THAILAND

We arrived after a 24 hour journey which I have mentioned at the end of our SRI LANKA page

We stayed in a block of flats in some bodies room for a few hours to get some rest before we caught a taxi on the metre to khoa  San road 120 baht but with our rucksack and after a long day it was money well spent we arrived at koa San road and after a few tries at different hostels we got a room for 10 dollars a large bed for 3   called charland hostel it was down a little side road of the main drag ,we had showers and then went to eat  at great street food place at the end of the road called bamplang we ate for 100 baht for three people and fresh juices we then went for a thai massage all of us it was perfect best 100 baht spent today after a quick rest we went out late and watched and band in a bar ate some street food again then back to our hostel for school work after sending test home for molly school then pack and get ready for early train to ayuthaya

Next day up early and catching a bus number 35 bus to hua lamphong train station 20 baht each adult 10 baht for molly for a 2 hour journey very hot but enjoyable our uno card game came out as usual on our train travel makes the time go quick

AYUTHAYA 

We arrived on time at ayuthaya the ancient capital of Thailand till it was taken by the king of Burma nearly 400 years ago ,we found at month old hostel called il treno near the station and a quick boat taxi across the river it cost for 3 beds in a mixed dorm 500 baht as we got discount for molly breakfast included perfect for us  we unpacked a little had a shower and

then caught the water taxi across the river 5 baht then walked to a nearby temple and took some great photos had lunch in a street stall again as always under budget for us we all had shrimps and noodles soup bottle water 145 baht perfect after we found a park for molly to play then went to the night market which was great not a tourist market but full of locals cheap and great selection of food stalls

We eventually got home about 21.00 had a shower and asleep in minutes I got woken by the night trains a few times but soon found my ear plugs the hostel was very nice clean good showers a bar and simple thai food and a laundry

Next day we had thai rice soup for breakfast and then caught water taxi again and rented a moped we spent all day going from temple to palace and then in the evening went on a river cruise around ayuthaya on our return the lady owner of the boat gave us her moped so we could go to the night market to eat again which was very kind it was called lek tha kam boat trip we spent 10 hours today visiting monuments and palaces it was a great day molly loved the moped which was perfect as walking today would have been hard as it was 34 degrees

Molly getting ready for first moped trip

The girls eating prawn tom yam soup in night market very tasty dad had spicy soup

This is a leaning buddha all these budha were today having all there robes changed there are all blessed before being dressed again

The fish in the photo go crazy when anything is dropped in the river

We ưent to a Thai boat museum and met an old gentleman who was very ill now he used to build boats for the royal family and he sold his farm and built this museum for all the boats he has made and models we were not allowed to photo graph everything but so sad to see a man who loved his work but now can just sit in a chair not moving we talked about his life and work so interesting his wife showed us around we were only people there so had 1 to 1 a great 2 hour visit

Chiang  mai

We left the next day by an overnight bus which we caught from the bus station 6 km outside of ayuthaya at 10.00pm 

the tickets were 10 dollars  each and half price for molly after a good trip we arrived in chiang mai at 08.00 I had read from different blogs to get off bus and then catch songtheaw into central chiang mai which we did it cost 30 baht each we shared with 3 other fellow travellers once we arrived in to the centre we got off at tha  phae gate which is where the Sunday night market starts , I left the girls in a cafe while I went to look for somewhere to stay map.me is so handy because it shows all the guest houses and hostels on it I tried various ones but we’re out of our price range I eventually found Muan  hostel and hotel and got a large double room for 300 baht so happy it was old room but if we had a new room it would have been double and as we only sleep in the bed it was perfect the staff let us check in early so we showered and had a quick sleep

After a good rest we went to explore we found a couple of nice temples Wat phrase singh was really nice , We had a good day on foot so we treated ourselves to a foot massage which was great because I had pregnant women feet all swollen from the heat we later explored the night market which was amazing never seen one so big and diverse had some great street food for supper molly is really loving the prawns and chicken soups and noodles she is really coming out of her she’ll and doing and trying different things exploring etc

we arrived back at the hostel and they had printed all of molly,s weeks school work for us and would not take any money from us the next day we had a great breakfast in our hostel very cheap less than 200 baht for all three of us then spent over 4 hours doing school work and looking for things to do I found out about a night safari so we booked that  for the evening and the next day I booked  a trip to Wat phra that doi  suthep  temple and hill tribe village hmong  after finishing school work we went off walking and came across a family lost so I used maps.me to help them find their hotel and we came across a nice little street food stall called cats kitchen it was so busy but quick service and re all great food my soup was the best I have ever had in thailand molly had shrimps temporary and rice and finished with a large plate of fresh fruit we then strolled back to be collected from our hostel to the night safari about 8km out-of-town we arrived at the safari got our tickets from the driver the price for everything was 800 baht each half formally but we’ll worth it you go around the park in a tram and can touch so many animals that you go past they eat out of your hands molly was so excited then the was a later show and then dancers and an animal show  it was so cool we didn’t want it to end , after 3 hours our trip was ready to end we got transport back to our hostel and bed time

The next day was struggle to get up as we were being  picked up at 08.00 but we still managed a quick  breakfast the journey to the hill tribe village is not good if you suffer from car sickness as the road is so windy but only for about 30 minutes once we arrived we were given a talk about the villagers and then given time to wander for an hour seeing villagers making clothes and wooden bows and arrows and furniture and making rice from the crops and also a brief history of their travels from Burma tribal areas we then went to Wat phra dio suthep temple which you get to by cable car

