Hello from "Heaven on the Beach".,
Just picture what we describe in your mind as we are unable to upload our pictures into this blog.
We flew from Bangkok an hour south to Koh Samui, Thailand's third largest island. It is on this island where we have rented our bungalow on the ocean and where we will be until we leave for home on Mar. 30.
Samui is a mix of tropical paradise and modern convenience. At 247 sq. km. it is ringed with white sand beaches which are washed by blue topaz waters.
It is nice to be settled here for a while after spending the previous two months travelling through Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and mainland Thailand.
Daily life for us is very laid back and relaxing and suits Ross to a 'T'. Our biggest "problem" is how to keep cool in the 33 degree weather. "Will we swim in the pool or the ocean?" Actually, the pool is cooler as the ocean is like a bath tub.
Days are spent reading, walking the beach early in the day, (it is much too hot later on), swimming, snorkelling at the off shore reef, keeping connected to the rest of the world on our IPod Touch, watching the beautiful sunsets and the lone water buffalo which strolls along our beach.
Occasionally we venture into town on the songtaew to pick up some groceries and Chang or Singha Beer.
If we do not feel like cooking in the evening, a short walk along the beach brings us to several small restaurants all with sand floors.
The next day is very similar to the one that came before it. And so it continues..........
The only thing that we are missing in this beautiful area of the world are all of our family and friends to share
this amazing island with.
Until the next time ,or until we see you ,as this may be our last post.
Joan & Ross
Monday, March 8, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Chiang Rai - Bangkok Feb.14-20
Hello Everyone,
Sorry, but due to technical difficulties, we are unable to include pictures in this post.
After trekking through the hills of the golden triangle surrounding Chiang Rai, riding the elephants and browsing the night bazaar, we decided to fly further south to Chiang Mai.
Our 35 minute flight was quite exciting as we flew in a 16 seat Cessna through the mountains. Five passengers, a pilot and co-pilot were the only ones aboard. The flight was smooth and exciting as we flew through mountain passes. It was interesting to watch the pilots at work as we chose the two front seats directly behind them.
We stayed in Chiang Mai for three nights at a lovely resort just relaxing. Typically, people come to this part of Thailand to explore the hill tribe areas and ride the elephants. Since we had done all this in Chiang Rai, we chose to spend our days by the pool and our evenings wandering the night bazaar. We continue to restrain ourselves from buying anything as our backpacks are full enough.
From Chiang Mai, we took a five hour bus ride through the central plains of Thailand. This area is described as the country's "Great Rice Bowl", known for its agricultural abundance. Winding rivers cut through the rice fields and small villages and towns give a glimpse into Thailand's rural culture. The terrain is flat and the rice paddies endless.
We spent two nights in Sukhothai considered to be the birthplace of the first Thai kingdom in 1238.
We continued to head further south by bus and ended up in the city of Ayutthaya. This city was the capital of Siam from 1350-1767 when the capital was then moved to Bangkok. We arrived during a food festival when the streets were closed and a variety of Thai and Muslim foods were being cooked and sold. Can you believe we had pizza for dinner that night! We have been very diligent about not buying any street food after seeing it sit out in the hot sun for who knows how long.
A short two hour minivan ride brought us full circle back to Bangkok from where we had set out seven weeks previously. Although it was pouring rain, it was a welcome relief from the sunny blue skies and the 33 degree temperatures that we have experienced since leaving home.
Next stop, southern Thailand and the island of Samui.
Until next post,
Joan & Ross
Sorry, but due to technical difficulties, we are unable to include pictures in this post.
After trekking through the hills of the golden triangle surrounding Chiang Rai, riding the elephants and browsing the night bazaar, we decided to fly further south to Chiang Mai.
Our 35 minute flight was quite exciting as we flew in a 16 seat Cessna through the mountains. Five passengers, a pilot and co-pilot were the only ones aboard. The flight was smooth and exciting as we flew through mountain passes. It was interesting to watch the pilots at work as we chose the two front seats directly behind them.
We stayed in Chiang Mai for three nights at a lovely resort just relaxing. Typically, people come to this part of Thailand to explore the hill tribe areas and ride the elephants. Since we had done all this in Chiang Rai, we chose to spend our days by the pool and our evenings wandering the night bazaar. We continue to restrain ourselves from buying anything as our backpacks are full enough.
