I've just landed. I have no idea how to get to anywhere from here and
this is MY country haha.
Should be an entertaining afternoon trying to get back to Birmingham!
Brad
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Heathrow
Heathrow
Bangkok - Round 2
Bangkok - Round 2
Well I'm back here and this time I've discovered a whole other side to
Thailand. The non-tourist, Thai version of Bangkok.
I'm staying in an apartment block that's maticulously clean, there's a
cleaner sweeping the tiled floors, wiping banisters and walls and
ensuring there is no litter all day, everyday. For this I'd pay ...
140 baht (£2.30) a day, which includes air conditioning and a spotless
apartment big enough for a couple to live comfortably.
I've learnt that 100 baht for a taxi (which I previously had believed
was a good deal for a 5 minute journey) is a complete ripoff! 35baht
(50p) will get you 2KM on a taxi meter. I guess you live and learn.
I've been eating at roadside noodle bars, which at first some may find
visually unapealling (a glass booth with a stove and plastic garden
furniture to eat off), but if ever you get the chance, eat at one of
these! The food is incredible. And there's an added bonus, the most
I've paid for one of these great meals is ... 75baht (£1.25).
I've also experienced every form of public transport Bangkok has to
offer! Bus, Underground (London could learn a LOT from the Thai tube
system), BTS Skytrain which is basically a citywide monorail, very
fast and the maximum fare is 50p and finally van buses, which are
basically open back vans that you flag down, jump in and pay 15baht to
the driver once you reach your destination.
Staying in the non tourist region of Bangkok was at first a little
intimidating. For the 15 days I stayed on Soi 77 of Ram Intra, I
didn't see another foreigner. A refreshing change after I aclimatised
to being the minority.
Thai people, from my experience here, are the friendliest people I
have ever met. The lady who owns our apartment block brought me a
basket full of treats to my apartment for my Birthday, people always
have time to assist with directions or help finding a place and the
general attitude Thai's adopt is one of 'mai-bpen-rai. No problem'.
Lets say you go to McDonalds and your food takes more than a couple of
minutes, in England there'd be an almighty fuss (I witnessed this only
the other day when an English woman got all stressed that the guy
behind her got his food first). Here people refrain from getting
annoyed over petty things such as this, after all your not starving
and when your food's ready, you'll get it. 'Mai-bpen-rai'!
After enjoying Bangkok it was time for me to head home.
I'll definately be coming back here, Thailand is a great place.
Whether you want a chilled out holiday on the beach, a part packed
break or a city vacation, Thailand really is the place to go.
London here I come... Great...
Brad
Back To Bangkok
Back To Bangkok
Yup! It seems my funds have come to an end and it's time to head back
to BKK. However, my holiday isn't quite over. I've got some free
accomodation for a week or two and enough money to see more of Bangkok
than Khao San.
Today I have a 16 hour journey from Phangan to the Capital.
Time to pack.
Yup! It seems my funds have come to an end and it's time to head back
to BKK. However, my holiday isn't quite over. I've got some free
accomodation for a week or two and enough money to see more of Bangkok
than Khao San.
Today I have a 16 hour journey from Phangan to the Capital.
Time to pack.
Brad
Motorbike Accident!
Motorbike Accident!
That's right!
I fell off.
Dan and I were discussing the day previous how amazing it was that
neither of us had fallen off.
I guess it was inevitable...
Anyway it was nothing serious just minor scrapes and such, nothing to
worry about.
As for the incident it was rather funny. I was driving behind a taxi
van full of people, I braked and the bike decided it wasn't keen on
slowing down so instead it went all wobbly and I fell off, infront of
all those people.
Doh!
That's right!
I fell off.
Dan and I were discussing the day previous how amazing it was that
neither of us had fallen off.
I guess it was inevitable...
Anyway it was nothing serious just minor scrapes and such, nothing to
worry about.
As for the incident it was rather funny. I was driving behind a taxi
van full of people, I braked and the bike decided it wasn't keen on
slowing down so instead it went all wobbly and I fell off, infront of
all those people.
Doh!
Brad
Visa Run
Visa Run
Urgh!!!!
A night boat for 6 hours, with no air conditioning, a sweaty mini-bus
ride with a bunch of hippies for 5 hours and a long-boat ride to
Myanmar sees me good until July 17th!
