Tues. Jan 19 Wang Chan Riverside Hotel Pitsanulok
Off to the races at &:00 AM. We drove north through rice growing country. First stop was at a sticky rice stand. We watched as they roasted sticky rice in short lengths of bamboo, then they split hot bamboo open with an axe and the cooked sticky rice was divine ! Next stop was a road side stop with freshly grilled rats and frozen Cobra snake for sale. We declined both, but did take some pics. Next on to a bank sanctuary that was just a section of a wooded area on a public street which was home to about two million screeching bats all flying around. Final stop was at the Sakae Krang River where we boarded the Khiri Nava - a beautiful old teak boat - rice barge, and cruised and ate lunch. It was a long day of traveling and we finally pulled into the hotel around 5:00 PM. We had a so-so group dinner this PM at the hotel, 6:00 AM wake up tomorrow ! One great thing about the bus travel is that our guide Benny, is always buying local snacks for us to sample on the bus and we have had some really great food, so far my favorite is the sesame brittle type candies and the sticky rice. Another nice thing about the buses is that the drivers greet us with package wrapped cold towels to cool off with and we always have unlimited cold bottle water to help us cool down.
Off to the races at &:00 AM. We drove north through rice growing country. First stop was at a sticky rice stand. We watched as they roasted sticky rice in short lengths of bamboo, then they split hot bamboo open with an axe and the cooked sticky rice was divine ! Next stop was a road side stop with freshly grilled rats and frozen Cobra snake for sale. We declined both, but did take some pics. Next on to a bank sanctuary that was just a section of a wooded area on a public street which was home to about two million screeching bats all flying around. Final stop was at the Sakae Krang River where we boarded the Khiri Nava - a beautiful old teak boat - rice barge, and cruised and ate lunch. It was a long day of traveling and we finally pulled into the hotel around 5:00 PM. We had a so-so group dinner this PM at the hotel, 6:00 AM wake up tomorrow ! One great thing about the bus travel is that our guide Benny, is always buying local snacks for us to sample on the bus and we have had some really great food, so far my favorite is the sesame brittle type candies and the sticky rice. Another nice thing about the buses is that the drivers greet us with package wrapped cold towels to cool off with and we always have unlimited cold bottle water to help us cool down.
Our bags picked up at the tents and getting read to be loaded on the bus
Out on the road the monks were collecting food. Below video of the rubber trees, and sap dripping down
Rubber tree sap dripping down
Monks heading down the road
Roadside pit stop - Not much privacy here
Squatty potty - you squat, then when done, scoop water from the bucket with the red scoop of flush it down
On the right are pieces of bamboo filled with sticky rice being roasted - yum
Upside down state
Getting the bamboo roasted
The bamboo split, and the roasted sticky rice in side
Puppy time break
I am practicing driving the motor bike with a side car
On the bus snacking on the roasted sticky rice in bamboo
Benny and Jon off to the races
Lots of fried rats - we passed on these
Roasting rats
We passed on the frozen cobra as well
Bats, bats, and more bats
Monk lunch break
Jon and Jim with a genius moment that one seatbelt worked for both of them
Heading down to our rice barge for our Sakae Krang river cruise
Lunch being cooked in the galley of the barge
Floating homes on the river
Lunch on the barge - Jon, Ron, Jim and Deb
Getting ready to do the dishes
Jon back at the helm
Benny gave us a copy of the Thai alphabet because we have to write our own name tags in Thai for our home hosted dinner
Wed. Jan 20 Mayeom Hote,l Phrae
Excitement at breakfast at 6:00 AM when Jim spotted a rat running along the back ledge of the breakfast buffet . Next thing all the staff were yelling and running around whacking straw brooms on the floor in an obvious attempt to squash the rat. After breakfast Jon and I took a walk along the rivers edge, then the bus left at 8:00 AM. First stop was at a rice processing plant where they had the old part sectioned off as a musuem, and the new part was a working rice production. Next stop was the Sukhothai historical park which is a world Unesco site and has Thailand's largest collection of historic ruins. We were loaded on to Rolls Royce's (well Thailand's version of a Rolls Royce) and we driven around around the park. The vehicles were actually called "slangs" and were open sided taxis. The park was full of the remains of buddha statues, temples and shrines. It was home to King Ramkamhaeng. Next on to a Celadon pottery shop where we were able to watch the artisans work, then shop. We ate lunch again family style. Next stop at a fabric musuem, then a drive through the mountains. We had one more stop at a fascinating temple started and developed by a 17 year old. We got checked into our hotel then ate as a group by candles at an outside restaurant complete with a quitarist to serenade us while dining. Here for one night, the tomorrow off to Changrai where we will spend the next two nights.
