I have just decided for a biking tour tomorrow and a two day rafting tour for the day after. So I am looking forward to start quite active into the December.
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Both BKK airports are still blocked.
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Sunday, November 30, 2008
30th Nov. - Traveling to Pai
Traveling day - from Chiang Rai to Pai with a stop over in Chiang Mai. It took me two bus rides with each 4 hours in a crowded thai bus to go to Pai, but it was definitely worth it. Pai is very nice holiday city in the north west of Thailand, mostly frequented by Thai people. Lot's of bars, guesthouses and tour offers (trekking, biking, rafting).
I have just decided for a biking tour tomorrow and a two day rafting tour for the day after. So I am looking forward to start quite active into the December.
------------
Both BKK airports are still blocked.
------------
I have just decided for a biking tour tomorrow and a two day rafting tour for the day after. So I am looking forward to start quite active into the December.
------------
Both BKK airports are still blocked.
------------
Saturday, November 29, 2008
28th & 29th Nov. - Jungle trekking to hill tribe
28th & 29th Nov.
Living in the AKHA River house, I have decided for a 2 days AKHA Trekking Tour in the jungle 25km north of Chiang Rai (lonely planet TIPP). Starting at 10am after a quite noisy night, sleeping in my sleeping bag --> A 3 Euro room, is a 3 Euro room.
Starting off with at long tail boot on the Maekok River for one hour through wonderful jungle and farming landscape to a very touristic but nice snake and elephant farm.
Was too scared to touch the 7m python, but riding an elephant through the river is a little adventure, which was fun.
So the trekking started and, of course, my 4 group members have been really well prepared (zip trousers, waterproof shoes etc. I went in jeans and polo.
After already 4 hours up- and down hill on no roads, we reached the YAO tribe hill house, where we stayed the night at approx 1.500m above see level. The Yao tribe are self supporters with bamboo, bananas, rice and maise. They are no Thais and speak an own language in-between of chinese and north thai. Electricity is coming from batteries charged from solar panels, which have been sponsored by the government. We do not have to talk about running or warm water. We have been the only five tourists in the small village, eating and "more or less" talking to them. --> "ABBOO G CHAN"- meaning hello and thank you.
Sitting around the fire place in the house, we enjoyed some tea and cooked bananas. And again I met a nice group of people. A couple from the Netherlands (Hilda& Wulter-3 months tour), Claire from UK (one year world trip) and Pierre from France (6 months + trip). Exploring the small bamboo stilt house city (15 houses), finishing the day with some french card game and sitting together.
Four blankes, one T-shirt and two sweaters and of course jeans could not keep from getting very cold at night.
Getting up was so easy with a refreshing shower, bringing you from 0 to 100 in no time. We started right away for one day more jungle trekking, stopping at waterfalls, rice fields and wonderful view points. Definitely a trek to recommended. Gorgeous.
Being back at 4 pm, longing to a shower, checking in in another guest house (jansom house). 10 Euros a night, downtown with own hot shower, perfect to get rid of that jeans I have worn now for over 24 hours.
Main street in used for a special city market and closed for vehicles (of course not for motorbikes) promises to be nice.
>> try something new!
Living in the AKHA River house, I have decided for a 2 days AKHA Trekking Tour in the jungle 25km north of Chiang Rai (lonely planet TIPP). Starting at 10am after a quite noisy night, sleeping in my sleeping bag --> A 3 Euro room, is a 3 Euro room.
Starting off with at long tail boot on the Maekok River for one hour through wonderful jungle and farming landscape to a very touristic but nice snake and elephant farm.
Was too scared to touch the 7m python, but riding an elephant through the river is a little adventure, which was fun.
So the trekking started and, of course, my 4 group members have been really well prepared (zip trousers, waterproof shoes etc. I went in jeans and polo.
After already 4 hours up- and down hill on no roads, we reached the YAO tribe hill house, where we stayed the night at approx 1.500m above see level. The Yao tribe are self supporters with bamboo, bananas, rice and maise. They are no Thais and speak an own language in-between of chinese and north thai. Electricity is coming from batteries charged from solar panels, which have been sponsored by the government. We do not have to talk about running or warm water. We have been the only five tourists in the small village, eating and "more or less" talking to them. --> "ABBOO G CHAN"- meaning hello and thank you.
