Now in the 'historic city' of Sukhothai in northern Thailand. Five centuries ago this city was the capital of the first Thai kingdom, now ruins, a world heritage site, and tourists. You can spend a day here. I used a bike to get around, dozens of temples and palaces, large and small. Hot, sunny, fun, lots of water and shades. What is left is the stone foundations and columns and pillars. Some very cool sculpture and stone Buddha images.
There is the old town and the new town, of Sukhothai. The old is the ancient city, the new is the modern town of Suk (12kms to the east of the old). The new is a small, quiet place, and, to be frank, not the most exciting, but a friendly spot. A dollar (30 baht) will get you a plate of vegetarian food in a night market restaurant, everything else similarly cheap. An aircon room at a hostel in town is $12--cool. Met a few younger folk (under 30 haha) in the hostel. Always fun to meet people from different places.
There is the old town and the new town, of Sukhothai. The old is the ancient city, the new is the modern town of Suk (12kms to the east of the old). The new is a small, quiet place, and, to be frank, not the most exciting, but a friendly spot. A dollar (30 baht) will get you a plate of vegetarian food in a night market restaurant, everything else similarly cheap. An aircon room at a hostel in town is $12--cool. Met a few younger folk (under 30 haha) in the hostel. Always fun to meet people from different places.
It has been a while, but here is a new blog post. Not sure who is going to read this, but I cannot blame anyone for not reading. My later posts were not that exciting, and it has been quiet a while, as I stated earlier. However, here it is.
Still in Thailand, been travelling in south east asia for the past few months: Malaysia, Sing and Thailand. All interesting, all fun. Did not return to Australia for xmas this year! First time in my life xmas without the family! Not as exciting as I thought, and I found I missed the fam more than I thought that I would. My nephews muchly.
My plans for the next few months are a little confused, head south to Phils or north to China? A friend of mine is teaching in C, and asked me to visit. Have not been so why not? But I would like to visit the Phils? I will give this question some thought.
A few random snaps from my travels:
Still in Thailand, been travelling in south east asia for the past few months: Malaysia, Sing and Thailand. All interesting, all fun. Did not return to Australia for xmas this year! First time in my life xmas without the family! Not as exciting as I thought, and I found I missed the fam more than I thought that I would. My nephews muchly.
My plans for the next few months are a little confused, head south to Phils or north to China? A friend of mine is teaching in C, and asked me to visit. Have not been so why not? But I would like to visit the Phils? I will give this question some thought.
A few random snaps from my travels:
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Well, indeed. Now in Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Fun city, 2 million people, 1,000 cars and 10 million motorbikes (that is how it looks). Staying in my fav guest house 1 street back from the Mekong River. This means paying $20 a night, not $200 (dumb ass tourists), and a slightly smaller room, with less glitz.
Spent the last week plus in southern Laos on the Bolaven Plateau. Never heard of it, don't worry, few have. It is a a plateau (you guessed that?), filled with lots of trees, waterfalls, and villages of folk living a mix of 10th and 21st century life. That is to say, each village has some sort of internet connection, and everyone wants a mobile phone, but 99% of the village is the same as it was 100 years ago. Mainly older folk, the younger have head off to the big city to find work for cash, adventure and social advancement.
Going to rest in Phnom Penh for a week or two. Got a few people to catch up with.
Hang loss.
Yes, its a cow and a house.
A 'Big Buddha' southern Laos.
An ancient Cambodian temple in southern Laos
Crossing the Mekong
Waterbuffaloes--always good fun.
Villages, mud and the Mekong.
Life on the Mekong
Crossing into Cambo from Laos, hordes of young people at the border waiting for a ride.
Is this a good pic or what? This young woman reading her Lonely Planet. Not staged at all, just how it was.
Me in Phnom Penh.
Little girl, living in the Laos jungle. Not romantic or 'back to nature' at all. Just hard.
Well, indeed. Now in Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Fun city, 2 million people, 1,000 cars and 10 million motorbikes (that is how it looks). Staying in my fav guest house 1 street back from the Mekong River. This means paying $20 a night, not $200 (dumb ass tourists), and a slightly smaller room, with less glitz.
Spent the last week plus in southern Laos on the Bolaven Plateau. Never heard of it, don't worry, few have. It is a a plateau (you guessed that?), filled with lots of trees, waterfalls, and villages of folk living a mix of 10th and 21st century life. That is to say, each village has some sort of internet connection, and everyone wants a mobile phone, but 99% of the village is the same as it was 100 years ago. Mainly older folk, the younger have head off to the big city to find work for cash, adventure and social advancement.
