May 20, 2012 - Siem Reap

Siem Reap has been temple crazy- we are both templed out! Went early to Angkor Wat yesterday - no other tourists around, apart from a few monkeys! we had our own tour guide for Angkor Wat and learnt a lot about the hindu religion. We then went to Bayon temple, where we saw a load of elephants. It rained yesterday afternoon so chilled in cafe with a coffee Today we got up at 5 to go and see the sunrise over a lake. We got there just in time to see the sun rising above the trees. Explored 3 more temples- which were all very different and...

May 19, 2012 - Kanchanaburi and the river Kwai bridge

Kanchanaburi is most famous for the location of the bridge over the river kwai and for being a laid back outpost with nice people and food. It would be a change from Bangkok where there is so much traffic and stuff going on. We went to the station a couple of days prior to leaving to get the tickets so we would not be trying to get them on the day. We got a cab from the hotel and he managed to get us there just on time and then we climbed on board our train. The journey took about 3 and a half hours going through some really nice scenery...

May 19, 2012 - Bangkok, the return part 1

Well we left the bridge over the river Kwai and although we were going to head north to a place called Chaing Mai, we had to go back to Bangkok to get the train. It was a bit weird going back there cos once you leave a place you do not really want to go back so soon. Anyway we went and as we were going to spend a day there before our train in the evening, we went to the travel agents who sorted out our accommodation in Chaing Mai and left our bags there so we didn't have to carry them around all day. We did plan to go to a temple in Bangkok...

May 17, 2012 - Bangkok done!

Its 9.15 on Thursday night. We have just got back from a lovely dinner. Off to Siem Reap tmw morning when the adventure really starts. We've had another couple days of mad Bangkok action. This place keeps on surprising you around every corner! We started yesterday by going to the Grand Palace but it was closed until lunchtime for Budist prayer. So we took a stroll to the river and managed to find ourselves on a private long boat tour along the river. We saw the real side of Bangkok including what we think was a komodo dragon, thousands of...

May 16, 2012 - Bangkok, not so seedy really

So after the first night at the hotel we thought we would try to find our way around some of the city. We had done a bit of research and there were a few things to see and do apart from look for lady boys in the late night bars. The sky train is the best way to get around, basically there are 2 lines which meet amusingly at Siam station and both go roughly east to west and north to south. They public transport is very cheap here and the stations run like clockwork and are really clean unlike the rest of Thailand which as we have said before...

May 15, 2012 - Bangkok Up

Left Koh Tao on the catamaran bound for Chumphon. Sat out back on boat and enjoyed the spray although in the sun for 90mins. Best boat journey so far. The other 2 made me feel a bit queasy cos trapped inside. Took some nice photos of Chumphon pier, nowt else there except buses. Waited over an hour for our bus connection to Bangkok so had some local food, chicken, garlic, pepper n rice. Tasty. Uneventful coach journey, when we finally left, seat mixups made us late leaving. Journey took 7 and a half hrs with a half hour stop. Driver also...

May 15, 2012 - Arrived in Bangkok safe and sound

After discovering that Jet Airways was a fully Indian airline due to our spicy Indian Curry breakfast- Ollie was very happy, Laura wasnt so impressed! 4 films later and 2 more curries we arrived in Bangkok! Got the train in from the Airport (very clean and quick) then got a cheeky taxi to the Khoa San Road Temperatures today have been around 36 degrees- this made Laura's fingers swell up like sausages!!! We have already had a really busy day- done two temples, drank first bottle of Chang, and ollie was given a hat as a present from the...

May 14, 2012 - Pagodas and Palaces

Bangkok maintains its Asian flair primarily by celebrating and promoting the links to its past. The high-rises and neon lights are confined to the business district. Pagodas and royal palaces dominate the old part of the city, located along the Chao Phraya River. One finds virtually no hotels or restaurants there and even the subway and elevated train do not reach it. It is the domain of monks, the royal family and, of course, the many tourists who come to view the elaborate architecture. The monarchy is highly cherished in Thailand. The...

May 14, 2012 - Weekend in Bangkok

I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand for a short but pleasant weekend following a 50-minute flight from Phnom Penh. Culturally Thailand and Cambodia are similar, but economically there is a significant difference. Bangkok is the economic and industrial hub of Southeast Asia and has much more the feel of a large international city than does Phnom Penh. The well-developed public transportation system makes that immediately evident. There is an ultra-modern rail link between the airport and downtown, and the city also boasts an elevated train system...

May 12, 2012 - Ko Tao

Our shack in Koh Tao was similar to the wooden hut in Koh Lak but less wildlife to negotiate, if you don't count the 2 yapping, wild dogs half way down the hill. We have become mountain goats in our time on Koh Tao, with our hut near the bottom of a cliff. The hut had the minimum of what you need really, a roof over your head and a bed with a mattress that felt like it was made of sand, it was packed down like a rock, with a pillow to match and sheets that had only made a cursery nod to the washing machine. Luckily, we have our sleeping bag...

May 9, 2012 - Chiang Mai: Series 6 - Return to Thailand

Helloooo! We have made it to Thailand! After another day in Pakse getting our visas sorted, we booked ourselves a bus back to Thakhek. We got on the bus soon after 4pm, and by 5 we ewre broken down at a petrol station. We waited 5 hours at this petrol station. Thankfully there were three of us, and we had cards, juggling balls and poi to keep us entertained! The owners of the petrol station even started to feel sorry for us, and brought us sticky rice and mango to eat! When we eventually got back on the bus, we settled down ready for the 7...

May 8, 2012 - Koh Phangan with ang

The boat or catamaran from Koh Samui was great and as the hotel had arranged our taxi and boat tickets we didn’t even have to think, we just woke up had our brekkie and fell into the cab. The pier was packed full of Da Youtt as there was the full moon party on Koh Phangan that weekend and there were up to 30,000 people expected. Anyway we had arranged our accommodation so the hoards of people trying to get you to stay at their place didn’t have to worry about us and the hotel sent a cab for us so that was a bonus..until we got in the back...