Catch Up.

First of all, sorry guys, we ve been seriously behind on updating our blog. But it also mean that we are having way too much fun! (Oh and we were in the mountains so no internet)

I am writing to you from Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand where we spent a week so far. But let's get back to the beggining. Last time we gave you some news we were in Ayutthaya. We only stayed one night but it was one hell of the night. We met the hotel owner's brother that turned out to be an old Thai pop star (circa 2002) who took us to a local bar. We drank free Thai whiskey, met the mafia, and partied until the sun came up. The morning was very painful when we woke up 20min before check out and had to rush the packing. After a quick breakfast we were on our way to Sukothai, which means "Dawn of Happiness", the old Thai Empire capital.

First we decided to stop a Lop Bori, famous for the monkeys that run around the ruins of old temples. You know what? I love monkeys, well I thought I did. They are cute and furry. I was very excited to get to see wild monkeys. We got to the city, and started to walk around. Oh first monkey! So cute. Then two, and three. And thousands. And thousands. Not only confined to the temple, these little creatures invaded the city and were up to no good. They attacked Johnny befoore a local came to our rescue with a catapult. We quickly left the monkey area, and booked our tickets for a night train to Philok where we planned to get a bus to Sukothai. By the way, I don't like monkeys anymore.

That night train journey was one big mistake. No air con, a million mosquitos, and a very old train that kept violently stopping for no reason, meant that we could no sleep, were bloody sweaty and ended up covered in bites. We arrived in Philok at 5 in the morning before catching the bus to Sukothai, and finally being able to curl up in bed in the first hostel that we found.

The city was alright, we stayed in a cute little bungalow and visited more temples (we are totally templed out by the way.) After a couple of nights we left to make our way to Chiang Mai.

On the way we stopped by the Elephant Conservation Centre to play with a baby elephant. Very cute.

We were really glad to get to Chiang Mai, we are staying in a really nice place called...well, Nice Place. There is a pool and we met loads of people. We went for a 3day trek in the jungle, stayed with tribes, drank to much Chang, had a go at elephant riding, and trekked some more. Probably one of the best experience of my life.
Apart from trekking, Chiang Mai has a very good nightlife. We did not sleep much and had very long days of hungover. Gap year, innit.

Liz and Johnny are going to Laos today by bus to do the Gibbon Experience (you stay in a hut in the trees for three days) while my vertigo keep me in Chiang Mai for one more night, before taking a slow boat to Luamp Prabang and meeting them in a couple of days.

Sorry for the verryyyyy long post. next time, it will be short and up to date.

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A.

So far...

First impressions of Thailand, apart from being insanely hot is the vast differences in wages. Pricing is bizarre from place to place, drinks cost more than food, and taxis/tuk tuks can vary from 250Bhat (about a fiver) to 40Bhat (less than a quid for 3 people), with no regard for distance! We took two 'long boat' trips around the canals of Bangkok and Ayutthaya and amongst big expensive looking houses were shacks and little children playing in water I wouldnt touch with toilet brush! Everything seems to be focused around earning money by selling something; wether it's a street vendor selling food, a tourist guide selling almost anything or a bar girl selling herself to fat old western men.
Thailand so far has been a series of opposites, friendly strangers helping you to shady individuals and people harrassing you, internet cafes+ western luxuries to grimey squatting toilets and boiling hot to freezing cold airconditioned rooms. Theres so much more I could say but lets just say it's been a different, decorated and deathly hot experience and I'm loving every second!


Liz xx

Bangkok.

We are finally here. After an easy going 11 hours-flight, we landed in hot and sticky Bangkok. It was so good to taste the humid heat as soon as we stepped out of the airport....before getting in an icy cold taxi.
The traffic here is worst than the M25 at rush hour and at every corner you come close to hit a speedy tuktuk.

We are staying in a beautiful hotel in one of Bangkok busiest street. The smells of the food vendors in the damp weather is overwhelming but oh-so tempting. 24 hours bars, old women selling cheap silver jewelery or kids with a bunch of roses, all try to get the attention of the "fa-rangs" (foreigners) that we are.

After a much needed shower, we decided to find a typical place to feed our very hungry stomachs.
"Ped-Ped" I ask. (very spicy)
I think they underestimated me. I empty half of a bottle of tabasco on my pad see ew. Now that's better.

We then sat down with a few cold beers in the bar,if you can call it a bar set up in front of our hotel, furnished with few plastic chairs and tables. A quid a bottle.

In a street that offers a wide choice of hostels, you never far from another bunch of backpackers. We meet some Irish fellow globe trotters, who just like us, are on their first night out in Bangkok.
Bar after bars we discover the real Thai nightlife. The local whiskey is pored way too many times, but the company is good. I'll remember forever our tuktuks race through the empty streets, the very cheesy guitar singers, the stray cats everywhere. We end up in a bar that only on a gap year I would dare to enter. Let say I'll never look at ping pong the same way. Classic.

Today, we fought the harassing heat (well, it is 38 degrees) with a long boat ride along the Royal palace and trough the boat market. After a first taste of the architecture, the wild life, the smells, I am starting to think that yes, it is going to be amazing.

Next stop, Pattaya. Famous for it's seafood, nightlife and prostitutes. We'll keep you updated.

Ally.