Very short post, exhausted after lots of fantastic diving around Similan islands!!!!
I'll try to write a longer report tomorrow after I tried to sort out a bus ticket from Khao Lak to Huay Yang on the east coast of Thailand. Because of the occupied airports in Bangkok, it might be problematic to find a bus going north that's not already fully booked, as everyone who can't get on a domestic flight have to take the bus instead.
Quite looking forward to a bed that's (hopefully) not moving tonight..., last night the sea was a bit rough, felt like trying to sleep on a rollercoster...
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Monday, 24 November 2008
Am I a rain goddess?
Since my last entry I've been at Ko Lanta, an island close to Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman (west) coast of Thailand. I had visualized how I would relax on a golden beach, now and again going for a dip into a turquoise ocean. Preferably with a nice drink close to hand. And if I got bored I might go for a day of snorkeling at any of the nearby islands (Phi Phi for example). Well...., that didn't really happen, because it rained most of the time I was at Ko Lanta.... Maybe not all day, but at times very heavy showers. I got completely soaked the first afternoon when I went for a stroll along the very aptly named Long beach. Unfortunately my dark blue bag turned out to not be colour stable, and for a few days my hands had a weird bluish colour... In a strange way it really felt like November, grey and rainy albeit 30C instead of 10C as in London.
I spent my days going for walks along the beaches in between showers and playing card games with the other guests at the resort (I had a very nice and cheap bungalow with a hammock on a small veranda, hammocks is DA shit). Not unlike many summer holidays in Sweden really :) My low point during my stay at Ko Lanta was probably being shat on by a bird when taking cover from the rain... Despite that I had a very nice and relaxing time, but I was little bit bored by the time I left yesterday. Ko Lanta has great beaches, but not so much else to keep you occupied. There are quite a lot of tourists there, mainly Scandinavians. Apparently there is actually two (!) Swedish schools there. I love my fellow Swedes, but it feel slightly surreal to hear Swedish everywhere and with bars named after Swedish football teams (Hammarby).
Anyhow, I left Ko Lanta to go to Khao Lak yesterday. I took the bus from Phuket, and this time I managed to get off at the right bus stop! When I first came here it was some sunshine, lovely! But today it rains so I'm starting to think that it's my fault, everywhere I go it rains (not completely true, it was sunny in Chiang Mai).... I'm staying in small bungalow again, with nice soft pillows this time, which is a real treat compared to the usual pillows here that feels like a bag of concrete.
Khao Lak has also lovely beaches, and I hope the weather will get better so I can actually relax in the sand. Where I am it's difficult to see any signs of the tsunami a few years ago. There is quite a lot of hotels, restaurants and shops here, and still more are being built. In a way it feels a little bit strange to sunbath where so many died. But I guess life must move on everywhere.
Today I started my PADI open water diving certificate course. Today was only theory, tomorrow is pool exercises, and later that night we leave on a boat to cruise around the Similian islands for 4 days. Lots of diving!!! I am SO excited about learning how to scuba dive!!! And a little bit nervous of the chance to see sharks...
It's soon time for me to go get some dinner. Yesterday I "cheated" and had a pizza, first meal that wasn't Thai food since I got here. And it was a lovely pizza, like the ones you get in Sweden (I think only other Swedish ex-pats will understand the greatness of the Swedish pizza...), so there are some advantages to be where there are lots of other Scandinavians :)
I will write again when I'm back from the Similans (if not eaten by shark...)
I spent my days going for walks along the beaches in between showers and playing card games with the other guests at the resort (I had a very nice and cheap bungalow with a hammock on a small veranda, hammocks is DA shit). Not unlike many summer holidays in Sweden really :) My low point during my stay at Ko Lanta was probably being shat on by a bird when taking cover from the rain... Despite that I had a very nice and relaxing time, but I was little bit bored by the time I left yesterday. Ko Lanta has great beaches, but not so much else to keep you occupied. There are quite a lot of tourists there, mainly Scandinavians. Apparently there is actually two (!) Swedish schools there. I love my fellow Swedes, but it feel slightly surreal to hear Swedish everywhere and with bars named after Swedish football teams (Hammarby).
Anyhow, I left Ko Lanta to go to Khao Lak yesterday. I took the bus from Phuket, and this time I managed to get off at the right bus stop! When I first came here it was some sunshine, lovely! But today it rains so I'm starting to think that it's my fault, everywhere I go it rains (not completely true, it was sunny in Chiang Mai).... I'm staying in small bungalow again, with nice soft pillows this time, which is a real treat compared to the usual pillows here that feels like a bag of concrete.