Sitting around the fire place in the house, we enjoyed some tea and cooked bananas. And again I met a nice group of people. A couple from the Netherlands (Hilda& Wulter-3 months tour), Claire from UK (one year world trip) and Pierre from France (6 months + trip). Exploring the small bamboo stilt house city (15 houses), finishing the day with some french card game and sitting together.
Four blankes, one T-shirt and two sweaters and of course jeans could not keep from getting very cold at night.
Getting up was so easy with a refreshing shower, bringing you from 0 to 100 in no time. We started right away for one day more jungle trekking, stopping at waterfalls, rice fields and wonderful view points. Definitely a trek to recommended. Gorgeous.
Being back at 4 pm, longing to a shower, checking in in another guest house (jansom house). 10 Euros a night, downtown with own hot shower, perfect to get rid of that jeans I have worn now for over 24 hours.
Main street in used for a special city market and closed for vehicles (of course not for motorbikes) promises to be nice.
>> try something new!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
26th Nov. ill in bed, 27th Nov. up to Chiang Rai
27th Nov.
New day, new chances. After 24h in bed and some stomach pills out of my very substantial medicine pack everything is all right again. Breakfast is still in, and I have taken the first bus to Chiang Rai at 09am. Being now, 900km north of BKK, living in a very cheat guesthouse of the Akha tribe (Akha river house) for 150 baht (3 Euros) a night and thinking about which trekking tour I should do.
------------------------
Receiving bad news from BKK: demonstrators shut down both airports in BKK since 26th, 03am, police will not interfere. So it's closed for an indefinite time. Damne it.
------------------------
26th Nov.
probably the receipt of eating at a street vendor. I have spend the hole November 26th in my room, between bed and toilet bowl - pitying myself.
I only got up to rent the room for another night and for some toasts+water.
bloody bad day.
New day, new chances. After 24h in bed and some stomach pills out of my very substantial medicine pack everything is all right again. Breakfast is still in, and I have taken the first bus to Chiang Rai at 09am. Being now, 900km north of BKK, living in a very cheat guesthouse of the Akha tribe (Akha river house) for 150 baht (3 Euros) a night and thinking about which trekking tour I should do.
------------------------
Receiving bad news from BKK: demonstrators shut down both airports in BKK since 26th, 03am, police will not interfere. So it's closed for an indefinite time. Damne it.
------------------------
26th Nov.
probably the receipt of eating at a street vendor. I have spend the hole November 26th in my room, between bed and toilet bowl - pitying myself.
I only got up to rent the room for another night and for some toasts+water.
bloody bad day.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
23rd to 25th Nov. BKK and Chiang Mai
25th Nov.
After the last night, I stood up at 2pm and startet the day slowly with strong thai coffee in a vegetarian restauerant (noticed it too late), so I had noodles with seaweed and loads of green stuff. - if it makes you look better, why not.
The next hours I walked the city of chiang mai, visiting 4 to 5 temples (as advised in lonely planet), closed with an one hour thai massage. God, I was so relaxed.
In the evening I met Charlie from Cornwall at the entrence of our guesthouse (12 Euros a night). We got along very well, thought he is 10 years younger than me. We ended up taking a midnight snack at a street vendor including some beers from the 7 Eleven next door.
"there is always the option for another one"
Great night talking + creating a blog within 3min, Thank you Charlie
---------------------------------
24th Nov.
Highly expecting the call from the baggage service at the airport I checked the best flights to Chiang Mai today on the internet.
9:30am they called me, informing that my bag will come with the 12am flight from Dubai. Perfect start into the day.
I took the bus to the airport (150Baht), booked a flight at 2:15pm to Chiang Mai with Thai Air, collected my rucksack at 1pm just to check it in immediately afterwards.
Off I went to Chiang Mai, one day later than expected, but on business class.
Taking the guesthouse Jacky Tour for 500Baht a night (12 Euro) I decided for the night safari at this day. The tour was gorgeous (6pm to 10pm). Never before I saw so many wild animals very very very close to me. For example 4 out of 200 white tigers worldwide. Check out this link for more:
http://www.chiangmainightsafari.com/en/home.htm
Of course we had to take a picture stroking a tiger after the tour. Hey, when do you ever get the chance to stroke a tiger for 250baht (5 Euros)??
Beside of the tour, also the other participants were great. 2 swedish guys, one english and one japanese girl. As we got along very well we decided to go for a beer afterwards.
