Friday, September 7, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Doi Inthanon National Park
Trekking through the hills of Doi Inthanon and Karen Villages 40 mins from Chiang Mai was a great ending to an amazing trip. This was the final stage in my many experiences over here. The group I went up with was absolutely fantastic, except for the few that complained about how strenuous the hike was. I was just laughing inside thinking what do you think you paid for, an elephant ride into the hills? We drove 40 mins from Chiang Mai city into the hills where the Karen villages started. Karen tribes people have an estimated population of 322, 00o, they originated in Burma but have migrated due to the ethnic war in their home country. There are about 10 different hill tribes that Chiang Mai recognizes and the Karen people make up the majority of them. It was an amazing experience to watch them in their village, the women in the rice fields or looking after an infant and well the men, I didn't see many of them doing much of anything...
The first day we went bamboo rafting down a small river, similar to the river we raft down at the cabin but with smaller rapids. We got totally soaked, either from falling off or people splashing with their poles. It wasn't so bad getting soaked because it cooled us down for the 3 hour all up hill hike that was ahead of us, it was definately a great workout. We arrived at our hut which had a beautiful waterfall 10 feet from our bungalow flowing so heavily because of the rainy season. As soon as we arrived at the camp we stripped down and jumped right in, while some of the complainers grabbed and beer and sat and watched us! hah
We took our soap and shampoo and showered and sat in the current of the waterfall for a while to cool down. The guides came in and joined us and showed us the special areas where we could jump off the waterfall into the pool, but I was content staying at the base in the water!
After we managed to put on some dry clothes and hang the wet ones dinner was almost ready. The guides and a few of the Karen village people were slaving away in a small hut with one fire and many dishes of different spices and chopped food. I went in their and watched them at work in amazment. In the end for dinner they served us (12 people) a huge serving of steamed rice, two large bowls of green curry and sweet and sour chicken. The food was so delicious, and just to think they made it all from scratch in that little hut.
With full tummys and an exhausting day of hiking I think most people were ready to get to bed, however we checked the time and it was only 7:30pm...So instead someone pulled out the Thai rum and a guitar and we started to drink and play games until a little later in the night, but still we were in bed by around 11...
Breakfast consisted of tea, coffee, toast and scrambled eggs, and for those Australian's who read this....VEGGEMITE...oh it was so good and brought back so many memories! For those Canadians who are reading this and want to try some, I brought some home with me so you are in luck :)
The second day was kind of sad, I had to part with all the people I had got close to on the hike because they went on to do another day of hiking and I had to head back to Chiang Mai because I had a flight to catch from Bangkok. We only hiked two hours this day and the majority was downhill. We arrived at where we go elephant riding and immediately I did not want to be there. I won't go into detail but I was describing to a friend how I just wanted to jump off my elephant, free all the ones chained to a tree and run away. I felt like I was supporting such a cruel thing. I didn't support them any further by tipping or buying any pictures, and will advise future travellers to do the trek and rafting but not the elephant riding. I just kept thinking of the elephants I saw while in Africa and how free and beautiful they were...these ones were captive and who knows what they go through.
Enough about that, the day ended shortly after, we hopped in the back of a truck and drove back to Chiang Mai.
I'm now back in Bangkok after taking an overnight bus down here and today will be my day of last minute shopping, touring and errands (phone calls, mailing etc).
I already miss the islands and beaches, but I know this is not the end, it is just the beginning of my travels and adventures!!!
Stay posted!
The first day we went bamboo rafting down a small river, similar to the river we raft down at the cabin but with smaller rapids. We got totally soaked, either from falling off or people splashing with their poles. It wasn't so bad getting soaked because it cooled us down for the 3 hour all up hill hike that was ahead of us, it was definately a great workout. We arrived at our hut which had a beautiful waterfall 10 feet from our bungalow flowing so heavily because of the rainy season. As soon as we arrived at the camp we stripped down and jumped right in, while some of the complainers grabbed and beer and sat and watched us! hah
We took our soap and shampoo and showered and sat in the current of the waterfall for a while to cool down. The guides came in and joined us and showed us the special areas where we could jump off the waterfall into the pool, but I was content staying at the base in the water!
After we managed to put on some dry clothes and hang the wet ones dinner was almost ready. The guides and a few of the Karen village people were slaving away in a small hut with one fire and many dishes of different spices and chopped food. I went in their and watched them at work in amazment. In the end for dinner they served us (12 people) a huge serving of steamed rice, two large bowls of green curry and sweet and sour chicken. The food was so delicious, and just to think they made it all from scratch in that little hut.
With full tummys and an exhausting day of hiking I think most people were ready to get to bed, however we checked the time and it was only 7:30pm...So instead someone pulled out the Thai rum and a guitar and we started to drink and play games until a little later in the night, but still we were in bed by around 11...
