Thailand

Hey Hey!

How are you all? Been about two weeks or so since I last wrote and we have been moving and playing quite a lot. So, I last blogged from Ko Chang

I got up early and jumped in a songthaew straight for the port. A long day ahead to get to the airport in time to meet Linden's plane at 7:40pm. So it went like this. Songthaew -> Ferry -> Songthaew -> Bus -> Bus. Finally rolling into the airport at 6pm. Nice. Only around 2 hours to wait. Looking along the big list of arrivals... Yep the only flight that is delayed on the whole board. 9pm it is! At around 9:30 Lindo rolled in and we jumped in a taxi to Khao San Rd to get some late night grub and a sleep.

Next day we figured the quicker we got outta bangers the better and we jumped straight onto a bus to Kanchanaburi. After a long day we just went for a wander up to the bridge over the river (kwai) and checked out the night market before hitting the hay. Was so close to buying an awesome little french bulldog puppy for only 3500 baht.

The next day we decided to check out the Erawan Waterfalls and they were even better than the amazing way i remembered them. 7 tiers of beautiful limestone stained water full of little biting fish. We walked all the way to the top and swan in all the pools on the way down. There were also sliding rocks and ledges behind the falls. It really is a magical place. Dinner on the riverside was disappointing afterwards but not enought to mark the day.

The next day we chilled in the morning and checked out the Kanchanaburi War Museum. Then we decided to make our own minds up about the controversial tiger temple. I have to say I still dont know whether I am for or against it. Some animals were definately not drugged, some looked like maybe they were but they probably werent. It was hard to say. One wasnt even on a chain and we walked along side him touching his back no problem and he was NOT drowsy. I dunno, a very interesting experience nonetheless.

That night it was time to head back to Bangkok and take the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Fairly comfortable but still quite hot we arrived in Chiang Mai after lunch. In Chiang Mai we did a full day cooking course out on a farm which was really cool. I cooked, red curry paste, a chicken red curry (using that paste), a tom yum soup with prawns, chicken basil and chilli, pad thai and sweet sticky-rice with mango. It was delicious! The next day we rode elephants, went on a short trek to a waterfall, visited a hill-tribe village then bamboo rafted down the river. It was a pretty fun day if a little directed (being on a tour and all). Our last full day in Chiang Mai we hired a motorbike and headed out to the Zoo to see the PANDAS!!! they were awesome! so so so cool to see them and so close. heaps of other cool animals aswell. then we rode the bike way out of town up the hill to the Wat (temple) the sits above the city. It was beautiful up there. For there I carved through peak hour thai traffic right across the city to the bus station (getting back a lot of my old form and practising with a passenger) to buy our tickets. All that was left was dinner a few beers and bed.

The next day we got to Laos... that was it. Then it was time to head off to the Gibbon Experience in the Bokeo National Park. heaps of fun zip lining and some really hard hours hiking to stay in tree-houses about 50m from the ground (accessable only by cable) for 2 nights. We swam in waterfalls and hunted gibbons (sadly i got to the bottom of the trees they were in but couldnt see them, only hear them) and generally just enjoyed the leech-filled jungle for a few days before heading out. It really was a wonderful experience.

For the next two days we chilled on the slow boat down the river to Luang Prabang (still in laos) and thats where i am writing to you from. Very cool town with some beautiful waterfalls like erawan just out of town. we will check them out tomorrow. Today is a day off and as linden is off getting a massage i think i will go find myself a friendly beer and curry in the shade.

Lots of Love to you all, sorry no pics, the upload speed is terrible.
See you in less than 4 weeks

Tim and Linden

Hey guys!
It hasnt actually been that long for once, so i will be able to keep this one relatively short.
Well, to start with I went and saw Noel Fielding and Friends. It was a pretty good show. The first act was terrible but the rest of the show featured Johnny Two Hats, Gareth Marenghi, Razorlight, The Moon, The Boosh Band (playing Electro Boy/Girl, Nanageddon and Charlie) along with Julian Barrat and Bob Fossil.

Noel + Razorlight

Noel and Fossil

With that down and all on my lonesome I got ready and go on my flight for Bangkok. Little did i know that it was Thai New Year from the 13th - 15th of April... (and cos the 12th was a Saturday it got added). Khao San Rd was a warzone as they celebrate by throwing water and and talcom powder from dawn till 9pm. Old ladies and children alike set apon you and eachother in a frenzy, regardless of your luggage burdens and expensive equiptment. Such a pity cos i would have loved some photos of the size of the smiles everyone was sporting.
Songkran - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_New_Year

Super Soaker (crap photo but best i could do on my own... not for long )

I bought myself a supersoaker (6 bucks) and got out there but eventually I just had to bail and Koh Chang was calling me. So Bus, Songthaew, Ferry, Songthaew and I was here. On Lonely Beach. And its great. A boozy first night followed by getting a better hut and relaxing. I hired a motorbike yesterday and rode through the jungle and today i have been diving all day. Its been a good (yet sweaty) couple of days.

Treehouse Restaraunt (Where i spend most of my time)

My Hut - Stuff downstairs and Bed upstairs

Not a bad view to eat BBQ fish to.

Tonight a few beers (maybe with the divemaster from today) and then tomorrow off to meet Linden in Bangkok and get back to some excellent hutchcroft-style exploration!

Lots of Love
Counting the days (but not too quickly)
Tim