We traveled back to Bangkok on a 2 hr journey. Today some people in the group decided to leave the trip to stay in Hua Hin - a beach town not far from Bangkok instead, we planned and booked everything for them, so I sent them off on a minibus to their destination.
We had to check in in a different hotel from the plan because of the unrest situation in Bangkok, we stayed in a hotel near by the airport instead. They still could go to shopping at a big shopping mall which is located nearby. We didn't have dinner cruise as planned because of the curfew in Bangkok but we had our last night dinner together in Kanchanaburi the night before... Everyone was happy and had an amazing trip!!! Goodbye everyone!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 8 - Hell Fire Pass & The Death Railway - Kanchanaburi
Today we woke up in Kanchanaburi - home of the infamous 'Death Railway' and the Bridge over River Kwae (I didn't spell it wrong, actually the word "Kwai" is wrong!).
We drove to "Hell Fire Pass" which was part of the railway that was most difficult for the POWs to work on it. My group found this place very reflective and sad.
After the walk we came back to have a look in the museum which is very well-set up before heading to have lunch at Namtoke Station. Here is the end station of the Death Railway which is still in use today.
Then we caught a train to Tha Kilen for one hour on a beautiful scenery trip... Then we got back on the minibus again and drove to visit another museum and the war cemetery before hopping on the rickshaws to the Bridge over River Kwae.
Tonight it's our last night as some people in the group would like to leave the trip earlier because of the unrest situation in Bangkok - hopefully the situation improves very soon....
We drove to "Hell Fire Pass" which was part of the railway that was most difficult for the POWs to work on it. My group found this place very reflective and sad.
After the walk we came back to have a look in the museum which is very well-set up before heading to have lunch at Namtoke Station. Here is the end station of the Death Railway which is still in use today.
Then we caught a train to Tha Kilen for one hour on a beautiful scenery trip... Then we got back on the minibus again and drove to visit another museum and the war cemetery before hopping on the rickshaws to the Bridge over River Kwae.
Tonight it's our last night as some people in the group would like to leave the trip earlier because of the unrest situation in Bangkok - hopefully the situation improves very soon....
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 7 - Sukhothai - The world heritage site!
What a luxury stay! Unfortunately, it's only one night... Today we moved on again... We checked out early and drove to Sukhothai Historical Park. Picked a bike and decided to go lookie lookie!!!|
Sukhothai means "The Dawn of Happiness" and we can say that it did mean so... All the Buddha images we saw here are smiling! It was the first built in the Thai kingdom 772 years ago and is included as a world heritage site. We cycled around to see the old temples and one of those includes my most favorite Buddha image "Phra Ajjana" - a huge Buddha image with big hand...
We had a picnic lunch afterwards before a long journey to Kanchanaburi - beautiful scenery on the way! We also stop to see rice fields and arrived not too late. We had a set dinner at the resort tonight.
Sukhothai means "The Dawn of Happiness" and we can say that it did mean so... All the Buddha images we saw here are smiling! It was the first built in the Thai kingdom 772 years ago and is included as a world heritage site. We cycled around to see the old temples and one of those includes my most favorite Buddha image "Phra Ajjana" - a huge Buddha image with big hand...
We had a picnic lunch afterwards before a long journey to Kanchanaburi - beautiful scenery on the way! We also stop to see rice fields and arrived not too late. We had a set dinner at the resort tonight.
Day 6 - Elephant Day in Lampang!
Today was the day that everyone was looking forward to as it's the day we were lucky to spend time with our big friendly giants: the elephants! (or as we call them in Thai - 'Chang')
We started bright and early in the morning to drive to the 'Elephant Conservation Center'
All the money raised by this centre goes towards the care of the elephants. We wanted to make sure we couldn't miss the main event - the elephants bathing. We watched them enjoy just staying in the water, some of them sprayed the water onto our group... After we enjoyed the show... The elephants showed us a lot of their ability including playing music and painting... they're so clever!
After the show we were lucky enough to ride the elephants.. After we had lunch we were able to head to 'The Elephant Dung Paper' factory. Here believe it or not we learnt to make paper from their dung - wow!
Then we drove to visit the 'Elephant Hospital' of The Friends of Asian Elephants Foundation, which is included in our Intrepid Foundation list. It's the shelter for Motala and Mosha - two famous ellies who stepped on land mines and are the first ones in the world who have got their prosthetic legs... Here we were also lucky enough to see a new born baby elephant
We started bright and early in the morning to drive to the 'Elephant Conservation Center'
All the money raised by this centre goes towards the care of the elephants. We wanted to make sure we couldn't miss the main event - the elephants bathing. We watched them enjoy just staying in the water, some of them sprayed the water onto our group... After we enjoyed the show... The elephants showed us a lot of their ability including playing music and painting... they're so clever!