After our journey up in the hills we returned to our hostel and had lunch then did school work with molly as we only had today to send in work for the last term she is getting on well with the on the road schooling it’s also good for her to sit and learn she loves the maths and Lithuanian language ,art and science the music is listening to cd, s and watching videos, lessons are also watching teacher then doing her work from books we have down loaded

Maths work art work and molly made this lantern for the hostel we stayed at to say thank you for printing our papers

After another good meal in kits kitchen we went to sleep early for our trip to chiang rai again by bus and only 180 BAHT and half price for molly , both buses we have caught have been the green bus company good seats air con and thai music videos

We left our hotel at 07.30 and got to the bus station again 40 baht each then for breakfast rice soup and tea then our x102 bus left on time, 09.00 2 hours later we arrived in Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai

We arrived at 11.00 and as always I left the girls to find a hostel it was a bit more expensive but I found a nice hostel not far from the bus station called Tanya house hostel we got a double bed and a bed roll and breakfast for 500 baht it was a 10 minute walk to the famous clock tower

This clock tower was made by the same artist who built the white temple at 9 pm it changes colour for about 10 minutes to music and light show

We also visited a tribal village museum which  we thought was great we saw a woman making covers for beds on a loom old fashion way she said it’s a dying art and that most villages you visit are now made by machine rather than old way and that what you see outside houses are just for show for tourist

That night we found the night market and went for our usual search for cheap food and a foot massage we found a great eating area at one of the main gates they played music and you could also get a beer happy dad, after we went towards the bar area and founds some welcoming girls which molly was asking why so many women here dad ,  I tried to explain without saying too much,we had a game of pool and a jam session on the drums

The next day we rented a bike from B rider which they delivered to our hostel just as molly was finishing her school work ,maths& science today after checking over the scooter we set off to the white temple about 15 km away we went on the main road there very easy to find and as you approach you see this amazing temple it’s so much to see it is built by a private artist called Ajarn  Chalermchai and he wanted to build it for Lord Buddha all with his own money it only cost 50 baht entrance fee

Molly with an art sculpture of a transformer also the gold building is the nicest toilets I have ever seen

After this we then drove our scooter about 25 km in the opposite direction to the blue temple 

This temple was smaller than the white temple but was a great contrast again it was built by an artist and in the process of being finished

After this temple we went to a giant Buddha we saw on our way it was built by the Chinese it was 25 storey high and reached via a lift there was also a 9 storey high pagoda both were very nice to see our day was perfect

We then rode back to our hostel had a a great meal in a little bar  called the cock bar with good music and an early night reading  for molly then slept like a log

Next day we had breakfast and got on our scooter  for a long trip to a water fall once there we had a 1.4 km walk over bamboo bridges and steep climbs it is not great if you’re not  wearing good shoes or unfit , molly enjoyed the walk as we played pirates on the way sword fighting

Once at the waterfall it gets wet from the wind blowing the falls which are about 40 meter drop very nice and refreshing  after 30 minutes rest we started the walk back to our scooter , by coming ourselves we saved 300 baht for a guided tour, on the way back we came across singha park so we decided to stop and look we spent 4 hours here walking around and going by tram to see some animals

We had dinner in the night market I had a great pot to make my own soup and the girls had fish and prawns

After that an early night as we had to try to catch a bus to Chiang kong north Thailand near the laos border

We arrived at chiang khong on time after an interesting ride thru the mountains and twisting roads to a small bus station   it was then about a 1 km walk to the area with guest houses on the river border crossing you  can see laos from our guest house , we had a good 3 bed room so a great sleep was due we rested a bit then went for dinner at a restaurant called phad  thai was very cheap and tasty there was a small night market here but we’ve had our fill of them for the moment

 

Back in Thailand for a second time  

We arrived at the cambodia thai border after a crazy drive from sihanoukville in a mini van at 07.00 to the border you unload luggage to a small wheel Barrow and they take it to thai border while you do your visas , we had already got our 30 day visas in vietnam so we were okay .You go to cambodia immigration for your exit stamp which took 2 mins then walk about 200 Mt to the thai border fill in your arrival card, here is where our driver tried to give this job to a man which we need to pay for so we said no and did ourselves ,the driver was not to happy because everyone else saw what we did and said no as well we then walked to entry window and got our stamps and a warm welcome to thailand as always 

We then followed our driver to a cafe where we were told mini van would take us to koh  chang but could not say when even though it was meant to be direct with same van oh no this is just one big lie you need to wait u till there are enough people to go this being 13 and we  were  only the of us as everyone else was going to bangkok ,we waited and waited we kept asking and the man was yelling you wait why you complain is okay if you want quicker you go taxi then said something  in thai not very nice .so if you want a quick ride book a private taxi if not be prepared for a long wait I would not mind if you are told this but we were told express to koh chang same van but not true lesson learnt

  2 hours later we finally had enough people and started our journey to koh chang we arrived at the ferry terminal at 16.00  perfect time to catch the 40 minutes ferry to koh chang island once there we got in a pick up taxi called a sotwaeng  to white sands beach where we wanted to stay it out 50 baht for all of us and then we just had to find some where to stay ,we had been to koh chang 10 years ago and loved it and wanted to stay on the beach again so we walked along this beautifull street h of white sand but now it has been taken over by big hotels and made all modern apart from one little section that still had wooden huts right on the beach perfect I asked at the first one and it was so cheap we took it 700baht  with breakfast where as big hotels wanted 200 baht

We booked to stay for 5 nights of relaxing and sunbathing and a elephant ride and going on a moped and more singha beer for dad

We treated ourselves by paying  $1.50 each for the day at this beach pool as molly wanted a swimming pool she didn’t have to pay as you can see very close to the sea