Going to rest in Phnom Penh for a week or two. Got a few people to catch up with.
Hang loss.
Yes, its a cow and a house.
A 'Big Buddha' southern Laos.
An ancient Cambodian temple in southern Laos
Crossing the Mekong
Waterbuffaloes--always good fun.
Villages, mud and the Mekong.
Life on the Mekong
Crossing into Cambo from Laos, hordes of young people at the border waiting for a ride.
Is this a good pic or what? This young woman reading her Lonely Planet. Not staged at all, just how it was.
Me in Phnom Penh.
Little girl, living in the Laos jungle. Not romantic or 'back to nature' at all. Just hard.
All my blog posts are about travel, that is just me.
I am in the southern Laos city of Savannakhet. A city of, I am told, 120,000 people, but I do not belive that number, maybe 1/4 of that, or perhaps the stat refers to a larger area outside the city itself?
Sav stretches along the Mekong River for about 3kms and inland 2kms. French built, there are many derilict and semi-derilict French colonial era buildings here. Also much newer construction. Oveall, the town is worn, run down, and very poor, and just a little dusty. There are beggars, and old women asking our for money as you walk past. I have seen people eating out of garbage cans, and people abandoned on the streets. But it is not all doom. Most of the inhabitants are happy, poor, but happy. There is food to go around, and in the cool of the evening it seems half the pop. head to the Mekong riverfront, to buy food cooked on open stoves, and drink, chat and generally hangout.
One thing to know, there are always rich people. Even in very poor areas. Today saw a Loas guy drive up in a sports car, jump out and walk into one of his stores in town. In a town where $1 is a serious chunk of change, this guy enjoys conspicuous consumption.
Met an interesting guy today, Ed from the usa. A bit of a hippee, musician, entrepeneur. Buys and sells in the us, local handicrafts, on the fair trade principal, pays the loca artesans well, and sells expensively to overpaid upper middle class westerners. Cool.
Here for a few days, to get a new Thai visa, and to head further south into Laos. From there? Not sure, back to Thailand, or further south into Cambodia? Still thinking about that.
Been thinking more about my future. I am in my mid 50s now, and wondering what is next? Health wise no problems now, and maybe not for a while, but I am not a baby anymore. When I was a teenager I did think that the 21st century would be both more interesting and more advanced than it is now. No aircars, and no life extension drugs, I want both, but more the latter.
Bus across to Laos from Thailand.
I am in the southern Laos city of Savannakhet. A city of, I am told, 120,000 people, but I do not belive that number, maybe 1/4 of that, or perhaps the stat refers to a larger area outside the city itself?
Sav stretches along the Mekong River for about 3kms and inland 2kms. French built, there are many derilict and semi-derilict French colonial era buildings here. Also much newer construction. Oveall, the town is worn, run down, and very poor, and just a little dusty. There are beggars, and old women asking our for money as you walk past. I have seen people eating out of garbage cans, and people abandoned on the streets. But it is not all doom. Most of the inhabitants are happy, poor, but happy. There is food to go around, and in the cool of the evening it seems half the pop. head to the Mekong riverfront, to buy food cooked on open stoves, and drink, chat and generally hangout.
One thing to know, there are always rich people. Even in very poor areas. Today saw a Loas guy drive up in a sports car, jump out and walk into one of his stores in town. In a town where $1 is a serious chunk of change, this guy enjoys conspicuous consumption.
Met an interesting guy today, Ed from the usa. A bit of a hippee, musician, entrepeneur. Buys and sells in the us, local handicrafts, on the fair trade principal, pays the loca artesans well, and sells expensively to overpaid upper middle class westerners. Cool.
Here for a few days, to get a new Thai visa, and to head further south into Laos. From there? Not sure, back to Thailand, or further south into Cambodia? Still thinking about that.
Been thinking more about my future. I am in my mid 50s now, and wondering what is next? Health wise no problems now, and maybe not for a while, but I am not a baby anymore. When I was a teenager I did think that the 21st century would be both more interesting and more advanced than it is now. No aircars, and no life extension drugs, I want both, but more the latter.
Bus across to Laos from Thailand.
Been in the resort city of Pattaya for two weeks. R&R, a pleasant spot. Been thinking of what is next. Planning a trip via Laos to Cambodia and some time in Phnom Penh. Leaving in a few days.
