My Asia

Kampot our heart!

andreagee — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 13:03:00 GMT

We had a lovely day in PP tearig around in the Tuk Tuk doing out shopping and then picked up by the ever chatty Dara in the car and off to Kampot!!

Bruce has not been since Jan 2010 so was very pleased to arrive and settle and be back in our Cambodian home.

Dom and Denise are touring in Africa but we met up with Tori again who is looking after the Rikitikitavi and all the wonderful staff are there to greet us.

Romdoul and De now have their own place called Veronica's Kitchen just at the end of the new Night Market, which is finally finished, great food and great service. We also enjoyed meals at the Franjipani and Rusty Keyhole and of course the Riki!!

Friends from Aust met us here for 4 nights and it was so nice having familiar faces to show our fav place too.

We spent our time pottering about, a trip to Kep for lunch, it is changing so much! Not sure l like Cambodia's idea of progress but we cannot deny it to them.

Pepper at the Farm Link Coop in Kampot and a trip to Starling Farm, which was wonderful, out past the Secret Lake. Motos up to Bokor and finally are able to get to the Waterfalls, which once again progress has killed, possibly l will not bother going up here again. Push bikes around town and out to the fishing villages and night time trip on the Diva to the Fireflies, its really only one or two bushes of them but still spectacular.

So my sixth trip to Kampot was possibly one pf the best, although l did have a ball when Pita Bread and l visited in 2011. Can't wait to be back in January.

Mandalay to Phnom Penh

andreagee — Mon, 8 Jul 2013 12:46:00 GMT

We traveled today from Mandalay to Bangkoks Don Muang Airport onto the Shuttle bus and across town (traffic and rain, 1.5 hour) to the new International Airpot to catch our flight to Phnom Penh. We had all our flights with Air Asia but unfortunetely they moved the Mandalay one , making it arrive after the next one took off, so we had to quickly book a Bangkok Airways flight to PP. These are expensive but damn efficient.

The new Airport is easy to spend a few hours in! It is massive!

We arrived in PP late as the flight was delayed but we had booked via Sameth for someone to collect us, so visa's on arrival, bags collected and we were on our way to Royal Mekong Boutique hotel.

Mandalay Day two

andreagee — Sun, 7 Jul 2013 11:36:00 GMT

Today we head out of town to see some sights.

There is certainly mroe to see outside of the city than within it.

Sagaings temple studded hills and golden tipped stupa's edging out of the greenery were just stunning, viewed nicely from the Soon U Ponya Shin Paya. We sson loose count of what we have seen and where we are! Watching the 100's of yougn monks lining up to have their lunch at the Maha Ganayon Kyuang seemed a little bit wrong! And l wished l had my camera to take better photos.

Inwa was a gorgeous little Island even though we were a bit worried about the crossing in the boat, think we are paranoid now! We had a lovely lunch at a restaraunt under the big tree, where we felt terrible as it was one mans job to stand and fan us!! Could'nt get out of there quick enough! Intot he horse and cart for a trip around the Island and we had avoided this so far and l felt so bad for that poor little horse having to tow us about, l hated it! We visited a gorgeous teak monastery, Bagaya Kyaung and the leaning tower of Inwa, Nanmyin, l did not climb it as it looked very unsafe, not pushing my luck anymore. Maha Aungmye Bonzan was a gorgeous ruin of a palace apparently, great photographic spot!

It was a very peaceful place, but l would have enjoyed the place more if we were on motos. We got to the last temple and Bruce waved the driver on! He's all stupa's out!

U Beins Bridge, the longest teak footbridge in the world was a sight to see, so high and dry across the water with water buffalo's swimming underneath and men fishing, again "I want my camera" We met up with the lovely two NZ brothers that we met in Bagan.

Back to Red Cannal and we eat at the Cafe City for our last meal.

Many people say not to come to Mandalay but we have enjoyed this city, its large, dry and dusty, nothing like Yangon but very likebale, give it a go.

