Light? Anyone?

Heh. Koh Chang had a total black out for almost two days which explains why I haven't updated. It made for interesting partying though :)

On our second last day on Koh Chang we packed up our stuff and headed to the north of the island to stay at Jungle Way and go to the elephant camp Ban Kwan Chang. We trekked from Ban Khlong Son to Jungle Way through slippery slopes, mosquitoes, a river and unfriendly dogs just to reach a sign that said closed. When we called them there was an answer machine that said to leave a phone number and they would get back to us - since that isn't unusual here we just did what we usually do: Go there anyway. They hadn't said that they were closed so we didn't think about it. They could at least have put a sign by the road so we didn't have to go into the jungle ... but no >_<

Anyway, the memory of the stupidity of Jungle Way had paled by the time we were bathing with the elephants at Ban Kwan Chang :) It was totally forgotten by the time we were trekking through the jungle on the back of an elephant! WOO! It was great. We also saw lizards running for their holes when the elephants trotted by; and a mouse being chased by a snake (the mouse lost); and some of the biggest spiders I have ever seen. Damn! We also got to feeding the elephants and rubbing them on the trunk. Unlike the Tiger Temple this wasn't just a photo session. All in all it was a very moving experience.

Unfortunately Martin woke up with a fever yesterday. We were leaving Koh Chang and going back to Bangkok so the poor thing had to travel in that state :/ It didn't improve things that the temperature in the bus dropped to 18 degrees towards the end of the trip and we spent two hours freezing. Lots of things was wrong with that trip but freezing was the worst.

At least we're back in Bangkok and that means larger selection of food, fewer mosquitoes (and smaller too), bigger chance of finding clothes that fit, some things are open after six and we're gearing up to go home.

Martin is getting his dreads fixed and I'm going shopping for presents now :)

The answer is in the blowing of the wind.

Well, we got out of Kanchanaburi by train and stayed in Bangkok for one day before putting ourselves on a slightly bizarre bus trip south.

We're on Ko Chang. It's beautiful here and we have a seaside view - as in: We're 2 metres away from the water; maybe a bit more if you count the stilts our hut is on.

The mosquitoes here are huge though o_O
I have really learned to appreciate the wind since they keep the little bloodsuckers at bay. A good mozzy net is vital here especially if you have a straw hut like ours that only really keeps the rain out.

Our elephant trekking got postponed a couple of days so now we're taking it easy with some snorkling and reading in hammocks :)

Life is good!

A little to the west :)

Martin's backpack finally showed up and we're now in Kanchanaburi. It's to the west of Bangkok and it's suppose to be a bit cooler here ... but we were dying today so I fear for the people in Bangkok o_O

Anyway. Yesterday we were looking at the war cemetery, the chinese cemetery, the korean temple and cruised the night market. The war cemetery got me in awe ... I mean, it's 60 years ago and the place looks like it was done last week.

We went to the tiger temple today and it was the most bizarre experience. We had expected to just look at some monks chilling with their tigers, instead it turned out to be a photoop to raise money. People were lined up and one by one all were taken by the hand (literally) around to have pictures taken with all the tigers (with the exception of a monster of a cat in the back - apparently none of the helpers trusted him o_O) It was surreal.



Martin and I had a lot of fun with the rest of the animals around the temple though :)

Tomorrow we are gonna go on the death railway over the river kwai (watch the movie) and maybe stare at waterfalls.

"PUSSY!"

Heh, waking up to the sound of a 78 year old aussie shouting about the difference between Malaysian and Thai girls is a bizarre thing in a country where people shy away from any kind of situation where you can lose face.

Maybe it was just an indication of what sort of day it would turn out to be. We extended our stay in Bangkok since Martin's bag still hasn't shown up - he was suppose to get it this morning but we are now into the afternoon and it still isn't here *sigh* A day more in Bangkok isn't so bad I guess. Bangkok is a cool (a sweaty kind of cool) place that however can give you a smoker's lungs in a matter of days. As long as you live in small side streets the constant buzz is not a problem. And there is so much good food here! Yum yum!

It's a holiday today. Khao Phansa is the beginning of buddhist lent and it's suppose to be a good time to observe a buddhist ordination so we're heading to Wat Pho later (might even get a massage while we're there)

Just a few lines of text ;)

Well, we made it to Bangkok - Martin's bag however... didn't. Finnair decided to lose it completely - it cannot be found anywhere in the system. Luckily there's compensation for the days you stand without a thread to wear so we've been shopping and have used all 70 euro Martin was allowed to spend. Clothes are really cheap here, but since Martin rises over the 2 meters and people here are tiny we had to have a few things tailored.

The only thing that's irritating is that the camera is in the awol bag, so the places we've been to and the people we've met these past two days aren't recorded. We found a few cool places that weren't in any guide books just because we chatted with a few Thais :)

Hopefully we'll have the bag back tomorrow and we can set of for Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua (the Tiger temple) friday morning. Tomorrow we'll take in a few more temples, the national museum and hopefully a show of traditional character (or maybe watch ladyboy show if the traditional is a no-go ;)

Ps: No, it isn't raining here! At all! It's just very humid and hot.

Aaaand we have lift off!

Thailand awaits!

2 books, some respectable clothes, medical aid for the weak stomach, sunscreen, sunglasses, money, passports and tickets. I'm all set.

My only concern is how long I can drag my better half around to historical sites before he rebels ^^

Up and away!

Major clean up!

Yes, the blog that was is no more.
I got tired of the crap.

This is now a travel blawg!




We're starting freeeeesh ^_^