Liliana’s South East Asia Adventure

Well I beginning to think no one is reading any of my posts.  If you don’t know how to leave any comments just click on the comments button at the end of a post.  So yesterday and the day before I went to see Doi Ithian National Park and the Hmong tribe that live there and then yesterday teh Karen tribe.  There are many different tribes in the north of Thailand.  I can’t remember what they told us expect that the Hmong are from China and the Karen I beleive are from Tibet. Don’y quote me.  I have links on the side to some of the tribes found in Thailand.  Anyway the kind of trecks I did if you can call them that were not great.  I choose to do 2 one day trips because I thought it would be less cheap and not as complicated.  The national park was lovely but to see the tribes was sad.  The first day we saw them weaving which was noce but basically these tribes exist for the toursits.  Around 10 tour buses a day go through these villages its sad.  Yesterday was the worst when we went up to the Golden Triange which is called this because you can see the Loas and Mynamar (Burma) border.  They all converge at the Mekong River.  That was lovely to see and we saw a huge golden Buddha which was also very pretty.  When we went to see the two tribes yesyerday they were very pushy in trying top sell stuff.  They had some traditional crafts and then other stuff which was imported from China or was Thai.  The kids were coming up to us and begging for us to buy a braclet.  The woman were begging us to take a picture of them and their kids for 10 Baht.  Very sad.  You can take treks that are 1-7 days.  Had I done that it probably wouldn’t have been as bad.  Personally most of these tribes are still around do to tourism.  I suppose even on a treck its not much different except you sleep with the tribe 1 night and they get most of the money.  The Karen tribe with the long necks still do that practice because of us.  It is outlawed but do to tourism the women still add gold chain links to their necks.  Very sad.  I didn’t see them luckely.  I guess you live and learn.  no?  Oh I do have to say I saw some nice waterfalls but nothing like Yosemite.

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.

Hey all so Yesterday I went to the Golden palace and the sleeping Buddha  Which was supper huge.  These temples were amazing to look and to describe them would be hard.  The Sleeping buddha was over 2 story buildings high and just as long.  The Golden temple was beautiful.  It was made out of gold which all kings of sparkly colored glass etc.  You will just have to see the pictures to see what I mean.  This palace was amazing to see.  It went on and on with building after building of lovely gold tile and moasaic like style.  Mike the guy I met to travel with and this other guy who from New Zealand are traveling with me.  I met teh Kiwi guy on the bus while headed to Koa San Road.  I told him I was meeting someone if he wanted to cheack out the hotel I was planning on staying at. 

Both are nice people and right now we are in Koh Tao.  It’s one of the smaller islands down south on the east coast of Thailand.  Last night the three of us caught a train down to this Island at 7;30.  It was a sleeper train which was our first.  Right after take off practically some guy came around and made up all the beds.  It was real nice with blue curtons and sheats and pillow. After we got to teh train stop we got off and waited for a couple hours until we all boarded a bus to get the boat.  It happened to be raining at teh time so 20 or more of us tourist were jammed in the back of this truck. It was really funny.

 Food In Thailand is supper cheap compared to home.  For around $2.00 you can get vegis and rice or noodles and vegis etc.  Fruit smothes are also supper cheap. We are staying in bungalos right near the ocean.  Im paying $7 for a nice place to myself. The net is expiensive here on the island so ciao for now.  enjoy the photos

Hello all.  I made it to Thailand after 24 hours.  Its my second day.  I cant find the letters to write.  Iäm in Khoa San Road  A backpackers area.  Not thai at all.  Every one speaks english and backpackers from all over the world are here.  Headed tonight to Koa Toa an  Island near Koa Samui.  Will write more later from anoother place.  Food is supper cheap.  Just had breakfast for 50 Baht which is about $1.25.  It included 1 hot cake, Tea, OJ and  same fruit. Headed now to site see with two other travlers who I äm going with to the beach.  Will have more pictures later as have onlz taken 2 just a few minutes ago.  Iäm fine and just trzing to reajust to the zone change.  Take care ciao Liliana.  Off to Golden Palace via Boat.  P.S.  Its Hot and humid.

So in about an hour or so I will be leaving for the airporter that will drop me off at China Airlines.  How do I feel? Well for the past 2 weeks I’ve had a sinus problem and now it’s gotten worse.  I’m taking lots of Vitamins etc that I’m hoping to feel better soon.  The different Vaccines that I just started taking is not helping me feel much better.  Well I think I’m excited.  At the moment I’m nervous as I always am before an international flight.  This other traveler that I’m meeting in Bangkok wants to go to one of the thailand island to chill out at the beaches.  I hope we decide to do that first so that in a few days I will be perfect again.

Well so I guess i’m  off to a 2 1/2 month trip to South east Asia.  I’m planning on going to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal if its safe and India.  I’m a horrible speller so anyone reading this site im informing you that 1 I might not correct all of my typing errors and 2 that I may spell some words wrong. That said I hope you enjoy what I write.  At times I may talk in the first person and at other times in the second.  Hope that won’t bother any of the LA writers.  I have licencing to do how I please.  Well I guess I better go eat some food before I leave.  I hope that when I return from this trip I will be a better human being and more zenfull.  Ok so I jusdt bough ta new watch because my G Shock broke and then I lost it.  Anyways it’s beeping every hour.  I need to figure out how to change that before I go insane.  Well everyone take care and I will talk to you soon from the other side.  Please enjoy the links that I’ve added so you can better understand the countries I’m visiting.  Ciao Liliana  

P.S First stop Bangkok, Thailand but first I have over a 16 hour plane ride ahead of me.  To top it off I’m getting to the airport 3 hours early so I can try and get a good seat.