Kanchana Buri - Thailand

The place: Back to central Thailand for the last of our Thai adventures. Near Bangkok, inland, lies Kanchana Buri.

Some features: Went to Tiger Temple got to see and touch some magnificent beasts. The temple or sanctuary is very controlled so tourists are guided by the hand to get a photo taken by a select few tigers (not as adventurous as it seems, but awesome to get up close to them kitties).
Took a day trip which included the 7 tier Erawan waterfall which has many beautiful rock pools and waterfalls. Particularly impressive is the colour of the mountain water - turqoise and clear.
From there, Hellfire Pass museum. World war 2, the Japanese made 200000 asians and about 50000 POW's build a 415km railway track in +- 2 yrs which included rock cuttings in the mountain made by hand held equipment. 90000 asians died and 12800 POW's died in that time due to the brutality of the Japanese and severity of the conditions.
Saw Krasae caves (where bodies were stored) and took a ride on the Death railway train along a portion of the track still in use. Checked out the Bridge over the river Kwai (also part of the infamous rail project).
Took a Thai cooking course at apple guest house (hilarious as it was run by a lady boy) and useful, I can now make green curry!
Stayed in a floating house on the river Kwai at the River guest house. Very cool, the whole house bobs up and down as the floating disco's (Thai people singing awful karaoke on a disco pulled by a mini tugboat) pass you by.
Strange observation: Offerings ranging from milk, coke, incence, golden stickers, a lei of flowers, or little meals are offered to the shrines around Thailand (either a little buddha, a 4 armed elephant (Ganesh), or little house/temple shrines, which are in almost every second house, shop, hotel, tuk tuk, bus, tree - you name it!

Koh Tao - Thailand

The Place: Diver's paradise - Koh Tao used to be closed to non divers in peak season. We stayed at Noks place and Tiang Og beach.

Some features: In both places our room was right on the rocks next to the sea, in Tiang Og our balcony was suspended over the sea. This is a really beautiful island and not very busy either (apart from the PADI dive resorts). We did some snorkelling and rock jumping at Nok's place. Tried lit poi for the first time at night on the beach in Tiang Og. Enjoyed the beaches!

Strange observation: While swimming in the rock pools I saw some fish sun-tanning on a rock (which was being regularly washed over by the sea). I thought at first that they were washed up there and stuck on the rock but when I crept closer to them they all rapidly started hopping off the rock (about 15 of them).

Koh Pangang - Thailand

The place: After the party it was time to kick back, relax, and enjoy some chilled time on the beach. We spent some time at Baan Panburi, Chomlaklum and Haad Yao on Koh Pan - Ngang.
Some features: Renting a scooter to check out the other beaches of the island. Having an authentic thai massage on the beach of Haad Yao. Relaxing in a hammock to read.
Strange observation: That squishy thing you step on every now and then in the water - its a sea slug/cucumber.

Full Moon Party - Koh Pan-Ngang - Thailand

The Place: Haadrin beach on Koh Pan-Ngang for full moon party-till-u drop!! Having spent a relaxing day on the beach practicing a bit of poi, napping in the afternoon and getting some Thai red bull into the system - we prepped ourselves for a big night out!
Some features: The full moon party was awesome! The setting is a beach lit up by many beach club lights, fire shows, neon tattoos and glo stick clad party animals! Long tail boats bob about the shore having taxied the partiers from all about the island. The full moon lights the sky and the beach is littered with people. The drill thumping of a mix of rave music from the length of the beach sets the beach into its all night rhythm.
The People: Mostly beach goers painted head to toe in neon paint and tattoos, some in a dance trance, some passed out on the beach and some enjoying a bit of it all! All drinking buckets (a plastic beach bucket filled with a coke/sprite + red bull + whisky/vodka).
The experience: We paced ourselves well and having had a bucket or two walked the beach, watched some of the amazing poi and beach fire limbo dancing, danced beach style sokkie (heh heh) and soaked up the atmosphere till 4 in the morning.
Strange observation: A party where ANYTHING goes. Mother's close your childrens' eyes.

Krabi - Thailand

The Place: To complete the circle from Phuket and Phi Phi, we found ourselves on the mainland once more in Krabi. Having saturated our beach appetite on Phi Phi we decided to opt for another jungle adventure . . . with a difference.
Some features: No elephants nor bamboo rafting, this time kayaking through mangrove forests to secret lagoons (secret from the unpaying tourist). We ventured past monkeys who clambered on our canoes (and us), through caves, to monkey inhabited beaches and past the human bones of old vikings until reaching the sea.
Krabi also offered a fantastic place to stay where we jammed with the locals (drums, guitar and the egg (egg shaped shaker that is!)) singing both Thai and western songs.
We also enjoyed a stroll on its beautiful beach and excellent Thai cuisine. I'm now a Thai Green curry with Chicken addict.
Strange observation: Thank you in Thai is "Korp kun". If you're a male "Korp kun kap", a female "Korp kun ka" and if a ladyboy "Korp kun ha".

Phi Phi Ley - Thailand

The Place: Next to Phi Phi Don Island (where we stayed) there lies Phi Phi Ley. On our second day in Phi Phi we took a ferry round the two islands (Don and Ley).
Some features: 1st stop - Maya beach (where 'The beach' was filmed). Very beautiful - we only stopped to take a pic. 2nd stop - around the corner from Maya is an incredible stop for snorkelling - many tropical fish. 3rd - Monkey beach where the many monkeys pose for the tourists, also snorkelling. 4th - Bamboo island - The feature of this island is that it has the most clear and turquoise water I've ever swum in - fantastic (and good snorkelling too).
Strange observation: If you drop a flipper it sinks. Cost of flipper 500 baht. Memories in Thailand - priceless.