Excitement at breakfast at 6:00 AM when Jim spotted a rat running along the back ledge of the breakfast buffet . Next thing all the staff were yelling and running around whacking straw brooms on the floor in an obvious attempt to squash the rat. After breakfast Jon and I took a walk along the rivers edge, then the bus left at 8:00 AM. First stop was at a rice processing plant where they had the old part sectioned off as a musuem, and the new part was a working rice production. Next stop was the Sukhothai historical park which is a world Unesco site and has Thailand's largest collection of historic ruins. We were loaded on to Rolls Royce's (well Thailand's version of a Rolls Royce) and we driven around around the park. The vehicles were actually called "slangs" and were open sided taxis. The park was full of the remains of buddha statues, temples and shrines. It was home to King Ramkamhaeng. Next on to a Celadon pottery shop where we were able to watch the artisans work, then shop. We ate lunch again family style. Next stop at a fabric musuem, then a drive through the mountains. We had one more stop at a fascinating temple started and developed by a 17 year old. We got checked into our hotel then ate as a group by candles at an outside restaurant complete with a quitarist to serenade us while dining. Here for one night, the tomorrow off to Changrai where we will spend the next two nights.
College student
Our hotel on the river, with rats in the kitchen
Visit to the rice museum
Old machinery in the mill
Really cool steam pump, but I am pretty sure it is not a Blake steam Pump
Old lockers complete with the pin up girls
Rice, rice, and more rice
Rice
This woman was rolling clay in to small balls to be used for sling shots
Ringing the bell
Jon's new fashion statement - a rice bag hat
How fun
Our Rolls Royce transport for Sukhothai - Jon, Me, Mike and Jana
Our driver
Getting my perfect photo
Buddhas and temples everywhere
Taking a break from sweeping the grass
There's Jonnie
The buddha tree
Pigeon stop
Hello
At the ceramics factory
Artist sculpting
Finished products
On the road again
Countryside
Buddha in the dragon's mouth
Puff, the magic dragon
Neat statues everywhere you looked
Thurs. Jan 21 Golden Pines Resort. Chang Rai
Tough sleep last night..... We were the only two on the top floor of the hotel but we heard furniture being moved around above us and doors being closed we think the place was haunted ! We were up very early this AM and after breakfast we walked to two different temples near our hotel for some exercise. We were back on the bus off and off by 8:00 AM. Our first stop was at a woman's small business and shop where she dyed her fabric in indigo, then did batik patterns on it. We watched her demo the process, then we were all able to make a small piece of batik cloth. We then shopped at her store and I bought a scarf and tunic top. We then drove to a lake where we had an awful meal, then walked around the waterfront that had several temples, and shops. There also was a beautiful waterfront garden full of orchids. We then drove to our hotel. Our rooms are beautiful cabin type rooms overlooking rice paddies. The sunset was beautiful ! We then ate a group dinner at the resort followed by dancing and Karaoke. Everyone in our group got in on the singing and it was a lot of laughs ! Here one more day and off to see the area of the Golden Triangle which is where Thailand, Burma and Loas all intersect.