From Chiang Mai, we took a five hour bus ride through the central plains of Thailand. This area is described as the country's "Great Rice Bowl", known for its agricultural abundance. Winding rivers cut through the rice fields and small villages and towns give a glimpse into Thailand's rural culture. The terrain is flat and the rice paddies endless.
We spent two nights in Sukhothai considered to be the birthplace of the first Thai kingdom in 1238.
We continued to head further south by bus and ended up in the city of Ayutthaya. This city was the capital of Siam from 1350-1767 when the capital was then moved to Bangkok. We arrived during a food festival when the streets were closed and a variety of Thai and Muslim foods were being cooked and sold. Can you believe we had pizza for dinner that night! We have been very diligent about not buying any street food after seeing it sit out in the hot sun for who knows how long.
A short two hour minivan ride brought us full circle back to Bangkok from where we had set out seven weeks previously. Although it was pouring rain, it was a welcome relief from the sunny blue skies and the 33 degree temperatures that we have experienced since leaving home.
Next stop, southern Thailand and the island of Samui.
Until next post,
Joan & Ross
Monday, February 15, 2010
Luang Prabang, Laos - Chiang Rai, Thailand Feb.8-13
Hello Everyone, We left the very busy streets of Hanoi and flew to the much more quiet town of Luang Prabang in Laos. The pace was slow, and the quiet atmosphere was very welcoming. Luang Prabang is filled with many temples or Wats as they are called here. Our hotel was directly opposite a Wat and early in the morning at about 6:30 a.m, we could go out on our balcony and watch the monks parade along the street collecting their alms for the day (see last picture). The citizens would give them bread, rice and perhaps bananas and this is what they would eat for breakfast and lunch. This is not actually begging, but rather it is giving the people an opportunity to "make merit" which means an opportunity to do good. During the day, the monks would study or do chores around the temple. Studies included learning English and as you can see, Ross was right in there teaching them. They were very friendly and open to conversation with us. From Luang Prabang, we took an overnight bus to the border of Thailand. Let us just say that we have been on better cow paths!! The land was mountainous and rugged. The paved road was non existant and filled with pot holes. Never to be done again! After reaching the border we crossed the Mekong River into Thailand and took a bus to Chiang Rai. The next day took us into the hills where we visited the Karen, Akha and Lahu tribes of the Golden Triangle. Our guide was a member of the Karen tribe and took us to his home to meet his family. You can see his mother-in-law and grandaughter in the picture to the left. The Karen tribe runs an elephant conservation camp and so we had the opportunity to see many elephants and ride on one for half an hour. Believe me, half an hour is long enough. Although these animals are very gentle and graceful for their size, the movement of their shoulder muscles jostles you from side to side. It was, however, an opportunity not to be missed. We also trekked up the mountain to a lovely waterful and took a refreshing break. The forest was filled with bamboo and the canopy provided a cover from the sun. After such an exhausting day we headed to the night market for dinner and some much needed protein. Yes, it is true, bugs of all sorts and sizes are readily available for eating. We just didn't have the nerve! After Chiang Rai, we will be heading to Chiang Mai..........I think we'll fly! Until the next post, Joan & Ross Sunday, February 7, 2010
Hoi An to Halong Bay (Hanoi) Jan. 31 - Feb. 7
Hello Everyone,
On our last day in Hoi An we rented bikes for a dollar each and rode five kilometres to the beach. We have to work off those spring rolls somehow! Lining the beach were several large wicker baskets with a seat which are used for fishing. It is quite a sight to see three men sitting in a tub fishing and bobbing around.
As we rode through the village, all the little children would yell hello to us. We stood and chatted to the little ones in the picture. They wanted to practise their English by counting numbers. So Ross held his fingers up and started counting and they repeated. Beyond that, they didn't know how to say anything else but their English was far better than our Vietnamese. They were all smiles when we asked if we could take their picture.
We rode home alongside rice paddies and decided to take a closer look. It wasn't long before the owner of this rice paddie came along and wanted me to help him plant. But first he wanted me to look the part and so took the hat off his head and put it on mine.
Planting rice is not very difficult. You simply take a small stalk and stick it in the mud. However, the longer you bend over in the blazing sun, the harder it becomes - a backbreaking job!. The water is shallow and very warm.
