🇹🇭We spent almost three weeks in Thailand, in Bangkok, Koh Samet, and Chiang Mai.
Bangkok is intense. It certainly gets its hustle on. Where you think there’s no space, they make space, whether to set up a kiosk or to snake through traffic. We went to the big mall MBK one day, and when we tried to leave, the roads were covered in a foot of water. There were over two hundred people waiting in line for taxis, so Mike snagged us a tuk tuk, which totally saved the day. We snuggled in the back and just held on tight, hoping the water wouldn’t stop the engine. The driver,« Our fairy godfather », made lanes where there were none, and got us home safely. Although the situation looked difficult, no one was freaking out or laying on the horn, and our driver had a little smile on his face the whole time. 😊
We stayed in the wild backpacker district again. It’s hot, noisy, and dirty, but there’s plenty to see. It’s very affordable to eat and drink really well. Not sure which beer I prefer, Singha, Leo, or Chang. They’re classic lagers like Keith’s or Moosehead. It’s just so hot there, what’s a Canadian to drink but a cold brew or two? 🍻
A few days in the city was just fine, then we took a cab, to a bus, to a tuk tuk, to a ferry, to a truck cab, finally to a the island Ko Samet. We stayed there four nights and swam every day in the Indian Ocean, the warmest water in which I’ve ever swum. Seriously I’ve had cooler baths. We played in the waves, floated under the full moon, and ate great Thai food. Also, everyday there’s an episode of torrential rain, during which we would read and watch movies in the air conditioned room. The girls keep journals, practice a little math, and play with their little LEGO set, two stuffies each, and the little trinkets they collect sur la route. 🌊🥽🧸
After Ko Samet we traveled North to Chiangmai, by overnight train. I’m glad we did it, but I’m glad it’s done. It’s loud, rickety, and a long ride. But Chiangmai is worth it. It’s an old city, with hundreds of temples and what remains of the old wall that surrounded it. There are moats that run through it, and it’s quite easy to navigate. The vast markets that open every night have hundreds of vendors selling clothes, souvenirs, knock-offs, and again, the food. It’s delicious and cheaper to have it prepared than to even consider going to a grocery store.
We booked two special tours from Chiangmai. First, we took a cooking class where we walked through a lush garden sampling ingredients like kaffir lime, lemongrass, galang (similar to ginger), made curry paste with pestles and mortars, then cooked up spring rolls, pad Thai, curries, and soups. So good, all around. We loved it. 🍜🍤🥘🥭🥥🍳
A couple days later, we went to the Chiangmai Elephant Sanctuary, where they have four elephants rescued from different circumstances. Elephant rides and circuses used to be a popular, but the trainers would use harsh discipline on the animals if they were not in the mood to perform, or if something went awry. I was skeptical before I went, but the elephants were not tied, and the staff seemed to genuinely love them. The elephants were gentle as we feed them watermelons and tall grass. These cuties can eat around 250 kg a day! They love a mud bath and a fresh shower in the river, and it was sweet and surreal to interact with them. 🐘🐘🐘🐘
The girls loved to ride around in tuk tuks, and they took took turns sitting next to the drivers. We went to stunning Buddhist temples, some five and six hundred years old. I just about evaporated in the humid heat, but the mango and strawberry popsicles helped. Thailand has been a fun time for us.
Next stop: 🇿🇦South Africa. We will be able to see how the African elephant differs from the Asian elephant!
