As tempting as it was to continue in the decadence of a 4.5 star resort, I pulled myself away for a trip to a local elephant park, with an opportunity to ride an elephant. Not particularly a goal of mine, but my travel buddy was keen to go, so I tagged along.
The elephant's name was Chort and he didn't seem to mind me sitting on his back (though the wooden 'seat' tied on with rope was a bit of a worry!) He was a bit of a disobedient elephant, but I didn't care. If he wanted to stop for a drink, I wasn't in a position to stop him!
So I've ridden an elephant. Not something I'm all that keen to do again. Just doesn't seem right to me...
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Similan Islands
Well I've got my morning tasks out of the way, and figured I'd add the last couple of posts about Thailand. Not that anyone is probably reading them now that I'm back in the mundane world of work.
I spent a day out in the Similan Islands, which are known as one of the best places in the world for diving. There are nine islands out there, and they're about 60 ks from the mainland, which ends up being about 90 minutes on a speedboat. Better than risking it, I ended up taking a sea-sick tablet prior to leaving, which were given out by the tour company. Considering these were some no-brand Thai tablets I probably could've ended up worse for wear from the tablet, but all was okay.
The boat was chock full of Swedes and Germans, with a couple from the US who weren't very friendly, so I'll just assume that they're Bush-loving Republican fundamentalists and not worth talking to. Entertainment was provided by our guide, who I'll call Shane because it sounded like that, but was more likely Chang or Chai or something. This lad was very exuberant, if you get my drift, and didn't want to get his hair wet because it had just been straightened. We figured he was probably in training to become a katoy. To each there own. He was very entertaining on the long ride over.
On a side note, asthmatics need not worry if you want to do a boat trip to the Similans. No smorking is allowed at all the boat. Being full of Europeans, plenty lit up their smorks once they got on land, so if smorking bothers you, jump into the water where people can't smork because their smorks would go out. (Love the 2nd grade translating!)
I saw a few flying fish on the way over, which was pretty neat. I kept seeing all these things that looked like birds flying low over the water, until I got to see one fairly close up and it was definitely a fish. So that was pretty neat. Gave me something to look at in addition to the very unseaworthy looking Thai fishing boats.
The Similan islands were spectacular. Beautiful white beaches, clear blue water and great snorkling (not smorking - though one sign I saw advertised smocking tours. Also towling trips, which was one I couldn't figure out...) I'd definitely recommend a trip out to the Similans. They can get busy, so try to stay out at the National Park if you can.
If you head over there, take the time to climb up to Sail Rock, which offers superb views. The trek up in treacherous, with ropes to climb up rocks and shaky looking wooden planks. Though for me the top provided the greatest threat - finding out that you're sharing the view with a bunch of speedo-wearing Russians was a real concern, and I'm lucky I didn't jump off the cliff to escape them.
This is, I'm sure, further proof that the speedo is a communist plot...
I spent a day out in the Similan Islands, which are known as one of the best places in the world for diving. There are nine islands out there, and they're about 60 ks from the mainland, which ends up being about 90 minutes on a speedboat. Better than risking it, I ended up taking a sea-sick tablet prior to leaving, which were given out by the tour company. Considering these were some no-brand Thai tablets I probably could've ended up worse for wear from the tablet, but all was okay.
The boat was chock full of Swedes and Germans, with a couple from the US who weren't very friendly, so I'll just assume that they're Bush-loving Republican fundamentalists and not worth talking to. Entertainment was provided by our guide, who I'll call Shane because it sounded like that, but was more likely Chang or Chai or something. This lad was very exuberant, if you get my drift, and didn't want to get his hair wet because it had just been straightened. We figured he was probably in training to become a katoy. To each there own. He was very entertaining on the long ride over.
On a side note, asthmatics need not worry if you want to do a boat trip to the Similans. No smorking is allowed at all the boat. Being full of Europeans, plenty lit up their smorks once they got on land, so if smorking bothers you, jump into the water where people can't smork because their smorks would go out. (Love the 2nd grade translating!)
I saw a few flying fish on the way over, which was pretty neat. I kept seeing all these things that looked like birds flying low over the water, until I got to see one fairly close up and it was definitely a fish. So that was pretty neat. Gave me something to look at in addition to the very unseaworthy looking Thai fishing boats.