Breakfast consisted of tea, coffee, toast and scrambled eggs, and for those Australian's who read this....VEGGEMITE...oh it was so good and brought back so many memories! For those Canadians who are reading this and want to try some, I brought some home with me so you are in luck :)
The second day was kind of sad, I had to part with all the people I had got close to on the hike because they went on to do another day of hiking and I had to head back to Chiang Mai because I had a flight to catch from Bangkok. We only hiked two hours this day and the majority was downhill. We arrived at where we go elephant riding and immediately I did not want to be there. I won't go into detail but I was describing to a friend how I just wanted to jump off my elephant, free all the ones chained to a tree and run away. I felt like I was supporting such a cruel thing. I didn't support them any further by tipping or buying any pictures, and will advise future travellers to do the trek and rafting but not the elephant riding. I just kept thinking of the elephants I saw while in Africa and how free and beautiful they were...these ones were captive and who knows what they go through.
Enough about that, the day ended shortly after, we hopped in the back of a truck and drove back to Chiang Mai.
I'm now back in Bangkok after taking an overnight bus down here and today will be my day of last minute shopping, touring and errands (phone calls, mailing etc).
I already miss the islands and beaches, but I know this is not the end, it is just the beginning of my travels and adventures!!!
Stay posted!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Journey to Chiang Mai
It is a little different from the islands I've been on the last week but Chiang Mai is such a beautiful province, and the people are the nicest I have encountered yet.
I left Koh Tao yesterday morning at 10am and took a 3 hour ferry to Champorn, then hopped on an 8 hour bus to Bangkok. Arrived to Bangkok around 9:30pm ran to the train station and got on the 10pm train to Chiang Mai...finally I arrived around 1:30pm...was it ever a long trip, but luckly I slept most of the way and finished a couple of books :) The train in the morning was amazing, the window was all the way down and it felt like I was immersed in the jungle. We went over bridges that went over massive canyons, but mostly it was travelling through the jungle and I saw the off village and farmers. It was an excellent way to see more of the countryside.
Chiang Mai is widely known for their markets. I arrived and immediately went out shopping, but I had to wait until 6pm when the big night bizaar opened. In the meantime I sat by the pool and caught a few more rays, then met with the group that I would be trekking with the next couple of days. The first couple I met were Australian from Sydney, of course I just can't seem to get away from them! They had just spent the last 7 months in Whistler so we had something to talk about! There will be about 12 of us altogether, and our guide is so friendly and very funny...
I have just sat down after 3 hours of walking through the night bizaar, and oh my god I needed to get out of there before I bought everything I saw. This Bizaar is like the Khan (in Cairo) but the people aren't as grabby so it gives you more insentive to look and buy. I met a guy in Ko phangan that was very impressed with my bargaining skills...it must have been all those trips back to Egypt, and I'm getting even more practice here :) No more markets for me for at least two days until I'm back in Bangkok...oh jeez
I left Koh Tao yesterday morning at 10am and took a 3 hour ferry to Champorn, then hopped on an 8 hour bus to Bangkok. Arrived to Bangkok around 9:30pm ran to the train station and got on the 10pm train to Chiang Mai...finally I arrived around 1:30pm...was it ever a long trip, but luckly I slept most of the way and finished a couple of books :) The train in the morning was amazing, the window was all the way down and it felt like I was immersed in the jungle. We went over bridges that went over massive canyons, but mostly it was travelling through the jungle and I saw the off village and farmers. It was an excellent way to see more of the countryside.
Chiang Mai is widely known for their markets. I arrived and immediately went out shopping, but I had to wait until 6pm when the big night bizaar opened. In the meantime I sat by the pool and caught a few more rays, then met with the group that I would be trekking with the next couple of days. The first couple I met were Australian from Sydney, of course I just can't seem to get away from them! They had just spent the last 7 months in Whistler so we had something to talk about! There will be about 12 of us altogether, and our guide is so friendly and very funny...
