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Bustling Bangkok - the home of white knuckle taxi rides, heavenly massages, scents of spices and sewerage as well as cheap shopping. You end up buying more than you bargained for. Not because you need or want anything, but just because it's cheap.
We visited Wat Arun during the day and at night. It's a beautiful temple named after the Indian God Aruna. Busy with tourists during the day, peaceful and quiet at night. Although it's normally closed at night, it was open for prayer. We took some amazing photos while listening the chanting of prayer.
That evening we met some former work colleagues of mine, Tim and Steve, for drinks in the Sky Bar, Level 64 of the State Tower. It had the best panoramic views of Bangkok by night. They had soft lights illuminating the area, a band playing easy listening music and an array of staff standing by to assist you as needed. With million dollar views, it's no wonder the cost of drinks were 10 times the price than in a normal bar. I didn't dare look at the prices of the dinner menu. We opted for dinner in one of the open market areas.
We did a day trip to the Amphawa Floating Market, an array of colours selling fruits, spices and souvenirs. We explored the canal of this floating market and weaved our way through the many stalls. The day also incorporated a trip to a Crocodile Farm where elephants performed tricks, played games and enacted a battle. But the highlight was crocodile wrestling. Experienced (we hope) locals tempting fate by putting their arms and head into crocodiles mouths.
3 days in Bangkok felt like a week, it's easy to fall into the backpacker pace. All you need is patience and an open mind.
Kanchanaburi is best known for the Bridge over River Kwai or otherwise known as Death Railway Bridge. 100,000 men lost their lives constructing this bridge when the Japanese invaded Thailand in 1942.
Since we have been here before and seen the sites/museums, we took a day trip to the Tiger Temple. Here monks care for orphaned tigers as part of their Buddhist mission. Visitors are permitted to have their photo taken with the tigers to subsidise the cost of caring for them.
On arrival we were filled with anticipation. We weren't sure what to expect, but it wasn't this. This place looked more like derelict wasteland with 4 areas to view the tigers. The tiger canyon is where you are taken around the sleeping tigers while getting your photo taken. You are escorted hand in hand and told where to position yourself for the photos. It was very quiet and surreal, we expected the tigers to wake up any moment and take a swipe but rumour has it that the tigers are sedated.
You could also have your photo taken with tiger cubs and for an additional fee, you could jump into the water with adult tigers and play a game with them. People waved bags of food at the end of a bamboo stick hoping for the tigers to pounce. And they pounced!
The next day we caught a local bus to Erawan Falls, part of Erawan National Park. Erawan Falls has 7 tiers. The 7th tier is 2550 metres from the entrance, so most people only visit tiers 1-4. The swimming areas have Gurra Rufa fish i.e. Doctor Fish which nibble on your dead skin cells, most notable on your feet. If jumping into the cold water doesn't wake you up, these nibbling fish will certainly make you jump.
Ayutthaya was built within 3 confluent rivers which formed a natural moat around this ancient city reigning 1350-1767 until the Burmese overtook the area and looted the city. Ruins of the old city remain while the modern city was built around it.
We hired bicycles to circuit some of the temples and statues in Ayutthaya Historical Park. We visited the famous Wat Maha That which is best known for the Buddha head statue in the tree. Next stop was the 3 stupas at Wat Phra Si Samphet. On route we passed by elephants taking tourists around the park. So we followed them to Khun Phaen's Residence where all the elephants were on show for the tourists. Our last stop was Wat Lokayasutharam, home of the reclining Buddha, an impressive statue.
That afternoon, we went on a boat tour of the temples dotted along the rivers. We first visited Wat Phanan Choeng, a row of temples, one housing a large golden Buddha. We then visited Wat Phuttha Sawsn, a quiet area with 2 white temples. Our last stop was Wat Chaiwatthanaram, the largest and most impressive temple, very similar to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Sukhothai is Thailand's former capital city. The word Sukhothai means Rising Happiness and this was the first Thai kingdom in the 13th Century ruling for 150 years.
The best way to see the temples of Sukhothai is by bicycle. We took a local bus to Memorial Park and hired a bike. The temples and statues here are well-preserved with many towers leaning against gravity.
Further afield from the park there are numerous temples that are situated outside of the old city walls. We rode on to discover more, these ruins were half crumbled but the surrounding trees and creeks made it a nice escape from the busy park.
Chiang Mai is a city divided by a moat with a crumbling city wall built 700 years ago. Inside is where the tourists reside; outside is where the action is.
We visited a couple of temples, first being Wat Suan Dok, a golden stupa surrounded by pure white washed chedi's. We then took a taxi to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which is a temple on the peak of a hill. It is one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples. Here stood a golden stupa amidst several temples and statues with monks and locals in prayer.
Feeling the need to go further north, we booked a 13 hour day trip. It took us to Chiang Rai where you could visit the Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. The eccentric artist designed this unconventional Buddhist Temple depicting statues and images of heaven and hell.
Moving on we reached the Golden Triangle where Thailand meets Laos and Myanmar making this a unique tourist attraction. Further on we reached Mae Sai - Thailand's northern most point. It was a bustling border town selling every local food and souvenir imaginable.
Our last stop was to visit the Karen Long Neck Tribe. This tribe were brought in from Myanmar and here they make souvenirs for tourists, which helps their community. Not all the women wear the neck bands anymore. They are extremely heavy, weighing up to 4kgs and rather than expand their neck, it weighs down upon their shoulders. They now realise that this is not good for their anatomy.
After a 9 hour overnight journey on the bouncy back seat of a double decker bus, we returned to Bangkok. Needless to say we didn't get any sleep. It didn't help that we were stopped by police around midnight for an inspection. One poor local guy was pulled off. Not sure why but it may have been his lime green ladies handbag. The bus left without him.
Our time here is to prepare for the next leg of our trip, Myanmar, stocking up on equipment, clothing and money. Myanmar only accept crisp clean US Dollars. We wondered around the markets of Pra Athit and Khaosan Road. Khaosan Road was packed to the brim with hawkers pushing tacky souvenirs and scorpions in your face. We also visited the massive MBK Centre in Siam Square.
We caught up with Tim and Steve again and went to a German Brewhouse called Tawandang. Here they brew their own German style beer and they come out in these beer tubes and refill your glass as soon as you reach half way. This place was absolutely packed with locals and very few westerners. It's a popular place to go but not for the food and drink but for the shows. From singers to dancers to comedians to acrobatics. If only we could understand the jokes. Towards the end locals were getting up and dancing at their tables and giving money to the entertainers. Some generous people taped up 20 and 100 baht notes in a chain to give out as tips, no holding back here.
But our time in Thailand has come to an end. Next stop, Myanmar…
- comments
Melissa Hunt Hi Janet & Shiraz, you guys sound like you are having a great time & seeing heaps. Great blog & love your photos. Take care, Melissa xxx