The Great Chicken Soup of the World

Our time in Thailand is almost coming to an end .

On Sunday it is back to Bangkok and then on to Brisbane. I do hope that the weather will be better there as it has all most been raining everyday here for the last week and a half. When it has not raining, it has been cloudy and grey and then it is off to do some sightseeing.

Last Sunday we went to a temple not far from Krabi, called Tiger Cave Temple (not sure where the name came from as there are no tigers, just plenty for monkeys). The temple is on top of a mountain and you need to walk up 1272 steps to get there. When I say steps, it is not the kind of steps that we know of. Imagine small steps with not much space between and when you stand at the buttom of the stairs and looking up, you will be looking straight up. That's how they are. SCARY... I managed to walk up to step number 415 and then I had enough.
(Info link: http://www.krabi-tourism.com/krabi/watthumsua.htm )

Tuesday we went to a national park not far from Krabi. Inside this park there is a beautiful waterfall and we spend the time there swimming and walking around in the forrest. It was a nice change from the buzzing of the city.

Thursday we spend at the Shell Fossil Cemetary between Krabi and Ao Nang. (Pictures/info: http://www.krabi-tourism.com/krabi/susanhoi.htm ). It was very interesting to see so many shells fossils together. This is something that you can not inmagine before you see it as it is very uniq.

That's all for this time.

To anyone out there that has not yet been to Krabi, this must be the number one relaxing place.

We have now been here for 6 days and we have not really been doing anything. We did manage to go the Railay Beach (about 30 mins. from Krabi in a longtail boat)for a day. Lovely beach and the sea is so beautiful. It is like......huuum, how can I describe it? Not possible. If you want to see it, you have to come to Railay Beach.

We also spend a day in Ao Nang town. We heard that the beach there is good, but got a bit disappointed. There was nothing but hard sand with crunched shells. Most of the beach is being used by the longtail boats which = not much space for swimming . Ao Nang is good for shopping though with shops after shops as long as your eyes can see.

Otherwise we have just be sleeping in, eating good food, done some walking around the city and meeting up with some of the locals that we have had the pleasure of meeting so far.

On the 16th November everyone in Thailand will be celebrating the end of the rainy season with a festival (called Loy Kratong) and as anyone else they like to start a little bit early. Everywhere you go there is something new going on. Opporsite our guesthouse there has been a big market now for 4 days with loud music every evening and today is the last evening of another market (seafood market) down by the river. Well there is still a couple more days/evenings to the big festival, so what will be the next thing they will be doing??? I'll let you know later.

Sorry that's it for today, going to a party now.

Let me start from where I left you last time.....

The following day we decided to have a relaxing day, so after a lie-in, we went to the MBK Center near the National Stadium (very big, 7 floors full of cloths, shoes, etc.). Afterwards we headed for the EGV Cinema (close by) to see a movie the deluxe way (with table service), but as the movie started late, we choose the "normal" way instead (the way we know it). The rest of the evening went with packing for our next stop, Krabi.

The departure, the flight & the transport to Krabi Town from the Airport went smoothly. The flight itself took 1h 20min, which is not bad compared to approx. 12 hours on a bus. The remaining of the day we spend eating followed by a few drinks in a bar (have to have a little bit of fun sometimes!!!!). Bars are good places to meet fellow travellers and we did. 2 Australians from Perth, who are travelling around Thailand for 2 months. It was funny to hear about their experiences and stories.

Today we just walked around Krabi Town. Of course it ended with shopping, there is no way you can't buy anything when is so cheap....that would not be fair, would it???

Krabi is a small, quiet town on the west coast of Thailand. They were not badly hit by the tsunami last December, but even though, they are also suffering from the lack of tourism afterwards. As my sister was here 4 years ago, she tells me that there used to be so many shops, bars, restaurants and, the most important part, backpackers/turists. Now it is very quiet, even though it is high season. For someone who have not been here before, it is difficult to imagine and it is also very sad as the people here are so nice & helpful. Well, I am definately going to help them by spending a lot of money here..... and if anyone are thinking of travelling to Thailand, Krabi is a place to visit.

Tommorrow we are planing of going to Railay Beach, where it is possible to do some climbing. Well, we'll see how that goes.......