Mandalay

andreagee — Sat, 6 Jul 2013 11:11:00 GMT

Safely arrive in Mandalay at the hugest, emptiest, barest Airport i have ever been too! Quiet like a ghost building! Taxi in to town.

Be careful with the Airport taxi's they charged us for a share taxi, we had no choice they told us and then expected us to wait until the next flight for it to fill! I demanded my money back and a private taxi and we were off! With a driver a bit like a country and western singing bogan!

We are staying at the gorgeous Red Channal Hotel, its in alovely area and they have a free Happy Hour every day at 5pm and also free tea and coffee at 3pm! Are we in heaven (small things folks) As we arrived just in time for a swim in the little pool and the Happy Hour, too many cocktails see us having our dinner in the Hotel restaurant the Spice Garden, very nice Indian food.

Next day we decide to get to a camera store and see what we can purchase to finish our trip off! We were taken to a big shopping mall near 78th street, very modern and a nice coffee shop too! The morning was spent wandering around the Zeigyo market, which is HUGE and not a tourist thing in sight!! But everything Myanmar possible is sold here, awesome markets.

We head to Mandalay Palace and discover the Cafe City Restaurant which has to be one of the best places we have eaten in this whole trip, its out on the main road in front of the Palace. Our admission of $10 is paid for the Paslace to the machine gun weilding guards! We discover a huge walk way to be walked and jump on two guards moto's, they must have been on a break! So the equivilant of $1.50 was paid to them for the trip up and they waited and took us back down the hill!

I had been looking forward to the Palace after reading "The Glass Palace" and it did not disapoint me, as l walked around l could imagine King Thibaw and his Queen and children living here. Most of the origibnal palce was destroyed during WW11, but has been rebuilt, there are over 40 buildings and a watch tower, there are areas that tourists cannot get too. But l was pleased to have visited it and did my imagination well!

Back to the lovely Red canal for a swim and we walk to Green Elephant for dinner, it was ok, set in a gorgeous garden and an outside pavillion that you eat in. We stop off at Rocky Handicrafts and Bruce buys a very scary looking puppet!

The death of our camera's on the way to Sankar!

andreagee — Thu, 4 Jul 2013 19:56:00 GMT

Up and at em and in the boat with Ross and Robyn to head to Sankar, this is a trip that takes in crossing the main part of Lake Inle and then through the canals into the outter lake, visits to this area have only been permitted since 2003 and can only be done with a Pa O guide. We arrive at the Golden Cottages on the Lake and collect our guide, the lovely beetle nut stained teeth "nie nie".

We should have sensed our doom as even before this the boat man spat his beetle nut juice and it caught in the wind and went all over Bruce! Can you imagine his displeasure!! He whistled at the boat man and tried to explain not to spit anywhere near him, the boat man then tried washing it off Bruces shirt! You have to laugh! The new proverb of the day was "man who spit on tourist shirt, become life long friend".

Once we left Golden Cottages we started through a canal that was narrow and had village after village of huge teak houses with people going aboutt heir daily business of washing clothes, themslves, people fishing, boating, farming and it just went on and on, village after village and no other tourists at all.

The canal got narrow after we passed under a large modern day bridge and there was also a bit of current, the boat ran aground onto a sand bank and we sat for a while, the boat men trying to wedge us off with sticks, suddenly the whole boat turned and tipped and three of us were in! There was no time to think no time to try and stop it happening, it just happened, his lordship Bruce was sitting at the front and high side and did not even know we had gone in, there was no yelling as it all happened so fast. Myself, Robyn and Ross all went in. I went completely under the boat with water in my ears and up my nose!

I did hear Ross and Robyn yelling then and farmers came from their work into the water to help put the boat straight and get it off me! I had lovely gravel rash and cuts all up my leg, arm and shoulder on my right side. Sadly my beautiful month old cannon camera ($1600) was still in my hand! It drowned!

Bruces camera got flung out of his hand and drowned within the boat!

I instantly had the desire to cry for my camera but got the giggles instead! Which was probably a better thing to do!