After the show we were lucky enough to ride the elephants.. After we had lunch we were able to head to 'The Elephant Dung Paper' factory. Here believe it or not we learnt to make paper from their dung - wow!
Then we drove to visit the 'Elephant Hospital' of The Friends of Asian Elephants Foundation, which is included in our Intrepid Foundation list. It's the shelter for Motala and Mosha - two famous ellies who stepped on land mines and are the first ones in the world who have got their prosthetic legs... Here we were also lucky enough to see a new born baby elephant
We're back on the road again heading to our five-star- resort in Sukhothai... An amazing day we had!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Day 5 - Hmong Hill Tribe!
We moved onto the Hmong Lodge today! We drove to the suburb of Chiangmai in the afternoon, heading up to the Hmong Hill Tribe... On the way we stop to visit an Orchid Farm where we're surrounded by beautiful and colorful orchids - great for photos!!!
Then we drive further up to our serene resort... after checking in we relax a bit, some of us choose to stay by the swimming pool with the lookout to the peaceful rice fields. I and the other two crews like to take a walk to the nearby community, we have noodles soup at a local restaurant... As we notice that there are some lychee trees with the red fruits all over around there, so I buy fresh lychees right from the tree from a villager - so cheap!!!
At 5pm we drive uphill to visit a nearby Hmong village... get to walk around, this is the best time to visit as everyone has come back from their working in the farm... The villagers are preparing food for their pigs, kids are playing around...
Tonight we have BBQ dinner followed by the great shows from the Hmong people from the village we visited!!!
At 5pm we drive uphill to visit a nearby Hmong village... get to walk around, this is the best time to visit as everyone has come back from their working in the farm... The villagers are preparing food for their pigs, kids are playing around...
Tonight we have BBQ dinner followed by the great shows from the Hmong people from the village we visited!!!
Day 4 - Chiangmai
It's a free day! Everyone went out to do their own things, exploring the city, shopping, having massages... This is the second largest city of Thailand and it offers lots of things for you to do!!!
We meet back again in the hotel to go to visit "Wat Phra That Doi Suthep" - the most sacred temple of Chiangmai and the landmark of the city. We drove up to the temple which is located on the mountain (1,600m above sea level) in the west of Chiangmai. We climbed up the 306 steps with the magnificent Naga and Dragon balustrades. The temple has it's beautiful golden Chedi (pagoda) which contains the relics of the Buddha and from there you can see the stunning view of Chiangmai...moreover we can observe the monks chanting too!!!
After that we drive back to the city to go to have the Khantoke dinner with cultural show, tasting delicious Northern food while attending the beautiful dancing!!!
We spent our last night in Chiangmai at the night bazaar which offers you almost everything you could ever want!
We meet back again in the hotel to go to visit "Wat Phra That Doi Suthep" - the most sacred temple of Chiangmai and the landmark of the city. We drove up to the temple which is located on the mountain (1,600m above sea level) in the west of Chiangmai. We climbed up the 306 steps with the magnificent Naga and Dragon balustrades. The temple has it's beautiful golden Chedi (pagoda) which contains the relics of the Buddha and from there you can see the stunning view of Chiangmai...moreover we can observe the monks chanting too!!!
After that we drive back to the city to go to have the Khantoke dinner with cultural show, tasting delicious Northern food while attending the beautiful dancing!!!
We spent our last night in Chiangmai at the night bazaar which offers you almost everything you could ever want!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 3 - Chiangmai
Today we arrive in Chiangmai - the rose of the North - the train is a bit delayed... After a short transfer to the hotel and checking in, the group goes out to join our included activity - full day cooking class - they get to cook 6 dishes which they can choose what to cook. They get back late in the afternoon with full belly as they have to be responsible and eat what they've done!!!
We meet back again in the evening to go to our "Sunday walking street market" where lots of goods are offered right from the locals!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Day 1/2 - Bangkok!
Today we're heading out for the Klong tour and the Grand Palace. We take the long-tail boat on the Chao Phraya River - the River of the King - get into the canals (Klong) to see people's lives by the water. We stop to feed the cat fish with bread at the back of a temple, there are lots of them! We try to spot a monitor lizard but can't see any... After that we get off the boat to visit the Grand Palace and the temple of the Emerald Buddha. This used to be the place where the kings lived. We also visit the most beautiful temple and the most sacred Buddha image of Thailand - the Emerald Buddha.. And in the evening we board on overnight train to Chiang Mai! Off we go!
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