From Chiang Mai we took a flight to BKK and another one to Phuket. Arrived in the early morning hours to be greeted by the taxi ride we had booked with our hotel in Patong Beach. Everything was fine up until the time they stopped the car in an alley off one of the main streets in Patong and told us that there was no room at the Patong Inn Hotel (where we had booked)and that we would stay here at the Apartment Sawasdee for one night. Being unsure whether we were being scammed or not, Janie, our experienced traveler, asked to speak to the manager of the Patong Inn Hotel. He did confirm that the Inn was in fact overbooked and that it was OK to stay at this other location for one night. The place wasn't that great and and I don't think we got one full hour's sleep due to the noise coming from the pipes (a bit creepy if you ask me). Next morning at 9:30 AM almost sharp, our hosts from the Patong Inn were there to take us to the hotel. Accommodation mishap aside, we were ready to experience Patong Beach, the busiest beach on Phuket Island. Patong Beach is also home to much of the "special" tourism that goes on in Thailand so you often see beautiful Thai women in the company of western gentlemen.
We enjoyed Patong Beach for three days and then decided to move to Karon Beach (10 kms south of Patong) to see something else. Karon was pretty busy so all we could find for accommodations was 3 nights at the Phulin Resort. Obviously it is more expensive than our earlier rooms but it is worth it and hey, I'm on vacation... Karon is really more up my alley. It is family oriented and much more quiet than Patong Beach. The beach is beautiful with sand that looks and feels like brown sugar mixed with powdered sugar and the water is such a clear blue color. There is also some wave activity, which is more than Patong that didn't have any wave activity at all. It is hard to imagine that they are only 10 kilometers away from each other. Janie and I are both enjoying our time in the sun where we are reading, snoozing and swimming in very beautiful surroundings.
We still have a few days here and then we will be heading north of Phuket Island to eventually go to Krabi.
Hope winter is being good to you in Ontario and Quebec.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Chilling in Chiang Mai
After the hustle and bustle of BKK, Chiang Mai (pronounced Chiang "My") provided a nice change in pace. Our journey from BKK to Chiang Mai was made by overnight train where we booked in the air conditioned sleeper car. Up until the time to go to bed everything was pretty normal but when they made up the beds and I had to get myself settled into the upper bunk, that's when the fun began. If you don't like tight spots (I'm thinking dad here...) then this is definitely not for you. Moving from the south end of the bunk to the north end of the bunk also proved to be a challenge. At one point I was having a mini meltdown but overall I thought the whole experience was pretty funny. We arrived safe and sound in Chiang Mai at 7:30 AM, thirteen and a half hours after we left BKK.
Our accommodations at the 3 Sis Vacation Lodge were several notches above our guesthouse in BKK. It was well located in a quieter section of the city right next to Wat Chedi Luang. In Chiang Mai we basically walked to most of our destinations except for specific trips outside the city limits. I really enjoyed walking around even if it was consistently 30+ Celsius and very sunny. I think I've developed a greater appreciation for the heat, that I certainly didn't have before.
My favorite activity in Chiang Mai was the full-day cooking class we took at the Baan Thai Cookery School. WE were 6 students (Aaryn - US, Giannis - Cypress, Janwillem and Danielle - Netherlands and Janie and me - Canada) with our fabulous instructor Kim. Kim's English was exceptional, by Thailand standards, and she was always smiling and cracking jokes. Kim took us to the market where she purchased the ingredients for the day and explained to us about the various fruits, g\vegetables, nuts, herbs, etc. We prepared 6 different dishes throughout the day and never stopped eating. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed each other's company.
We took a one-day tour outside of Chiang Mai to visit an orchid farm to do bamboo rafting, ride elephants and visit the Karen long-neck and big-ears and Lisu hill tribes. the tour was a bit of a fiasco because of the 8 people on the tour, no one had paid the same amount or had the same activities included, yet we were all in the same truck... As an example, Janie and I didn't have the white water rafting included in our package so when it came time for the others to do it, we were just told to sit and wait. A similar situation happened with Angelique and Michael who had to pay extra money to visit the Karen tribe because it wasn't part of their package. The parts I enjoyed the most about the tour was the bamboo rafting and the elephant riding (thanks Jackie for this Christmas gift). Elephant riding is hard work even for the passengers because you have to follow the elephant's movements and go with his flow. It can be a bit scary going down hill but I thought it was similar to a ride at Disney World. Overall I enjoyed the day spent with Victoria and Wayne (daughter/father from Australia and UK), Angelique and Michael (France) and Tenille and Richard (Australia).