I can't believe that it is already Saturday and that I have already been in Bangkok for 4 days now!!!! Could easily use more time here, but there is also Krabi & area to be explored.

Today we went to the Weekend Market. As the name says, it is only held at weekends (Saturdays & Sundays). There is about 9000 small stands in an area approximately 6 times the size of Camden Market in London (just so you have an idea). We were there for about 3 hours and did not manage to explore it all. However, shopping I did do (few small items mainly, have to remember how much space I have in my rucksack).

When we can back to our guesthouse, it started to rain. As it is the rainy season, we were prepared for it to happen, however when it rains, it rains for hours. Which gives me a reason to write in my blog, as there is nothing else to do.

Sorry guys, it is time to go to bed as I am completely knackered. Night, night.

Now I have successfully completed 2 days in Bangkok as a turist and I must say that it is definately not what I expected it to be. It's much better.

I really didn't have any expectations beforehand, except what I have seen on TV. The Thais are so friendly and helpful, but still you have to be careful especially when you are buy things. You have to remember to negotionate about the price, which can be very funny when you get used to it.

Yesterday we went to Chinatown market. The area is not large, but if you are not careful you can easily get lost, as it is mainly in an area made up of small allees . A good tip - always know where the river is, as it came help you navigate through the market and a riverboat is also the best way to get home again.

Today we managed to visit 3 wats (temples) and have a bit to eat in a 7 hour timeframe. So it is understandable that my feet were hurting afterwards.

The first wat we went to was Wat Phra Kaew, where the Emerald Buddha is situated (it is not made of emerald as many thinks, but of jasper quartz or nephrite jade). The buddha was smaller than I thought it would be, but the shrine underneath made up for it. It is so big and wonderful that it will take you a few minutes before you notice the buddha. What is more impressive is the rest of the compound (which is incrediable grand) and the Grand Palace. Remember your sunglasses as everything is made of gold and coloured glass mosaic.

The next temple we went to was Wat Pho, which is Bangkok's oldest wat. Inside you will find Thailand's largest buddha, the Reclining Buddha, which is 46m long and its feet have fantastic mother-of-pearls inlays. The surrounding compound is beautiful with almost everything made of colourful mosaic.

The third and final temple we visit was Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) which consists of 5 towers (4 small & 1 big) and all of them are covert with mosaic of brokem pottery and seashells.

If you would like to know more about the Wats and see pictures, you can use the link below and select number 1, 2, 3 & 6. http://www.bangkok.thailandtoday.com/sightseeing/index.html

Well, it has been a very impressive few days and my head is now completely num, but it was worth it. Everything I have seen and experienced so far has been amasing:
- The tuktuk drivers trying to barging with you to take you to places you don't want to go to and the whole tuktuk-ride experience itself, when you finally manage to find one that will do what you wants to do. But hey, let them just try
- The small stands/shops everywhere, selling food, cloths, shoes or anything else that has some kind of value (it might not be of any value to you though ).
- Trying to cross the streets in rush hour!!!! (apperently it is always rush hour in Bangkok ).

That's all, folks (for now). More to come, so stay tuned!!!!!!!!!

We finally made it to Thailand, but only just.

We decided to take a cab to the airport, which would have be fine if it was not for the London traffic. Except this was at 7pm at London Bridge going towards central. It's at that time that everyone is surpose to go out of London on their way home?????

After being stuck in jam for 1 hour, with only 30 minutes left to check-in is starting, we decided to call Qantas Airlines. As we are on a budget ticket, we had to be there 2 hours prior to departure and still being stuck at London Bridge we decided to advise them that we will be late amd hoped that there was a way out. A very helpful lady in Australia help us as much as she could. Thank god for friendly staff!!!!!!!!!!

When we finally got out of the traffic jam, we went to Paddington Station instead to take the Heathrow Express. It takes 15 minutes and goes every 15 minutes as well (GOOD). With that time we would make it before check-in is closing. Except.......we were going to Terminal 4, which takes 25 minutes from Paddington. Even though our nerves would not have been able take any more, we only just made it on to the plane.

SOOOOO, now we are in Bangkok. We managed to get a shower, something to eat and had a look around in the area we are staying in. That is all we have done so far as it is now 10pm here. But that is OK as we are knackered.