Diary - Thailand Day 8

Day 8 – 30^th June 2010

We enjoy our breakfast while waiting the van to Bangkok. We will meet with another 2 friend in Bangkok today. The 2 hours ride was fast, and we noticed that all transportation will have special area just for the monk. Inside the van, the monk usually will sit in front with the driver. We will be staying at this S2S Hotel during our visit in Bangkok for 4 days. 

There was a new MRT line connected with the airport but it was yet to open to public until 2011. It would be convenient if there is now. We were waiting our friends in Pratunam shopping mall. First stop is the grand Palace of Thai King which cost around 350baht and we still have 90minutes for the tour only. Although it was a bit rushing but we managed to visit the palace overall. We have this tuk-tuk especially for tourist and cost only 5baht per person but we need to stop at least 2 shopping shops.

Me and ping make a jacket each cost around 3000baht or RM300, which it is cheaper than in Malaysia as same jacket cost more that RM600 here. I will make again this jacket when I travel to Bangkok next time. Along the journey, we visited standing big Buddha, Wat Pho and pass by the palace where the king staying at the moment. As for dinner, we go to Mango Tree (recommended by many in the internet and some Chinese artist), but the food there was not so good as per said.

Near to the restaurant, there is Pat Pong night market and many “show” (tiger show, ping pong show etc). We get to know one of Sze Yee’s thai friend, Pap in McDonald across the night market.

Diary - Thailand Day 7

Day 7 – 29^th June 2010

It has been a week time for me in Thailand and love visiting the country. The tour guide picks us up in each guesthouse/hotel. First, we have this elephant trekking and it was a new experiences for me because first time doing it. The elephant managed to carry 2 heavy loaded guys at the back to hill side and through river side for almost 45minutes. Then we continue with bamboo ride in the Kwai River and those feeling to swim can do so but not me as I do not know how to swim in a river, fast running water (kind dangerous if you not familiar with the flow).

We have our lunch in Erawan waterfall and then Hell Pass which was built during World War 2 by Australian POW and Asian POW. Then, Sai Nok waterfall or small waterfall and Krasue cave with river Kwai train ride. Because it was world cup month, my friend wants to watch the match and at the end he falls to sleep in the guesthouse.

Diary - Thailand Day 6

Day 6 – 28^th June 2010

They museum was closed on every Monday which we suppose to visit at first. Thus, we just walk around and look-see look-see (in Chinese phrase meaning a short brief visit at a place in very quick move). The market, local breakfast, and we notice the school started very late as well, I think the class start at 830am or later. We were late for the bus and some local assist us by using motorbike to chase the bus to Suphanburi, 3 hours from Lopburi. Then we transit via bus as well to Kanachaburi, another 2 hours. We arrived to our next destination, Kanachaburi and check in to Blue Star Guesthouse around 4pm.

Put down our backpacking and going to the night market but suddenly it a heavy rain come and we run quickly for a cover, but at the end we were “dancing in the rain” (you know what). The rains almost stop at night, we then go out and have massage and internet later on. We managed to sign up a tour with the guesthouse for the following day.

Diary - Thailand Day 5

Day 5 – 27^th June 2010

Wake up by early of the morning and journey to Phitsanulok, a transit town before Lopburi. While still some times leave before the train, we managed to visit the second most important Buddha temple in Thailand, the Golden Buddha. There are many people, especially Chinese thais in this temple. 

By noon the train is ready and the journey took us 5 hours to reach Lopburi. But if we refer to travel books or internet, it is suppose to be only 3 hours. Well, it is a train run by diesel and many thing can happen and cause delay also. We have some train food ala thia style, mango rice, fruits etc. Along the way, there was only green plants, blue skies and white cloud accompany our eyes. 

Well it is something similar with our paddy field in west coast Malaysia. If they a coffee on the train it would be better…. Ehmmmm. We have a rest at this Noom Guesthouse in Lopburi. Our neighbor was a family with children from France. The wife can speak English but not the husband. Visit some temple while there is some sunlight and end the day with night market.

Diary - Thailand Day 4

Day 4 – 26^th June 2010

We start our journey to the historical park of Sukhothai by bicycle. It was hot sunny day and it was my first time to ride on bicycle. While I tried before when I was small and fall down every time. But I survive the day and managed to learn to ride the bicycle at the end.

Back to early of the day, we have our breakfast at his place recommended by Lonely Planet, Coffee Cup and the coffee was great. Less than 20 minutes and help form ping, I managed to master the bicycle. There are many historical temples, statues of Buddha, old buildings, palaces all dated back to 11^th to 14^th century before the kingdom of Thais. 

I would highly recommend this place for those who love historical sites and work-out-tour-a-day thing. Almost evening time and we go back to the new town and have a glass of coffee, also recommended by Lonely Planet, to his S&N coffee shop, and it was ok only. As for dinner, we head to this Dream Cafe and it was amazing. The environment is classical and antic mainly with items from 40s to 60s. I will come to this cafe next time but with my lover (if any)(hope soon).

Diary - Thailand Day 3

Day 3 – 25^th June 2010

My friend, Ping is taking a flight from Malaysia and joining me for the rest of my backpacking journey to Bangkok. Upon arrival, both of us start touring the old town of Chiang Mai, the temples or wats. I think we have visited almost 80% of all temples in Chiang Mai city. Before the touring ends, I have my favorite fruit juice, dragon fruit juice for only 20baht or RM2, so cheap.

We take local bus to Sukhothai which the journey take around 6 hours to reach and though it will be very tiring but I think it is worthy. We arrived Sukhothai around 700pm and the guesthouse that I have booked early has forgot about our reservation. This Baan Thai Guesthouse will be in my ban-list forever. Luckily there are few options around. We head to this TR Guesthouse run by Chinese thais family and the room was not bad at all, better that that Baan Thai. 

We have a very funny dinner today. The stall owner can not understand English nor chinses only thais. We can not speak thais and it was like a chicken talking with a duck (Chinese phrase). We managed to order soup mee and soup noodle. I really need to improve my thais if planning to come to rural area in future.

Diary - Thailand Day 2

Day 2 – 24^th June 2010

What a great day as I woke up naturally without the alarm like ordinary working days… but I starting to be a bit lazy to write everything in my diary. After late breakfast, I started my journey by taking local bus and go to Phrae and Lampang and maybe Lamphun. Phrae is 4 hours journey from Chiang Mai and Lampang and Lamphun is 2 hours away from Chiang Mai. 

Nothing much in both places, Phrae has few old temples that influenced by the Myanmar or Bugmis instead of Thais. Lampang was a city –liked-town and the only attraction mainly the local super market, store etc. I was a bit disappointed with today’s journey. Because I started the day late, now it is almost 500pm and I have to take last bus back to Chiang Mai.

Just 10 minutes walk from the bus station is the Chinese night market or China town of Chiang Mai. It was a night market and I settled my dinner here as well. But Chinese here, especially the younger one did not learn Chinese language. The grows up in Thailand also did not communicate in chinese nor the dialect of their clan. On my way back to guesthouse, I saw this McDonald and I just can not stop thinking about the pork burger. And so I brought one for supper.  Before going back to my room, I have little chat with the owner, Olaf and his wife Fong about Chiang Mai and my trip later.