While in Chiang Mai we became regulars at a small restaurant in our neighborhood where we had lunch/supper most every afternoon. One of our favorite meals is Khaow Soi, which is a typical northern Thai dish made of yellow noodles with chicken in a coconut Curry sauce, mmmm.. mmmm.. good! We also indulged in some Thai massages more specifically foot massages. I don't think I could have handled the punishment handed out in a full body massage (they are rough!). All in all Chiang Mai was a pure delight.
Our accommodations at the 3 Sis Vacation Lodge were several notches above our guesthouse in BKK. It was well located in a quieter section of the city right next to Wat Chedi Luang. In Chiang Mai we basically walked to most of our destinations except for specific trips outside the city limits. I really enjoyed walking around even if it was consistently 30+ Celsius and very sunny. I think I've developed a greater appreciation for the heat, that I certainly didn't have before.
My favorite activity in Chiang Mai was the full-day cooking class we took at the Baan Thai Cookery School. WE were 6 students (Aaryn - US, Giannis - Cypress, Janwillem and Danielle - Netherlands and Janie and me - Canada) with our fabulous instructor Kim. Kim's English was exceptional, by Thailand standards, and she was always smiling and cracking jokes. Kim took us to the market where she purchased the ingredients for the day and explained to us about the various fruits, g\vegetables, nuts, herbs, etc. We prepared 6 different dishes throughout the day and never stopped eating. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed each other's company.
We took a one-day tour outside of Chiang Mai to visit an orchid farm to do bamboo rafting, ride elephants and visit the Karen long-neck and big-ears and Lisu hill tribes. the tour was a bit of a fiasco because of the 8 people on the tour, no one had paid the same amount or had the same activities included, yet we were all in the same truck... As an example, Janie and I didn't have the white water rafting included in our package so when it came time for the others to do it, we were just told to sit and wait. A similar situation happened with Angelique and Michael who had to pay extra money to visit the Karen tribe because it wasn't part of their package. The parts I enjoyed the most about the tour was the bamboo rafting and the elephant riding (thanks Jackie for this Christmas gift). Elephant riding is hard work even for the passengers because you have to follow the elephant's movements and go with his flow. It can be a bit scary going down hill but I thought it was similar to a ride at Disney World. Overall I enjoyed the day spent with Victoria and Wayne (daughter/father from Australia and UK), Angelique and Michael (France) and Tenille and Richard (Australia).
While in Chiang Mai we became regulars at a small restaurant in our neighborhood where we had lunch/supper most every afternoon. One of our favorite meals is Khaow Soi, which is a typical northern Thai dish made of yellow noodles with chicken in a coconut Curry sauce, mmmm.. mmmm.. good! We also indulged in some Thai massages more specifically foot massages. I don't think I could have handled the punishment handed out in a full body massage (they are rough!). All in all Chiang Mai was a pure delight.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
One Night in Bangkok...
Hi there,
Well I survived my three flights and 24+ hours to get from Montreal to Bangkok last Saturday/Sunday with no side effects. Met with two young Canadians to share a taxi from the airport to Khao San Road (area where I was staying) at around 1:00 AM. Got to the Rambuttri Village Inn in good time and was rejoiced to see Janie waiting for me in the outside lobby. We caught up until 2:30 AM before getting some well deserved sleep.
My first day in Bangkok (BKK) was a bit overwhelming as you have to remember that I'm used to 5 star accommodations and all-inclusive clubs (most of the time). I could have also been a bit jet lagged and unaccustomed to the BKK heat. Visited the Grand Palace, took the riverboat, got sucked in by a tout (even though we were well prepared), saw a huge standing Buddha and took our first and last tuk-tuk in Bangkok. Went to the Siam Center (huge shopping mall) to cool off and eventually made our way back to our room. Had dinner at the Indian restaurant just outside our guesthouse with a Swiss girl that Janie has met on her previous travels. A pretty full day for the first full day in Thailand.
By the second day I was over the jet lag and was feeling much, much better. I was in full tourist mode, ready for any adventure. We stayed a total of 4 days in BKK and we saw most of the recommended sights including: Wat Pho (my favorite), the National Museum, Chinatown, the red light district of PatPong (in the very early evening), Jim Thompson's house, Vimanmek teak house, and so on and so on. We also spent one late afternoon at the movie complex at Siam Paragon where we saw the movie "Hitman". Reserved seating only in reclining seats makes movie going a unique experience in BKK. I would highly recommend it when you simply have to escape the scorching heat (and when you're in need of a grande Frappucino mocha java chip from Starbucks!).
