26th May - We left NZ at 8am on a Qantas flight from Auckland to Sydney. Hung out in Sydney airport for 7 hours, playing on the computer, looking round the shops, and having a nap. We then flew from Sydney to Bangkok, Thailand. Our flight was nice, food was good and managed to get an extra seat beside us so we could lie out and get a good sleep.27 May - Landed in Bangkok early, just past midnight. Collected our bags and then went off in search of some cheap transport. Ended up getting in a taxi and going to our hotel, The Montien Hotel in Patpong. We decided to splash out with this hotel as it is about a 5 stat. We were feeling rather refreshed and decided to have showers and get ready to go to the Patpong markets. Unfortunately by the time we fluffed around getting ready the stalls were closing up. So decided to go to the 7 Eleven buy some mix and go back up to the room for some drinks. Graham was rather disappointed to find out that no where sells Ginger Ale or Ginger Beer, and apparently Coke and CC just doesn't do it for him. We crashed out in our massive big bed and got a good night sleep.
Woke up early the next day for our complementary buffet breakfast. They had everything you could think of from fruit to bacon and egg, and waffles, pancakes and creme. It was amazing!! Graham was super impressed.
After breakfast we wandered out on to the street and went in search of a Tuktuk. We wanted to go to MBK shopping mall.....well OK then, I wanted to go to MBK :-). We ended up going there with a detour to some Gem place that sold jewellery, didn't buy anything thought. Spend about 7 hours in MBK (10 - 5pm) shopping mall. There are just so many levels and soo much to see. Only ended up buying a watch each, a handbag, pashmina and Graham got a look a like ipod nano. Got a mani and pedicure for super cheap.
Grahams started going a bit nutty with all the shops, floors and floors or shops and stuff. He had to get out so once we finally found the out we started to walk the streets around Siam square. Then got a Tuktuk back to Montien to get ready for the Patpong night markets.
Headed out around 8pm and sussed out the stalls. Ended up eating at a really cheap noodle bar and walked back thought the stalls again. Got a massage at the place near the hotel and then thought we would go have a night cap at the bar round the corner from the hotel. Was feeling a little tired and jet lagged but wanted to go dancing. We we ended up at some bar and ordered a jug of Kamikaze.......and that was that. Full on all night Kamikaze cocktail jugs and dancing. There were heaps of tourists and prozzies there, older men with young Thai women, and an awesome az live band who I swear sounded just the the Bee Gees. Some fun little Thai lady we had been dancing with all night wanted to come back to our hotel and was quite sad when we declined. Got home at 3am.
28th May - Well as you can imagine after a night on the cocktails, I wasn't feeling all that great. Super hung over!! Woke up early again for our complementary buffet breakfast, Graham made the most of the meal once again, but I couldn't do it. Went for a swim and a sun bath after brekkie then had to check out and go to our hotel where the tour was starting. So got a taxi to the Bangkok Centre Hotel. Checked in to our not so flash hotel and went for a wander, all the way to the middle of know where, no tourists to be seen. Graham spotted a restaurant with a Pepsi sign out the front so we went inside. Luckily one of the ladies spoke some English and we managed to get 'chicken with rice and chicken with noodle' that was about all she could translate, it was really nice. Then decided to get on the Metro trains so missioned it back past the hotel to the BTS train line. We ended up missing our stop so had to go back, then had to get on a totally different train line, got off at the Bangkok Cultural Centre station and to cut a long story short after much walking and asking around there was no actual cultural centre. Got back to the hotel with 1hour to spare before our tour meeting at 6pm. We met up with our group, filled in heaps of papers and got to know the people we were going to be hanging out with for the next 29 days. 4 of the 9 are only doing the 14 day tour.
Richard our tour guide suggested we go to Kho San Road for dinner. We had a nice meal there then split up into smaller groups and started looking round the markets. Graham and I buddied up with a German girl, Patricia and an English guy from London, James and went to the pub with them. We got on the cocktail buckets and smoked some apple vapor stuff. Was another late night out, got home a 2am.