The boat was righted and the tourists back in, Ross still has his camera so snaps of dripping tourists taken and nie nie asking us " are you happy"! Perhaps this was his was of saying "are you ok"!

Thankfully none of us are seriously injured, l ended up worst off as got sucked under the boat in the current, but am ok, can't say the same for my beloved camera!

We stop at a pagoda and more Stupa's, Bruce is certainly getting Stupa fatigue! But what is more interesting is the villages that we are in. Arrival at Sankar and we are deposited on the banks of the canal and there were all these thin boards across the mud. We took such great care to balance on these logs to avoid the mud and then the logs stopped and there was no other option than to step into the mud. Bruce was first in and it went to his knees! Robyn and I got the giggles as Bruce's double pluggers disappeared in the mud! Oh No!

We ended up with shoes off and squelching like pigs across the mud flats, we seriously sank to our knees in parts and l almost wet myself laughing! Still dripping from the boat going over and now mud to my knees!

Sankar means frangipani, we have a walk about this village and it is stunning and we are mourning the loss of our camera and not being able to take any photos.

Back to the boat and back to Golden Cottages to drop off the guide and then back to town. Costs - $5 for the guide, $45 for the boat, lunch at the rice wine distillery was approx $8 ( yes, we tasted 20%, 40% and 60% rice wine, rough as anything!) and at least a two thousand dollar loss of cameras!

We feel a travel insurance claim coming up!

Nyaungshwe at Lake Inle

andreagee — Thu, 4 Jul 2013 19:31:00 GMT

I loved this town of Nyaungshwe, Bruce instantly rated it "a shit hole"! It's a dusty, crappy town admittedly but I still loved the vibe of it.

Day one we arrived at the gorgeous View Point Lodge, right on the edge of town and looking over a canal.

We walked about town and decided to just have a chill out day, it was lovely! Afternoon naps are always appreciated!

Booked a boat for day two, you do not need to go far to be approached by boat men, women or boys!

Day two we headed out to the main part of Lake Inle, taking in Inthein which l loved, you weave your way up a canal and the village appears out of no where, there are souvenir stalls leading the way to the main temple so you would not think we could possibly take the wrong turn but we did! Anyway, it was to our advantage as we stumbled into a monestry and the monk pointed to up the hill, certainly no tourists up here, once we had scrambled up the side of the hill we did realise we were in the wrong placce. Back down the hill and finally we see the errors of our ways and find the Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complexof 1054 zedi's from the 17th and 18th centuries. More stupa's! Bruce thinks they should sell T Shirts that say "I'm with Stupa". He has also had enough of Stupa's!

After this temple we on and off the boat to other pagoda's, cigarette makers, silver smiths, weaving houses, black smiths and a nice Place for lunch, we ditched the idea of staying out for sunset and also the jumping cat monestry! Sounded dreadful to me! Back to town, bye bye to our beetle nut chewing young men and off for a nice dinner in the dusty Town.

We bump into Ross a guy who l had corresponded with via trip advisor about our trip, as our times were almost the same and he was from Brisbane too. After a long chat we decide to join them on the trip to Sankar the following day and this deserves its own entry as was very eventful!

Bagan, Bargan, Bogan - whatever, we loved you.

andreagee — Thu, 4 Jul 2013 19:09:00 GMT

Arrived bright and early in Bagan on Air Mandalay and l will do a separate storey on internal flights in this country.

Decided to taxi it in a car to the temples, other options are horse and cart and push bikes. I was pleased with this choice as l think we managed a lot more temples this way.

I cannot tell you all of the ones we saw, but do know that they are spectacular, mostly only on the outside, a few were gorgeous inside, but mostly they took on the same lay out inside, a giant Buddha and passage ways.

Ananda Pahto, Nagayon, Gubyaukgi, Lawkahteikpan Pahto, Abeyandana Pahto, Ananda Ok Kyaung and just so many more. An unbelievably amazing Tour of these temples, sunset from a white temple ( you cannot get up into many of these temples) with only about 50 other tourists, not the 100's that are at Angkor. Just stunning.