The Similan islands were spectacular. Beautiful white beaches, clear blue water and great snorkling (not smorking - though one sign I saw advertised smocking tours. Also towling trips, which was one I couldn't figure out...) I'd definitely recommend a trip out to the Similans. They can get busy, so try to stay out at the National Park if you can.
If you head over there, take the time to climb up to Sail Rock, which offers superb views. The trek up in treacherous, with ropes to climb up rocks and shaky looking wooden planks. Though for me the top provided the greatest threat - finding out that you're sharing the view with a bunch of speedo-wearing Russians was a real concern, and I'm lucky I didn't jump off the cliff to escape them.
This is, I'm sure, further proof that the speedo is a communist plot...
Monday, January 22, 2007
A quick Singapore update
The last few times I've been able to get on the internet, I haven't been able to log onto Blogger, so no updates for awhile. I'm back in Singapore Budget Terminal, and will be flying back to Darwin in an hour-and-a-half. Not much time to update now, so I will do a few more when I'm back at work because I'm sure I'll have time to get a few things down I'll stay back late and add a few. Have a few more posts on Khao Lak, Ko Similan and riding an elephant through the rainforest.
Too bad I have to go back to work tomorrow after getting in at 2 am... Might need to be a tad late!
Too bad I have to go back to work tomorrow after getting in at 2 am... Might need to be a tad late!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Addendum to my letter to the UN
PS - I think we could also whack in an amendment relating to old women who go around sans bikini top. They take the fun out of fun bags.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Poo on the beach
There's a hell of a lot of poo on the beach here in Khao Lak, as there was on the beaches in Phuket. You can also eat poo as well - it's on most menus. But since I've eaten poo before and didn't really like it, I have avoided it. Poo is Thai for crabs, by the way. And not the kind you probably pick up in Patong...
Khao Lak
The plan to head over to Phi Phi stalled due to a lack of accommodation. Could've risked a trip over there and probably would've found something, but all the tour touts and a few phone calls indicated that it would be pretty tight, and the thought of spending time on a small island cram filled with other tourists wasn't the best. Will save Phi Phi for next time.
I'm up at Khao Lak, which is about an hour's drive north of Phuket. This place was pretty badly wrecked by the tsunami, and the remnants of the destruction are still very apparent. There are many places half destroyed or half repaired, with more than a few resorts still closed. But because a few are re-opening, there are bargains to be had, and I was able to get a room at the Ramada resort for 2500 Baht a night (about $80) when they normally go for 10,000 Baht. So it's good to experience a pretty plush resort at a fifth of the price. The downside is that there's still a bit of construction going on, but nothing too bad. The pool is great, the room is pretty swishy and the service is more than I'm used to.
Khao Lak is a pretty average beach. In fact all the beaches have been pretty average. I think Phi Phi and places around Krabi are better. The water is very warm, though, and no doubt due to the after effects of the tsunami, it's pretty quiet. Will head out to a few excursions to nearby sights, starting with the Similan Islands which are about 60km off shore, but they look spectacular. There's also a national park nearby where you can ride an elephant, so I might give that a try as well.
At least I'm not in Patong anymore. I feel like I need to go to confession on behalf of all the sleazy and disgusting caucasian men...
I'm up at Khao Lak, which is about an hour's drive north of Phuket. This place was pretty badly wrecked by the tsunami, and the remnants of the destruction are still very apparent. There are many places half destroyed or half repaired, with more than a few resorts still closed. But because a few are re-opening, there are bargains to be had, and I was able to get a room at the Ramada resort for 2500 Baht a night (about $80) when they normally go for 10,000 Baht. So it's good to experience a pretty plush resort at a fifth of the price. The downside is that there's still a bit of construction going on, but nothing too bad. The pool is great, the room is pretty swishy and the service is more than I'm used to.
Khao Lak is a pretty average beach. In fact all the beaches have been pretty average. I think Phi Phi and places around Krabi are better. The water is very warm, though, and no doubt due to the after effects of the tsunami, it's pretty quiet. Will head out to a few excursions to nearby sights, starting with the Similan Islands which are about 60km off shore, but they look spectacular. There's also a national park nearby where you can ride an elephant, so I might give that a try as well.
At least I'm not in Patong anymore. I feel like I need to go to confession on behalf of all the sleazy and disgusting caucasian men...