29th May - Early start again, breakfast was OK but nothing in comparison to the Montien. We walked down to the river and went on a guided longboat tour of the canals. Ended up getting motion sickness that lasted the whole day, so not nice. We stopped off at a floating house to see how the people live above the water and then went to visit Wat Po temple aka the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Graham and I then went back to the hotel for a swim in the pool and while had a 2hour nap Graham went on another train mission around the city to draw some more cash out. Then at around 4pm we all headed to the train station for the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Was a great little set up with top and bottom bunks. I was worrying all night that someone was going to steal stuff out of our bags that every time some one walked past in the night I would have a quick look out of my curtain.30th May - We arrived in Chiang Mai at around 8am with our bags and stuff in tack. We get off the train and head for our hotel, the Mandala. Where we had to lug our bag up 3 flights of stairs, not too bad, but when you are use to lifts it kinds suxs. We had 30 mins to get showered and ready and down in the foyer for 9am. Most of our group all opted for the optional cooking class. The cooking class was amazing, wo got to go to the market and learn about all the different fruits and what their names are in Thai. Like chili is 'Phrik' and Pumpkin is 'Phuck' , haha. We then go to choose 4 dishes each to make. We each had our own apron chopping knife and board. Between Graham and I was cooked up Tom Yum, Chicken Coconut Curry Soup (my new favourite dish), Spring Rolls, Deep fried banana, yellow curry (Grahams new favourite food ever), red curry, stir fried chicken and cashew and Pad Thai. We had a great time cooking up these dishes and having a laugh with everyone. Was well worth 600 Baht ($25 NZD each) for the 3.5 hours.
After the cooking we had some free time so a group of us went the the Women's Prison for a massage. Part of their rehabilitation program back in the community is to teach the criminals basic massage skills so they can get a job once out of jail. So quite an experience indeed.
Then back to the hotel to meet back up with the group and then up the mountain we go to Doi Suthep with a local guide. We walked up the 309 steps to the top where there were many statues, bells and shrines. We watched the Monks chanting at 6pm and then walked down. We got back to the hotel with 15 mins to get changed for dinner. We went to a cute little restaurant down many back streets and sat our side on the deck. After dinner Graham, Patricia, James and I went bar hopping, and ended up watching a cabaret show of lady boys. Some of the seriously looked like women, gorgeous performers and an awesome, free, show. Early night for us girls, in bed at 11.30pm but the boys got lost coming home so ended up getting back at 2pm.
After the cooking we had some free time so a group of us went the the Women's Prison for a massage. Part of their rehabilitation program back in the community is to teach the criminals basic massage skills so they can get a job once out of jail. So quite an experience indeed.
Then back to the hotel to meet back up with the group and then up the mountain we go to Doi Suthep with a local guide. We walked up the 309 steps to the top where there were many statues, bells and shrines. We watched the Monks chanting at 6pm and then walked down. We got back to the hotel with 15 mins to get changed for dinner. We went to a cute little restaurant down many back streets and sat our side on the deck. After dinner Graham, Patricia, James and I went bar hopping, and ended up watching a cabaret show of lady boys. Some of the seriously looked like women, gorgeous performers and an awesome, free, show. Early night for us girls, in bed at 11.30pm but the boys got lost coming home so ended up getting back at 2pm.
31st May - Yet again another early start as most of us were booked on the optional cycling tour, 3 hours for 750 Baht. We each got a bicycle, helmet and water. We went to more temples, had a delicious spicy soup for lunch and back to the hotel for another quick shower. The sweat was just pouring off us on the bikes, but well worth it. We then boarded air conditioned mini vans and started out 5 hour long journey to Chiang Kong. Accommodation at the River view Guesthouse, were you are right on the Mekong river. An interesting dinner at the Guesthouse, lots of deep friend meat, without a lot of meat, if you were lucky you got an anorexic looking prawn. Quite a disappointing meal. Lets hope breakfast tomorrow is much nicer.
1st June - Up at 6am for a 7am start. Off to Laos
1st June - Up at 6am for a 7am start. Off to Laos
