Some Photos...

As promised, here are a few photos... apoligies for not rotating, I'll try harder next time.


Us on Koh San Road... Dad wanted a photo of us with our packs on, so here it is. It also seemed appropriate, considering where we were.


Our new favourite - Red Horse. Its good, and its strong. And like most beer here, its cheap.

Michelle at Wat Po. Its an amazing temple (we've been there twice now) and well worth the 100baht entrance fee, and the annoying swarms of touts and hawkers outside.


Arina "enjoying" a beer with me... the first of many? Something tells me, no.


Yes, even in Thailand there are some universal truths... and yes, Beer Chang is 60baht (3 dollars) for a large bottle. Oh yeah!


So by now you can see drinking has been a bit of a theme, but hey - its New Years right? These are the infamous Whiskey Buckets. Very Strong, Very Cheap and topped up with Red Bull. Singing is almost a guarantee after a couple of these. I'm kind of pleased this photo is slightly blurry, as I'd already had a couple by this stage and was feeling a bit blurry.

Finally, the beach. Hua Hin beach is a crazy place - when Michelle uploads her photos you'll see. Totally geared up towards Thai and European tourists, this is one of the few places where you can actually walk along the beach.


And finally - me sampling some of the famous local seafood. Aroy Mark Mark!

Thailand so far

Well it’s been a whole 5 days in Thailand and thankfully it feels like its been longer as we wake up around 6am then muck around for a bit, then go out and see the sights and it isn’t even midday yet. Our body clocks are still adjusting to the time zones here.

First night in BKK: After our 12 hour flight to BKK, we rocked up to Koh San Road. Didn’t pre organise accommodation – a little intimidating was the road at 10pm. Really intense, an abundance of people, lots of lights and Thai aromas. So there we were, the 4 of us, lugging all of our luggage down this road. Looking for signs of familiarity from the Lonely Planet. Then we saw it D&D Inn (thanks April!). Got 2 rooms, and then went to celebrate Shaun’s 30th. A couple of drinks later and a meal for Arina, we were sorted. It took little time to acclimatise to the craziness of Koh San Rd. It’s hard to keep track of time, even harder since I don’t have a watch – like father like daughter, hate wearing them!
Next morning, time to leave, rooms were OK, air con wasn’t working, felt we could get more bang for our buck and left the boys to it to find us cheaper accommodation whilst Arina and I went to have a wax, (I wasn’t going to pay Jervois Rd prices a week earlier!). Nicole, your Xmas pressie went as far as a wax, eye brow tint, shape, eye lash tint, red skirt and red jandals to match – you went all out sister xox! Stayed at New Siam, a couple of streets back from Koh San Road, a little less people – PERFECT. Although I heard from the boys that when they went to get accommodation for 2 double rooms, the guest house staff were insistent that they only had rooms with 2 single beds. They’d got confused and thought J and Shaun wanted one for them. After some careful communication later, there was plently of rooms with double rooms, once they found out it was for 2 heterosexual couples! Halarious. And I though this was a contry renowned for lady boys????

New Siam was a short stroll to cheap food, drinks and shopping – not that I can do much of that. It became very clear very quickly just how heavy my back pack is. OUCH!
We’ve taken Arina & Jared to see some temples – Wat Po – amazing reclining Buddha (45m x 12m – from memory!) INCREDIBLE, the amount of wealth in these temples, and then you walk out on the streets of BKK to see such poverty. We’ve eaten some very hot food. Most memorable was at MBK, where we had a buffet for 59baht – equates to about $3.00 for a plate of thai food. Shaun of course decided to eat the hottest thing on the buffet. Yes, he went a little red, perspired more than usual, but ate the plate clean with several Thai people watching in astonishment that he ate it without fuss. They’d pre-empted that he’d struggle after the first mouth full. They were giggling and muttering to one another about this white boy thinking he wouldn’t be able to eat this hot food, and they had already got him another plate of mild food to transfer to. But in true Shaun fashion, he pushed it to the side and did us Kiwi’s proud, finishing the entire plate. I’d got a plate of food, avoided the really hot one, asked what one of the dishes was that had dark brown cubes in it, thinking it was steak, they said it was “raw chicken” I decided I’d skip that!!! I think they may have meant to say chicken livers????

We went to the Red light district to see what all the fuss was about. We stayed for 1 drink and left! I won’t mention one more word about it – unless of course you ask for details!!!