Tough sleep last night..... We were the only two on the top floor of the hotel but we heard furniture being moved around above us and doors being closed we think the place was haunted ! We were up very early this AM and after breakfast we walked to two different temples near our hotel for some exercise. We were back on the bus off and off by 8:00 AM. Our first stop was at a woman's small business and shop where she dyed her fabric in indigo, then did batik patterns on it. We watched her demo the process, then we were all able to make a small piece of batik cloth. We then shopped at her store and I bought a scarf and tunic top. We then drove to a lake where we had an awful meal, then walked around the waterfront that had several temples, and shops. There also was a beautiful waterfront garden full of orchids. We then drove to our hotel. Our rooms are beautiful cabin type rooms overlooking rice paddies. The sunset was beautiful ! We then ate a group dinner at the resort followed by dancing and Karaoke. Everyone in our group got in on the singing and it was a lot of laughs ! Here one more day and off to see the area of the Golden Triangle which is where Thailand, Burma and Loas all intersect.
We walked to a couple of temples in the AM before departing on the bus to continue north
I love all of the brass bells
Our haunted hotel
Indigo cloth hanging to dry
The shop owner
Watching the batiking demonstration
Applying the wax stamps with kitty supervision
Jim giving it a whirl
and then Jon
and then Me - it was really fun and we all got our projects to take home
Batiked fabric that was dipped into the indigo dye, now drying
Lakefront
On the lake
Temple with lots of elephants around it
Orchid path down to the water
We saw lots of these trucks transporting pigs
Our ride
Our room at Golden Pines
and view over the rice paddies out the back
It was a spectacular sunset over the rice paddy
Cocktail hour before dinner
Deb, Danette and Me
The girls, Jana, Judy, Keri, Julia, Jan, Deb, Danette and Me
Too bed we do not enjoy karaoke
The whole group up for our karaoke grand finale
Fri. Jan, 22, 2016 Golden Pines Resort. Chang Rai
Up early after a lousy night sleep. We discovered our bed is two box springs instead of a box spring then a mattress. Every time one of us of moved, the other one bounced up on the bed ! First stop today was was roadside to watch some women picking pineapples from the field. Benny had them bring a bag full of the fresh picked pineapple to the bus. Next stop was to walk around the Chiang Saen old city wall. Next stop was The Golden triangle. We started out by visiting the opium museum. At one point opium was the main source of income for the area. We then visited a temple, and walked along the riverfront of the Mekong River where there were lots of vendors. We were picked up in town by trucks that were called Songtaew taxi trucks. They had crank handles to start the engines. We drove through the country to a beautiful spot for lunch in the middle of nowhere. On route we stopped and walked into a field where workers were harvesting chamomile flowers. We shopped a bit, then headed back to the hotel. At 5:00 PM we were picked up in trucks again for a ten minute ride to visit a local tribe community. The community was made up of Kayan tribes that fled Myanmar in the early 1990's due to conflict with the military regime. There were two distinct communities. The first tribe community wore colorful attire and headdresses, and performed a dance routine for us. The second community we visited is where the long neck women and families lived. The women wear brass rings around their necks which elongnate their necks. The custom of wearing the rings originated from a legend that tigers would come to the village to attack people. The rings around the neck were believed to protect the women if attacked. The community is is supported by the Thai government as well as tourist dollars. The women weave beautiful scarves that I think we all ended up buying. We ate a delicious dinner prepared by the tribe, then we were entertained with singing and dancing. Quite a unique evening all around !
Up early after a lousy night sleep. We discovered our bed is two box springs instead of a box spring then a mattress. Every time one of us of moved, the other one bounced up on the bed ! First stop today was was roadside to watch some women picking pineapples from the field. Benny had them bring a bag full of the fresh picked pineapple to the bus. Next stop was to walk around the Chiang Saen old city wall. Next stop was The Golden triangle. We started out by visiting the opium museum. At one point opium was the main source of income for the area. We then visited a temple, and walked along the riverfront of the Mekong River where there were lots of vendors. We were picked up in town by trucks that were called Songtaew taxi trucks. They had crank handles to start the engines. We drove through the country to a beautiful spot for lunch in the middle of nowhere. On route we stopped and walked into a field where workers were harvesting chamomile flowers. We shopped a bit, then headed back to the hotel. At 5:00 PM we were picked up in trucks again for a ten minute ride to visit a local tribe community. The community was made up of Kayan tribes that fled Myanmar in the early 1990's due to conflict with the military regime. There were two distinct communities. The first tribe community wore colorful attire and headdresses, and performed a dance routine for us. The second community we visited is where the long neck women and families lived. The women wear brass rings around their necks which elongnate their necks. The custom of wearing the rings originated from a legend that tigers would come to the village to attack people. The rings around the neck were believed to protect the women if attacked. The community is is supported by the Thai government as well as tourist dollars. The women weave beautiful scarves that I think we all ended up buying. We ate a delicious dinner prepared by the tribe, then we were entertained with singing and dancing. Quite a unique evening all around !