From Hoi An we took a four hour bus trip further up the coast to Hue where we stayed for a couple of days. The scenery was very picturesque and the landscape was quite mountainous. Hue owes its' charm partly to its' location on the Perfume River. There is no shortage of palaces, pagodas, tombs and temples to see. We spent a rather hot morning exploring the moated citadel and the "Forbidden Purple City", home to emporers and their court until 1947. Unfortunately many of the buildings were destroyed in the French and "American Wars". Many American military tanks etc. were on display with the date on which it was captured.
From Hue we flew to Hanoi the most northerly point we will get to in Vietnam. Hanoi is another large bustling city. We are staying in the Old Quarter which is steeped in history, pulsating with life, bustling with commerce, buzzing with motorbikes and rich in exotic scents. The streets are narrow and congested and hawkers pound the pavement. The best way to see Hanoi is to walk and to soak up the sights, sounds and smells.
After experiencing this bustling city we decided to escape to the serenity of Halong Bay, a three hour drive to the coast. Halong Bay was designated a World Heritage Sight in 1994. Words alone cannot do justice to the natural wonder that this area is. Close to 2000 limestone karsts rise up out of the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. These tiny islands are dotted with grottoes created by the wind and waves and have sparsely forested slopes.
We booked a two night, three day cruise on a chinese junk to soak in the peacefulness. We decided to book a small ten cabin junk because we didn't want to be with a large group of people. However, because we were the only ones booked on the boat, we were moved to a two suite more luxurious junk. Imagine our surprise when we found out that we would be the only ones on that junk. For three days we lived like the rich and famous on our own private junk with a huge suite equipped with its' own jacuzzi. We relaxed, kayaked through the grottoes and bays and forgot about the hustle and bustle of Asia which seemed like a million miles away.
The meals which were prepared for us were extraordinary and the presentation of each of the seven courses was like nothing that we have ever seen before. Cucumbers became flowers, peppers became candle holders and pineapples turned into lanterns. It was an amzing three days!
Tomorrow we fly to Luang Prabang in Laos for a few days.
Until the next post - Joan & Ross
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Ho Chi Minh City to Hoi An Jan.24-31
Hello Everyone,
We have finally mastered the fine art of crossing the street in Asia ! As mentioned in a previous blog, you do not wait for a gap in the traffic ( because it will never come), you merely step off the curb with hundreds of motorbikes coming at you from all directions. Continue to walk at a steady pace toward the opposite side of the street while you are holding your breath. Never take a step backward or you will back into the motorbike which is raising the hair on the back of your neck! Somehow, motorbikes part to go around you and you reach the opposite side of the street safely. The same procedure is used at night but we now know how it feels to be a deer in headlights when all we can see are the headlights, or lack of, coming at us.
The food in this part of the world has been amazing! We have eaten so many spring rolls, both fried and fresh, that we are beginning to look like one! Southeast Asia is a gastronomer's delight. Foods are flavoured with lemongrass, ginger, chili and tamarind. We were fortunate to have been taken to an authentic seafood restaurant on the river frequented by locals except for our large group of expats. Here we had the experience of making our own fresh spring rolls.......which promplty fell apart! Fortunately, Bryan's wife Ee, took pity on us and made the spring rolls for us. How delicious they were.
We also had the good fortune to be passengers on motorbikes while in Saigon. It is like being in the middle of the pack in the Indianapolis 500!
At every stop light there are about 30 - 40 motorbikes at the head of the line waiting for the light to change. When making a left hand turn, the motorbike just continues to procede, weaving its' way through the oncoming traffic. We were fortunate to come out the other side in one piece. Actually, for the amount of traffic on the roads in Saigon, we saw very few mishaps.
After leaving the hectic pace of Saigon, we were ready for a little R & R in the quiet seaside town of Mui Ne.The area is well know for kite surfing and at any one time you can see up to 100 or more surfers plying the waves. We enjoyed relaxing on the beach and swimming in the South China Sea for a few days. Just what we needed after the crazyness of the big city. Even the beach hawkers were not bothersome. All you had to say was "No thank you" once to the ladies carrying their wares on long poles.
The next leg of our trip took us five hours by bus further up the coast to Nha Trang, a quiet ,small city with a beautiful municipal beach. Nha Trang is know as the beach capital of Vietnam with its' six km. long beach. The water was turquoise and the many offshore islands made this a most scenic stop. The landscape along the way took us through huge sand dunes, rice paddies, fertile valleys, desert, and mountainous areas. Vietnam is exceptionally picturesque.
