Travels Through Thailand
I have been to Thailand many times but my first still leaves me with the fondest memories. It was bc, that is before children, but I see no reason why we couldn't re-create this trip with them and I'm positive they would not only enjoy it, but take away a greater understanding of the make-up of the Thai people as well.
We started in Bangkok, as you do. I personally love Bangkok, but essentially it is a busy, sometimes dirty, crowded and confronting city. All those things I love about Asia. You are never sure what lies around the next corner...perhaps fresh vegetable market stalls, temples, tourist traps and girlie bars, shopping, fantastic street food markets and all manner of rip off bags, jeans, tops you can think of. Even with the crack down on conterfeit goods, it's not hard to find vendors selling Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton...
Two days in Bangkok visiting the must see sites such as the Royal Grand Palace and temples, cruising the Chao Phraya River and heading out of town to the much lauded and often overcrowded floating markets set the tone for our trip. We travelled with Intrepid Tours on their 18 day "Thailand Unplugged" tour. There were 10 of us from all over, A few Aussies, some Americans and a couple from Itlay to round out the mix. Our tourguide was a Bangkok local and ex monk who went by the name of "Mr T". He was funny, obliging, helpful and shed a lot of local insight into the lives of the regular Thai. I impressed him by being able to stomach my "Thai hot" curries and he was a pleasure to get to know.
From Bangkok we travelled by overnight train up to Chiang Mai. What a gorgeous city! I was very pleasantly surprised at this gem. We took time out from shopping to take a Thai Cooking class where one of the attendees managed to set her hair on fire. Certainly didn't need that to add any flavour to our creations. So full afterward and took home a great cookbook to boot (and luckily my eyebrows...). The only remedy the next morning for our sluggishness was a Thai massage which was interesting to say the least. Not a relaxing, lie back and drift off session...oh no. More like pushing legs over your head, bending you in half and walking all over your back, but surprisingly you felt quite rejuvenated afterwards.
From Chiang Mai we took off up North stopping at some beautiful temples and waterfalls along the way and lunching at a local restaurant. It amazes me how the simplest ingredients can taste so damn good!
Next two days were spent in the hill village of Mae Taeng where we slept in bamboo huts with the locals. It was wonderful interacting with the villagers and they really were welcoming. After the long trek to get to the village it was great playing in the river with the kids and seeing the absolute joy on their faces.
From our base here we did more mountain trekking as well as bamboo rafting and elephant riding. Who knew that elephants were so agile and quiet? I was always chastized as a child for stomping around like an elephant. Boy was I happy to tell mum how wrong she was in this assumption.
Next came a flight back down to Bangkok for a couple of free days before heading on another overnight train to Surat Thani. I loved the trains, the click clack of the rails was soothing and the vendors walking through the cabins selling all manner of delicacies ensured no-one went hungry. Porters came in at a set time to make your beds with clean linens and all in all it was a very comfortable journey.
Once in Surat Thani we head over to Khao Sok National Park where we spent two wonderful days in the rainforest spotting gibbons and soaking up the nature. We stayed in tree houses that were rustic, but fantastic, especially the warnings to secure belongings so the gibbons didn't come in to help themselves. As well as jungle walking and having a fantastic bbq feast, we had a great day tubing down the river.
From the Jungle it was back to the coast, stopping in Koh Samui and Koh Tao. We weren't there for a full moon party but had four days of great diving and snorkelling. A slight mishap with a motorbike (yes were were stupid enough to hire one) resulted in my husband getting second degree burns on his leg, but a trip to the clinic soon had him patched and lubricated with all manner of creams.
While the rest of the tour group made their way back to Bangkok we opted to go on to Phuket and caught a local bus for the 10 hour cross island trip. It was very comfortable and so cheap it was amazing.
We stayed an extra 7 days relaxing in Phuket and treated ourselves to a five star hotel in Kata Beach as we had "roughed" it staying in local hotels during the trip. It was fun exploring Patpong Road and being confronted by the ladyboys plying their wares. We did go to one of those "shows" and I must admit apart from the glazed look in the eyes of the girls performing, I was suitably impressed by their dexterity as one bent over, sending a dart flying and popping the balloon being held by my husband. Luckily her aim was true as I'd hate to explore the implications of getting hit by a dart that originated from that particular part of her body.
Trips to Phi Phi Island, Phang Na Bay and the floating villages followed and we had a great time doing the things all good tourists do. And oh, did I mention shopping, shopping and more shopping? Interspersed with eating of course.
The trip was such a great hit that I have been back to Thailand a further three times and enjoyed each one thoroughly. The kids have come on the last two trips and we plan to head back to discover Krabi in the near future. When you find paradise, it's hard to let it go.