That was really great to meet you Yuka and Rob.
We signed our tiger pictures and had good fun in a very touristic bar "chiang mai saloon".
----------------------------------
23rd Nov.
After 22h of traveling, I arrived in BKK airport. A pity, that my baggage didn't come with me. I should have known it when checking my backpack in as "oversize baggage". As this has happened to me once before I luckily had the basic things in my hand luggage. Anyway, this really was not the start I have had expected.
So I signed some baggage papers, negotiated some compensation payment and got on the bus downtown, to Kaoh San Rd. And immediately I was reminded why I didn't like that place that much. Checked in the nearest guesthouse (pannee lodge) to the bus station and got on the Kaoh San Road which was of course packed with drunken tourists at 8pm.
In a garage near Kaoh San I took my first Singha and Thai food. Recovering a little. In another backyard I found a small thai restaurant with some tourists. Talking to an US tourist who also got to BKK after Laos and Kambotscha, unreal things happened, as they only can happen in Thailand:
A baby elephant walked bye, feeding for 20baht. The colleague from the US of course did it. Right after that, at approx. 10pm the waiters began singing happy birthday and also invited us to join eating the birthday cake -- 22pm!
So these little scenes compensated a lot, now I knew I am in Thailand.
After the last night, I stood up at 2pm and startet the day slowly with strong thai coffee in a vegetarian restauerant (noticed it too late), so I had noodles with seaweed and loads of green stuff. - if it makes you look better, why not.
The next hours I walked the city of chiang mai, visiting 4 to 5 temples (as advised in lonely planet), closed with an one hour thai massage. God, I was so relaxed.
In the evening I met Charlie from Cornwall at the entrence of our guesthouse (12 Euros a night). We got along very well, thought he is 10 years younger than me. We ended up taking a midnight snack at a street vendor including some beers from the 7 Eleven next door.
"there is always the option for another one"
Great night talking + creating a blog within 3min, Thank you Charlie
---------------------------------
24th Nov.
Highly expecting the call from the baggage service at the airport I checked the best flights to Chiang Mai today on the internet.
9:30am they called me, informing that my bag will come with the 12am flight from Dubai. Perfect start into the day.
I took the bus to the airport (150Baht), booked a flight at 2:15pm to Chiang Mai with Thai Air, collected my rucksack at 1pm just to check it in immediately afterwards.
Off I went to Chiang Mai, one day later than expected, but on business class.
Taking the guesthouse Jacky Tour for 500Baht a night (12 Euro) I decided for the night safari at this day. The tour was gorgeous (6pm to 10pm). Never before I saw so many wild animals very very very close to me. For example 4 out of 200 white tigers worldwide. Check out this link for more:
http://www.chiangmainightsafari.com/en/home.htm
Of course we had to take a picture stroking a tiger after the tour. Hey, when do you ever get the chance to stroke a tiger for 250baht (5 Euros)??
Beside of the tour, also the other participants were great. 2 swedish guys, one english and one japanese girl. As we got along very well we decided to go for a beer afterwards.
That was really great to meet you Yuka and Rob.
We signed our tiger pictures and had good fun in a very touristic bar "chiang mai saloon".
----------------------------------
23rd Nov.
After 22h of traveling, I arrived in BKK airport. A pity, that my baggage didn't come with me. I should have known it when checking my backpack in as "oversize baggage". As this has happened to me once before I luckily had the basic things in my hand luggage. Anyway, this really was not the start I have had expected.
So I signed some baggage papers, negotiated some compensation payment and got on the bus downtown, to Kaoh San Rd. And immediately I was reminded why I didn't like that place that much. Checked in the nearest guesthouse (pannee lodge) to the bus station and got on the Kaoh San Road which was of course packed with drunken tourists at 8pm.
In a garage near Kaoh San I took my first Singha and Thai food. Recovering a little. In another backyard I found a small thai restaurant with some tourists. Talking to an US tourist who also got to BKK after Laos and Kambotscha, unreal things happened, as they only can happen in Thailand:
A baby elephant walked bye, feeding for 20baht. The colleague from the US of course did it. Right after that, at approx. 10pm the waiters began singing happy birthday and also invited us to join eating the birthday cake -- 22pm!
So these little scenes compensated a lot, now I knew I am in Thailand.
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