Jan 29 - flower festival day

Now what I really liked about this day was doing tourism like the Thai people (not many non-Thai there). People here really love this festival (65000 were there on Sat) and its done in honor of the King – who they also really love, as people wear wrist bands and bright yellow tee shirts which say so – there is also a temple made in his honor at the centre of the park. Oh and they play the national anthem in the streets and in restaurants twice a day when everyone stands up to show respect – although Im not a big fan of the monarchy there is something nice about the national unity it brings…
Really impressed by the organization – gardens are more ornamental than I expected and the best bits of the day were the orchids, the karate display, people watching (especially the monks in their saffron robes having fun) and the firework and light display at the end of the day.

K x

Jan 28 – Wedding anniversary!

In the end what really matters on your anniversary is being together – and not having a change of clothes or anything booked doesn't really matter….Woke up to a big bunch of roses (which I later got put in my hair – Chinese style!) Ventured out into the Wacky Races City of streaming traffic and pollution but brilliant markets, gold “Wat” temples on every corner and adventure! Eventually got nice but modern hotel – got class lunch for 50p. Went to visit the Wat Phra Singh with the reclining buddah, jade buddah, sitting buddah, gold buddah…. Was surprised to see that it was a working compound with monk school and trading stalls. (Oh also got an “I Do” henna tattoo to commemorate the one I got in Isle of Wight music festival when Ian proposed). Then had dinner at the Riverside which was fab – had a big chunky steak – too many noodles!

K x

Jan 27 – Bad day

Travel from Khao Sok to Chiang Mai by plane. Should be simple…

Ian flipped in Bankok as we tried to contact home through incredibly complex phone card system. Ian realizes he has lost mobile phone. Flight was delayed four hours as cracks appeared on the runway of the brand new airport at Bangkok. Karen’s bag re-directed 400 miles in the wrong direction. Could not find accommodation anywhere in Chaing Mai – would we be left homeless on our anniversary (Jan 28)?

Could not even get any taxis from the airport to town because of over crowding. Half of Thailand is in this town for the famous Flower Festival.

Terrible day! – (though did have a Thai foot massage at the end which was really nice.)

Jan 26 – Scary cave day

Woke up at 7am to the view across the lake & jungle forest. Heard the occasional gibbon hoots - sounded like clangers! Went for morning safari on a boat and saw a gibbon swinging comically between branches.

After breakfast walked through the jungle towards the caves. Ventured into the caves to see strange rock formations and stalactites – lots of bats sleeping – big spider with red eyes. Waded through a 2 metre waterfall and had to swim to the cave exit! Thoroughly exhilarated we blinked into the day light.

Ian found a nice hat made of jungle leaves.

Left the lake and stayed at a beautiful tree hut.

Jan 25 – Raft houses

Longtail boat through the floded landscape of Cheo Lan lake - a man made lake created 25 years ago submerging a village and temple below.

Arrived at raft houses - wooden and bamboo huts tied together and floating on massive logs. This was our luxury accommodation for the night. You could open your front door and dive into the lake! Everything swayed constantly. Very 'swallows and amazons'!

After fried rice lunch, had a sweaty and humid trek through the jungle to a view point - more of a rock outcrop.

Went on a night safari, didnt see any animals but nice to float through the mystical landscape and hear stories about student communist revolutionaries who sheltered here in the 1970s.

Jan 24 – arriving in Khao Sok

Steaming hot journey via boat and mini vans. Stayed overnight in a jungle hut with open windows. The noise of the jungle – random croaks, creaks and roars required the use of ear plugs. Karen worried about snakes coming in through windows, Ian worried insects eating his flesh.

Saw family of mackaw monkeys at the watering hole which was cool

Jan 23 - Beach Day

Thinking about leaving island now. Sat in beach hut, organised and disorganised our travel plans several times. Decided to just wing it in the end once we got to the main land!

Had our last dinner at Ko Lanta in our favourite restaurant GOOD DAYS followed by a cocktail on the beach watching the stars.

Cant leave Ko Lanta!

Been in Thailand a week now, mostly in Ko Lanta which is a tranquil island to the south of the country. Stayed in beach huts at the island’s long beach, each has its own little veranda and garden overlooking the sea.

For the first three or four days we laid around the beach, sometimes eating, sometimes drinking in little bamboo huts and hammocks!

Things we love about Ko Lanta,

o Long sandy beach lined with trees on one side and blue horizon on the other
o Watching the sun go down on the beach
o Swimming in the warm sea
o Eating lots of fresh Thai food
o The laid back atmosphere, laid back people, laid back travelers, laid back music - even the sea doesn’t seem to be bothered to break waves at all….mmm bliss

Things we don’t love about Ko Lanta

o Was quite disturbed to find a giant beastie in my wash bag – though Ian tried to comfort me by saying I should think of it as a small bird – as that would be cute
o Otherwise we are too laid back to think about anything else

Jan 19 - Friday

Once we were outbeached we ventured further afield – hired a moped and went to east coast of island – had a coke in jungle clad hill with mangrove sea seats and view over lots of islands rising strikingly out of the sea.

Had lunch on a restaurant with stilts.

Went to Mai Cai caves. Had to walk through jungle to get there and crawl on our bellies for a few metres, saw some big spiders, and final treat was sleeping bats on the way out!

Jan 20 – Saturday

Sat in beach hut and had Thai massage

Jan 21 - Sunday

Kayak day! Longtail boat out to some islands for kayaking. Saw steep sided cliffs with strange rock formations and lush vegetation hanging off the side. Stops included, crawl into cave, fruit on beach, kayak into sea cave (fishermen sheltered here for 2 days during the tsunami), curry lunch on beach. Interested to find that they previously used dynamite for fishing in this area. Final highlights were stop at Bubu island for a coke and hammock. Fed a troop of monkeys some fruit on the way home.


Jan 22 – Monday

Nemo day! Went snorkeling to Ko Rok saw Angel fish, Tiny orange and white Nemo fish, Stick fish, Spotted fish, larger fish with blue fluorescent fins, and three four foot lizards that tried to steal our lunch

We plan to leave this island soon.....

Karen and Ian
x

Arrived in Bangkok!

Arrived bleary eyed after 7 hour layover in Dubai, but happy to be here. Staying at the rather dubiously named Grand Inn Come Hotel overnight whilst awaiting our flight to the islands. Had interesting breakfast of noodles and fruit with sugar and chilli amongst more western bites. Cant wait to see the sea at Ko Lanta Ya and hopefully a nice beach hut - although our attempts at booking anything has been in vain so far. Otherwise Im feeling much better - the wonder drugs have worked!
Karen x

Delayed again...ugh!

We are delayed again due to evil chest infection bug.....but with the help of the mighty yellow drugs we are hoping to be on the plane on Saturday and lying on a nice sandy beach early next week.... feels like a dream away though!

Delayed!

A very annoying flu bug which is rapidly spreading across Scotland got Karen and I. I was full of shivers and had crazy temperatures. I was lucky, Karen got a nasty chest infection and various other miscellaneous symptoms (which changed daily!). We are both recovering slowly now.

But there was no way we were getting on a plane on Wednesday (two days ago). A long haul flight to Bangkok would be out of the question. We are now leaving Scotland on Wed 10 Jan instead. Maybe it is a blessing in disguise as it gives us more time to get ready and another week to enjoy the delights of Dennistoun!