Day 3: got a Taxi down to Hua Hin (3hour drive), to spend a week by the beach. Got stopped twice by the Thai police. I found out after that trip down just how much bribing is done with the Thai police!!! We’d seen earlier on Koh San Rd the traffic police stop on the road, and it was an eye opener. A road that is piled with street vendors and tuk tuk’s placed all the way down the road to make a buck off a tourist. Then traffic police come and they just vanish down side streets hiding all the vehicles until the police are gone, and then when the cost is clear sure enough they’re back out is quickly has they’d disappeared. Saw a couple of tuk tuk drivers get in trouble, some got off lightly with an expensive bride, others not so lucky. Sadly, he obviously didn’t have enough $$ so he got beaten and his tuk tuk clamped. Then the thai man just stood up, laughed and walked away like it happened to him all the time. Thai people just laugh even in the most unpleasant of circumstances.

3 hours later and we are entering Hua Hin town ship where we look up and see massive monkeys walking along the power lines. It is now that I am truly grateful for spending NZ$2,500 on vaccinations for Shaun and I – amongst them being rabies! PHEW!

Hua Hin is something else. The beach is absolute madness. Thankfully we are staying a little out of town and the pool is paradise, quiet and remote and often find ourselves to be the only ones around the pool. The beach has horse rides, and loungers jutted up next to each other for miles (and I haven’t used hyperbole in this instance for my Westmere kids reading this!). When its high tide there is practically no beach, I can only imaging how much furniture gets washed away with the tide. Quite a different beach from Kata – South Thailand where we were a few years a go.

We are all loving the Thai food here which is no surprise. No belly upsets either. Glad I had the E.coli drinks back in NZ. I have been introduced to really good beer… Red Horse. Aroy Mark Mark! (Delicious). The few thai phrases I’ve learned are serving me well. I keep getting complimented on speaking Thai so well, especially saying “No thankyou!” Mai Kah Khawp khun ka. That phrase has come in especially handy in BKK. Thanks Shaun – good teacher, those language tapes have come in handy! J

Today we have been to Monkey Mountain. INSANE! I will upload the pics ASAP. Truly spectacular. We had monkeys eating out of our hands. They are everywhere on this mountain. You also go there to see a temple. There were Chinese, Indian and Buddhist temples. Had to walk up about a million steps to see them. Gotta be good for the bum and thighs! We played/fed many of the hundreds of monkeys that love the tourists… for the food buckets monks give you, for a small insignificant fee of 50baht ($2.50).

sTemperatures have been in the 30’s. Hot and loving it. Lots of swimming has been the order of the day and we’ve tried to do the sights in the morning before it gets too hot.

To all of you: I hope you have a great New Year and 2009 brings you all love and happiness,
To Deidree and Arthur, you’ll now be married when you read this, CONGRATULATIONS! Isn’t it just the best day ever! Sorry we missed it, but we both thought of you on your special day. Look forward to seeing the pics on face book xoxo

Krazy Koh San

After 12 hours of flying, dazed, tired, ready for rest, we rolled out of Bangkok's new Suwan Airport, jumped into a taxi and headed for Koh San Road.

In hindsight this probably wasn't the best idea ever.

Straight from relative comfort and safety, into back-packer central, and when we arrived the party was in full swing. Eager to get a bed for the night we went straight for the only sign we'd heard about - The D&D Inn. Big mistake.

The D&D is a bit of a Koh San institution - known for its location (right in the middle of hedonists paradise) and its rooftop pool. Well I never saw the pool, but our 3x3m windowless concrete cell was enough. The air-con made more noise than coolness, and in a sweltering cell that echoes thats a bad thing. When you consider that we forked out 850baht for these little luxuries it was a big let down.

First thing in the morning (and believe me when I say first thing - our body clocks were still on Auckland time) we started looking for new digs. A quick scout of Koh San in the blissful cool and peace of the morning revealed dirty or overpriced hell-holes aplenty. While the ladies had a bit of pampering, Jared and I wandered over to Soi Ram Buttri and found a new world. Just across from Koh San this peaceful tree lined lane was an oasis in Bangkok's crazy pace. We ended up at a little guest house with very tidy rooms, a lovely garden restaurant area and a much more reasonable 620baht price tag.

So after that was sorted we did a couple of the usual Bangkok things - MBK, Wat Po, Haggling with Tuk-Tuk drivers, sitting in traffic jams.

Then we convinced ourselves to try the famous Whiskey Buckets.

Our first morning in Bangkok, wandering around Koh San looking for a new place to stay we'd noticed a few VERY drunk people. Figuring this was just the norm here we ignored it, but soon it seemed that nearly every bar had a couple of people sitting out front slurping on these things. Then the singing would follow.

On our last day in Bangkok we had to try... It turns out that Thai Whiskey, Red Bull (the syrup, not the soda) and a little coke for colour really does the trick... Lets just say that our 3 and a half hour taxi ride to Hui Hin was a bit painful...