The rest of our time in Bagan we spent eating, sipping ccocktails by the stunning pool at Amazing Bagan Resort, we rode push bikes to Nyaung U to Old Bagan and onto Myinkaba the lacquerware village ( that was a mammoth day). We taxi'd into Nyaung U for dinner most nights (3 nights). And did a day trip to Mount Popa, stopping at the sugar palm toddy stalls along the way for a taste of the whiskey and wine! Bloody rough and burnt all the way down! Mt Popa, it stunning to look at but full of stinking monkago. If you go, do not have anything on you that they can,pinch, hats, water bottles sunglasses, as they will jump you and take them, dangle them in front of you and the monkey food sellers will charge you to throw food at the, to get your belongings back! They took Bruce's hat! We learnt the hard way!

We loved Bagan and its temples, it's laid backness,it is dusty and dry and spread out, and l would stay either Nyaung U or Old Bagan, both areas are good.

Bye bye Yangon

andreagee — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:55:00 GMT

Yangon has been not what we expected, not sure what we expected ( a few more palm trees) but it was'nt this gridlocked, trying to be modern but still wearing longi's city! So many contrasts and clashes.

The area we stayed in was out of the main part of the city, Golden Valley. On one hand l think I'd liked to have been closer to town but then we would not have seen so much, as every taxi driver took us and got us lost a different way! Whew would not have seen so many of the amazing colonial buildings, and there are plenty and they are truly incredible and HUGE! Those British certainly put in good foundations here, pity how things changed so drastically once the Myanmar people took the country back.

If visiting, prepare to spend a lot of time sitting in traffic jams, a bit like Bangkok was over 20 years ago, with bus's so packed people hang off the back or sit on top and then the landcruisers and prado's go whizZing by.

We ate at Le Planteurs! Holy Crap! Monsoon - great curries, Sabai Sabai - fantastic Thai food, Alamanda Inn - nice French food and some road side stalls and tea houses. There are plenty of options, you will not starbe here. There is not much of a bar scene and the town closes early.

Yangon ites are quiet people, they do not live their life in the streets as a lot of Asain countries seem too, they are polite, quiet and keep to themselves.

We have loved this town and already want to come back, I am sure that things will change very quickly here.

Lets go to Bago

andreagee — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:36:00 GMT

Bago is a former capital and is a great day trip from Yangon out into the country. About 45 minutes out and we hit motorbikes! There are no bikes allowed in Yangoon. We also stop at an Allied War Memorail and cemetary which has the ashes and bodies of 29 thousand men that never made it home. Beautifully kept place and plaques for men so young. We paid our respects and moved onto Bago

The Kyaik Pun Paya housed 4 Buddha sitting back to back

Shwethalyaung Buddha is the biggest reclining Buddha l've seen, stunning and gold and glittery.

Shwemaawdaw Paya another golden stupa type pagoda, full of glitter, gold and glare! Take your sunnies folks!

Kanbawzathadi Palace a re-creation of a palace from the 11 th century but with the original teak pillions, amazing!

Lunch at a Lovely road side bus stoppy place, and back to the traffic jams of Yangon and a torrential rain storm!

Great day out, costs were the driver and car that we pre organised with PeaceHouse travel, very good driver and car, not like the bottomless or see through taxis we have had in the previous days! $10 each for a ticket that gets you in to the temple sights in this town. And they actually checked them! Bloody camera costs, 300 kyat every damn temple! Yes, 30 whole cents folks!

Le Planteurs Yangon

andreagee — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:19:00 GMT

Our dining experience tonight was something else! Talk about those contrasts! From eating in the street on little plastic stools with the kids to being picked up in a little red and white British old car and driven to a gorgeous colonial home which is the restaraunt Le Planteurs.

As its the rainy season we had to sit inside as of course it was raining, the gardens are beautiful and l had hoped we would be siting outside.