Khao Lak has also lovely beaches, and I hope the weather will get better so I can actually relax in the sand. Where I am it's difficult to see any signs of the tsunami a few years ago. There is quite a lot of hotels, restaurants and shops here, and still more are being built. In a way it feels a little bit strange to sunbath where so many died. But I guess life must move on everywhere.
Today I started my PADI open water diving certificate course. Today was only theory, tomorrow is pool exercises, and later that night we leave on a boat to cruise around the Similian islands for 4 days. Lots of diving!!! I am SO excited about learning how to scuba dive!!! And a little bit nervous of the chance to see sharks...
It's soon time for me to go get some dinner. Yesterday I "cheated" and had a pizza, first meal that wasn't Thai food since I got here. And it was a lovely pizza, like the ones you get in Sweden (I think only other Swedish ex-pats will understand the greatness of the Swedish pizza...), so there are some advantages to be where there are lots of other Scandinavians :)
I will write again when I'm back from the Similans (if not eaten by shark...)
Sunday, 16 November 2008
All roads lead to Lampang
So I was going to take the bus to Lampang to see the elephants, a 2 h bus journey from Chiang Mai. I settled into my bus seat, plugged in my iPod and drifted away. Past Lampang.... When I realized that I missed my stop, I had to jump off at the next stop in a small village between Lampang and Sukothai. The ticket collector, and soon everyone at the bus stop, got engaged in trying to organize my journey back. Well 45 min later, after a nice bbq satay, some complimentary bananas, and to laughter and applauds, I was on my way to Lampang, again.
I'm happy to say that I in the end managed to get to to elephant camp, and it was really worth the extra time getting there. Elephants are such fantastic animals! It was heart wrenching visiting the elephant hospital where they take care of sick and mistreated elephants, for example there was one elephant that with was injured by a land mine close to the Myanmar border. Stupidly enough I left my camera in my room, so don't have any pictures.
Finally it was time to head back to Chiang Mai, this time I managed to get off at the right stop...
Next stop Phuket!
I'm happy to say that I in the end managed to get to to elephant camp, and it was really worth the extra time getting there. Elephants are such fantastic animals! It was heart wrenching visiting the elephant hospital where they take care of sick and mistreated elephants, for example there was one elephant that with was injured by a land mine close to the Myanmar border. Stupidly enough I left my camera in my room, so don't have any pictures.
Finally it was time to head back to Chiang Mai, this time I managed to get off at the right stop...
Next stop Phuket!
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Chiang Mai report
I arrived in Chiang Mai a few days ago, but feels like I've been here longer. I've already lost all sense of time, but I'm pretty sure it's Saturday today :)
Chiang Mai is a smaller city, beautifully surrounded by mountains. There's a quite relaxed vibe, very nice after hectic Bangkok. The climate is perfect too, sunny but not to hot and a little colder at night.
The first night here I went down to the river to see the Loy Krathong celebrations here, and it was amazing! Masses of people, big floats decorated with everything from elephants to palaces, lanterns everywhere, and small hot-air balloons with candles being sent up into the sky. Very hard to describe, and unfortunately I don't have the same talent with words as darling Sigrid (hope you have a great time in Tucson with Maja and Benny!) do... Anyhow, it was spectacular, and I will try to post some of my (not very good) pictures later.
Yesterday I first went up see a temple up at the Doi Sethup mountain, it was very pretty and the view was amazing. It's quite interesting to see how religion is so mixed with everyday life here, and how people that come to pray mingle with tourists and vendors. Inside the temple they even had a coffee bar. Imagine Starbuck's opening a stall inside St. Pauls Cathedral eller Domkyrkan... The rest of the day I spent mostly just relaxing, reading, and researching cheap accommodation on Ko Lanta and Phi Phi. Not that easy to find. The big drawback to traveling alone is really not being able to share the price for rooms. Socially I'm amazed how easy it is to meet people, you don't have to spend a minute alone if you don't want to.
