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

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

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

Mai Pen Rai ( no problem)

When Sue and I came here in 2009 I had my eye set on a climb on a wall called the Defile. The climb was Mai Pen Rai and rated at the French grade of 6a+. depending on which guide book you use that's around a 19 in Australia.

The hardest outdoor lead I've ever done was an 18 in the Blue Mountains and I had the advantage of trying it on top rope, then pre placing the drawers before climbing it.
This was going to be different, a ground up ascent, no prior attempts. So in 2009 sue and I waited till low tide,as you can't access the wall till then, we got round there, I roped up and then the heavens opened and we were saturated. We ran out of time and not till today have I had the opportunity to come finish what I started.
So once again we waited till low tide and headed round.



The climb is the right wall in that gap where you see light coming through.

The first clip is only a meter from the belay stance but if you fall you would drop about three meters into a rocky hole lower down, so the belayer has to tether in to catch the climber.


The tether is a thread drilled in a rock and you can see the drop off to the left. Because of this drop, this climb is serious from the get go and I couldn't reach the first bolt to pre clip. Fortunately it would appear I was not the first and sitting nearby was a stick which I believe has been used before for a safe first bolt stick clip.



Here is Susie with the safety first stick. Once this was done it was a delicate move to the second clip and then the real fun started. The rock was so sharp I nearly severed my ukulele playing callouses and so desperate I fell around 5 times, taking bark off every time.
Luckily for me with a bit of tape, my lucky stick and a true Macgyver moment, I was able to pre clip the rope and drawer on the third bolt, meaning I could complete the move without the fall fear. I came back down, rested and completed the climb.



That's my rope hanging behind me on the climb. The rest of the climb was lovely and really long affording me a great view over to the beach. Wow what a way to tick a climb.
Sorry if that's a whole load of waffle for all you non climbers, but for me that's a project completed.
So now it's tools down and watch a movie on HBO.



Note the climbing gear and ukulele are sharing a chair.

Uke complete me!

Location:Railay, Thailand

The finer art of deep water soloing

Today sue and i headed out for a deep water solo day. We were meant to go yesterday but the weather was against us and it rained all morning. So the trip was postponed to today.
We met up around 10, there were 11 people in all, mostly Americans and a couple from south Africa.
A long tail took us out to a yacht anchored in the bay. Ooh a yacht I hear you say. Well this one was special,it hadn't been under sail for so long all the turnbuckles were locked solid and it had dodgy steering, meaning the captain kept having to stop the motor and let the wind blow us back on course. That and the fact it kept overheating requiring someone to pour water into the motor, yes it was a yacht!
We took a while to reach the rock so with enthusiasm myself and fellow sailors disembarked and climbed up the rock.



I elected to wear my 'hot, like a sunrise shorts.
The fellow in blue shorts fell off moments after this photo, I should have followed his lead but stupidly continued climbing up to the ledge.



Yes I am sitting up there furthest from the camera and now sheer terror has taken hold.
Susie filmed the jump and the awkward landing. Did you know water is like solid ground from a height.
I've now got the most sensational bruises on the back of my legs and bum! And would you believe the palm of my hand.
I lay in the water after the jump, gave the Thai fellow in the boat the thumbs up and lay there feeling the pain and the exhilaration of the jump. I jumped twice more from lower down after that.
Then one of the Thai fellows showed us how it's done.



We moved to another spot that was just too high for me,but not to some.



Here is one of us both aboard the yacht.



In all an interesting day. We went snorkeling in the coral and saw a huge fish,giant clams and a couple of crabs too.
Didn't really talk much to the others on the boat, one guy had way to much plastic surgery and another fellow referred to when he was young, he was all about 27! I'm probably getting a bit to old to go crashing off cliffs but glad I've given it a try, now back to reading my book by the pool. Can't go climbing till the bruises calm down.

Uke complete me!

Location:Railay Thailand

Sand,sea,longtails and tiger temples

We have arrived safely in Thailand and even our baggage managed it's hot transfer and arrived at the same time.
It was then a quick trip on a long tail to the beautiful Railay bay.



Now there are a few rules at Sand and Sea resort, especially when it comes to the pool.
It would appear if your blue and covered in white spots your not allowed.



However balancing along the edge is permitted along with the taking of small people.
Yesterday was a day of relaxation, we lay on the beach and started our tans and when it got to hot we moved to the pool ( no spotty blue people allowed).



All the boats are selling Thai food or fruit shakes and some make you a nutella and banana pancake to order. The beaches were covered in touts last time we were here and it was annoying, it appears they have been moved on and now it's a lot more relaxing.
Today we headed over to Ao Nang by boat for a spot of shopping and to visit the tiger temple.
We paid for a tuktuk. 1200 baht for the two of us,return. That's $40 folks and our driver waited for us,about two hours. The trip there was about 20minutes,now that's value.
To get to the temple required ascending over 1250 stairs, here is a little taste.



And they just kept on going and it poured with rain just to increase the challenge.
As I reached the top,the rain stopped and there was budda waiting for me.



And a view above the clouds.



Susie nearly made it to the top too. I'll tell you I had leg shakes by the top and wobbles at the bottom.
There were also these little guys on the stairs willing to steal anything you put down.



We are back at our bungalow now, relaxing. It's beer o'clock and I hear mine calling.
Here is a parting view from our verandah. The rock is Thaiwand wall, might go visit it tomorrow.



Uke complete me!

Location:Thailand