On-the-Road Tales

Back in the insanity of the city, I headed to check out the public transportation. Since there were a variety of canal in the city, water taxis are often a good way to get a cheap tour. I rode the water taxi, skytrain and metro – all very limited in scope but clean and effecient. Of course I got a little too confident and ended up on the wrong boat which ended up crossing me to the other side of the river instead of going anywhere I need to go.

I checked out Chinatown which was full of markets and stalls and jewelry selling all the trinkets and junk we see in our malls. You can buy wholesale and you get to appreciate how much profit out stores make on this stuff. On my way back to the hotel, I jumped off the taxi to do some exploring and decided, since I heard thunder, I better continue on. Wrong. The waterway was now closed I was told because ‘the king was up there’. How was I supposed to get back? Tuk tuk, taxi was the answer. No thankyou. The traffic in Bangkok is horrendous and I would rather walk than sit in evening commuting. I guess DC is not the only place they close roads and airports when politicians are on the move. On Mondays and Fridays many Thai citizens wear yellow or sometimes blue shirts with a royal emblem on it as a sign of respect for the King. It is like the whole country wearing a uniform. I walked past some of the palaces where fireworks were being lit since some sort of holiday was happening and many people were sitting singing outside.

It poured continuosly during the night and I kept waking up rain hitting the galvanized roof and rushing water past underneath me. I thought about the chances the 2-3 ropes securing us to the bank would actually hold if there was some sort of a flash flood or debris coming down the river. This through process was probably initiated by my practical mother recounting news stories to me about women and children getting washed over a waterfall and drown somewhere in Thailand earlier in the week due to heavy rains! There was also an animal living above me trying to burrow into something but since the roof was metal…is made a terrible scratching sound. Occasionally, there would be a pounce and the whole roof would vibrate. Based on the circumstances, you just deal with floods and wild animals because there is not a heck of alot of options. There is nowhere else to go, and you just want to sleep top recover from the heat during the day. Not sure I would have the same reaction if there was an animal running under me on Lake Cove Drive!

Went to the Sonkaki Elephant Camp where I boarded a massive beast. I thought horses were bad? I was twice as high and twice as unstable! The little boy sitting on the animals head who helped me on was about 6, but the way he climbed up and down and over it – I had plenty of confidence in him surprisingly. Another woman ended up climbing on to be the guide and we did some touring about the camp. Amazing. Thai elephants are very docile and listen to commands. Perhaops because they were used in battle along with the burmese. The handler said they had tried using elephants from Africa and some other countries but none would listen like the Thai elephants. The handler used a tiny stick with a hook at the end and if the elephant went the wrong way, it was prodded. Seemed like such a tiny instrument to control a huge animal.

Onto the river for bamboo rafting. This was the traditional method of transport for the local, lashing reeds together. Although, the current was so fast you had one chance to get the landing right at your desired spot. After 3 very insteresting days up north, it was time to head back to the mayhem of Bangkok.

Wow - 100 - that sounds like a lotta days but does not feel so long since i left... Went to check out a national park today with a 7 tiered waterfall. I was assuming a big high ... [Continue reading this entry]

I joined up with a minibus and headed about 1.5 hours north to Kanchanaburi. I am sure I learned something about Thailand's past and this area in my 10th grade world history class but I had to admit ... [Continue reading this entry]

On the map, Bangkok looks walkable. In real life - it is really spread out and the public transportation is not exactly where you need it to be to make getting around convienent. I checked out some buddhist ... [Continue reading this entry]

Took a 'taxi' to the port. Read 'climb into the bed of a pick-up truck'. With all the backpacks and scuba tanks coming to this island, no one uses cars to transport. Another 1.5 hour ferry to ... [Continue reading this entry]

I survived the night with Mr. Gecko and reclined on the deck for my morning toast - literally 'on the deck' since you are seated on the ground with these triangular cushion seat things. I can not get myself ... [Continue reading this entry]

I enjoyed breakfast on the deck watching men and women transport goods they would sell that day on the beach by balancing them on both ends of a long stick carried across their shoulders. I decided to take a ... [Continue reading this entry]

Attempting to get acclimated to Thai customs. People are very friendly and helpful and since it is a tourist destination - their english is passable. Of course like me when speaking a language, they grasp for the closest ... [Continue reading this entry]

I had to leave my plush digs in the morning without even getting to explore the fabulous looking buddha adorned fountain courtyard I could see from my room. Headed back to the airport for my Bangkok Airways flight to ... [Continue reading this entry]