Monthly Archives: October 2012

Ban Bang Bao, Koh Chang

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Ban Bang Bao, Koh Chang

Sorry, no picture attached last time, don’t know what happened there.

It’s Sunday , I think, forgive sloppy spelling etc, as it’s not easy typing while lying in a hammock. A well deserved rest, as the first day here I went on a trek in the jungle. Was warned it was hard, but as ever didn’t listen. It was steep, steep, hot hot, and slippery, the best way down was by sliding on your bottom. A sort of off piste, cross-country -down-hill slalom at 34c. And for added adventure, a few rivers to cross, some through the water or simply a felled tree.

Yesterday was a great improvement. Out on a boat all day. Three goes at snorkling and lots of beautiful fish with a good lunch thrown in. Definitely something I could take to!! And then night fishing later in the evening.

To all at work, thanks for the Snorkling kit.

The Island is very beautiful, just a lump of jungle-covered mountains with a road that doesn’t quite go all the way round. The first resorts you hit when you get off the ferry have long sandy beaches. But the bars, eateries etc are Blackpool -in -the -tropics, well more hippyish than that, but you get the drift.

This village at the south end of the island must once have been a fishing centre as it has a large natural harbour. But the local economy has now become so tourist dominated with over priced restaurants ( 3 times as expensive as Bangkok and not so good) hippy clothes and tat, that you can’t even see where the locals do their shopping.

Picture of sunrise!…..

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Goodbye Bangkok

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It’s been a great 4 days, and I have realised that ( against my Anglo Saxon Protestant upbringing) it is not a sin to read a novel in the morning. Sit and have a coffee , or beer, and watch the world go by.

The difficulty in walking anywhere, apart from the heat, and really most of what I wanted to see in the old city is in walking distance, is that every tuk-tuk driver thinks you’re mad to walk and asks “you want shoppeeng!” No, I don’t want shopping, I like walking. If you do say you’ll take their tuk-tuk, they insist you go shoppeeng, as they get petrol coupons from these emporia. If they don’t like the price you suggest, they get a city map out and show you it’s a long way and petrol is expensive. But anyway an air conditioned taxi is only pence more, or sometimes less! without the unwanted retail opportunity.

Yesterday I went to a town with a long unpronounceable name to see the floating market. I love white knuckle rides, but only at Alton Towers where I know it’s safe. I don’t like it when the mini bus is driven at about 80 plus mph, and so near the vehicle in front you can see the hairs on the back of that driver’s neck. ( I was told today these guys all do double shifts so are on amphetamines, swallowed down with red bull to keep themselves awake). Any way after 90 minutes of this the floating market was interesting, really only a tourist attraction now, with plenty of, yes you’ve guessed it, shoppeeng. But a good photo opportunitee.

Bangkok certainly wins my food award. 4 days of the best most delicious food I’ve ever eaten, and sometimes for less the a quid. And I still haven’t had street food!

Off tomorrow, 8 hour coach journey, ( I’ll try not to think about the driver’s drug habits) to Ko Chang and practice becoming a beach bum. Get the mask and snorkel out of my suit case at last.

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On my way…

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I’ve lost track of what we have seen and done since I last wrote! A day on Lake Inle, which is still in the hilly region of Shan, so still cool. it would be very peaceful except for the speed that the boats are driven, throwing up an impressive spew of water behind them. Being a bit of a tree hugger I was worried about the environmental damage this causes, let alone the wake that rocks the local people , who live in stilt houses and know no dry land, who get around in what is little more than a dug out. We were up and down the canals that run off the lake and in and out of ” cottage industry” shops.

There was a bonus, as once a year there is a huge 16 day festival, when Buddha statues are taken round the villages on the lake in a huge gold dragon-painted barge. Long boats with 20 rowers each side with dancing girls, all of which we saw, and some time in the week they race these huge barges on the lake itself. Don’t ask me to describe how it’s done, but they stand as they row, and with their lower leg twisted round the oar they row the boat. If you’re rowing you own little boat, fine, but with rowers each side, you need an equal number of lefties!

A cycle ride was a good break one day, I think it might even have been temple free. One day in Rangoon, and now I’m at the Airport and off to Bangkok

So now the travels really begin, but Asia is no longer quite so strange to me.