Today I've been to a cooking course and made loads of great food. I really need to start to cook more food when I get back to London. And since we live 15 min walk from a Thai supermarket, I can't really say that I can't get hold of the ingredients... Later tonight I'm meeting up with another Swede to go to the night market, but first I need to have nap and coffee. It's hard work to be on holiday ;)
Tomorrow, on my last day here, I plan to take the bus to Lampang to visit the Thai elephant conservation camp, where they take care of sick elephants among other things. The following day I have an early flight (again...) down to Phuket, and from there I'll take the ferry out to Ko Lanta. Looks like I finally found a place to stay :) I guess I could wait and try to find something when I get there, but I kind of like to know where I'm staying beforehand. I'm still a novice traveler... Anyhow, very much looking forward to a week on the beach :)
Take care till my next report,
xoxo Holiday girl
Chiang Mai is a smaller city, beautifully surrounded by mountains. There's a quite relaxed vibe, very nice after hectic Bangkok. The climate is perfect too, sunny but not to hot and a little colder at night.
The first night here I went down to the river to see the Loy Krathong celebrations here, and it was amazing! Masses of people, big floats decorated with everything from elephants to palaces, lanterns everywhere, and small hot-air balloons with candles being sent up into the sky. Very hard to describe, and unfortunately I don't have the same talent with words as darling Sigrid (hope you have a great time in Tucson with Maja and Benny!) do... Anyhow, it was spectacular, and I will try to post some of my (not very good) pictures later.
Yesterday I first went up see a temple up at the Doi Sethup mountain, it was very pretty and the view was amazing. It's quite interesting to see how religion is so mixed with everyday life here, and how people that come to pray mingle with tourists and vendors. Inside the temple they even had a coffee bar. Imagine Starbuck's opening a stall inside St. Pauls Cathedral eller Domkyrkan... The rest of the day I spent mostly just relaxing, reading, and researching cheap accommodation on Ko Lanta and Phi Phi. Not that easy to find. The big drawback to traveling alone is really not being able to share the price for rooms. Socially I'm amazed how easy it is to meet people, you don't have to spend a minute alone if you don't want to.
Today I've been to a cooking course and made loads of great food. I really need to start to cook more food when I get back to London. And since we live 15 min walk from a Thai supermarket, I can't really say that I can't get hold of the ingredients... Later tonight I'm meeting up with another Swede to go to the night market, but first I need to have nap and coffee. It's hard work to be on holiday ;)
Tomorrow, on my last day here, I plan to take the bus to Lampang to visit the Thai elephant conservation camp, where they take care of sick elephants among other things. The following day I have an early flight (again...) down to Phuket, and from there I'll take the ferry out to Ko Lanta. Looks like I finally found a place to stay :) I guess I could wait and try to find something when I get there, but I kind of like to know where I'm staying beforehand. I'm still a novice traveler... Anyhow, very much looking forward to a week on the beach :)
Take care till my next report,
xoxo Holiday girl
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Lost in Bangkok
I safely arrived in Bangkok on Monday afternoon after 12 h wedged between a tattooed macho man with a weak bladder (honestly, why is it always the ones that need the toilet every hour that get the window seat?) and a twitchy armrest stealing insomniac that watched films during the entire flight. Long-haul flights, you gotta love them :S
Anyhow, yesterday was shopping day so I headed towards MBK, one of Bangkok's largest shopping malls spread out over 6 floors. Stupidly enough I decided to walk. I say stupidly not because of the distance (3 km, actually not too far when it's overcast and breezy) but because I predictably got lost. Asking for directions didn't really help. Fair enough, my Thai knowledge don't really stretch beyond sawadee kah (hello), but then again, as I can't really tell right from left in English or Swedish either, giving me directions in any language is sometimes almost pointless. Finally I caved in and took a taxi to MBK. Turned out when I perused the map a bit more carefully that somehow I managed to walk north when I thought I was going east. I SO need a GPS....
However, didn't get a GPS at MBK, but, among other things, I did get a Thai SIM card. This would be the time to tell you the number, but I left it at the guest house :S Guess I'm still as absentminded as always....
Today I've been to see Wat Pho, which was amazing and I think slightly more relaxed compared to the Grand Palace. Although it was a bit crazy and more people than usually milling around the palace and temple area as people are preparing for the royal cremation ceremony of a princess in a few days. All the temples are being decorated in black and white. It is also Loy Krathong, a Buddhist festival, now. I'm going to try to go down to the river tonight to see some of the fireworks that's on because of the festival. I've already been by the river today, took one of the ferries from the central pier up to where I'm staying.
Time to get some dinner before the fireworks, and then try to get a couple of hours sleep. I'm flying to Chiang Mai tomorrow, and the bus to the airport will pick be up at 4 am...