Phi Phi Don - Thailand

The Place: Arriving on Phi Phi Island is like discovering paradise island! It has by far the most amazing beaches I've ever laid eyes on. I think I spent the first hour saying 'Wow' and then just staring at the view.
Some features: The ferry ride from phuket was awesome, you got to see the Phi Phi archipelego sticking up out of the blue ocean like toes out of bath water. Phi Phi is rustic, laid back, surrounded by bamboo huts, beach sand roads, palm trees and full of young tourists - no dodgy old men with thai ladies! It's an island for books on the beach, kayaking in the sea, wading in the shallow warm water and cocktails on the beach.
Slightly on the different side: Though the vibe is rustic and relaxed, there are a few bars, one of which offers the chance for tourists to try there hand at Muay thai. Low and behold, Anneli got challenged by a canadian tourist. She accepted the challenge and heh heh what a fight!! It was brilliant and Anneli beat the crap out of the unsuspecting challenger! (It was all safe though - they wore head protection and all) Anyway bets were made and the crowds were well entertained!

Phuket - Thailand

The Place: Down south to the beaches! Phuket is a mix. On the one hand the beaches are great, and on the other hand its a real city club vibe. In Phuket we stayed on Patong Beach which is really commercial. It's lined with deck chairs (not a space in between) and there's loads of parasailing, jetskiing etc..
Cool features: We made good use again of rent-a-motorbike! Yeah! So much fun, we took a scooter to the other beaches of Phuket(much less commercial)starting with our frisbee fruit breakfast (cashews, fruit, and yoghurt mixed together on a frisbee) on Karon beach, had a swim on the amazing Kata beach, lunch at Kata Noi (incl. famous banana pancakes), then trip to view point (where you can see the beaches on our trip), body surfing at Nai Harn beach, sundowners at small view point, then back to Patong beach.
One highlight was in the evening we were scooting to Karon beach at 1:45am looking for a place to watch world cup when we got caught in a shower. We were soaked to the bone but managed to dry off enough with the wind from the drive before sitting down to watch the game.
Strange observation: I was shocked to see the amount of middle aged men with young thai women, and walking the city its just show girl/strip & pick-up joints. We found some cool places to go out though, played some pool, watched some live bands and caught some footy (at 2am over here - saw France beat Portugal).

Chaing Mai jungle - Thailand

The place: Went on a three day trek through the jungle in Chaing Mai (27-29 Jun 06).
Highlights: 1st day included elephant trekking, beautiful waterfall, playing drinking games with the kaere tribe people at night.
Second day was on foot. I'd rate the rice paddys in the jungle as one of the most beautiful sights I've ever laid eyes on! Had lunch in a village and played some feet-only volleyball tuhkroh (dont know spelling) afterwards (we were on a little court in the village high up on the mountain overlooking the jungle).
Arrived at another swim spot waterfall where we swam and went fishing (I caught a fish which the local braaied and ate!). Slept in a hut from which you could see the waterfall.
Third day we went water rafting on bamboo rafts which was awesome. By that day we'd made good buddys with our group which resulted in many raft fights where we tried our hardest to sink the other guys . . . No wet no fun!! Also took a break for some rock jumping with some buddhist boys dressed in orange robes who had a school there!

Chaing Mai city - Thailand

The Place: Up north in Chaing Mai (27 Jun to 1 Jul) - an old city close to the jungles where the old city walls remain.
Some features: Getting round day and night on a scooter! The roads are crazy, and the cops didnt mind both of us on one scooter with no helmets! Heh heh, tho its hectic on the streets, drivers are not aggressive and everyone just sort of finds there own space and drives (doesnt matter if its in on-coming traffic either!).
Takro!! The coolest game on earth by far! Its like a volleyball played only with your feet! We watched the locals meeting for matches on two nights on a court right outside our hostel.
Trip to Chaing Mai temple on the mountain: We took a scooter up a windy mountain road(about 13kms) to a temple on the mountain and to our good fortune we found ourselves in the middle of a procession celebrating the Kings 60th year of reign. Lots of singing, brass bands, banners, umbrellas and flags.
Strange observation: Everyone wore yellow (the colour of monday - the day the king was born).

Bangkok - Thailand

The Place: Bustling city of Bangkok, staying in Khao San Road from arrival 24 Jun to 26 Jun.
Some Features: Bangkok is ma..hassive but its clear that all tourists seem to stay in Khao San Road. The road is an explosion of colourful signs, markets, people, banners, etc and theres an abundance of massage and tattoo parlours, hostels, funky restaurants/bars, and markets selling imitation brands.
Highlights: Taking a tuk-tuk ride (3 wheeler taxi) around town to see the big buddha (standing 32m tall, +-12m wide), the lucky buddha (there are temples everywhere!), night swimming on the roof of our inn on the mad Khao San Road.
Strange observation: Our tuk-tuk ride was free because the driver gets free gasoline for taking us to some government supported tourist outings, this did however mean getting taken to suit taylor shops who have the most persistant salesmen! I did end up buying a coat for when I work in London thru winter, but now I break out in a sweat, start to shiver, then run off in a delirium with my underpants on my head anytime I see a suit taylor!