We knew this was going to be expensive but underestimated that a little! Our shock passed once we started eating! The most amazing tastes and flavours. Seven courses of goodness! We managed to fit it all in, did ourselves proud. The best of all was the cheese platter "please choose four cheeses madam", and guess what? He said the same for dessert! Four amazing small pots and parcels of sheer delight! I really am in heaven now.

So our meal tonight was not a meal but a wonderful dinning experience that if you enjoy food on your travels and want something special this is the place. But bring your money! No Visa card here ans would have cost a mound of Kyat, so US dollars was the choice of currency.

YOLO!

Photos: Myanmar

andreagee — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:18:00 GMT

On the road to Mandalay

Yangon

andreagee — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:54:00 GMT

Arrived in Yangon perfectly on time, thank you Air Asia once again. Yangon Airport was like a library so big and quiet , through and out with no problems and into a taxi (7000 Kyat) to Classique Inn. The Guest House is in the quiet embassy area and there are so many very palatial homes and buildings, very colonial.

In the two days we have been here we have visited The Strand Hotel - very raffles like! The riverfront and all is hustle and bustle, china town and the Kheng Hock Keong temple, the largest Chinese temple in town, great tea house across from it, enjoyed two teas and a pork bun all for 1000 kyat (one dollar). The Sule Pagoda, a 2000 year old pagoda in the middle of the towns main round about!

The Shwedagon Paya is an amazing place and l rate it as the second best temple l have ever seen, the first being Angkor Wat. It is simply stunning. Cost 10 dollars for both of us, money goes to the Govt for its up keep! Only foreigners pay! It is so big and very spread out, the main stupa or Zedi is completely solid! We prayed and were prayed for but sweet old men scamming us for money, but of course we obliged as we actually did learn from them. There is nothing in English so you really have no idea about any of it other than what you read in your guide book. We spent about 3 hours here just absorbing and wandering.

Bogyoke Aung San Market is a terrific market but doesn't really open until 10 ish, this town wakes up slowly and late! We had a grEat meal in a lane way on the small kid like plastic chairs and table, a feast for 5 dollars, iced coffees, soup, noodles and coke! And lovey kids laughing at us!

The Botatuang Paya pagoda along the river front is no where near as spectacular as the above, almost a bit bleh, but its done now!

Kandawgi Lake was lovey, stunning view looking back at the Shwedagon Paya. It poured rain so we sheltered in a coffee house that happened to sell gelati! Oh well!

There are so many contrasts and clashes in this town, modern, old, run down, falling down, poor and rich, seems to be no middle class or middle row, just rich or poor. you could spend a week here looking at all the amazing spectacular colonial buildings, most are very run down and falling down and beside them they are building condominiums! The locals still were their longis and there are bill boards advertising modern brands, what the....

Its just a bit like that!

"The Road to Mandalay"

andreagee — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:17:00 GMT

We will be on the Road to Mandalay in a few days, departing Oz on the 23rd of June 2013. This trip has been in my head for many years and am getting excited that its about to eventuate, we are only doing the Four big towns, Yangon, Bagan, Lake Inle and Mandalay, but its a taste!

By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea,
There's a Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me;
For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the temple-bells they say:
"Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!"
Come you back to Mandalay,
Where the old Flotilla lay:
Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!

'Er petticoat was yaller an' 'er little cap was green,
An' 'er name was Supi-yaw-lat — jes' the same as Theebaw's Queen,
An' I seed her first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,
An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on an 'eathen idol's foot:
Bloomin' idol made o'mud —
Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd —
Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed 'er where she stud!
On the road to Mandalay . . .

When the mist was on the rice-fields an' the sun was droppin' slow,
She'd git 'er little banjo an' she'd sing "~Kulla-lo-lo!~"
With 'er arm upon my shoulder an' 'er cheek agin' my cheek
We useter watch the steamers an' the ~hathis~ pilin' teak.
Elephints a-pilin' teak
In the sludgy, squdgy creek,
Where the silence 'ung that 'eavy you was 'arf afraid to speak!
On the road to Mandalay . . .