Anyhow, yesterday was shopping day so I headed towards MBK, one of Bangkok's largest shopping malls spread out over 6 floors. Stupidly enough I decided to walk. I say stupidly not because of the distance (3 km, actually not too far when it's overcast and breezy) but because I predictably got lost. Asking for directions didn't really help. Fair enough, my Thai knowledge don't really stretch beyond sawadee kah (hello), but then again, as I can't really tell right from left in English or Swedish either, giving me directions in any language is sometimes almost pointless. Finally I caved in and took a taxi to MBK. Turned out when I perused the map a bit more carefully that somehow I managed to walk north when I thought I was going east. I SO need a GPS....
However, didn't get a GPS at MBK, but, among other things, I did get a Thai SIM card. This would be the time to tell you the number, but I left it at the guest house :S Guess I'm still as absentminded as always....
Today I've been to see Wat Pho, which was amazing and I think slightly more relaxed compared to the Grand Palace. Although it was a bit crazy and more people than usually milling around the palace and temple area as people are preparing for the royal cremation ceremony of a princess in a few days. All the temples are being decorated in black and white. It is also Loy Krathong, a Buddhist festival, now. I'm going to try to go down to the river tonight to see some of the fireworks that's on because of the festival. I've already been by the river today, took one of the ferries from the central pier up to where I'm staying.
Time to get some dinner before the fireworks, and then try to get a couple of hours sleep. I'm flying to Chiang Mai tomorrow, and the bus to the airport will pick be up at 4 am...
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Only 45 min left before going to Heathrow
I can't believe it, less than an hour left! Just enough time for a cup of tea and some shortbread biscuits :)
I've checked, double checked and triple checked that I have all tickets, passport and money, and I think I got everything. And my backpack is actually not that heavy, I can lift it up quite easily. Although if I run out of money I can start a small pharmacy with all the painkillers etc that I got "just in case" (thanks mum...).
Tomorrow I'm in Bangkok, yay!
The plan is as follows:
Bangkok for 3 days
Chiang Mai for 1 week
Andaman coast (Ko Lanta, Phi Phi, Khao lak) for a couple of weeks
3-4 days with my parents in their house in Huay Yang on the east coast
Vietnam 7 Dec-5 Jan
China 5 Jan-22 Jan
Philippines 22 Jan-22 Feb
Hong Kong 22 Feb-26 Feb
Back in London 26 Feb :)
As you can see the plan is quite open after Thailand, let me know if you have any suggestions on what I should see or do.
OK, time to start say good bye to my flatmates Jenny and Lina: I WILL MISS YOU!!!!!
Take care of the flat and each other and our new flatmate, see you next year!
I've checked, double checked and triple checked that I have all tickets, passport and money, and I think I got everything. And my backpack is actually not that heavy, I can lift it up quite easily. Although if I run out of money I can start a small pharmacy with all the painkillers etc that I got "just in case" (thanks mum...).
Tomorrow I'm in Bangkok, yay!
The plan is as follows:
Bangkok for 3 days
Chiang Mai for 1 week
Andaman coast (Ko Lanta, Phi Phi, Khao lak) for a couple of weeks
3-4 days with my parents in their house in Huay Yang on the east coast
Vietnam 7 Dec-5 Jan
China 5 Jan-22 Jan
Philippines 22 Jan-22 Feb
Hong Kong 22 Feb-26 Feb
Back in London 26 Feb :)
As you can see the plan is quite open after Thailand, let me know if you have any suggestions on what I should see or do.
OK, time to start say good bye to my flatmates Jenny and Lina: I WILL MISS YOU!!!!!
Take care of the flat and each other and our new flatmate, see you next year!
Welcome to my travel blog!
Wohoo, my very first post as a very inexperienced blogger :)
I'm going to try to write here regularly about what I get up to during the next four months traveling around southeast Asia. Follow me on my adventures and find out exactly how long it will take before I loose my passport (hopefully won't happen, but don't think anyone who knows me would be too surprised if it did.....) or if I actually will fulfill my dream and take a diving certificate.
Now I'm going to try to pack a couple of more things, and then sleep in my very comfy bed for the last time this year. Only 17 h left before I need to take the tube to Heathrow...
I'm going to try to write here regularly about what I get up to during the next four months traveling around southeast Asia. Follow me on my adventures and find out exactly how long it will take before I loose my passport (hopefully won't happen, but don't think anyone who knows me would be too surprised if it did.....) or if I actually will fulfill my dream and take a diving certificate.
Now I'm going to try to pack a couple of more things, and then sleep in my very comfy bed for the last time this year. Only 17 h left before I need to take the tube to Heathrow...
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