Monday, January 15, 2007
My open letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations
Dear Korean guy who took over from Kofi Annan,
First, let me apologise for not knowing your name. I'm sure it's a fine Korean name. But I have more pressing matters to attend to rather than google your name to find it out.
I think we need to have some sort of global campaign against speedos, budgie-smugglers, dick bathers, meat-hangers, whatever it is you want to call them. Having spent quite a bit of time at the beach lately, I can't help but notice the number of fat, ugly men who feel the need to wear the skimpiest bathers they can. One man was actually wearing a g-string style of swimwear which was not only unflattering, but it put me off my food. And the food is good in Thailand.
I fail to see why we can't establish some form of Coalition of the Willing to eradicate this visual terror from our shores. And our swimming pools. After all, boardies are far more flattering, and they also reduce the amount of skin exposed to dangerous UV rays, which is also a good thing.
I'm sure you would find, unlike previous global campaigns (Iraq etc.) that there would be considerable support for this campaign. After all, nobody (except an unfortunate number of corpulent European men) think that speedos are a good thing. This could be a great way for the world to re-unite - Arab and Jew, Australian and New Zealander, American and everybody else - around a common goal for the common good.
And what a crowning glory for your new term it would be!
I trust you will consider my proposal.
First, let me apologise for not knowing your name. I'm sure it's a fine Korean name. But I have more pressing matters to attend to rather than google your name to find it out.
I think we need to have some sort of global campaign against speedos, budgie-smugglers, dick bathers, meat-hangers, whatever it is you want to call them. Having spent quite a bit of time at the beach lately, I can't help but notice the number of fat, ugly men who feel the need to wear the skimpiest bathers they can. One man was actually wearing a g-string style of swimwear which was not only unflattering, but it put me off my food. And the food is good in Thailand.
I fail to see why we can't establish some form of Coalition of the Willing to eradicate this visual terror from our shores. And our swimming pools. After all, boardies are far more flattering, and they also reduce the amount of skin exposed to dangerous UV rays, which is also a good thing.
I'm sure you would find, unlike previous global campaigns (Iraq etc.) that there would be considerable support for this campaign. After all, nobody (except an unfortunate number of corpulent European men) think that speedos are a good thing. This could be a great way for the world to re-unite - Arab and Jew, Australian and New Zealander, American and everybody else - around a common goal for the common good.
And what a crowning glory for your new term it would be!
I trust you will consider my proposal.
Patong Beach
Blogger has been p!ssing me off lately... I've struggled to log on.
Well, what to say of Patong? It's probably not as bad as I was expecting, but it's still a shit hole designed for tourists. And sleazy tourists at that. I would've avoided the place altogether (Nai Thon was much nicer) but it was a necessary trip to sort out future accommodation for the rest of the trip. And it's not a bad place to do a bit of souvenir shopping. The hotel I'm staying at is a bit out of the way and the markets nearby are much cheaper than in the main tourist strip.
The worst thing about this place is the number of sleazy men with their prostitute companions. They are everywhere and it's bloody disgusting. And it's not just fat old men either, but younger guys who you expect to know better. It's horrible. I'm glad I'm travelling around with a work mate because if I wasn't I'd be out of here so fast, lest something think I was here for the same sick reasons as these pigs.
If you're gonna rent yourself some sex, then at least do it at home where the women have some semblance of choice between prostitution or some other way of making money. Here it's women with no options, no choices, no way of getting out of it.
It's fucking disgusting.
Well, what to say of Patong? It's probably not as bad as I was expecting, but it's still a shit hole designed for tourists. And sleazy tourists at that. I would've avoided the place altogether (Nai Thon was much nicer) but it was a necessary trip to sort out future accommodation for the rest of the trip. And it's not a bad place to do a bit of souvenir shopping. The hotel I'm staying at is a bit out of the way and the markets nearby are much cheaper than in the main tourist strip.
The worst thing about this place is the number of sleazy men with their prostitute companions. They are everywhere and it's bloody disgusting. And it's not just fat old men either, but younger guys who you expect to know better. It's horrible. I'm glad I'm travelling around with a work mate because if I wasn't I'd be out of here so fast, lest something think I was here for the same sick reasons as these pigs.
If you're gonna rent yourself some sex, then at least do it at home where the women have some semblance of choice between prostitution or some other way of making money. Here it's women with no options, no choices, no way of getting out of it.