Now spending a month in the southern Thai town of Surat Thani—the city of good people. Not the most exciting town in Thailand, but it is a pleasant spot by the river, I know of a great hotel here, low cost, good facilities, friendly staff (which is to say, they don't laugh when I mispronounce the Thai language, and they play the game of throwing to me, rather than handing me my keys, when I return to the hotel—it is the little things which keep the ennui of life at bay).
Putting my feet up and relaxing (by the pool) for a few weeks. The only real annoyance is that Thais love conferences, and as this is one of the better hotels in the city, 2 days out of 3 there are folk arriving and departing for a conference, on something. Yesterday something about early child hood education, tomorrow, who knows, rice farming.
I also met again a girl I met here a few months back when I was passing through. She works as a sales rep for a Thai phone company and does a little pr work. Who knows, might even work out for a while, haha.
Putting my feet up and relaxing (by the pool) for a few weeks. The only real annoyance is that Thais love conferences, and as this is one of the better hotels in the city, 2 days out of 3 there are folk arriving and departing for a conference, on something. Yesterday something about early child hood education, tomorrow, who knows, rice farming.
I also met again a girl I met here a few months back when I was passing through. She works as a sales rep for a Thai phone company and does a little pr work. Who knows, might even work out for a while, haha.
In the city of Pattaya, in eastern Thailand. Yes, Pattaya has the reputation of being a 'naughty city', where sex is for sale. Staying at 'Secrets' http://www.secretspattaya.com/. Been here before. Catching up with a few old friends, generally hanging out.
The beach, on a deck chair, sipping a coconut, is a pleasant way to spend a few hours, with a book, neck massage, feet scrapped of dead skin (not as icky as it sounds). Amazing the people you meet. A very overweight American who works 18-20 hour days in a military warehouse in Iraq. A UK gay guy who walks around in a flamboyant gold suit. 6' tall 'ladyboys', who grab your arm as you walk by and whisper endearments as they do so. Young lads from Kuwait looking mystified, wondering if they are in paradise. All good fun.
Pattaya city covers only a few square kilometres along Pattaya Bay, but it is a world in itself. There are 3 main shopping malls, lots of restaurants, which range from cheap and tasty street carts, through McDonalds and Sbux, to 5 star French eateries. There are lots of gogo bars and beer bars. And many many hotels, which also range from cheap 'fan' rooms to 5 stars, with lots in between ($15 a day will get you a single, good room). An international meeting place, as the slogan says. Folk from every country roll up on its shores. A great place to visit, living here, could be exhausting.
The beach, on a deck chair, sipping a coconut, is a pleasant way to spend a few hours, with a book, neck massage, feet scrapped of dead skin (not as icky as it sounds). Amazing the people you meet. A very overweight American who works 18-20 hour days in a military warehouse in Iraq. A UK gay guy who walks around in a flamboyant gold suit. 6' tall 'ladyboys', who grab your arm as you walk by and whisper endearments as they do so. Young lads from Kuwait looking mystified, wondering if they are in paradise. All good fun.
Pattaya city covers only a few square kilometres along Pattaya Bay, but it is a world in itself. There are 3 main shopping malls, lots of restaurants, which range from cheap and tasty street carts, through McDonalds and Sbux, to 5 star French eateries. There are lots of gogo bars and beer bars. And many many hotels, which also range from cheap 'fan' rooms to 5 stars, with lots in between ($15 a day will get you a single, good room). An international meeting place, as the slogan says. Folk from every country roll up on its shores. A great place to visit, living here, could be exhausting.
Nothing really, but I am getting ready to re-visit Bangkok—"The City of Angels", as it is more formally known (Bangkok being a nickname), and to see and to observe the Thai election on the 3rd of July. Lots of fun. Thailand has been plagued with coups, military dictatorships, and general political squabbling ever since it became a 'democracy' in 1932. Reformist governments get sacked by the military and left wing protesters get shot. (Is that over simplifying? No.)
In a week a new government will be sitting in the Thai parliament. Good luck to whoever it is.
I will be in Bangkok for a few days to see what happens, could be interesting, certainly if there is a coup coming up (the mil have said repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly, that there will not be a coup—but that people must vote "responsibly".
For your edification and amusement here are some election posters:
In a week a new government will be sitting in the Thai parliament. Good luck to whoever it is.
I will be in Bangkok for a few days to see what happens, could be interesting, certainly if there is a coup coming up (the mil have said repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly, that there will not be a coup—but that people must vote "responsibly".
For your edification and amusement here are some election posters:
I have now been in the 'deep south' of Thailand for a week. This is the Muslim majority area of Thailand, afflicted with insurrection, whereby -- some -- of the local Muslim Malays wish to break away from Thailand and join with Malaysia.
a. I don't think that they would be any better treated, and
b. Malaysia seems entirely uninterested in their situation.