Old brick wall around the city
These gals were picking pineapples, then brought some up to Benny for us
The Opium House museum
Fabulous hat
Waterfront
Coffee stand
Looking down on the river
Transport through the country up to our lunch stop
Chamomile flower pickers
Jon and me pick flowers to buy lunch
Here we come
The crank engine on the front of the trucks
Jon giving the engine a crank
Great lunch stop
Grilled chicken
The bar
Close up of the bar
The bathroom is called the "Happy Room" in Thailand
Back on the road
Our driver
These are all little sculpted soaps
Back on the waterfront - lots of grills with food up and down the waterfront
Wish these would fit in our suitcase
Back at our hotel, the taxis picking us up to bring us to the the Long Neck Tribe village
The Akha Village
Aha Tribe dress
Lots of trinkets for sale
Elder in the Akha tribe
The Akha tribe entertainment
Next stop was the Long Tribe village - the woven scarves were beautiful
Tubs of yarn
At work weaving
I bought one scarf from this woman
Long neck in the making
Look at this little one go
One of the homes with scarves on display for sale
We had a fabulous dinner
After dinner entertainment and dancing
these little boys all watching their moms were so adorable
Finally time for us to leave and the little ones got dinner
Sat. Jan 23, 2016. Park Hotel. Chang Mai
Off to Chang Mai today. Our first stop this AM was the Wat Rong Khun best known as the White Temple. Very decorative, huge, sparkly white temple financed by by one man. Next stop was called "Cabbage and Condoms". It was a roadside inn adn restaurant. It was named because the Thai people do not like to talk about sex education, but they eat cabbage at every meal so they said condoms should be as common as condoms. The founder was an activist who had spent his life dedicated to promoting family planning and promotion of the use of condoms, especially in the communities of the rural poor. Off to lunch followed by a visit to a gem factory where we bought some jade trinkets, then to the umbrella factory where you could watch how they make the paper umbrellas. You also could have any item you wanted hand painted with a design of your choice. We arrived at our hotel around 5:00 PM. We were back out at 6:30 PM. First stop was the food street market which was a total hot mess and chaos. It was just a huge mass of people all stopping at various food stalls, enhanced by the non stop honking of the motorbikes. Next 15 of us climbed into a truck/taxi that would hold about 8 comfortably and went to the night street market. There were all kinds of restaurants, and lots of clothing, trinkets etc.... for sale. There also were lots transvestites strolling about. We shopped, grabbed some homemade slab ice cream then joined the group for ride back to the hotel. 5:00 AM wake up tomorrow, we are off to ride elephants and river raft !
Off to Chang Mai today. Our first stop this AM was the Wat Rong Khun best known as the White Temple. Very decorative, huge, sparkly white temple financed by by one man. Next stop was called "Cabbage and Condoms". It was a roadside inn adn restaurant. It was named because the Thai people do not like to talk about sex education, but they eat cabbage at every meal so they said condoms should be as common as condoms. The founder was an activist who had spent his life dedicated to promoting family planning and promotion of the use of condoms, especially in the communities of the rural poor. Off to lunch followed by a visit to a gem factory where we bought some jade trinkets, then to the umbrella factory where you could watch how they make the paper umbrellas. You also could have any item you wanted hand painted with a design of your choice. We arrived at our hotel around 5:00 PM. We were back out at 6:30 PM. First stop was the food street market which was a total hot mess and chaos. It was just a huge mass of people all stopping at various food stalls, enhanced by the non stop honking of the motorbikes. Next 15 of us climbed into a truck/taxi that would hold about 8 comfortably and went to the night street market. There were all kinds of restaurants, and lots of clothing, trinkets etc.... for sale. There also were lots transvestites strolling about. We shopped, grabbed some homemade slab ice cream then joined the group for ride back to the hotel. 5:00 AM wake up tomorrow, we are off to ride elephants and river raft !