But that's all shove be'ind me — long ago an' fur away,
An' there ain't no 'busses runnin' from the Bank to Mandalay;
An' I'm learnin' 'ere in London what the ten-year soldier tells:
"If you've 'eard the East a-callin', you won't never 'eed naught else."
No! you won't 'eed nothin' else
But them spicy garlic smells,
An' the sunshine an' the palm-trees an' the tinkly temple-bells;
On the road to Mandalay . . .

I am sick o' wastin' leather on these gritty pavin'-stones,
An' the blasted Henglish drizzle wakes the fever in my bones;
Tho' I walks with fifty 'ousemaids outer Chelsea to the Strand,
An' they talks a lot o' lovin', but wot do they understand?
Beefy face an' grubby 'and —
Law! wot do they understand?
I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land!
On the road to Mandalay . . .

Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,
Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;
For the temple-bells are callin', an' it's there that I would be —
By the old Moulmein Pagoda, looking lazy at the sea;
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the old Flotilla lay,
With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!

Phnom PenhRoyal and then home!

andreagee — Sat, 6 Oct 2012 15:52:00 GMT

A lunch time drive back to PP, no Dara this time but a very capable driver, no english was spoken so l dose all the way!

I'm staying at the Mekong Boutique Hotel this time, a gorgeous place with only 14 rooms near the Pencil Supermarket. A huge spacious room all to me! Dump my stuff and head off for a walk and a Tuk Tuk to Sorya Mall to do some quick shopping (phone cases!) then to street 178 to browse the shops. Decide to get a Tuk Tuk back to the Hotel but no one knows where it is!! Poor man rides around and around in circles, finally we figure it out and l will always rememebr to make sure l know the address before leaving a hotel!! Idiot!!

A bit of a rest up and then to the Titanic Restauant to meet up with a new friend Peter and his beautiful Khmer Fiancee, a very strong and proud woman who l look forward to spending more time with in the future. What a perfect night. G & T's, great conversation and great location (was'nt that keen on their food though) Srey mom has her own Tuk Tuk serive, bought for an older son (Adopted or taken on) and so l get a lift back to the Mekong and now he knows where it is for his guests as well!!!

Next day l have an extended check out, so head off to Central Markets for cake and coffee and more shopping, more phone cover shopping around the market as there are soooo many phone shops! Street 240 for the boutiques and 178 for DVD's and silk purses! Back to hotel for shower and final pack, l think my bag will certainly be over weight this time!

But amazingly it was 19.8 kilo's!

So the end of my first solo trip, l have loved it, so easy to only have yourself to think about! And first time in my married life to have these two weeks alone! Wow!

So until next time folks.......

Kampot - AGAIN!!

andreagee — Wed, 3 Oct 2012 15:43:00 GMT

Directly to Kampot with Dara, the second best driver in Cambodia (Sameth being the first), he hcatted all the way and was a lvoely trip. To the Riki and a big hug from Denise, Bory and the gang! Yay l am home! I see Dom the nest day, btu sadly he is off to PP to do some business, so will miss him for the rest of the trip.

The next few days l am very, very spoilt by all at the Rikitikitavi, food and drinks and service just perfect. Bory is now a manager here and we met Bory on our first trip to Kampot when he was a Tuk Tuk driver, he is an amazing young Khmer and will do well in this world. Bory and l sepnd some time having great chats and l look forward to being able to assist him more when we are in Cambodia more often, he is one Cambodian l would trust wholly.

The gorgeous Romdoul is my tour guide for two days, on the back of her Moto! First day up to Bokor, the new Hotel up there is disgusting and hideous, apparently its not doing too well either. I had a lovely massage by the Seeing Hands on my return as my butt was so sore from the bike! Was a great day.

Nest day l finally get out to the Secret Lake, not sure how you would find this on your own, but it was not just the destination that was amazing but the ride out there, through sugar cane fields, road side stalls, some intrieging houses, villages, people, all happy and waving. We then went on to Kep to the Crab Shacks for lunch and back to Kampot. the raod was the worst l have ever seen it and thought we were going to end up in the mud a few times! But did'nt!