So now we're in Hua Hin and a beautiful resort, enjoying the beautiful pool, stunning rooms and great food at Prinz Gardens. Bliss.

I'll upload some photos soon...

Ready

All moved out, living out of our packs, which seemed huge when we bought them. Now, they seem tiny. To be fair mine was pretty full before I even put my clothes in it. I guess you can be too prepared!

So the count is on. Its full on visiting folk, saying goodbyes to everyone, bit by bit, topped off with a good measure of silly season festivities, and as you know, I'm one who likes his festivities.

Off in 6 days.

WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!

Tense Days

Well, it's seems to have all been sorted now, but for a few days last week it didn't look like we were going to be going anywhere. The political situation in Thailand has been fairly up and down for years, but typically they make a pretty good job of keeping it away from the tourist areas. Considering how much the tourism dollar is worth to the country, this makes very good sense. I'm not sure what led the PAD to decide that storming both Bangkok airports for a sit in, but we (well, me, I think Michelle was pretty unphased for the most part) had a restless night or two while they sorted thing out.

So heres hoping that peace and common sense holds.

On the home front, we've been packing and getting things all sorted for the move out. Sure makes it all seem a lot more real when your house starts emptying out. Selling things on trademe has been a bit of a mission. People don't seem to understand what "buyer must pick up" means. No, I wont arrange a courier. No, I wont deliver to Beachaven. Ah well you get that.

A meagre 18 days to go now, so soon! Starting to get quite excited now!

The Plan

Its all rolled around really fast. 100 days turned into 32 just like that. Its a crazy time of year to start with - what with Xmas parties, summer festivities and all the weddings (Much love to Adam and FI, & Brendon and Leesa) and catching up with all the good peeps who we've come to know and love. But yeah, our days are numbered and we're trying to catch up with as many of you as we can. Hopefully if we haven't made a personal appearance by now, we'll see you on the 12th.

As far as the travels are concerned, I've done a bit of researching and it seems that we can get a 30day visa in Laos on entry, a 30 day visa for Cambodia - pre arranged at Vientaine, and hopefully 2x 30 day visas consecutive for Vietnam through the embassy in Phnom Penn. That takes care of 5 months (including the 1 in Thailand when we arrive with Jared and Arina) and we'll wing the last month or so on beaches and islands... yep life sure is hard...

I'll try and post a google map of where we might be, but given current dial up status thats kinda time consuming. We're starting in Bangkok then heading down to the beach with Arina and Jared at Hua Hin for New Years, then going north... Bangkok, Kanchhanaburi (Bridge on the river Kwai) Bangkok, via train to Phitsanulok/Sukothai, bus up to Chiang Mai. bit of missioning around Chiang Ria, and some other northern towns, then cross the Laos border at Chiang Khong (Huay Xai on the Laos Side).

Then onto Laos - Huay Xia on to Loung Phabang via slowboat dowm the Mekong - which is apparently a little less romantic than it sounds. One night at a little town called Pakbeng then on south. Vang Viang, Vientaine (Pronounced Wang Chang) then an arduous bus trip down south where we'll visit the 4000 Islands before a slightly dodgy border crossing into Cambodia.

Entering Cambodia at er... well its some slightly unreliable border outpost called Dom Kralor... we'll continue down the Mekong to Strueng Treng, and then Kratie (pronounced Kra Tee) where we hope to see the rare freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins, then a quick shower in Phnom Penn before visiting and helping out at an orphanage near Takeo for a couple of weeks. From there its the big sights of Angkor Wat at Siem Reap, then back down the river and into Vietnam after a couple of days seeing Phnom Penn, the Killing Fields and getting a visa for Vietnam.

We enter Vietnam at Vinh Xuog then head straight to the riverside city of Chau Doc, before heading up to Ho Chi Minh City, the old Saigon. Then its up to Dalat in the high country for a wee break from the heat and on to the beach at Nha Trang. From there we make our way up the coast to Hoi An, Da'Nang and the old royal city of Hue (pronounced hoo ay) and from there on to Ha Noi, with possibly a few stops on the way. The hill station of Sapa is our next stop, where we'll do a hill tribe treck, then its off the the world famous Ha Long Bay, before heading back to Ha Noi and getting a plane to Thailand

So tha'ts it really. All is of course subject to some change - its all about what the road throws at us really. There are some fairly laborious stints along the way, whether by bus in Cambodia, boat in Laos or train in Vietnam, but I'm told that cramming in with the locals, their chickens and 50kg sacks of rice all adds to the "charm".

I hope to get a map up but we'll see how that goes - as I said, dial-up isn't that friendly to google maps... but I figure if it works on dial-up here, it'll be ok on some crazy out of the way internet cafe in deepest darkest Asia...