Elephants!

Monsoon Rains

Torrential rain this afternoon. Perfect time to catch up on some reading. We are in Lampang. Our original plan to head to Chang Rai was abruptly changed this morning after Lars read in the guide book

that  this town was one of the last still using horse carts. We hopped on a bus and 2 hours later we are off the beaten track so to speak. We know this because when we departed from the bus the local taxis didn't try and overcharge us to get us to our destination but quickly hustled us into a shared taxi. Another sign-our fellow guest house mates are a friendly bunch! We are liking this town Very much! Wish we could stay longer actually. Our guest house is an old wood Thai house by the river. Dinner tonight at local favorite was delicious! Afterwards- Sitting on the porch  (with the warning sign not to swim in the river due to crocodiles!) playing cards and watching the geckos chase bugs overhead. Good day!

Spotted at the Bangkok mall

This was on the back of my door when I used the toilet at siam center mall. Apparently all the doors were different

Cause Lars had one said "I am

Not weird I am the next thing" later we checked out different bathrooms and they Had sayings too

We had an "awesome" (lars words) day in Bangkok waiting  for the train. Went to the movies at what must be the coolest theatre ever!

Three different flavors of popcorn (we tried them all) extra cushions for your reserved seat if you were a child, very swanky lounge area. We saw turbo in 3D but had to pay extra for the glasses. In Thailand you are suppose to keep them. 

Getting on the train for our second night was no problem. We now k

new where to look for our bunk number and we were used to the sound of the wheels on the tracks. Lars says its feels quiet to be in bed tonight. We have scored an awesome room in Chang Rai. Pool

And air con for 600bht. Tomorrow Chang 

Rai.

Going out with a "Bang"

Random firecrackers on the beach this morning as we walked to breakfast. This is the third time we have heard them. Is it tourists who are reveling in their legality? Or the locals celebrating yet another Buddhist holiday? We aren't sure but its a fitting way to leave. We are hanging out at our favorite beachside restaurant. Literally hanging out! as like many restaurants in Koh Tao  this one features low tables and triangle cushions. I have seen groups of backpackers sleep here for hours while waiting for a taxi to the ferry. Today it is our turn to wait. We are back to Bangkok tonight on a night train then another night train north. One way to stretch our budget as this island was a bit expensive. Rule one of travelers-buy local! It was tough here as the stores seem be stocked with nothing but foreign junk food.

We will miss swinging  on the beach, (every dive shop has a giant swing)

Our fabulous beach bungalow, snorkeling on the reef, and drinking mango shakes with sand in our toes. Time to move on. 

Swimming with the fishies

First dive!

The snorking around the island has been excellent! Lots beautiful

Coral, colorful fish, sea cucumbers, christmas tree worms and even giant clams. Lars able to do a "bubble maker class" -basic instruction in a pool followed by a shallow dive. He can't wait until next year when he's old enough for a Jr. Open water certification. 

Koh Tao at Night

Everynight after the sun goes down

A handful of locals gather on 

the beach to juggle sticks or chains lit with fire.

Here are two photos that Lars took. The second one is of a child juggling! 

Strange things

Why would anyone pay 250baht to let thousands of tiny fish nibble your feet?

Answer-because it's fun!

Huge trend in Bangkok and beyond.-

Fish spas!

Basically you stick your feet In a tank with and try and endure the tickling feeling of fish nibbles. The result is suppose to be Cleaner feet. Do you think, we foolish travelers gave in to plot to separate us from our baht?

Routines

Every traveller falls into a routine at some point. It brings a small measure of comfort to an unfamiliar place. For Lars and I it is going to the same place for breakfast every morning. He orders a mango shake and a chocolate croissant, I get cafe Americano and the yogurt, fruit bowl. We catch up on news and then head to the beach. After a swim it's off to explore some part of the island. Our routine also includes what has now become our "catch phrases" For Lars it's "ya, think!"

Said Everytime I start of a sentence with "we should have.... (as in we should have made a reservation before we got here)

For me it's the cliche, "same, same"

Our days are passing quickly but we have tickets to heard north Monday and tomorrow we are going on an all

Day boat  trip. A break in the routine.

Some things we've learned

1. In Thailand you take your shoes OFF

To go into a restaurant.

2. Nutella is cheaper at home

3. Getting around koh Tao is very very expensive-taxi mafia!

4. Mango shakes are as good as watermelon shakes 

5. Banana shakes are as good as mango

Shakes.

6. The sand sticks together really really well.

7. Two 1/2 coconuts clapped together really do sound like a galloping horse

(we watched a lot of the monty python last month)

8. Dont try and pet the local dogs :(

9. It's really easy to forget what day it

Is when your on an island in thailand.

10. The beer comes with its own insulated cozie to keep it cold 

11. We can quickly divide any number by 30 (1 dollar=30 baht)

12. Koh Toa means turtle island

13. You can watch current movies for free here in the local restaurants 

Welcome to koh Tao

Getting here wasn't easy! Unbeknownst

To us we arrived in Thailand two days before Buddhist lent. All trains north were full our  plan to head to Chang rai was quickly ditched. Instead we decided, to head south to the beach. After two days in Bangkok Lars was still suffering from culture shock, food stalls covering sidewalks, tuk tuk zooming past and everywhere unfinished buildings. What could be better than a Thai beach to ease the transition to traveling in a third world country. Our journey south began with an evening mini van ride to a traffic circle In The middle of Bangkok. As we waited for the bus, I assured lars it wouldn't look like the rusted out Junkers that were passing by every 10 minutes. (he was worried) There were enough tourists waiting with us. I  was confident we would travel in comfort. We all stood there  waiting with stickers on our chests showing our destination, placed on us like some preschool class on a field trip.

On hour later a giant double decker bus painted with  not only a dragon but also hello kitty motif. Only in asia! Lars and I managed to score a front row seat, allowing us to stretch our legs in front of us. We quickly got out our pillows and settled in for the 8 hour overnight ride. Or at least I thought it was going to be 8 hours. 6 hours later at 3am we are unceremoniously dumped at the side of the road in an unknown Thai village to await yet another bus. Well

We thought it was going to be a bus. It was in fact a kind of army truck with benches (Lars description) after the driver took care of some local errands we finally made it to the ferry. More waiting and then a three hour ride to paradise. Except once again our timing was horrible. Somehow we managed to arrive the day before the full moon party (the burning man of Thailand ) all room full! Nothing like the tears of a mother and child to score an ocean front bungalow. Five steps to the ocean we may never leave!

Getting to know the locals

second day in Bangkok at the beautiful

Jim Thomson house. 

"Same Same, but different"

First day Bangkok and it 

was comforting to see a familiar face from home after 20 hours in an airplane.

After walking around the neighborhood where we are staying  Bangkok is "crazy" declared Lars. "I am not eating chicken feet" (stated  after spotting them in a local food stall) the watermelon juice however seems ok

We are headed south today. Night train

Followed by ferry to ko Tao

Original plan was Chang rai first

But a three day holiday today meant all the trains were full! Travelers have to be flexible. The adventure continues!

Spotted in Tokyo airport

New species-tiger butt

Planes, Trains, and Elephants

Fifteen years ago I got on a train in Paris headed for Beijing. I thought I would be home in one month, but I one year later I returned after the adventure of a lifetime. I always said that someday I wanted to  return with  my children and share with them the countries that changed me so profoundly. Today my son and I are getting on a plane for Bangkok for a a months adventure in Thailand and perhaps a surrounding country  or two Come join us and enjoy the ride.