A lovely manicure to end my stay in Kampot at Jolie Jolie.

I never, ever tire of this town and already can't wait until the next trip!

Chiang Mai to Bangkok to Phnom Penh

andreagee — Mon, 1 Oct 2012 15:37:00 GMT

I had booked months ago the flight from Chiang Mai through to Phnom Penh with Bangkok airlines. It was certainly the most direct and easiest way to do the trip even though it cost me over $300 Aust!!!

Tuk Tuk out to the Airport and easy check in, top flight with full meal service to Bangkok and when l got off the lfight, myself and three other passengers were special as we had stickers that the CM book in people had put on us. I had no idea what they were for, but we four were ushered from one end of the HUGE Airport to the other by a very fast Thai woman who kept telling us to hurry we will be late!

Apparently as we all had connecting flights, and two were a bit closer to our arrival time thatn mine, we were rushed through, but l still had a few hours up my sleeve for a leisurely lunch and iced coffee!!

Flight to PP, no dramas and more food! Arrived bang on time and out to the smiling Dara who was waiting for me, he was very anxious as eh did not have my name on a sign and did'nt think he could rememebr me, but l always recognise his lovely face and as soon as he saw me, he obviously recognised mine!!

Old city Walls of Chiang Mai

andreagee — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:57:00 GMT

Today l have decided to walk the entire city walls, take in the huge gates and see what l see! Pats Klang Viang is in such a handy location and its only a short walk to the end of Phara Pokklao and along Bambrung Buri, the Chiang Mai gate is the first gate, and there is a small local market around this area, nice fruit shakes.

Down past Suan Prung Gate and l decide to walk through the Buak Hat Public Park, came across some chinese tourists who had no idea where they were, showed them where they were on the map and they were off! My Nancy Chandler map is the BEST!!! The park is gorgeous, you can hire a mat an dsit and cool off, enjoy your morning Tai Chi or whatever the routines that some elder residents were going through. And of course you can get a Thai Massage!

Around the Ku Rang Corner and aling Arak Road, past the Suan Dok Gate, lotf of Thai places to eat , pet shops (so many rabbits!),around Hua Rin Corner onto Sri Phum, some gorgeous buidlings along here, a white deserted mansion, looks so old. Mali Pagoda, most certainly one of the most lovely pagodas int he city and different to most as it is in the old Lanna Style. A stop off for iced coffee and a very quaint little shop. Past the Chang Kuak Gate, where you can get a Song taos(Red taxi) to Doi Suthep for 50 baht! Pretty cheap way to travel, but have been before so not bothering this trip. Around Sri Phum corner and some lovely tree's all wrapt up in colourful material, apparently this means a spirit lives in this tree? not sure.

Onto Moon Muang and stop off for another coffee at Tha Phae hate, alot of western type restaurants here and in fact the place l had tea at on my first night here. I now divert to across the moat through the gates and walk to Wararot Market. It certainly is worth a trip, the flowers are stunning and l bought some lovely materials so cheap to make bunting for our afternoon tea back home.

Back towards the old city and stop off for soem food and walk back to Pats, l ahve been out walking for 5 hours! Loved it!

so if you are in Chiang Mai, certainly make a plan to walk around the city walls, it was interesting and a great way to see everything, l think youo could easily walk just around the walls within two hours, l just got distracted at the market!!!

Lila Thai Massage

andreagee — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:45:00 GMT

Finally l have found THE place! After having my spine most certainly damaged by the elbows of Mrs Eeee and her buddies earlier in the week, and walking down some streets on my way to the night market where no one offers me a massage!

They are clearly selling something, and the shops all say massage but no one offers! Maybe it's the names of the shops that might give it away, the Go Go Club, Nice Mama's, Pirates Cove? Pussycats, and l could go on and on and on, streets of them! The women are very dressed up for massage too!