Today I got back from the province of Narathiwat ("NarA-thi-Wat"), the most dangerous of these provinces. Two days ago, when I arrived, there was a prison riot, in which several guards and many more prisoners were killed, plus a car bomb the next day, which killed a soldier. The roads leading into the capital city of the province (same name), are lined with soldiers, military vehicles, and guard posts. My bus was always slowing and swerving to get through these obstacles.
I do feel sorry for the soldiers. Young guys from all over Thailand, conscripted, stuck in a hot, boring job, waiting to go home before their number comes up.
Apart from the troubles Nara is not an exciting town. Very little to see, and in fact a rather boring town. Lines of low buildings, not much colour, few restaurants, lots of cheap bars. That gives the wrong impression of the place, there are schools, people going about their daily lives, and I am sure most folk there are good, but it is not a happy town. Very few smiles.
Having said that, the country side around is very pretty, that lush tropical jungle vibe. Also some great beaches, waterfalls and so forth. If the locals ever calmed down and decided to start ripping off tourists they could make some cash.
I am back now in my original hotel in Pattani. The CS Pattani, in the 'safer' province of Pattani. (On average, once a year a car bomb goes off in front of this hotel.) haw haw. I will stay here another day or two, relax (haha), then head north to the town of Hat Yai (big beach) and then to Bangkok.
I met the one farang (westerner) teaching English here in the deep south, from Ireland. He teaches at a uni in Pattani--The Prince of Songkhla. Bored with life in Euro, headed out to see what the world offered. I will most likely see him tomorrow before I head off.
Bangkok -- Thailand is having a national election on July 3rd, first since the military coup. Should be fun to watch, maybe fireworks !
Thoughts on travel:
a. recommended.
b. it does broaden the mind, wish I did more when I was younger.
c. you can see that everyone is people, just like you.
d. you get to see that people who are supposed to be different and strange, are not really. Case in point, Vietnam. When I was a kid the Vietnam War was on. The Viets were the evil commie enemy, intent on destroying all we hold dear -- crap. Just people, lied to and manipulated, just like we were.
e. you can get away from your problems--at least for a while.
f. everyone embellishes their travel stories.
a. I don't think that they would be any better treated, and
b. Malaysia seems entirely uninterested in their situation.
Today I got back from the province of Narathiwat ("NarA-thi-Wat"), the most dangerous of these provinces. Two days ago, when I arrived, there was a prison riot, in which several guards and many more prisoners were killed, plus a car bomb the next day, which killed a soldier. The roads leading into the capital city of the province (same name), are lined with soldiers, military vehicles, and guard posts. My bus was always slowing and swerving to get through these obstacles.
I do feel sorry for the soldiers. Young guys from all over Thailand, conscripted, stuck in a hot, boring job, waiting to go home before their number comes up.
Apart from the troubles Nara is not an exciting town. Very little to see, and in fact a rather boring town. Lines of low buildings, not much colour, few restaurants, lots of cheap bars. That gives the wrong impression of the place, there are schools, people going about their daily lives, and I am sure most folk there are good, but it is not a happy town. Very few smiles.
Having said that, the country side around is very pretty, that lush tropical jungle vibe. Also some great beaches, waterfalls and so forth. If the locals ever calmed down and decided to start ripping off tourists they could make some cash.
I am back now in my original hotel in Pattani. The CS Pattani, in the 'safer' province of Pattani. (On average, once a year a car bomb goes off in front of this hotel.) haw haw. I will stay here another day or two, relax (haha), then head north to the town of Hat Yai (big beach) and then to Bangkok.
I met the one farang (westerner) teaching English here in the deep south, from Ireland. He teaches at a uni in Pattani--The Prince of Songkhla. Bored with life in Euro, headed out to see what the world offered. I will most likely see him tomorrow before I head off.
Bangkok -- Thailand is having a national election on July 3rd, first since the military coup. Should be fun to watch, maybe fireworks !
Thoughts on travel:
a. recommended.
b. it does broaden the mind, wish I did more when I was younger.
c. you can see that everyone is people, just like you.
d. you get to see that people who are supposed to be different and strange, are not really. Case in point, Vietnam. When I was a kid the Vietnam War was on. The Viets were the evil commie enemy, intent on destroying all we hold dear -- crap. Just people, lied to and manipulated, just like we were.
e. you can get away from your problems--at least for a while.
f. everyone embellishes their travel stories.