The return journey was just as disgusting, only the boat trip was
during the day and guess what, tomorrow is Full-Moon, so the boat was
full of drunken 'travellers'. Just what I didn't need after my mission.
Once I got back home to Koh Phangan I was met at the peer by some Thai
friends and I then attempted to drive a moped back to my bungalow. A
silly idea. After 22 hours without food or sleep my body gave in and
my eyes closed whilst driving! Fortunately, only for the briefest of
moments. It was then I decided that having a backy on a moped from a
girl was better than dying, so that's what I did. Looking rather
exhausted (and camp (only whilst on the back of the bike I might add))
I arrived home and slept!
Visa run over.
Urgh!!!!
A night boat for 6 hours, with no air conditioning, a sweaty mini-bus
ride with a bunch of hippies for 5 hours and a long-boat ride to
Myanmar sees me good until July 17th!
The return journey was just as disgusting, only the boat trip was
during the day and guess what, tomorrow is Full-Moon, so the boat was
full of drunken 'travellers'. Just what I didn't need after my mission.
Once I got back home to Koh Phangan I was met at the peer by some Thai
friends and I then attempted to drive a moped back to my bungalow. A
silly idea. After 22 hours without food or sleep my body gave in and
my eyes closed whilst driving! Fortunately, only for the briefest of
moments. It was then I decided that having a backy on a moped from a
girl was better than dying, so that's what I did. Looking rather
exhausted (and camp (only whilst on the back of the bike I might add))
I arrived home and slept!
Visa run over.
Brad
New Found Home
New Found Home
Well Dan and I have cancelled our tour of the other islands here in
favour of staying in Koh Phangan. The beach raves, chilled out mood
and the fact that Harvey's bar is located on this island means that
we're staying!
I've also found out that the 800baht a day we're paying for our
bungalow is extortionate in comparison with some of the homes that are
available for rent here, from as little as 5000baht/pcm or 10000baht/
pcm (which is what I opted for) which got me a brand new bungalow with
air conditioning, a TV and DVD, electric shower (a rare thing out
here) and a kitchen! That's right, I can cook my own bacon sandwiches
and such in the comfort of my own home. Brill!
Now, I'm sure you all think we're crazy for not continuing to travel
the south islands and for staying here, but I'd be more dissapointed
to leave Koh Phangan than excited to see yet more beaches and
snorkelling spots.
So it looks like were going to be here up until June 18th or so.
Stay tuned...
Well Dan and I have cancelled our tour of the other islands here in
favour of staying in Koh Phangan. The beach raves, chilled out mood
and the fact that Harvey's bar is located on this island means that
we're staying!
I've also found out that the 800baht a day we're paying for our
bungalow is extortionate in comparison with some of the homes that are
available for rent here, from as little as 5000baht/pcm or 10000baht/
pcm (which is what I opted for) which got me a brand new bungalow with
air conditioning, a TV and DVD, electric shower (a rare thing out
here) and a kitchen! That's right, I can cook my own bacon sandwiches
and such in the comfort of my own home. Brill!
Now, I'm sure you all think we're crazy for not continuing to travel
the south islands and for staying here, but I'd be more dissapointed
to leave Koh Phangan than excited to see yet more beaches and
snorkelling spots.
So it looks like were going to be here up until June 18th or so.
Stay tuned...
Brad
Koh Panang continued...
Koh Panang continued...
After a few days recovering from Half Moon, I was finally well enough
to brave the outside of the bungalow.
So we rented mopeds again, which I must say I'm becoming quite the
expert on, and headed north to Haad Yao to see what the beaches in the
north had to offer. The craziest moped journey so far, riding across
unfinished or unstarted roads and 20% downhills, got us to our
destination. The beaches, in comparison with Koh Samui left a lot to
be desired. Gravelly sand, dirty water and tourists everywhere are
what's on offer. It's just aswell that this leg of the trip isn't a
beach holiday.
After a few days recovering from Half Moon, I was finally well enough
to brave the outside of the bungalow.
So we rented mopeds again, which I must say I'm becoming quite the
expert on, and headed north to Haad Yao to see what the beaches in the
north had to offer. The craziest moped journey so far, riding across
unfinished or unstarted roads and 20% downhills, got us to our
destination. The beaches, in comparison with Koh Samui left a lot to
be desired. Gravelly sand, dirty water and tourists everywhere are
what's on offer. It's just aswell that this leg of the trip isn't a
beach holiday.
Brad
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