While in Nha Trang, we visited their cultural centre and were fortunate to see the ladies working on their fine silk embroidery pictures. We now know why these pictures cost so much as millions of stitches comprise each piece of work.How beautiful they were.
We decided to take a break from the bus and took an hour flight to the historical jewel of Hoi An. This has been designated as a World Heritage UNESCO sight with its' old buildings and narrow car free streets. We were fortunate to arrive on a full moon when Hoi An celebrates its' "Legendary Night". Motorbikes are banned from the old town which is transformed into a magical land of lanterns which you can purchase and float down the river. Street games and dance performances can be observed throughout the town.
Hoi An has long been known for fabric production and has an estimated 300 - 500 tailors.It has been fun to bargain with them and indulge in some tailor made clothing.....the results of which you will see when we return. It won't come as a surprise to you when I say that I bought more than frugal Ross!!
Within a couple of days we will be heading to Hue and then flying to Hanoi.
Until the next post,
Joan & Ross
Friday, January 22, 2010
Mekong Delta Tour to HCMC Jan.18 -22
Our Mekong Delta tour started with an hour and a half drive in a rickety old "combi" to get to the ferry. Was this a sign of things to come? Upon seeing the boat, our reaction was one of surprise as you can imagine. I was able to count 16 life jackets for 22 people! The day was warm and sunny however and the trip was quite enjoyable. It was so interesting to see how the delta people live.
The people who live in this area use the river for everything from laundry to bathing to washing food and more. The banks are lined with fertile farms and shacks.
Our first night was spent in Chao Doc in a very basic hotel with a shower which was actually the whole bathroom! No shower curtain, no enclosure, just the floor to stand on. We took everything out of the bathroom which could get wet and just went for it! Perhaps bathing in the Mekong isn't such a bad idea!
We were up by six the next morning and taken on an even smaller boat to visit a Cham Village. The Cham people are a minority group who make up .5% of Vietnam's population. They are Muslim, worship in a mosque in the town and speak Arabic. After a tour of their village and a demonstration of weaving their beautiful cloths, we were taken by mini van to our next stop which was the town of Can Tho.
Unfortunately it was raining but we made the best of it and explored the town. With the early mornings, it was nice to have some time to relax. Ross was able to catch a taped San Diego/ N.Y. Jets game on T.V. and so he was happy.
The following day we visited the floating market not far from Can Tho. It was another rainy day but we persevered. At least it isn't snowing!There were hundreds of boats, each boat selling a different product. They "advertise" what they are selling by attaching some of their product to a tall pole for everyone to see. So, if you want to buy a melon, you look for the pole which has a melon dangling from it and head for it.
At 12 o'clock we left by bus for our trip to Ho Chi Minh City/ Saigon. Although it is only 170 km. away it takes close to six hours to get there due to the roads, weather and traffic.
As luck would have it, and unknown to us, the bus stopped right outside the door of the An An 2 Hotel where we had booked the next four nights. We are staying in District 1, the downtown area, which is still called Saigon. The area surrounding this is Ho Chi Minh City. The city has a population of 7.1 million people and there are over 4 million motorbikes.
Yesterday we toured Reunification Palace. If you are of our generation, you may remember seeing on TV, helicopters airlifting the American civilians from this city during the Vietnam war.
Last night we met up with a very nice young man from Mississauga who has been living in Saigon for six years. Our thanks to Bonnie and Ken for providing this contact. Mark teaches English at an International School here and is married to a lovely Vietnamese lady. Lu's family owns a restaurant called Margheritas just around the corner from our hotel. It was wonderful to spend the evening with them and to be treated to a Vietnamese Hot Pot - seafood and vegetables cooked in a large pot at your table and served with noodles. I even managed to eat it with chopsticks!
Today was spent touring the Cu Chi Tunnels, 70 km. northwest of H.C.M.C. The elaborate system of underground tunnels are over 200 km. long and were built to house the Cu Chi people both during the French war in the late 1940's and the Vietnam war. Entrances to the tunnels measure about 18 cm. by 30 cm. The tour ended with a documentary film made by the North Vietnamese Government giving their perspective of the "War of Liberation" against the South Vietnamese and the Americans.
We have one more day in Saigon before we start heading north up the coast of Vietnam to the beach town of Mui Ne. We are looking forward to relaxing with a pool, the ocean and temperatures in the 30's.
We enjoy reading your comments.
Until the next post,
Joan & Ross
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh Jan. 16/10
We arrived at the bus terminal and easily found a tuk tuk to take us to our hotel. Actually, they are all over you for your business.
