Tuesday, February 12, 2013 – Our last day

We left our hotel at 4.00 a.m. and found a taxi waiting outside our hotel room which took us to the airport.  Our flight left Bangkok at 7.00 a.m.  For the next 25 hours we went from Bangkok to Tokyo for six hours; from Tokyo to Newark, N.J. for 12 hours; from Newark to Toronto for 1.5 hours.  We then went from the airport to Toronto and then back to Kitchener-Waterloo – Home. 

From 34 degrees C every day for a month back into winter weather  in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada, we arrived home on Tuesday, February 12 already missing the heat, the food and the chaos of Southeast Asia. 

 

Monday, February 11, 2013 Wat Pho

Today, we decided to return to Wat Pho, beside the Grand Palace to get a massage at the on-site traditional Thai massage pavilion.  The pavilion carries on the temple’s primary purpose as a space for traditional healing.  What an amazing massage we had for less than $15.00 for the hour.  It was well worth getting through the crowds before we got to the Pavilon. 

 We were also very happy that we had been to the Grand Palace previously.  As it turns out the Grand Palace  was crowded with many visitors wanting to pray at the site on  the Chinese New Year.   

We took some time out to explore some of the big malls in Bangkok.  We discovered many beautiful things in the beautiful malls.  It is always very interesting how store clerks are in other countries.  They are very friendly and helpful, following behind you and putting things the things that you have touched back exactly the way they were before you touched them.  It makes you feel as though you should not have touched the articles. We then took the local ferry back to our neighbourhood to enjoy, yet another amazing Thai meal, our last one before leaving tomorrow.  The ferry ride back was a long ride and very enjoyable in the evening.  We ate at a different restaurant and were again delighted with our food and the ambience.  After dinner I went to the spa for a manicure and pedicure, while Gerald ran errands to prepare for our trip back home.

Sunday, February 10, 2013 Bangkok

Today, we decided to go to the Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok.  

The market is at the end of the sky train line, traffic is very busy and people are everywhere.   It is among the largest markets in the world. 

 Jatujak or Chatuchak Weekend Market is the biggest market in Thailand and one of the best in Asia. It boasts about 15,000 stalls in its 35 acres and flocked by approximately 200,000 visitors daily. 

 Luckily, we had planned to spend the entire day here as it was a very large market with many things to look at.  The day was very hot but we were able to buy small or large towels (which were kept in the coolers) that helped us cool off.  

The market closed at 7:00 p.m. and we did not get to every stall in the market, which was fine with us at the end of the day. 

We decided to go to the very busy/funky street, in our neighbourhood, for dinner.  It is a narrow street with little traffic, except for people.  There are many restaurants here and places for people to lie on lounge chairs while they get a foot massage or a thai massage.  There are also many spas to get a facial, manicure and pedicure, etc. for an extremely inexpensive amount.  

There are also Volkswagen Vans which have been converted into small bars offering all sorts of mixed drinks, beer and interesting music to listen to.  

There are people everywhere from different countries  taking in all that the street has to offer.  We had, yet another, fantastic meal in a fun, energetic atmosphere.

Saturday, February 9, 2013 Bangkok

We awoke early this morning to go out, explore Bangkok again and pick up some clothing we had ordered to be made.  Our room is on the top 5th floor of the G.H. with a small balcony looking out into large, tall trees.  It had rained in the evening and we had missed it.

In the afternoon we went to China Town to celebrate the Chinese New Year.  It is a large China Town, along the river, filled with many restaurants, shops and many, many people dressed in red celebrating.  We ate dim sum for dinner  to give us a taste of home.   We caught the local boat  back to the area our G.H. is in.  It was a lovely ride in the evening and a short walk to our G.H.  What a lovely day it was -- there seems so much to do and so little time. 

The Chinese have bid adieu to the Year of the Dragon and gracefully welcomed the Year of the Snake. The Chinese New Year 2013 has been enthusiastically celebrated across the world, to mark the arrival of the Water Snake - which Chinese astrology considers powerful and associated with the notion of Karma.

Friday Feb 8th, 2013 Tubtim to Bangkok

This morning we had another delicious breakfast in an idyllic setting on the beach before we went back to our G.H. to pack our things to return to Bangkok in preparation for our journey back home.

We had quite the hike, with our knapsacks, to the next cove where we caught the ferry back to Ban Phe.  On our ferry ride we met a fellow traveller from Kitchener and from Nepal.  Small world -- isn't it.

We arrived in Bangkok close to 7.00 p.m.  We had previously booked our Guest House before leaving on our travels -- which made our return to the city very easy.

 This time our G.H. is in the famous neighbourhood of Banglamphu, which includes the backpacker street of  Khao San Road.    This area is a very busy, booming part of Bangkok filled with backpackers from around the world.

Monday, February 4 toThursday, February 7, 2013. Ko Samet, Thailand

The next three days were spent at Ao Tub Tim cove on Ko Samet -- sunning, swimming, reading, hiking, eating amazing seafood and taking in the beautiful scenery of sand, rocks, trees and tub-temperature ocean.

Sunday, February 3, 2013 Siem Reap, Cambodia to Ko Samet, Thailand

Today, we spent the day exploring the city of Siem Reap.

In the evening, we went to the famous Pub Street, within walking distance of our G.H.

It is another truly unbelievable place.  As it has grown, Siem Reap has transformed from a sleepy overgrown village to an international destination for the 'jet set'.  Siem Reap is now firmly on the nightlife map of southeast Asia.  In the night it feels more like a beach town than a cultural capital.  Pub Street has a huge sign indicating its location.  The street is closed to traffic every evening.  It is a place where you can wine and dine very cheaply but have a meal fit for a King and Queen and be treated like royalty -- the choices are overwhelming -- all amazing.

Having enjoyed Pub Street immensely we returned to our G.H. to pack up for a very early morning start at 1.45 am. to catch an overnight bus from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand.

Lucky for us we were able to sleep soundly on the bus and we awoke at the border at 7.00 a.m. At the border it took us a couple of hours to process our paperwork, cross into Thailand on foot and get into a small bus to take us the rest of the way to Bangkok.

We arrived in Bangkok around 1.00 p.m.  After some 'travel confusion' we caught a taxi to take us to the bus station we needed to get to o catch a bus to Ban Phe four hours south of Bangkok as we headed to the beach for some rest and relaxation.

At Ban Phe we caught a ferry over to Ko Samet.  Ko Samet is an idyll island with beautiful scenery, small sandy coves and clear aquamarine water.

 We decided to go to Ao Tub Tim cove which is a favourite beach for solitude seekers who need access to civilization, if necessary, but not a lot of other stimulation.  We knew if we wanted more stimulation we could hike to it.