Arriving in Bangkok at 10pm after 13 hours in the air, Air NZ flight to Melbourne, then a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok, we were pretty jaded. The tour started with a meeting in the lobby the following evening. Two nights in a mid range Bangkok hotel in Chinatown.
Some of the produce available on the roadside stalls.
Day 3. Bangkok.
And our first with the group, a conducted tour of Wat Po temple in 37deg heat. Our guide, Beam, a chirpy smiling female Thai of 44 years gave us a comprehensive rundown of Thai royalty and the country’s history.
We have a fairly diverse group of companions. Given the tours demanding schedules I thought younger people would dominate, but the group of 12 are made up of mainly oldies like us. A British couple from Northumberland, Kathy and Phil, Prov an Indian born American from San Fransisco, a lone Englishman Mike, from Portsmouth. Kirsty from Toowoomba in Queensland, young at 50. Corenna a hairdresser from Alberta, Canada, also young. Winston a 60 something, from Christchurch in NZ, and Perth couple Maxine & Geoff, and last not least, Annette a lovely Swiss based German lady.
The journey to the temple was by speedboat up the Chao Phraya river. These amazing pencil shaped boats with a large 4cylinder diesel powered, turbocharged engines with about a 3 meter direct drive shaft with propellor at the end of it, zip along past waterborne hovels and temples on each side.
Destination, Chaing Mai.
Day 4
We have just spent a night sleeping on an ironing board in a train to Chiang Mai. I slept like a log. Jen didn’t sleep a wink, she informs me. It reminds me of the Trans Siberian but this time we are only spending one night. The train was packed on departing Bangkok but by morning, the numbers had dwindled. It seems many got off during the night, but that passed me by. It’s Thai New Year, starts in April…or May, and many from the country converge on the capital to celebrate the event and our train was full with returnees
We have a fairly diverse group of companions. Given the tours fairly demanding schedules I thought younger people would dominate, but the group of 12 are made up of mainly oldies like us. A British couple from Northumberland, Kathy and Phil, Prov an Indian born American from San Fransisco, a lone Englishman from Portsmouth, Mike, Kirsty from Toowoomba in Queensland, young at 50. Corenna a hairdresser from Alberta, Canada also young. Winston a 60 something, from Christchurch in NZ and Perth couple Maxine & Geoff, and last not least, Annette a lovely Swiss based German lady.
Alighting in Chang Mai, Toyota vans whisked us to another temple..
To celebrate New Year the tradition requires everyone to be drenched using pots, pans, massive water guns or just hoses. Utes prowling with their occupants intent on saturating anybody within range. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, other ute passengers, everyone. It’s a carnival atmosphere and right now from our 12th floor room drums and music is drowning even thoughts. Let’s hope it doesn’t extend into sleeping time. Dinner tonight in an outside food market.
Tomorrow, a cycling tour. Some practice for the summer.
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