I have just sat down after 3 hours of walking through the night bizaar, and oh my god I needed to get out of there before I bought everything I saw. This Bizaar is like the Khan (in Cairo) but the people aren't as grabby so it gives you more insentive to look and buy. I met a guy in Ko phangan that was very impressed with my bargaining skills...it must have been all those trips back to Egypt, and I'm getting even more practice here :) No more markets for me for at least two days until I'm back in Bangkok...oh jeez
Friday, August 31, 2007
Koh Tao (Turtle Island)
So I think this is my favourite island so far only because it's shaped like a turtle and they have named it after that. For those of you who don't really know me...I really like turtles ever since one of my good friends (Teri Shortreed) said I looked like one when I extended my neck...haha
This is my second day here and unfortunately I'm off again tomorrow to Chiang Mai. I arrive yesterday afternoon and immediately booked a dive trip for the next day...the whole reason I came to the island. Afterwards I went to rent a scooter to explore and see what this turtle was all about. I drove from the very south of the island to the north tip, got off my bike and hiked through the bush and found a really cool lookout point. The island is very small, I drove from one tip to the other in 20 mins, and that is on a windy road going 40-60 km/h. The island is surrounded by boulder rocks, and there are little beaches you can visit if you trek a little ways through the jungle. Touring the island was so beautiful and was a great way to do it because I stopped where ever I wanted, tourist shops, beaches, lookout points etc. By the time I got home I decided to hit the sack since I had to wake at 6am for the dive trip.
We set off pretty early. We got to our first dive site Hing Wong around 8am and got in the water. There were only 5 of us in the group and two of them were doing there open water certification, so I was treated like a princess. The instructor, Ben from Germany gave me his really expensive dive watch to wear and said I could go diving with the dive master Maria as long as I didn't break his watch...he had to tend to the others doing the test so he let us go off and do our own thing...between the first site and the second Ao Mao I saw angel fish, butterfly fish, bannerfish, rabbit fish, stingray, unicorn fish, trigger fish and a giant clam...not as big as the 150 yr old one Dad and I saw at the Great Barrier reef.
The day was great, the diving, swimming, jumping off the boat...the water is so clear and beautiful its hard to stay out of, especially when the water is 28 degrees and the air temp is 36! oh wow, Mom I don't know how you would cope here, but this is my kind of weather!! :) hehe
We got back from the dive trip around 1 and I decided the lay on the beach and work on my tan since it is the last day for me on the islands and near a beach. The islands here are so beautiful it will be hard leaving but I've heard amazing things about Chiang Mai.
That is all for now, lots of love from this side of the world and I will be seeing some of you really soon!
This is my second day here and unfortunately I'm off again tomorrow to Chiang Mai. I arrive yesterday afternoon and immediately booked a dive trip for the next day...the whole reason I came to the island. Afterwards I went to rent a scooter to explore and see what this turtle was all about. I drove from the very south of the island to the north tip, got off my bike and hiked through the bush and found a really cool lookout point. The island is very small, I drove from one tip to the other in 20 mins, and that is on a windy road going 40-60 km/h. The island is surrounded by boulder rocks, and there are little beaches you can visit if you trek a little ways through the jungle. Touring the island was so beautiful and was a great way to do it because I stopped where ever I wanted, tourist shops, beaches, lookout points etc. By the time I got home I decided to hit the sack since I had to wake at 6am for the dive trip.
We set off pretty early. We got to our first dive site Hing Wong around 8am and got in the water. There were only 5 of us in the group and two of them were doing there open water certification, so I was treated like a princess. The instructor, Ben from Germany gave me his really expensive dive watch to wear and said I could go diving with the dive master Maria as long as I didn't break his watch...he had to tend to the others doing the test so he let us go off and do our own thing...between the first site and the second Ao Mao I saw angel fish, butterfly fish, bannerfish, rabbit fish, stingray, unicorn fish, trigger fish and a giant clam...not as big as the 150 yr old one Dad and I saw at the Great Barrier reef.
The day was great, the diving, swimming, jumping off the boat...the water is so clear and beautiful its hard to stay out of, especially when the water is 28 degrees and the air temp is 36! oh wow, Mom I don't know how you would cope here, but this is my kind of weather!! :) hehe
We got back from the dive trip around 1 and I decided the lay on the beach and work on my tan since it is the last day for me on the islands and near a beach. The islands here are so beautiful it will be hard leaving but I've heard amazing things about Chiang Mai.
That is all for now, lots of love from this side of the world and I will be seeing some of you really soon!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Full Moon Party 2007
Aug 28
The day of the full moon....the largest beach party in the world....the best fire dancers and every type of music you can imagine! What more can you ask for...
The beach was lined with vendors selling buckets, food, glow painting and more...I knew this was going to be one of the most memorable nights EVER! I was with a great group the aussies and now two more guys from Holland (Rogier, Florian) that we had met camping aswell and we stuck together watching fire dancers while we started drinking, dancing at cactus bar again and then we found a roof top where we danced while watching 10,000 people swarming the beach. We met some British guys on the roof top that had lots of glow in the dark paint so they added more to us so we were absolutely covered! I will hopefully post some pictures soon of the trip.
Our night started to wind down around 5am and we just chilled on the beach for the next while!! We arrived back at our bungalow around 8:30am and I found a nice comfy hammock and passed out for a couple of hours! Now it was just the recovery day ahead where nothing needed to be done :)
Just beach and relaxation!
