Big Budda Big Budda Big Budda, OH BIG BUDDA

Where do we start, so much has happened after our last blog post! We stay a few more days in Chiang Mai. Then left via BUS, trying to mix it up a bit. The bus ride was much better than the train despite some smokiness and seat mate squabbles. We knew we were back in Bangkok when at 6am you are already being harrassed into taxi and tuk-tuks. We then went to drop off our bags at the hostel and start our adventure to the vietnam embassy for the second time. The first taxi driver had no clue where we were going, after asking for directions he pulled over to use the bathroom and then kicked us out and we walked 3km to the embassy. the visa application went smoothly and we jumped back into a cab with a sweet old lady that was driving her sons cab? She tried to charge us 200B for a 90B ride. This wasn't our first time in bangkok, we had our wits about us. She also pulled over to us the bathroom, what is with taxi's weak bladders today??? Then asked for a tip, Ry said he was too cheap and took his 10B. We relaxed and met up with Meg and Aron the next day!

When the Price is too good it probably is too good. We got on a bus at 8 in the morning after booking a bus ticket to Koh Tao. We asked the lady this goes to Koh Tao, no it goes to Koh Chang then you take a boat to Koh Tao. Well that doesn't make much sense so maybe they make a stop at chumpion before Koh Chang. Well we got on the bus, had our first stop, Ry felt like we were going the wrong way, well we were stuck in the middle of no where at a sketchy gas station so the only thing to do is ride the bus till it stops. Well we ended up in the BIG Koh Chang, not the little Koh Chang. We were across the gulf of thailand. We couldn't get a cab to take us into town so we hailed a truck/taxi at the remote port to take us to the airport. Before handing over our ferry tickets in true canadian style to another canadian who was without a ferry ticket.
We arrived at the airport, which was most possibly the nicest airport in the world, hoping to sort out an inexpensive/quick way to get our trip back on track. We ended up getting a flight to Bangkok then on to Koh Samui which is the largest island in the chain of islands that Koh Tao is in. Hooray! We fixed the problem and had two amazing flights in the process. For future reference, Bangkok Airways is the best airline ever. They gave us a full dinner meal on a one hour flight. Do you hear that Air Canada?

We arrived at the Koh Samui airport and took and SUV taxi to the "only open hotel", which was beautiful and totally worth the 1600B. It was seaside and had a pool that was very enjoyable after our long trip. The next day we had amazing Pad Thai for breakfast sea side and went in the ocean before checking out and heading to the ferry for Koh Tao. But as we were checking out Ry noticed across the street a little pub that was playing the Canucks game. Yes!!! So before we got on the boat we enjoyed some french fries and gravy and a little hockey.

The boat ride to Koh Tao was very pleasant, except for the girls being called Amercians by some trashy Limeys. We arrived in Koh Tao and immediately headed to the Big Blue resort. When we got there the girls found out that their Open Water Diver course started pretty much right away. I had time to check out the "town" and do some shopping.

Doi Suthep and the King's Winter Palace (I got one of those)

On the 27th we went up a nearby mountain to Doi Suthep, a very high and very famous Thai Wat. The road up was very twisty and that coupled with the exhaust from the truck we rode up in we were feeling a little ill by the time we got to the top. We arrived at the base of the temple and had to climb a long stair case to reach the Wat.

Once we climbed the steps we were greeted with a seething throng of people foreign and local. Some have come to worship,all have come to take pictures. It is a very visually stunning place, with the intricate mosaics and all the Buddha statues. There is also a really nice view of Chiang Mai and the surrounding country side.

After the Wat we went farther uphill to the Kings Winter Palace. A very modest and humble dwelling, not! It sat on the highest point of the hill, higher than Wat and consisted of many large and medium sized buildings and a very large and fancy garden that was tended by an army or military gardeners. No joke! They were all wearing army fatigues and carrying watering jugs. The place was guarded better than Fort Knox. Here are a couple of pics.

 After all the touristy stuff, we headed back down the mountain. Laura almost blew chunks on the ride down but she courageously held it down. Good job!

Chiang Mai

We arrived in Chiang Mai just in time for the last night of Chinese New Years, Ryland got in the spirit of things and received noise makers which he used to their full potential to say the least. We watched the crowning of Miss Chiang Mai. The celebration wasn't as crazy as in Bangkok; three people died after fire works fell over and shot a near by buildings causing a large firer. We were exhausted from our 12 hour train ride and didn't last long!

 

we spent the next day at the zoo, which we could actually get close to the animals!! We went to the Aquarium as well. The zoo was located throughout the hills and it was a nice climb to and from various animal's cages. Our favourite animal was the sun bear. Ry yelled hello and it came right over and climbed over a wall to talk with us....

