Sorry folks getting to the internet and finding enough time to update the blog seems to be hard work so I'll try and be as newsy as I can but it may not all come in the right order - so here goes.
So far since I arrived I've had 2 Thai language lessons so as with other countries and I can say hello, goodbye, thank you and where's the toilet - so nothing else I need to know.
Wednesday we had a Thai cookery lesson and then cooked our own lunch which was a little less spicy than the original version.
Went out for dinner in the evening to a restaurant where you had a BBQ style meal. We cooked the meat on a metal tray over hot coals and it had like a trough around the edge where you 'boiled' the veg and added herbs, spices and sauces to make it more tasty. A real fun way to eat and then afterwards we went to karaoke evening at a hotel - we were told we all had to sing so we did it in groups of 3 and we sand "Delilah' - I like to keep up the welsh tradition.
Thursday we went to see a monument to the brave heros of Bang Rachan who fought 7 battles to save Siam from invasion of the Burmese. They all died except the monk - we'd been shown the film the night before so it made the visit all the more appropriate.
Visited 2 temples which had some of the biggest buddhas in the world. At the one we fed swarms of fish - they were enormous and at the other we were blessed by the monk though we had to give him a tub of weekly shopping first.Did say a prayer for our Rubes though!!
The lunches and dinners are always quite spicy and they seem to give us loads and loads. In between they give us things like, monkey nuts, corn on the cob, different fruits , the names of which I can't pronounce nor remember. One time Zin ate a chilli which was so hot it burned her lips and they tingled for ages afterwards.
Had a Thai massage lesson in the afternoon so I now know all the pressure points to press and those sensitive areas to massage so look out when I come back or I may even put it in to practice on my way! Zin was the volunteer to have the demonstration on and I must say she managed to get into positions I could only dream about - fair play to that woman.
I have loads of mossie bites on my feet and legs but I've got so used to them now they don't bother me hlaf as much.
Friday we went to monkey city - loads of them in the shrine place and on the roads, shops, telephone wires - I've never seen so many. Went into the shrine there where you could shake some sticks and whichever on came out had a number on it, you then went to pick the 'prediction' relating to the number. Mine said something about a legal matter - so Dave - my business better be ok while I'm away!! only joking.
Then went to see some ancient monuments which were a bit dull but our guide is so patriotic - you have to go with him (his T shirt had 'We love the king' on the back. On to see the buddha footprint at another temple - lots of glitter and this hole in the ground where the footprint should be - I'm sure they were having a laugh cos none of us could see the footprint - emperors new clothes I think.
Lunch was in a restaurant where we ate Japanese style on the floor then afterwards everyone had a nap.
Saturday - We went to a handicraft place today and made bracelets and now I'm here at the internet trying to catch up with everything.
I seem to have done so much since we arrived but by the time I get to the internet - it's what do I say first and what did I say before.
ANyway - signing off now - have added some photos to the skydrive and will try and add some more
Love Sue.xx
Saturday, 2 August 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
ECO House in Singburi
On Sunday we also went to one of the biggest markets in the world (apparently) but having done the floating market in the morning - I was all marketed out - it was too big too crowded so we only spent an hour there.
In the evening we went to Khao San road for a meal. It's a very lively place with lots of bars stalls and tourists. Ollie girl) and Peter went on to see a sex show, I'd planned to go with them but we'd had a long day and had to pack to get up early for our trip to SIngburi the next day so I gave it a miss. Had it been neaked men performing I may well have gone.
On the bus to SIngburi on Monday Ollie gave us the details of the artists blowing up and popping balloons, spraying coke and sex hanging from the ceiling which made us all laugh.
Eco house is nice though it's miles from anywhere. The food is vegetarian, no hot water and no alcohol on the premises.
After dinner the local children danced for us and gave us garlands of flowers, then we all went in the 'make shift' bar next door. I asked for a rum and coke and they said that would be 150 baht which I thought was expensive as it was only 130 in the hotel but he said that's for the bottle of rum, so I bought the bottle and had quite a merry night.
It's difficult getting to the internet as the ECO house is 7km from the town and no public transport so I either have to wait until we're due to be in town or I have to get a taxi which is expensive. Blogs may be erratic and only once a week but don't worry our mam - I'll keep in touch - your little girl is OK.
I'm sharing a room with Dsintra from the midland, she's a couple of years older than me but much younger in spirit and a good laugh.
Yesterday we were in Singburi sight seeing and shopping - Vim took us to the local fresh market where there were live fish in bowls and live frogs tied up in nets. It was good to see but some of the smells were a bit too much.
The food is great though the chillis take your breath away sometimes. I'm certainly trying lots of new foods here.
Today we had Thai language lessons and learned to make Papaya salad and Pad Thai - lots of chillis and very tasty. The others have gone swimming so I thought I'd take the opportunity of catching up with everyone.
Will try and get to the blog soon.
Trish - glad you've had a great cruise - back to work!!
