Archive | Thailand

Bangkok

16 Mar

Bangkok! Finally we got to spend some time in Bangkok, which we mostly spent shopping. We have been to 3 different type of markets and I have finally learned how to bargain. We have been to some great restaurant and enjoyed the Thai cuisine. But sadly everything has to come to an end, this means that our travels are over (for now). This has quite possibly been the best year of my life, and I am now looking forward to come home to loved ones and friendly faces.

Elephant World

15 Mar

We spent a whole day at Elephant World, which is an organisation in Kanchanaburi that takes care of unwanted and old elephants in Thailand. This was something we had been excited to do for a long time. It is basically a place where people come to work for the elephants, rather than the elephants working for people. Some of the elephants had been abused and treated very harshly by their previous owners. The oldest one was 73 and the youngest (John) is 15 years old. They are the hugest but one of the most beautiful animals I have ever seen.

We made sticky rice for the old elephants and fed it to them, which they loved. We also did some field work, collecting sugar canes for them to eat. Fed them about a billion bananas (they eat a lot), and took part in all their medical care for the day. You can really notice how the elephants are really happy and appropriated everything that is done for them. My favorite part of the day was when the elephants were taking a bath and we joined them, giving them a scrub on the back. They were playing around and sometimes even going under the water that it was hard staying on their back, very funny.

Then they let us ride on their back up to the ‘house’ where they get fed more bananas. This is one of the best experiences I have had in my life. The work that the volunteers and everyone at this organisation are doing is just fantastic, and it was amazing to get up, close and personal with these incredible creatures.

Erawan National Park

14 Mar

Erawan National Park, has a seven-tiered waterfall, which was very impressive. We arrived very early in the morning, so we had all the waterfalls to ourselves. The water was crystal clear and very refreshing to swim in. There were even fish swimming around us nibbling at our feet.

Kanchanaburi

13 Mar

We really liked Kanchanburi. The Hotel we stayed at had a great pool overlooking the river. We also found a nice local restaurant which served delicious Thai dishes for cheap as chips. Kanchanburi is the gateway to a few national parks, which suits us very well.

Pattaya

24 Feb

Pattaya, Pattaya, Pattaya!!! Pattaya is a place where you can see anything and everything! You can have the best time or the worst time, I experienced the first. I have laughed so much throughout the 3 weeks we have been here on a great holiday with my brother, and had an amazing time. Pattaya is a real heaven for people who like to socialise and party, but it also offers something for everyone. You just have to be prepared to see some things that you most probably have not seen before and maybe never see again. I found most of it greatly entertaining, such as Walking Street (picture below) with beer bars, shops, Go Go bars, clubs and much more.

Furthermore, throughout my time here I have had some of the best Thai food I have tasted at PIC Kitchen followed by a great evening at the Jazz Pit. We have also been to some great rooftop bars, serving lovely cocktails and food. We also went to the cinema, and it was a real eyeopener of how nice cinemas could be (serving free food, popcorn and drinks and getting huge chairs to sit in). I think other countries should take a note of how it should be done.

I have improved my pool skills! However, the girls behind the beer bars still beat me at Connect 4 every time.

We went to Tiffany’s show, can you guess what kind of show it is?

Tiffany’s was established in 1974 and is Pattaya’s leading transvestite show, yes you hear right. It was an fabulous show of more sequins and satin I have ever seen! The costumes they were wearing were so sparkling and beautiful. We spent the whole show trying to see who was a man and who was a woman, they all looked just amazing.

Sadly it was time to say bye to Jens Georg as he made his way home and we made our way to our next stop.

Flight of the Gibbon

21 Feb

We went on a Zipline Canopy Adventure called ‘Flight of the Gibbon’  at the Chompoo Wildlife Sanctuary. We ziplined over 3km going on 24 platforms high up in the trees in the jungle rainforest. I have to admit that I was a little scared at first as we ziplined from very high up in the trees, and abseiling was even more scary. However, after I got used the to heights I started to enjoy it a lot! Ready…steady…goooo!

Afterwards, we went for a little walk at Khao Kheeo Open Safari, where we saw a lot animals running about wild and others just behind some small fences (I have never been that close to a Rhino before).

Ko Samet

14 Feb

We decided to take a trip to Ko Samet, an Island near Pattaya. Ko Samet is approximately 13.1 square kilometers in size and a national park. We stayed at Hat Sai Kaew beach which had the clearest water I have ever seen.

 

We stayed for 2 days, which was really relaxing. We spent the days sunbathing, drinking coconut, and swimming in the amazing water. In the evenings we sat at the restaurants, my favorite was Ploy restaurant, where we sat on pillows laid on the beach near small tables. After a lovely BBQ we were entertained by a fire show, it is the best fire show I have ever seen, they were juggling and throwing fire everywhere, very entertaining.

Pattaya Floating Market

12 Feb

We spent one day at the world’s largest floating market. There are many Thai style wooden houses on the fresh water swamp. We walked on the wooden bridges linking the market together, you could also rent a paddle boat for a few hours to take you around the market. It was the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs and other handicrafts.

We had Pad Thai Noodles for lunch for only 30 baht, which is 60 pence! It was very yummy.

Hat Jomtien

3 Feb

So we jumped on a plane and flew from Singapore back to Thailand, where we met Jens Georg (my big brother). I was so excited to see him again that I did not sleep at all the night before. We met in Bangkok Airport and then got a taxi to Jomtien, which is 5km south of Hat Pattaya. The resort we are staying at is really amazing.

We have spent most days relaxing by the pool, going to local markets, watching football in bars and eating out at the many restaurants that there are here. Last Thursday I even had Komla at a Norwegian restaurant (one of my favorite food dish from home).

We went to the local weekend night market, which was really good. We dared to try some food from the food stalls, which was very delicious.

Another favorite of mine is the banana pancake that they make by the street.

Koh Ngai

24 Jan

After 1 hour in a taxi and 1 hour on a boat, we arrived on Koh Ngai Island. Imagine when people explain how they need a holiday on a ‘desert’ island with palm trees and clear blue water and you have got Koh Ngai.

We had our first ever Thai massage here. I have to say it is very different to the massages that I have had before. But, extremely good for our muscles, especially after the long hours travelling.

We went on a walk to the other side of the island (30 minutes walk),to another quieter beach. The snorkeling was better at this side of the island.

At night the whole place lit up with fairy-lights, a very cozy place to sit and relax by the beach.