Riding in a tuk tuk is an experience! There are no rules of the road, stop signs do not exist and red lights are ignored. Often you find yourself going in the wrong lane against the oncoming traffic.As you approach an intersection traffic continues to roll weaving around everyone else until you come out the other side.
Trying to cross the street is a different story. You slowly step off the curb and continue to walk carefully towards the other side of the street. The traffic will somehow avoid hitting you. It all works - traffic moving in all directions on the same road - haven't seen any accidents yet.
Last night we wondered along Sisowath Quay and had dinner at the FCC. This is the Foreign Correspondents Club where journalists gathered during the Vietnam War era. It is now frequented by westerners and has great food. Getting back to our hotel - The Frangipani Villas 60- was another story. We had a tuk tuk driver who got lost. Of course it was dark and he couldn't see the map we had. He stopped several times to ask directions and finally we arrived home. The Cambodian people are all very friendly and helpful.
Today - Jan. 17 - we visited the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum which was a high school converted to a prison during the regime of Pol Pot and the Kmer Rouge. This is where people were imprisoned and tortured from 1974 - 1979 before they were transported to the Killing Fields.
We then continued on to Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre which were the actual Killing Fields outside of Phnom Penh. It was a very sombre experience. The movie The Killing Fields was based on this period of time.
We have purchased our tickets and will spend the next two nights and three days travelling down the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). We have our bug spray ready and have begun to take Malarone (anti malarial medication). Hopefully, we will not experience any side effects.
Until the next post,
Joan & Ross
Friday, January 15, 2010
Chong Kneas Floating Village Jan. 16/10
Today we toured the floating village of Chong Kneas on the Tonle Sap Lake which is 16 KM. south of Siem Reap. It is only one of several floating villages on the lake with a population of 3,500. The lake is the largest fresh water lake in SE Asia and is a designated UNESCO biosphere.
The flow of the Tonle Sap River changes direction twice a year and the portion which forms the lake rises and falls between 1 and 12 metres. When it is at its' lowest, the people move from their floating homes to the nearby mountain and wait for the monsoons at which time they move back to their lake homes.
The area is home to many Vietnamese and Cambodian floating communities with a total
Fishing as well as alligator and fish farming provide the main source of protein as well as a livlihood for these people. The average annual income for these people is $500 US.
Until next post,
Joan & Ross
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Siem Reap, Cambodia Jan. 13/10
We arrived in Siem Reap after a short forty minute flight from Bangkok. Most of the flight was spent filling in all the necessary forms in order to get into Cambodia. We were met at the airport by our driver in his tuk tuk and driven to the Golden Temple Villa where we are staying for four days.
The weather in Cambodia is sunny and hot. Although Ross complains about it, I tell him that sweating is good as it is detoxifying his body!
Today was spent touring Angkor Wat and the surrounding smaller temples. All were very impressive as you can see by the above picture. This is the sight where they filmed Tomb Raider with Anjolina Jolie.
At the entrance to every temple were many children of all ages trying to sell you cold drinks, books, postcards, jewelery and scarves as well as other assorted goods. I'm sure the first words learned by these children is "'one dolla, one dolla". We also saw groups of musicians playing Cambodian music who were landmine victims. A large sign gave the message "Rather than begging, we are trying to earn a living with dignity".While driving from temple to temple we were amused by the wild monkeys playing at the side of the road and which could be approached very easily.
Siem Reap is a small city that caters to tourists who come to visit Angkor Wat.
There are many excellent restaurants to choose from. Last night we dined at a restaurant called Aha which was featured in Budget Traveller Magazine. Many thanks Renee for the information. The food was delicious, especially the mango salad with dried snake! The snake ressembled small pieces of bacon which were sprinkled on top of the salad. Ross did not have the nerve to even sample this!
After dinner we strolled through the night market. One fascinating booth was where you could get an hour long leg massage given by blind people. Another interesting activity was where you could put your feet in a large pool and have them "tickled" by hundreds of tiny fish. So far we have resisted buying anything.
We are about to pick up our laundry ( 6 items for one US dollar ) and then have a foot massage.
So until next post, keep warm.