Late yesterday we took the overnight train from BKK to Chiang Mai, which is in the North of Thailand. This was quite an experience in itself where I was on the upper bunk in the 2nd class A/C sleeper car and Janie was on the lower bunk. I think Janie took a few pictures of me settling into my upper bunk when I was having a mini-meltdown. It was so funny!
We are now booked into the 3 Sis vacation lodge for the next 5 nights. We thought it appropriate to stay at the 3 Sisters B&B since we each have 3 sisters (love you Jackie, Julie and Janie). It is much cooler here, at least in the morning, so that is a good sign. Our next adventures should take us to a Thai cooking school, visit to a hill tribe, an encounter of some sort with elephants (this one's for you Jackie) and much more.
Bye for now,
Johanne
Well I survived my three flights and 24+ hours to get from Montreal to Bangkok last Saturday/Sunday with no side effects. Met with two young Canadians to share a taxi from the airport to Khao San Road (area where I was staying) at around 1:00 AM. Got to the Rambuttri Village Inn in good time and was rejoiced to see Janie waiting for me in the outside lobby. We caught up until 2:30 AM before getting some well deserved sleep.
My first day in Bangkok (BKK) was a bit overwhelming as you have to remember that I'm used to 5 star accommodations and all-inclusive clubs (most of the time). I could have also been a bit jet lagged and unaccustomed to the BKK heat. Visited the Grand Palace, took the riverboat, got sucked in by a tout (even though we were well prepared), saw a huge standing Buddha and took our first and last tuk-tuk in Bangkok. Went to the Siam Center (huge shopping mall) to cool off and eventually made our way back to our room. Had dinner at the Indian restaurant just outside our guesthouse with a Swiss girl that Janie has met on her previous travels. A pretty full day for the first full day in Thailand.
By the second day I was over the jet lag and was feeling much, much better. I was in full tourist mode, ready for any adventure. We stayed a total of 4 days in BKK and we saw most of the recommended sights including: Wat Pho (my favorite), the National Museum, Chinatown, the red light district of PatPong (in the very early evening), Jim Thompson's house, Vimanmek teak house, and so on and so on. We also spent one late afternoon at the movie complex at Siam Paragon where we saw the movie "Hitman". Reserved seating only in reclining seats makes movie going a unique experience in BKK. I would highly recommend it when you simply have to escape the scorching heat (and when you're in need of a grande Frappucino mocha java chip from Starbucks!).
Late yesterday we took the overnight train from BKK to Chiang Mai, which is in the North of Thailand. This was quite an experience in itself where I was on the upper bunk in the 2nd class A/C sleeper car and Janie was on the lower bunk. I think Janie took a few pictures of me settling into my upper bunk when I was having a mini-meltdown. It was so funny!
We are now booked into the 3 Sis vacation lodge for the next 5 nights. We thought it appropriate to stay at the 3 Sisters B&B since we each have 3 sisters (love you Jackie, Julie and Janie). It is much cooler here, at least in the morning, so that is a good sign. Our next adventures should take us to a Thai cooking school, visit to a hill tribe, an encounter of some sort with elephants (this one's for you Jackie) and much more.
Bye for now,
Johanne
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Less than two weeks to go
I only have 7 work days left to go and one full weekend before I leave for Thailand. I am quite excited about it, which is unusual for me since I normally only get excited once my two feet have landed at my destination. Over and above the excitement of going to Asia for the first time in my life is the excitement of seeing my sister Janie after three months of her being on her one-year Round The World (RTW) adventure.
If you would like to follow Janie on her travels please visit her blog at:
http://rtwjanie.blogspot.com/
Until I post from Thailand, you can enjoy some of the pictures I took in Ireland and Northern Ireland in September 2006.
If you would like to follow Janie on her travels please visit her blog at:
http://rtwjanie.blogspot.com/
Until I post from Thailand, you can enjoy some of the pictures I took in Ireland and Northern Ireland in September 2006.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Getting ready
Getting ready for my trip to Thailand on January 12th 2008 where I will be meeting up with my sister Janie who left to travel the world on October 17th 2007. Two months left to go, but who's counting.
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