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Emma's Travels
Well I made it ok from Bangkok Airport to the Asia Hotel, I felt quite important actually, as there was a nice lady waiting for me in the Arrivals Hall with my name on a card. Met a couple from Canada and a lady from South Africa in the minibus, the couple and I were dropped off at the Asia Hotel. Very nice hotel, I'm glad I'm going back after the tour, as I can then use more of the facilities, they have 2 swimming pools and massage/sauna facilities. I will definitely need that when I get back from 29 days of touring in the sticky heat!
I had a welcome punch drink in the bar/lounge before heading straight to bed.
Left the hotel at 12pm the following morning to go to the Grande Ville Hotel to meet the group tour. Before I left I had a lovely buffet breakfast. Got a taxi from the hotel and was charged 400 baht (around 6 quid) which I thought was reasonable comparing it to back home, then when I was talking to some guys over dinner it came to light that I had been ripped off, as it should have been only around 60 baht!!!! Apparently everyone experiences this, but you soon learn! Subsequently, when I got a tuk tuk the following day I made sure it was only 60 baht!!!!!
After checking in I rested in the room for the remainder of the day, watching BBC World News, so much hype about Wayne Rooney's foot!!!
Met up with the group at 6pm in the Sky Lounge (roof top bar terrace). Everyone is great, we all gelled really quickly, must be something to do with the fact we are all here for pretty much the same reason, some even in the same position as me, having given up good jobs, etc. !!
Had dinner together at the hotel, I had Pad Tai, a lovely noodle dish and I tried Singha beer, as they don't seem to have wine around in Thailand at all, it was very nice, which I was very surprised about, considering I don't touch the stuff back at home, but a good job if I'm going get t drink any alcohol on this leg of the trip, leave the wine tasting until I get to Aussie and NZ!
We all had a go on the karaoke together singing 'Eye of the Tiger', it was a great bonding session.
We all went back to Zoe and Katherine's room afterwards, we got more beer from the 7Eleven round the corner (7Eleven's are everywhere!). I ended up being the last to leave their room at 2.30am! Great night, I feel very happy to be in everyone's company.
8/6/06 - Got up at 7.45am, feeling a bit hung over, had a shower (sharing room with Caitlin from Canberra, Australia, very nice girl) we went for breakfast then all headed for the river.
Had a great boat trip, water very dirty and brown, lots of rubbish, which is a real shame. We went through alot of residential areas, with their back yards backing out onto the water.
Lots of activity in town, as it's the 60th Anniversary of the King's accession to the throne, the main celebrations being Friday 9th June. 9 is apparently a very lucky number in Thailand and the King was 19 when he became King on the 9th June, he is now 79. Prince Andrew here today for celebratory dinner, representing he UK and the Queen.
We moored and then went and walked round the Royal Palace grounds (couldn't go inside because of preparations), lots of temples inside the grounds, very interesting and inside the grounds is a school for Thai massage.
We also went to see the Emerald Buddha, I got lots of good photos and we got in free to this section because of the celebrations.
Had lunch with Ben and Meghan, Ben worried as his cards are not working at any machines, I hope he gets it sorted, bless him the look on his face said it all.
Took Tuk Tuk back to hotel (60 B!!) and Duncan, Almira and I slept all afternoon in the day room, great way to get to know people!
Went to 7Eleven around 5pm, got some snacks ready for the 12 hour overnite bus to Chiang Mai. We had dinner before we left in the hotel.
9/6/06 - Got to Chiang Mai at 8.45am, a little later than expected, the journey wasn't as bad as it could have been, I dozed rather than slept and listened to my IPod for most of the way. Caitlin and I shared a room again, but it was on the 4th floor with no lifts, carrying our bags up was a struggle especially in the heat.
Slighter cooler in Chiang Mai than Bangkok. I have a red forehead after yesterday's tour around the palace grounds, I should know better!!!!! Relaxed after breakfast, had a shower and then went for a traditional Thai massage given to us by women prisoners. It is a programme the prisons run to teach them something worthwhile and traditional and will give them work once they are released! I had a great time, apart from it being sore on the bottom part of my legs (Julie, you will know why!), but I persevered and had a laugh with the women, as the language barrier was funny, but they were fascinated with my feet and said how beautiful they were!
I am feeling so pleased to be in good company, it has made me realise how lonely I actually was in Hong Kong, even though I still enjoyed it, as I like my own company too, it just feels nicer to be sharing experiences with others.
Then went to Doi Suthep temple up in the mountains, it was a climb of 306 steps up to the actual temple once we got there, at least it was cooler up there!! Watched monks at prayer, I really enjoyed it, I was very drawn to them and could have stayed for hours. Had a blessing from one monk, where they tie a piece of white string around your left wrist, I will try and keep it on for as long as possible. Apparently a widower will make a good lover for me!! So watch this space!
We dropped one of the monks off in town when we got back, it felt very privileged to have him journey down with us.
Had dinner in an open air market restaurant, next to the night market, I had chicken and cashew nuts with steamed noodles, yum, yum!
Wandered thru' market and bought 2 pairs of fisherman pants.
10/6/06 - Went and found some fruit for breakfast in the market, some lovely succulent pineapple, then we left at 9am to bus it to Chiang Khong (around 6 hours altogether), we stopped off for toilet breaks and had lunch opposite a beautiful white and glass temple, I have taken piccies just trying to sort out how to upload them to this site. I haven't bought my connectors with me, thought it would be easier to get piccies burnt to disc and do it that way, but turns out probably would have been better the other way, doh! I will try and get them uploaded asap, promise!
Now in Chiang Khong, I love it here, it is a small village and the guesthouse we are staying at is soooo lovely, it's like a giant treehouse next to the river. They have 2 little monkeys too, so I have been using my communication skills learnt in South Africa! It's a shame we aren't staying here a bit longer, but we are crossing the border early tomorrow morning into Laos. That's it for now, see you later!!!!!!
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