Joan & Ross
Monday, January 11, 2010
Bangkok Jan. 11/10
Sahwahdeekah Everyone,
Bangkok is a bustling city of nearly 12 million people and we have only seen the tip of it. The main religion is Buddhism and the statue of Bhudda can be seen everywhere. Saffron-robed monks mingle with the crowds as they go about their business. People greet each other with hands together and a slight bow of the head. Even Ronald McDonald assumes this pose in front of the restaurant.
Although the streets are jammed with traffic, there is very little horn honking. Everyone demonstrates aan abundance of patience. Taxis, motorbikes and tuk tuks transport people everywhere. We experienced our first tuk tuk ride - a small motorized vehicle with an open air cab - which took us to several jewellery shops and tailors where the driver would get a cut if we bought anything. Of course we didn't because we are only travelling with backpacks. As far as having suits and shirts tailor made in six hours, well, being retired, we really don't have much occasion to wear that type of clothes anymore. However, the prices are fantastic and the materials are beautiful.
A riverboat cruise on the Chao Phraya River took us to the Temple of the Dawn, the King's royal longtail boats with their guilded intricate carvings and a tour of the canals lined with wooden shanties where people just step into the river to do their laundry and bathing. We ended our tour at the Grand Palace which enforces a very strict dress code. Ross had to rent long pants along with many others who were wearing shorts. Women's shoulders had to be covered and they either had to be wearing dresses or long pants.
The Royal Thai family lived in this complex from the 1780's to 1946. It is an immense complex with residences, temples, ornate golden carvings and government buildings. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha was especially impressive and many people were making floral offerings and burning incense to honour him.
Shoes need to be removed before entering any temple and toes must not be pointed toward the Buddha.
We took a local riverboat ferry back to the Central Pier along with as many other people who could be jammed onto it- no life jackets in sight! Cost 20 Baht (80 cents) for a twenty minute boat ride.
Last night we met up with an acquaintance of Ross' from many years ago. Scott has been living and working in Thailand since 1992. He arrived at our hotel with his huge hockey bag and stick as he was playing hockey that evening. Where would you find an arena in Thailand? Apparently there is a hockey league for expats here.He is a senior editor of five travel magazines for Southeast Asia and was able to give us many tips for things to see and do.
Scott's recommendation for dinner was a restaurant called "Cabbages and Condoms" which was opened by a local senator who founded the Population and Community Development Association. This restaurant helps fund population control, AIDs awareness and a host of rural development programs. The meal was excellent and when the bill arrived, instead of the usual two mints on the tray, there were two condoms!! On our way out, we strolled into the gift shop and you won't believe the things you can make out of condoms!
There are three Red Light Districts in Bangkok and although we are not in the middle of one, we are only a short stroll away. Needless to say, our walks at night have provided us with some eye opening entertainment.
Bangkok is a very easy and safe city to get around in and we are comfortable using its' BTS (skytrain).
Tomorrow we leave for Siem Reap, Cambodia. We look forward to a calmer and slower paced small city and the much anticipated tour of Angkor Wat.
We have decided to take the hour flight to Siem Reap in order to have more time there, rather than spending nine hours on a bus with the possibility of a hassle at the border.
Until the next post,
Joan & Ross
Bangkok is a bustling city of nearly 12 million people and we have only seen the tip of it. The main religion is Buddhism and the statue of Bhudda can be seen everywhere. Saffron-robed monks mingle with the crowds as they go about their business. People greet each other with hands together and a slight bow of the head. Even Ronald McDonald assumes this pose in front of the restaurant.
Although the streets are jammed with traffic, there is very little horn honking. Everyone demonstrates aan abundance of patience. Taxis, motorbikes and tuk tuks transport people everywhere. We experienced our first tuk tuk ride - a small motorized vehicle with an open air cab - which took us to several jewellery shops and tailors where the driver would get a cut if we bought anything. Of course we didn't because we are only travelling with backpacks. As far as having suits and shirts tailor made in six hours, well, being retired, we really don't have much occasion to wear that type of clothes anymore. However, the prices are fantastic and the materials are beautiful.
A riverboat cruise on the Chao Phraya River took us to the Temple of the Dawn, the King's royal longtail boats with their guilded intricate carvings and a tour of the canals lined with wooden shanties where people just step into the river to do their laundry and bathing. We ended our tour at the Grand Palace which enforces a very strict dress code. Ross had to rent long pants along with many others who were wearing shorts. Women's shoulders had to be covered and they either had to be wearing dresses or long pants.