The day of the full moon....the largest beach party in the world....the best fire dancers and every type of music you can imagine! What more can you ask for...
The beach was lined with vendors selling buckets, food, glow painting and more...I knew this was going to be one of the most memorable nights EVER! I was with a great group the aussies and now two more guys from Holland (Rogier, Florian) that we had met camping aswell and we stuck together watching fire dancers while we started drinking, dancing at cactus bar again and then we found a roof top where we danced while watching 10,000 people swarming the beach. We met some British guys on the roof top that had lots of glow in the dark paint so they added more to us so we were absolutely covered! I will hopefully post some pictures soon of the trip.
Our night started to wind down around 5am and we just chilled on the beach for the next while!! We arrived back at our bungalow around 8:30am and I found a nice comfy hammock and passed out for a couple of hours! Now it was just the recovery day ahead where nothing needed to be done :)
Just beach and relaxation!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Ko Pha Ngan
Aug 27 The day of Travel
I left Phi Phi island on the 9am ferry and arrived at my bungalow in Ko Phangan at 9pm. I ran into some amazing people I had met camping at Maya beach on the ferry and we chatted and sat together....go figure they are all Melbournians :) (Erika, Suzy, Tomas and Diana). The trip went by so fast just hanging out and we planned to meet up that night to scope out Hat Rin where the full moon party will be held the next night.
I arrived at my bungalow to find out they didn't have my booking that I had made almost 2 weeks prior. I knew everything else on the island would be booked because of this party but I didn't let it get to me. They had one hut open for that night so they let me stay there but I was kicked out the next morning...
I didn't let that ruin my night. By this time I was so excited to get to Hat Rin I dropped my bags, changed my clothes and hitched a ride with a group that were going to Thong Sala to watch a Thai boxing match. I flagged down another cab from Thong Sala and I met up with the Aussies in Hat Rin Nok-Sunrise beach and we started the night off with a bucket (Sangsom-Thai Whiskey, coke and redbull). I only need one of those and it does me for the entire night. We found a sweet bar called Cactus on the beach and ended up dancing until 4am. We had such a blast together we didnt know where the time went. We met a few Thai guys that offered us a ride home, so we accepted and hit the pillow hard as soon as we all got back...I let the girls know what happened with my accomodation and they offered for me to stay at there place as long as I needed which worked out perfectly because I knew the next night at the full moon party none of us would be sleeping anyways!
I got dropped off by those two Thai guys after we dropped off the rest of the crew and I went straight for my hammock that is hung on my balcony and overlooks the ocean and beach over a cliff. I was so tired but it was so beautiful I couldn't shut my eyes. I eventually went to bed and in the morning got up bright and early and sat in the hammock again. The feeling of lying in it with the sounds of the waves crashing, the birds chirping and the ocean view over the cliff is so perfect I think I found my paradise!
I left Phi Phi island on the 9am ferry and arrived at my bungalow in Ko Phangan at 9pm. I ran into some amazing people I had met camping at Maya beach on the ferry and we chatted and sat together....go figure they are all Melbournians :) (Erika, Suzy, Tomas and Diana). The trip went by so fast just hanging out and we planned to meet up that night to scope out Hat Rin where the full moon party will be held the next night.
I arrived at my bungalow to find out they didn't have my booking that I had made almost 2 weeks prior. I knew everything else on the island would be booked because of this party but I didn't let it get to me. They had one hut open for that night so they let me stay there but I was kicked out the next morning...
I didn't let that ruin my night. By this time I was so excited to get to Hat Rin I dropped my bags, changed my clothes and hitched a ride with a group that were going to Thong Sala to watch a Thai boxing match. I flagged down another cab from Thong Sala and I met up with the Aussies in Hat Rin Nok-Sunrise beach and we started the night off with a bucket (Sangsom-Thai Whiskey, coke and redbull). I only need one of those and it does me for the entire night. We found a sweet bar called Cactus on the beach and ended up dancing until 4am. We had such a blast together we didnt know where the time went. We met a few Thai guys that offered us a ride home, so we accepted and hit the pillow hard as soon as we all got back...I let the girls know what happened with my accomodation and they offered for me to stay at there place as long as I needed which worked out perfectly because I knew the next night at the full moon party none of us would be sleeping anyways!
I got dropped off by those two Thai guys after we dropped off the rest of the crew and I went straight for my hammock that is hung on my balcony and overlooks the ocean and beach over a cliff. I was so tired but it was so beautiful I couldn't shut my eyes. I eventually went to bed and in the morning got up bright and early and sat in the hammock again. The feeling of lying in it with the sounds of the waves crashing, the birds chirping and the ocean view over the cliff is so perfect I think I found my paradise!
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