Anyway, l discover Lila Thai and it was started by a very wonderful woman called Naowarat Thanasrisutharat! She was the Director of the Chiang Mai women's Prison. She began the program to offer newly released inmates a way to contribute to society and be able to make a living so they did not fall back into their old ways. All these women are carefully screened for the program and also trained! So Mrs Eeee would'nt stand a chance here! It is professionally ran and the leg, foot massage was heavenly.

It was 180 baht for an hour of bliss, that's about $5 AUD

I think l will have to fit another one in before l leave!

Shopping in Chiang Mai

andreagee — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:28:00 GMT

Before l left home l made a list of all the places l was hoping that l would get to.

Think I've done that list proud!

Night Bazaar, have been up to the night market two nights now, and have hardly bought a thing other than my dinner! The stalls are very repetitive. Although am surprised that the vendors are not In Your face, only people that are are the women dressed in tribal clothing with those bloody frogs! It's a huge mount of crap in one area!

Sankampeang Road, is full of craft shops, selling lacquer ware, silverware, silk, woodcarving, leather, umbrella's, jade and honey products. Not exactly what l thought it would be but l had a tuk tuk (300 baht) and we headed off, l did purchase some cute Thai beads that are a pandora rip off and a few small items but all in all l would'nt bother.

Baan Tawai on the other hand was well worth the trip even if l did have the grumpiest tuk tuk driver! It is cheaper than the night market to start off with and much better quality, you can even buy bags of 5 and 10 lots of tourist crap, at very cheap prices, so great if you need to take gifts Home. Loved my morning out there. Some really funky stuff, great furniture, if only l could ship it all home!

Central Airport Plaza, was a good stop. I just love Asian supermarkets and a Robertsons Department store! Who Hoo! Bought some ridiculous kitchy junk that only Asian's have! Even has maccas for lunch, same, same!

Warorot Market - l loved this market. The flower sellers part was stunning, so colourful, so pretty and smelt so nice, so cheap!! Also great fabrics to be boughts, l did buy soem for the bunting l have to make for our Afternoon Tea, just great.

Saturday Walking Street - I think this one was by far the best Street Market as it had a carnival type atmosphere to it, lots to eat, drink and buy! Coconut waffles and coconut juice first up, them dumplings! More to drink! I actually did buy a few things and finished it off with a foot massage which was not a very good one, woman completly disinterested! Oh well, it was still nice enough!

But all in all l am all shopped out!

Doi Inthananon National Park

andreagee — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:06:00 GMT

Booked a day trip to Thailands highest peak. The cost was 1000 baht, which included lunch and a Few stops as well. I think you can book this at any of the hundreds of agents along the streets and they phone through to someone and you are on a mini bus! Picked at promptly on time, 8.30am and then a few stops to pick up the other guests. All Israeli and one Japanese.

First stop was a very impressive waterfall, which name escapes me, most likely Mae Klang. Onwards to a kings stupa and a lovely walk through the rain Forrest, so lush and green and a lovely coffee shop! My first hot coffee in a week! It's very cool up here.

Phra Mahatathat Naphamathanidon a Chedi or pagoda built to honour the king and the queen is a rather lovely, but strange place. Very cold. It has escalators going up to one pagoda and then escalators to the opposite side the the other pagoda! It's is set in a beautiful garden and l was very surprised to see that all the flowers are ones we grow at home.

These mountains are home to thousands on Hmong and Karen tribespeople, originally from Burma, they came to grow opium but now the government has got rid of it ( they think and hope) and they have created this area for these people to grow vegetables and fruit to earn a living

We stop at a market and buy the most gorgeous fruit and vegetables, dried fruit and teas, everyone on our little bus shares their bits and pieces to we can try.

We stop off at a Karen villages and have a wander through and into the laddie fields, just amazing at this time of year. Imagine if a tourist bus pulled up out the front of our homes and people all pile out and walk through our gardens and years! This always bothers me!

Next stop is the Wachiratan Falls and lunch! A wonderful spread of yummy Thai food.

Back into Chiang Mai about 5 and enough time for a shower and off to the night markets for dinner, a terrific day out.