The Royal Thai family lived in this complex from the 1780's to 1946. It is an immense complex with residences, temples, ornate golden carvings and government buildings. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha was especially impressive and many people were making floral offerings and burning incense to honour him.
Shoes need to be removed before entering any temple and toes must not be pointed toward the Buddha.
We took a local riverboat ferry back to the Central Pier along with as many other people who could be jammed onto it- no life jackets in sight! Cost 20 Baht (80 cents) for a twenty minute boat ride.
Last night we met up with an acquaintance of Ross' from many years ago. Scott has been living and working in Thailand since 1992. He arrived at our hotel with his huge hockey bag and stick as he was playing hockey that evening. Where would you find an arena in Thailand? Apparently there is a hockey league for expats here.He is a senior editor of five travel magazines for Southeast Asia and was able to give us many tips for things to see and do.
Scott's recommendation for dinner was a restaurant called "Cabbages and Condoms" which was opened by a local senator who founded the Population and Community Development Association. This restaurant helps fund population control, AIDs awareness and a host of rural development programs. The meal was excellent and when the bill arrived, instead of the usual two mints on the tray, there were two condoms!! On our way out, we strolled into the gift shop and you won't believe the things you can make out of condoms!
There are three Red Light Districts in Bangkok and although we are not in the middle of one, we are only a short stroll away. Needless to say, our walks at night have provided us with some eye opening entertainment.
Bangkok is a very easy and safe city to get around in and we are comfortable using its' BTS (skytrain).
Tomorrow we leave for Siem Reap, Cambodia. We look forward to a calmer and slower paced small city and the much anticipated tour of Angkor Wat.
We have decided to take the hour flight to Siem Reap in order to have more time there, rather than spending nine hours on a bus with the possibility of a hassle at the border.
Until the next post,
Joan & Ross
Saturday, January 9, 2010
We have Arrived!
Bangkok, Jan. 8/10
Hello to everyone and welcome as we take you along on our travels through Southeast Asia to the countries of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. This blog will be our version of "Don't Forget Your Passport" as we share our impressions of the sights, tastes and sounds of this part of the world.
Our blog will be a public journal/diary of the things that we will experience during the next three months. We are not professional journalists, nor did we get straight A's in creative writing but hopefully, this will provide some entertainment for you and a record for us as you follow our travels and adventures.
Travelling to this part of the world is something we have wanted to do for the last several years and finally we are here.
We would like to give thanks to Stephanie for her encouragement in finally getting us to put this trip together, to Bryan for his help in setting up this blog ( Bry, we can't figure out how to get pictures into our blog yet!!),
to Trevor and Melissa for their many tips and the loan of their backpack and to Vallry W. for her time in answering our many questions and for her invaluable information which we have brought along with us.
After a long, tiring and uneventful thirty four hours in transit, we finally arrived in Bangkok to a humid 30 degrees while leaving Toronto far behind with it's -13 C. Our flight was smooth and comfortable as we managed to exchange our seats for the exit aisle row with plenty of room for stretching out, standing up and moving around. Who would have thought these seats would be available two hours before take off. Several years ago I learned a lesson from Doug W., that if you don't ask, you don't get and so "I did ask and I got!" which made our flight so much more comfortable.
Bangkok is twelve hours ahead of Toronto time and so the first "problem" we are contending with is the jet lag. As a matter of fact, I am writing this at 3:20 a.m while my body is thinking that it is 3:20 p.m. I am sure that it will take the next few days to adjust.
One of the things that Ross and I enjoy most about travelling is the people we meet. Although we have only been gone two days, we will remember the very humourous 75 year old gentleman from Sault St. Marie who shared the Toronto airport shuttle with us at 4:45 a.m. He was about to embark on a 116 day "Around the World" cruise on the "Geritol" cruise ship for $40,000!!!! In Bangkok, we stood in the immigration line and chatted with a very "well heeled" lady ( her words, not mine) from Dallas who was taking her two daughters (who attend the Ivy League college Brown in Providence Rhode Island) on a three week Asian vacation. We have had breakfast with a young woman from Bowmanville who works as a civilian and is on a month long vacation away from the Forces base in Kandahar Afghanistan. Her stories were fascinating. We have chatted with a couple from Birmingham England who have just purchased land and are having a home built in southern Thailand and who would be more than happy to rent it to us once it is completed.
Our first venture out into Bangkok yesterday awakened our senses to all of the sights, sounds, tastes and smells that lie ahead of us over the next several weeks.
