was amazing, so vibrant.



After about 15 minutes you get off the boat to wander around the markets.



Here is Susie buying the most wonderful coconut pancakes. The lady uses a basket on a long pole to pass you your purchase and to collect the money



And I had some lovely fruit. Mango and mangosteen.



We didn't have any at the time but this pork is yummy and I love this photo.

a beautiful lady making noodle soup with crispy pork.


Here is another from the market. I only wish I had a better camera.



Then is was off. A quick stop at a teak carving workshop.



And sue found a chair that makes her look tiny.



Onto the famous bridge over the river Kwai.
A POW, including Aussies, died for every one of the sleepers on the rail line. Just horrendous history, thousands upon thousands died.



Sue was about to pose for a photo when this wonderful Buddhist monk and his carers came across the bridge.
This photo says it all. Susie said his smile was beautiful and you cant help but to feel a little bit blessed.






We visited the museum and saw the cemetery of the POWs. They were exhumed from their pow camp graves and relocated to this location.






It was a long day but well worth it and to think the trip and all meals cost about $70!
When we got back to our hotel this was waiting for us.



Happy birthday Susie. What a great day.
One more blog to come.

Location:Back home but still blogging

Thursday 29 November 2012

Goodbye Railay, hello Bangkok

Our last day in Railay was spent rock climbing in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon.
We headed over to 123 wall for a few easy climbs. The first one I climbed, I put my hand in a classic limestone pocket only to have a gecko shoot out, run down my arm, down my leg and launch into space. All I saw was a flash of legs so it scared the bejesus out of me.
After a lovely lunch at a small inland thai restaurant we returned to our bungalow as the rains started.



Rain really comes down in Thailand. One night it was so heavy that the path out the front was as deep as my ankles.
We had collected cowrie shells from the beach earlier so Sue took the time to arrange them.



For our final night the clouds finally lifted and the full moon shone through the palm trees.



So an early morning boat ride to the airport and we arrived in the chaos of Bangkok. After 10 days where there are no cars and boat is the only transport, it does take time to get used to all the bustle.



We went for a walk to a local market which was a food market and just wonderful.






There was the usual fair of chicken and curries,fried foods and smells buti particularly liked this stand. The woman just walking out of shot was the stall holder and was occasionally nibbling at her produce not dissimilar to how we nibble a grape at the supermarket. She seemed particularly fond of the deep fried maggots.



However there was much choice. Crickets,larvae,beetles and only 20 baht! Less than a buck a bag! Yummy.
Today is Loy krathong day in Thailand and traditionally a Krathong is floated in a waterway for a good year. Susie and I went on a dinner cruise as part of this.
The food was wonderful, including this yam bird nest with sugar birdie.



So in true Thai style, I ate it.



Here we are with our krathongs.



These were then lit and placed into the water.



And where do they all go?
Well about 10 meters away,this was going on.



I'll leave you now with a somewhat blurry photo of the lanterns ascending into the night sky.



Will do another blog later for today as we went to the floating market then visited the bridge over the river Kwai. Tomorrow off to the grand palace,shopping then home.

Location:Bangkok

Monday 26 November 2012

Kayaks,snorkels and tattoos

The last few days have been relaxing, painful and lovely.
We decided to hire a kayak yesterday to paddle around the Thaiwand wall and over to prah nang beach.
The kayak was cheap to hire and in true Thai style the sign writer did not have English as a first language.



Still searching for the cloud to get my life jacket from!

It's only a short paddle but very pretty and we paddled through caves in the limestone to get there. The water was so clear you could see to the bottom and all the fish.





We paddled around enjoying the views before stopping at the beach and enjoying Thai food made by the lovely people on the visiting long tails. The green papaya salad, made fresh is to die for and a coconut shake with the blender powered by a car battery is a sight to see.



Lovely lady who made my salad gave us a couple of bananas. As we walked along the beach the local monkeys had come down to partake in raiding the rubbish bins.
One looked like it was about to launch itself at me, then another shot down a vine and came at me. It was then I realized I was walking along holding a banana!!
Now Susie has protected me from many things, she has killed spiders for me etc but I'll have to say when it comes to monkeys, she was out of there and I was on my own to fend off the cheeky things.
Sorry no photos as too busy waving my thongs and hiding my bananas.

Susie went for a snorkel around the lovely reef we had paddled over.



And this is just a nice photo of the little cove we visited.


Then we partook in a true Thai beach tradition. The foot massage.
My lady here is on the phone, talking to her cousin in Bali, his name is Katut.


She did mention my beautiful brake foot.

And finally what I know you have all been waiting for. The new tattoo. This is a traditional Thai Yant tattoo and is very spiritual, it brings good fortune,prosperity and wards off bad karma. Each line is basically a prayer of sorts. It is traditionally worn on the left shoulder but right is fine too. This one was done by Mr Tattoo in ao nang and I researched it and the studio prior to going to ensure quality and cleanliness.
Hope you like it. Don't care if you don't as I do. Now name the famous actress who also has it?



Uke complete me!

Location:Railay, Thailand