Liliana’s South East Asia Adventure

Hello all,  So I’m in Chaing Mai which is in the north of Thailand.  This is where you go to do the hill tribe trecking.  Koa Tao was lovely but quasi westernized.  Actually its the better of the Islands because it’s small and basically caters to Scuba Divers.  It’s the biggest place to do that in South East Asia (SEA).  So I left the Island yesterday and said goodby to the Zealander and the other guy from USA who I was going to travel with to Cambodia.  Well he decided he likes the beach and doesn’t want to go to Cambodia.  It’s actually better this way beacuse most people do the SEA loop from Chiang Mai over to Laos.  I left the Island at 2pm and took a 3 hour boat ride over to the mainland.  From there I had to wait till 8:40 to catch a night train to BKK. I had a sleeper bed again. While waiting a woman told me it’s not much more to take a plane to Chiang Mai then it is to go by train.  So for $40 us I took a plane and it got me here around 12pm.  I’m staying at a place called Eagle Guest house 1.  For 190 Baht around $5.00 I have a room with hot water.  It has 3 beds in it which I don’t need but oh well.

It feels good to get away from the non traditional thai Islands etc and be up in the north were its more thai.  While walking around a street fair was starting to take place.  Crafts of all kinds are being displayed.  Some women lured me into a foot massage which was great.  They have chairs set up on the street for passers by.  She did me for an 1 hour doing my feet and sholders/arms.  It was great and it only cost me $120 Baht which is $3 USA.  Its about $40 Bht per dollar.  Food is cheap everywhere.  For $2 you can get a meal or even less depending.  I just saw some Buddhist temples and they are beautiful.  Sorry the photos I tried to upload before didn’t work.  I think this time it will.  Tons of tourist are everywhere.  I’m sure I will be able to meet someone to travel with.  I met an Italian on the train while I was heading to the airport in Bkk.  He was headed to see some temples 2 hours away.  I told him I was staying at this one place and ended up going somewhere else.  He is doing the same loop I am but since he went to see the original capital he will be taking a train up to Chiang Mai.  Anyways I probably will run into him.  I will probably take a 1 day tour to Doa Than National Park to see local HillTribes.  Its very touristy but everyone does it.  I feel bad because we will go there and look at them like they are animals.  I haven’t gone yet but I know what will happen.  We will go there and walk around while stairing at them.  We shall see.  So far I have not had any food with Peanut sauce which is what I love.  I’ve mostly been eating rice with mixed vegetables that are made with some kind of Soy Sauce.  It’s not soy sauce but similar.  Monks are everywhere up here.  Well ciao for now.  The crafts are supper cheap and I have to tell my self to not buy anything because its so cheap.  Maybe a couple small items.  I have to remember I will be caring this around with me.  I will update you with more in a day or 2 ciao.  Hope I can upload photos without a problem this time.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2006 at 9:56 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.