It's fucking disgusting.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Nai Thon Beach
Day two in Thailand. Haven't done all that much except laze on the beach, swim, eat good Thai food and drink Singha beer. So all is good. Except for the fact that they decided to fumigate during breakfast at the open air restaurant. At least I know that if any mozzies were residing inside my lungs, they are all dead now.
One more night hear then down to Patong (the overbuilt touristy nightmare by the sound of it) but just for one night to sort out a trip to Ko Phi Phi.
Will write more soon.
One more night hear then down to Patong (the overbuilt touristy nightmare by the sound of it) but just for one night to sort out a trip to Ko Phi Phi.
Will write more soon.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Budgeting in Singapore
I don't think it's possible to write a thrilling and entertaining post from the budget terminal in Singapore. Not much to report. No troubles with customs... I figured I could try to do a 15 minutes of fame dig like Schapelle, but decided that extending the 15 minutes into 20 years in prison probably isn't worth it.
It cost me $9 for an orange juice at the hotel. I think if I was a citrus grower in Waikerie I'd be looking to exploit the OJ market in Singapore. I'd hate to think what it would've cost to add a bit of vodka to the glass...
About 2.5 hours until the next leg of the trip from Singapore to Phuket. Only 1 hour and 40 minutes, which is better than the four and a half hour leg from Darwin. Tiger Airways whacks in about 4 extra rows of seats that most airlines don't, so there is no leg room at all. And the plane was chocka-block. Dammit, I know god put me on this earth to be able to afford business class (or, Lord, possibly a private jet? Amen).
It cost me $9 for an orange juice at the hotel. I think if I was a citrus grower in Waikerie I'd be looking to exploit the OJ market in Singapore. I'd hate to think what it would've cost to add a bit of vodka to the glass...
About 2.5 hours until the next leg of the trip from Singapore to Phuket. Only 1 hour and 40 minutes, which is better than the four and a half hour leg from Darwin. Tiger Airways whacks in about 4 extra rows of seats that most airlines don't, so there is no leg room at all. And the plane was chocka-block. Dammit, I know god put me on this earth to be able to afford business class (or, Lord, possibly a private jet? Amen).
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Off again - destination Thailand
I had the best of intentions of re-hashing some old travel stories between trips (not that anyone would care, but you never know... maybe the right person will stumble upon this and give me a job as a full time travel writer... ha ha). But my procrastination got the better of me and it didn't happen.
But I am off to Singapore then Thailand in a few hours, using my prize from Tiger Airways for the ticket (though the prize didn't cover the tax, which was about half the cost of the entire fare!) The flight leaves at 3:05am, which is the worst time you could get because you can't go to sleep before hand (unless you're an early sleeper, which I'm not) and I can't sleep on planes. I got some sleeping aids from the chemist so I'll see how that works. Luckily I have 16 hours in Singapore to catch up on some sleep (and maybe go to the zoo since I won tickets to that as part of my prize.) Will see how it goes.
The other thing that sucks aboug Tiger (apart from the god awful times) is that there's open seating, so when you're at the airport you need to stand in the queue to get your ticket, then get in another queue to get on the plane (unless you want to get on last and risk being stuck between two corpulent strangers.) I don't get open seating. How is it cheaper for airlines to do this? I don't know.
Anyway, it's 11:45pm and I have about three hours until boarding...
But I am off to Singapore then Thailand in a few hours, using my prize from Tiger Airways for the ticket (though the prize didn't cover the tax, which was about half the cost of the entire fare!) The flight leaves at 3:05am, which is the worst time you could get because you can't go to sleep before hand (unless you're an early sleeper, which I'm not) and I can't sleep on planes. I got some sleeping aids from the chemist so I'll see how that works. Luckily I have 16 hours in Singapore to catch up on some sleep (and maybe go to the zoo since I won tickets to that as part of my prize.) Will see how it goes.
The other thing that sucks aboug Tiger (apart from the god awful times) is that there's open seating, so when you're at the airport you need to stand in the queue to get your ticket, then get in another queue to get on the plane (unless you want to get on last and risk being stuck between two corpulent strangers.) I don't get open seating. How is it cheaper for airlines to do this? I don't know.
Anyway, it's 11:45pm and I have about three hours until boarding...
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