The next day we signed up for the Thai Farm Cooking School  which was on an organic farm. Our guide/teacher Saawat was very well versed in the principles of organic farming practices which was very nice to hear. We started out at a market where they showed us what to buy and the differences between rice and curries. Then we went out to the farm and got a tour of the different plants and vegetables that they grow. Very interesting. Lemon grass, kaffir lime, thai egg plant, tumeric, several kinds of basil, long beans (pretty much a green bean just really long, like 2 feet), coriander and thai parsley that was prickly, ouch! Then we got to cooking. First we made curry paste in a mortar. It was so easy, I never knew. Then we made Tom Yum soup with shrimp, which was also ridiculously easy. The secret is the tamarind paste. The was both our favourite. Then we made chicken curry with our curry paste followed by sweet and sour chicken stir fry and finished up with mango with cocounut milk and sticky rice and spring rolls. The spring rolls were also easy to make except you need to remember to roll them super tight or they turn into an oil sponge. We finished the day stuffed from all the delicious food and returned to Chiang Mai without a thought about eating again. All this cost only 1000b which is roughly $32. Amazing!

Celine Dion! Numba 1!

So, yesterday Laura and I decided to go for a nice leisurely walk around the immediate area of our hotel. We walked down Rambuttri road past all the annoying tuk-tuk drivers, past the delicious food carts, and down to the river. I'm not sure the exact name of the river but its the big one that runs through Bangkok and out into the Gulf of Thailand. The river doesn't contain the prettiest water but its not like we were swimming in it! It was very nice down there though and there were lots of long tail boats going up and down and we were almost able to forget that we were in a city of about 10 million. We walked up and down, stopping at a nice park and an old fort that was build in the years of King Rama 1. While checking out the fort we saw a commercial being shot for an upcoming marathon in bangkok. It held up traffic pretty bad and the motorists were going bananas. We walked back to Rambuttri and had a delicious lunch down the road from our hotel. Laura had soup this time and I was really jealous. We strolled around after lunch and made our way to Khoa San road. Big mistake. Its like Times Square meets a dumpster. Barf. So many people saying Tuk-Tuk and you buy suit, very sharp. No I don't want a ride to who knows where, and no I don't need a damn suit. Last time we go to Khoa San, that's for sure. At night we met up with the group from Dublin and talked about heading up to Chiang Mai. We bought our tickets today for the train to go up there and leave tomorrow. Now we must go because the pool is calling. Cheers!
Ry

Missioning

So we our now on our second day in Bangkok. The city is very confusing as we try to gather our bearings. It is infused with traits that remind me of Havana. We wandered around in the morning looking for the Vietnam Embassy because our map told us it was 15 minutes away. However, after an hour of wandering and almost constant harassment from tuk-tuk drivers which we expected we got in a taxi and traveled 40 min due to heavy traffic to arrive a minute after the Embassy closed until the 31st. Bummer! So we needed some food asap! we went down the road for some Soup (for Ryland, who is on a Soup Diet) and Pad Thai and some amazing spring rolls and sipped a large Chang beer. We decided to relax for the rest of the day, pool side via roof top and read. Then since Ryland needed some sleep, we went for nap, which ended up being 5 hours long. 10pm wake up, for dinner time. We went to place down the road from the hotel that was awesome. Our server was really nice and thought that it was funny that Ry knew the thai word for chicken- gai! Then we went 1 stop over for another beer and some amazing blues music; where we met a group from Dublin who we are meeting tonight to chat about traveling to Chiang Mai. No photos yet, soon to come. Just off for some breakfast.

BangKOK

SO we arrived safely. We had a lovely 13 hour flight from toronto to tokyo where me and ryland lucked out and had 3 seats to the two of us. we were able to stretch out, or I was at least. We had a ton of food on the plane, which felt a bit gross after doing nothing but sitting around. Then we arrived in Tokyo in an airport that looked like it came out of an old james bond movie, as we walked down some tunnel I felt like we were about to stumble upon some awesome weapons to get to our gate. The airport sadly did not have SUSHI, anywhere. Thats okay cause we settled for rice crackers soaked in spicy soy sauce. Then our flight from Tokyo was 7 hours to Bangkok. It was not as fun as the first flight, though we did have extra leg room- yay for ryland! Our dinner was an array of various things, half of which we didn't recognize. Then we got through customs, and shared a cab with a couple from Venice to Khoa san Road. Wandered around until we found our hotel and crashed, well I crashed hard. While Ryland was up listening to the "goings-on" down the hall. Now we are off to explore Bangkok and hopefully apply for our Vietnam Visa's.

The night before

Twas' the night before Bangkok and all through the house, the luggage was spilling all over the couch. T- minus 14 hours until we take off from Toronto. Its a little chilly and a little snowy here in Barrie and I'm thinking about the warmth awaiting me in Thailand. Although, the weather network said it is supposed to feel like 40 degrees in Bangkok with a humidex through the roof and thunder storms to boot. Oh well, its not minus 20. Regardless, excitement abounds and we are ready as we will ever be for an Asian adventure. Booya!

LC and RJB