Love Sue
In the evening we went to Khao San road for a meal. It's a very lively place with lots of bars stalls and tourists. Ollie girl) and Peter went on to see a sex show, I'd planned to go with them but we'd had a long day and had to pack to get up early for our trip to SIngburi the next day so I gave it a miss. Had it been neaked men performing I may well have gone.
On the bus to SIngburi on Monday Ollie gave us the details of the artists blowing up and popping balloons, spraying coke and sex hanging from the ceiling which made us all laugh.
Eco house is nice though it's miles from anywhere. The food is vegetarian, no hot water and no alcohol on the premises.
After dinner the local children danced for us and gave us garlands of flowers, then we all went in the 'make shift' bar next door. I asked for a rum and coke and they said that would be 150 baht which I thought was expensive as it was only 130 in the hotel but he said that's for the bottle of rum, so I bought the bottle and had quite a merry night.
It's difficult getting to the internet as the ECO house is 7km from the town and no public transport so I either have to wait until we're due to be in town or I have to get a taxi which is expensive. Blogs may be erratic and only once a week but don't worry our mam - I'll keep in touch - your little girl is OK.
I'm sharing a room with Dsintra from the midland, she's a couple of years older than me but much younger in spirit and a good laugh.
Yesterday we were in Singburi sight seeing and shopping - Vim took us to the local fresh market where there were live fish in bowls and live frogs tied up in nets. It was good to see but some of the smells were a bit too much.
The food is great though the chillis take your breath away sometimes. I'm certainly trying lots of new foods here.
Today we had Thai language lessons and learned to make Papaya salad and Pad Thai - lots of chillis and very tasty. The others have gone swimming so I thought I'd take the opportunity of catching up with everyone.
Will try and get to the blog soon.
Trish - glad you've had a great cruise - back to work!!
Love Sue
Sunday, 27 July 2008
Thailand - Bangkok - Whistle stop
Flight to Bangkok - all on time and Vim (the guide) was there to meet me, but we waited 2 hours for Iris from Germany who didn't show. We left for the hotel at 9.45pm and so after a welcome drink and a brief meeting of the rest of the group I went to bed.
I was up at 7 on Saturday and down to breakfast to meet everyone properly - they're all from England and a mixed age group which is nice - there are 7 women and one man - Peter, Ros, Sintra, Michelle, Paula, Olly, and Sandra.
Saturday we visited the Royal Palace and a buddhist temple - very ornate - lots of gold leaf, then a gem factory where I tried on a lovely sapphire and diamond bracelet but at over 1000 pounds I decided to give it a miss. AFter a lovely Thai lunch 4 of us then thought we'd tackle a Thai shopping mall, but it was 'all too much' - 6 floors of wall to wall stores and people so off we trotted home.
In the evening we went to a restaurant on the edge of the river and had another Thai meal which Vim had chosen for us. WHen I went to the toilet there a boy was coming out of the ladies - I had to check that I was in the right place but it seems in Thailand you can never be sure who's who!!
After the meal we went to a show in a big hotel. As we entered the foyer 'THERE WAS ELVIS!' singing to the diners - surreal. Off to the show in the main theatre - I didn't know what we were going to see but soon did - The Calpyso Ladyboys - another surreal experienc and afterwards lots of photos but you'll have to wait for them as I'm about to leave for our placement and this is the 1st time I've been able to get to the internet.
Yesterday we went to a floating market about an hours drive from Bangkok. I thought the roads were bad but the waterways are ever madder - boats 4 abreast trying to get through a space made for 2 - boats heading at you head on, but I'll write properly once I', settled in Singburi.
Speak to you soon
Love s
Sue.xxxxxxxx
I was up at 7 on Saturday and down to breakfast to meet everyone properly - they're all from England and a mixed age group which is nice - there are 7 women and one man - Peter, Ros, Sintra, Michelle, Paula, Olly, and Sandra.
Saturday we visited the Royal Palace and a buddhist temple - very ornate - lots of gold leaf, then a gem factory where I tried on a lovely sapphire and diamond bracelet but at over 1000 pounds I decided to give it a miss. AFter a lovely Thai lunch 4 of us then thought we'd tackle a Thai shopping mall, but it was 'all too much' - 6 floors of wall to wall stores and people so off we trotted home.
In the evening we went to a restaurant on the edge of the river and had another Thai meal which Vim had chosen for us. WHen I went to the toilet there a boy was coming out of the ladies - I had to check that I was in the right place but it seems in Thailand you can never be sure who's who!!
After the meal we went to a show in a big hotel. As we entered the foyer 'THERE WAS ELVIS!' singing to the diners - surreal. Off to the show in the main theatre - I didn't know what we were going to see but soon did - The Calpyso Ladyboys - another surreal experienc and afterwards lots of photos but you'll have to wait for them as I'm about to leave for our placement and this is the 1st time I've been able to get to the internet.
Yesterday we went to a floating market about an hours drive from Bangkok. I thought the roads were bad but the waterways are ever madder - boats 4 abreast trying to get through a space made for 2 - boats heading at you head on, but I'll write properly once I', settled in Singburi.
Speak to you soon
Love s
Sue.xxxxxxxx
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