Leaving Golden Pines - chickens in the baskets
The whole gang at the White Palace
Pictures of the White Palace
The main building is all white with lots of pieces of mirrored glass in the exterior. The build is called the Ubosot and represents the mind.
In front of a bridge that lead to the main temple are sculptures of hundreds of outreaching hands that symbolize unrestrained desire.
We wrote our names on these hanging ornaments and hung them up amongst the hundreds of others
Jon throwing a coin into the wishing well
Mailbox
Deb, Danette, Jim, Jana, Mike, Me and Jon
Our stop at the roadside Condoms and Cabbages
Then on to the umbrella factory - this fellow was making the spindles for the umbrellas
Umbrella skeleton
Artists painting all kinds of designs
We bought some of the hanging small light brightly colored paper covers
The food part of the night market
All kinds of food and hoards of pushing people - and it was hot
Next all crammed into a taxi to go to the Central Night Market
Texas longhorn
This was the taxi 15 of us crammed into
The transvestites were quite beautiful
Making our slab ice cream
About 50 choices for ice cream
Heading home - yep, traffic here too
Sunday, Jan. 24 2016, Park Hotel, Changrai
One of our favorite days ...... Arrived at the Mae Taman Elephant camp where started our adventure by riding an elephant for about 45 minutes. We were on quite an uneven path that included crossing a river Twice! Next was elephant show where about 12 elephants did different activities including one who played soccer, elephants playing harmonica while other elephants danced, and four elephants who painted really detailed paintings. We bought an elephant painting that will always make me smile. Next I was jacked up about five feet off the ground by a huge elephant on his trunk it really was a thrill! We then had a question and answer period for our group with the head mahout and a baby elephant, It was fun to pet, feed and just hang out with the elephant. We ate lunch next to the river, then took a bamboo river raft trip for about a half hour down river. We got back to the hotel late afternoon and I fit an amazing one hour massage for 200 baht or about $7.00. We had a group dinner at a local restaurant, then early turn in tonight because we leave the hotel at 6:00 AM to drive to go to a traditional Buddhist Monk Alan's giving.
One of our favorite days ...... Arrived at the Mae Taman Elephant camp where started our adventure by riding an elephant for about 45 minutes. We were on quite an uneven path that included crossing a river Twice! Next was elephant show where about 12 elephants did different activities including one who played soccer, elephants playing harmonica while other elephants danced, and four elephants who painted really detailed paintings. We bought an elephant painting that will always make me smile. Next I was jacked up about five feet off the ground by a huge elephant on his trunk it really was a thrill! We then had a question and answer period for our group with the head mahout and a baby elephant, It was fun to pet, feed and just hang out with the elephant. We ate lunch next to the river, then took a bamboo river raft trip for about a half hour down river. We got back to the hotel late afternoon and I fit an amazing one hour massage for 200 baht or about $7.00. We had a group dinner at a local restaurant, then early turn in tonight because we leave the hotel at 6:00 AM to drive to go to a traditional Buddhist Monk Alan's giving.
Our chariots await us
And we are off
Heading down to the river - we were really rocking and rolling
Walking in the river
On the trail
There were women selling elephant treats from elevated stands along the route
View of the elephant paths down to the river
Another stand
Howdy Doody
Our Mahout
Sad it is over
Carrying a heavy trunk around is hard work, time for a trunk rest
Now this is a crappy job - the elephant pooper coopers
And here comes the elephant parade
It was really amazing the way these elephant artists painted
Hard to tell from the photos but the elephant actually picked me up his trunk about four feet off the ground - unreal
I loved the elephants - Jon, maybe not as much
Just a guy and his elephant
Time for a bottle
Jon picked up the bottle, and he was surprised when the baby elephant came running over for his bottle
Feeding the elephant
Rafting and elephants - life is good
This elephant was coming right at us