There are shrines to dieties with offerings of fruit and burning incense set up on every corner. I was going to insert a picture of the shrine outside of our hotel but you might have to wait a while until I learn how to do it. The scent of lemongrass fills the air as you walk into buildings. The street food stalls which line the sidewalks looking tempting but not just yet and for sure all of the fried bugs which we saw last night will never pass our lips!!
A walk through the Suan Lum Night Market offered anything that you might want to buy while a stroll down any Soi (side street) gave you the opportunity to have any type of massage that you might want to have including "Annie's World Famous Soapy Massage". I had to pull Ross away from there!
And yes, it is true that there are hundreds of older Caucasian men with younger Asian ladies. In an effort to curb this, some hotels post signs saying "No Sex Tourists".
Tomorrow is another day and who knows what it will bring, but you will hear about it in our next post. But for now, I am going to try to get some more sleep!
Until next time,
Joan & Ross
Hello to everyone and welcome as we take you along on our travels through Southeast Asia to the countries of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. This blog will be our version of "Don't Forget Your Passport" as we share our impressions of the sights, tastes and sounds of this part of the world.
Our blog will be a public journal/diary of the things that we will experience during the next three months. We are not professional journalists, nor did we get straight A's in creative writing but hopefully, this will provide some entertainment for you and a record for us as you follow our travels and adventures.
Travelling to this part of the world is something we have wanted to do for the last several years and finally we are here.
We would like to give thanks to Stephanie for her encouragement in finally getting us to put this trip together, to Bryan for his help in setting up this blog ( Bry, we can't figure out how to get pictures into our blog yet!!),
to Trevor and Melissa for their many tips and the loan of their backpack and to Vallry W. for her time in answering our many questions and for her invaluable information which we have brought along with us.
After a long, tiring and uneventful thirty four hours in transit, we finally arrived in Bangkok to a humid 30 degrees while leaving Toronto far behind with it's -13 C. Our flight was smooth and comfortable as we managed to exchange our seats for the exit aisle row with plenty of room for stretching out, standing up and moving around. Who would have thought these seats would be available two hours before take off. Several years ago I learned a lesson from Doug W., that if you don't ask, you don't get and so "I did ask and I got!" which made our flight so much more comfortable.
Bangkok is twelve hours ahead of Toronto time and so the first "problem" we are contending with is the jet lag. As a matter of fact, I am writing this at 3:20 a.m while my body is thinking that it is 3:20 p.m. I am sure that it will take the next few days to adjust.
One of the things that Ross and I enjoy most about travelling is the people we meet. Although we have only been gone two days, we will remember the very humourous 75 year old gentleman from Sault St. Marie who shared the Toronto airport shuttle with us at 4:45 a.m. He was about to embark on a 116 day "Around the World" cruise on the "Geritol" cruise ship for $40,000!!!! In Bangkok, we stood in the immigration line and chatted with a very "well heeled" lady ( her words, not mine) from Dallas who was taking her two daughters (who attend the Ivy League college Brown in Providence Rhode Island) on a three week Asian vacation. We have had breakfast with a young woman from Bowmanville who works as a civilian and is on a month long vacation away from the Forces base in Kandahar Afghanistan. Her stories were fascinating. We have chatted with a couple from Birmingham England who have just purchased land and are having a home built in southern Thailand and who would be more than happy to rent it to us once it is completed.
Our first venture out into Bangkok yesterday awakened our senses to all of the sights, sounds, tastes and smells that lie ahead of us over the next several weeks.
There are shrines to dieties with offerings of fruit and burning incense set up on every corner. I was going to insert a picture of the shrine outside of our hotel but you might have to wait a while until I learn how to do it. The scent of lemongrass fills the air as you walk into buildings. The street food stalls which line the sidewalks looking tempting but not just yet and for sure all of the fried bugs which we saw last night will never pass our lips!!
A walk through the Suan Lum Night Market offered anything that you might want to buy while a stroll down any Soi (side street) gave you the opportunity to have any type of massage that you might want to have including "Annie's World Famous Soapy Massage". I had to pull Ross away from there!
And yes, it is true that there are hundreds of older Caucasian men with younger Asian ladies. In an effort to curb this, some hotels post signs saying "No Sex Tourists".
Tomorrow is another day and who knows what it will bring, but you will hear about it in our next post. But for now, I am going to try to get some more sleep!
Until next time,
Joan & Ross
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