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Kalaw

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The hill retreat for the summer, the railway station is mock Tudor, and there are a couple of house that would be 1million in an estate agents window in Surrey. Beautiful countryside. We had a trek today through some villages and counted over ten crops, from avocado to ginger and rice, some of which is sold locally but a lot goes to the bigger cities.

On the trek we passed through a village where there was a big annual ceremony, a lot of noise and jollity, monks and fire crackers.Tea and chilies on mats drying in the village square. Tea and snacks in a house where a woman was weaving cloth, it takes 6 days to weave a lenght for a lunghi. Lunch of noodle soup was cooked for us later on the walk in a villagers house. ( under close inspection of our guide, who I’m sure was in the kitchen to see that hands were washed and plates clean, sick customers aren’t good for donations to the local school)

The village is helped by an organisation that sends some students on to university, purifying water etc.

Picture of village to be added

Not yet posted Remember heading this time

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Mandalay

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Very much busier than Rangoon, with more big stores, white good shops etc. The town is built on a grid system and far from being romantic, as we think it should be (Kipling etc), the streets are 81st and 64th street!!!

The Irrawaddy river is still flooded from the rains, so incredibly wide at the moment. There are trees and even the roofs of houses in the water.

Early morning walk on the longest teak bridge in the world , U Bien’s, 1km long, that goes from the bank to bank. We set off in time to see the six o’ clock sunrise, but the sun rose unannounced from behind the clouds. Nevertheless it was beautiful with a slight mist. The bridge was busy with people crossing it with their bikes laden with fruit and veg to sell in the city, Monks and people doing their morning exercises and stretching, no yoga classes to join though.

When we turned back another hundred photo opportunities looking the other way! But the sun came out before the walk was over and it was all worth while.

The rest of the day was spent on a trip on the river, visiting a couple of temples
( just for a change) but a very peaceful and restful day. All finished off with an excellent Chinese meal.

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Two things about Myanmar you should know

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Very few people have mobile phones here, a SIM card has come down to $250.00, and you still have to buy the hand set.The network converge is minimal. There are no phone boxes either. The equivalent is a booth at a street corner with three or four ( very old ) phones, and someone who will connect you the the number you want.

There might be the odd ATM in Yangon but nowhere else, and credit cards don’t exist. So this is a cash society, the currency, the kyat (pronounced chat) is worth 1000 to a pound. There is no coinage as the Government maintain it is cheaper to print notes than mint coins. Older people and country people won’t accept a 10,000 note as it is such a huge amount. The consequence is that you have to have a wad of money about two centimetres thick.

When I have more educational things that you need to know, I will let you know!!!!

Vicky

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Bagan

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Rangoon is more or less what I expected. From people living , eating and working on the street, to the Strand Hotel, the local Raffles. The only surprise, given that this is a major city in Asia is that there are no bicycles or motorbikes.

Obviously we made a trip to a Stupa with a long complicated name I can’t remember. Quite spectacular and plenty of bling. The Budha no longer makes do with a simple Halo painted behind his head, or a few candles for his ” Aura” but has flashing lights like something at a Fairground.

Bagan is full of acres and acres of temples. We went to see some this evening and will see more tomorrow! Here cycles and motorcycles are allowed. We started with a walk into town and a good browse round the market. Vegetables displayed beautifully and stacks of dried salted fish, spices etc. , and some fairly fowl smelling (probably fish) paste. Every thing you need to keep your kitchen cupboard full.

Monsoon is very much in full swing, we were not caught in the downpour this after noon, but were on our return from a fantastic puppet show this evening. Now the room is festooned with wet clothes.

And so to sleep as we have a fairly early start and Sheila likes to allow loads of time in the morning.

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Asia

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Bangkok

By myself in Asia. Car I thought I had paid for from the airport to the Hotel didn’t exist, and the Airport Residence Hotel and Spa isn’t near the airport. Minor issues.

From my hotel window there is a buzzing little market, and despite, or because of the air conditioning I have opened the windows and can almost smell the food.

There was lots I wanted to eat there, when I had a wander a short time ago, but there were also a lot of gasping fish and very fine looking toads in baskets. So in the interest of world conservation I am still hungry and will probably use the Hotel’s mediocre restaurant.

They’re a bit faint in the picture, but there are huge thundery clouds on the horizon, behind the skyscrapers of the centre of the city. Does this mean the monsoon is still in full force?

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