So, we left Thailand behind and boarded our Air Asia flight to Borneo, touching down about 2.5 hours late (cheap airlines are the same all over the world). We were met at the airport by friendly old Charles and our first impressions of Malaysia and Borneo was that the people we just soooo friendly.
An early start the following morning and up the windy road to Mt Kinabalu National Park. Its such a popular tourist experience to climb the mountain that you need to reserve weeks or months in advance. We had a reservation but for some reason they didnt have any record of us!! Uh-oh... Luckily another couple had cancelled and there was room for us, and due to some promotional price for staying in the hut, it actually cost less than what we (thought) we had booked. Yay for us!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Southern Thailand
The past 2 weeks or there about we have been in southern thailand. First Ko Tao and then Krabi.....Wow!
On Ko Tao we stayed in a nice little bungalow (very rustic) that over looked the water and a fantastic sunset everyday...
On Ko Tao we stayed in a nice little bungalow (very rustic) that over looked the water and a fantastic sunset everyday...
Monday, February 19, 2007
The long and bumpy road...
After a wonderful week or so in Northern Thailand it was time to head south and on to Cambodia. With time running out, and our weary bodies craving some relaxing beach time we decided in a very quick "in-and-out" visit of Cambodia. Well, quick might not be the best way to describe the epic series of buses, tuk-tuks, more buses, pick-up trucks and then yet more buses we took to finally get to Angkor Wat. All in all it was a 36hr journey, and the last 6-7 hours were spent riding the most bone-rattling road I can remember!! Needles to say Aimee developed the mandatory cases of the sh!ts about 30mins before the trip, just to make it that little bit more uncomfortable.
Anyways, we arrived very late in Siam Riep and were up the next morning at 5am (3.5 hours sleep) and cycling out to the very impressive Angkor Wat. WE were there for sunrise, and then about another 8 hours or so exploring the vast array of temples and sites in all states of repair. It really did live up to the billing and I can say the journey to get here was worth it!
It was fun to scramble around through the ruins, often a jumble of fallen stonework, and examine the details relief and several inner sanctuaries. It was a busy site, but we managed to cycle to a few of the less visited remains that were slowly being constricted by the surrounding jungle.
After our full day of sight seeing around Angkor Wat we cycled back to Siam Riep and gave a half hearted effort celebrating the Chinese New Year. A few gin and tonics and then some beers with the local Cambodians at our guest house was enough to have me rambling and ultimately asleep very early.
The last of our 3 days in Cambodia involved retracing our steep among the horribly bumpy and dusty road back to Thailand! We got the back corner seats of the mini-bus, complete without windows, and we slowly melted in the fierce heat. Aimee's seat actually fell apart half way through the journey. It was funny at the time but not for the remaining 3-4 hours that she had to sit on it!! We finally got across the boarder and back into the orderly surrounds of Thailand. Now we are heading south for that beach time....
Anyways, we arrived very late in Siam Riep and were up the next morning at 5am (3.5 hours sleep) and cycling out to the very impressive Angkor Wat. WE were there for sunrise, and then about another 8 hours or so exploring the vast array of temples and sites in all states of repair. It really did live up to the billing and I can say the journey to get here was worth it!
It was fun to scramble around through the ruins, often a jumble of fallen stonework, and examine the details relief and several inner sanctuaries. It was a busy site, but we managed to cycle to a few of the less visited remains that were slowly being constricted by the surrounding jungle.
After our full day of sight seeing around Angkor Wat we cycled back to Siam Riep and gave a half hearted effort celebrating the Chinese New Year. A few gin and tonics and then some beers with the local Cambodians at our guest house was enough to have me rambling and ultimately asleep very early.
The last of our 3 days in Cambodia involved retracing our steep among the horribly bumpy and dusty road back to Thailand! We got the back corner seats of the mini-bus, complete without windows, and we slowly melted in the fierce heat. Aimee's seat actually fell apart half way through the journey. It was funny at the time but not for the remaining 3-4 hours that she had to sit on it!! We finally got across the boarder and back into the orderly surrounds of Thailand. Now we are heading south for that beach time....
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Hazy Days in Northern Thailand
Well, the past week has flown by.....
After Aimee's cooking class last Saturday, I spent Sunday rock climbing out at Crazy Horse. It was the first time on the rock in about 6-7 years, but I did ok and really enjoyed it. Needless to say that i was knackered after a full day and 3-4 days later the arms and legs were still hurting!
On monday we decided to head up to Pai, a little town about 4 hours from Chang Mai, where we could further explore the surrounding hills. After settling in we set of to explore!! The surroundings were beautiful so we hired a scooter and set off along the winding mountain roads, through little market towns, past wonderful vistas and eventually to a long neck tribe. The mornings were cold and misty, the days clear and hot, and the nights seemed to always finish with a few rums and soda!Early morning from our little bungalow, and just a small glimpse of the vivid blue skies and slight autumnal colours.
This lady has been wearing these bronze neck rings for over 30 years. Ouch! It was fascinating to talk to her (excellent english) and learn of her journey from Burma 18 years ago, and her family traditions of being a 'long-neck'.
A young 'long-neck' girl and a slightly shorter necked version....
Just one of the many local temples. They are all so ornate...
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Thailand
We have made it to Thailand, certainly the most developed country so far along our travels, and a welcome rest. After the 2 day boat ride we were met on the Thai border by the Karaoke bus... yipee. It had eddie and I in stitches singing at the top of our lungs in a language we had never heard before. This place looked like fun.
We are in the north-west corner and have just arrived back from a 3 day trek into the local hill tribes. Sadly the usual problems of ethnic minorities, alcoholism and petty theft(not from us this time) but it was relaxing sitting around the campfire in the evenings. The were 9 of us and the usual mix of oddballs. Eddie and I felt like grandma and grandpa on the trip as they were all under 21. There were two particularly strange Canadians (brother and sister so they said) who didn't speak the whole time. Apparently they lived in the middle of nowhere so they had never learnt the art of conversation.
We have met a couple of nice people living in Chang Mai teaching English and eddie has organised to go rock climbing with them tomorrow.I am thinking of either going and reading a book ie slightly less energetic, or else a sleep in followed by another massage- very addictive. We had one the other day and eddie had the contortionist style Thai massage and I went the relaxation oil massage. It was all going ok until i found out the whole body massage was exactly that- whole body. Its a while since i have had a women rubbing oil all over my boobs. Maybe she confused it for my back as i am a tad flat chested....
I spent all day today at a Thai cooking course .... i might be able to rival Ros (Mrs Barrett) with her spring rolls now. Learnt also how to make all the curry pastes and curries from scratch as well as tom yum and pad Thai to name a few. Hope I can find all the ingredients back in brissie
We are in the north-west corner and have just arrived back from a 3 day trek into the local hill tribes. Sadly the usual problems of ethnic minorities, alcoholism and petty theft(not from us this time) but it was relaxing sitting around the campfire in the evenings. The were 9 of us and the usual mix of oddballs. Eddie and I felt like grandma and grandpa on the trip as they were all under 21. There were two particularly strange Canadians (brother and sister so they said) who didn't speak the whole time. Apparently they lived in the middle of nowhere so they had never learnt the art of conversation.
We have met a couple of nice people living in Chang Mai teaching English and eddie has organised to go rock climbing with them tomorrow.I am thinking of either going and reading a book ie slightly less energetic, or else a sleep in followed by another massage- very addictive. We had one the other day and eddie had the contortionist style Thai massage and I went the relaxation oil massage. It was all going ok until i found out the whole body massage was exactly that- whole body. Its a while since i have had a women rubbing oil all over my boobs. Maybe she confused it for my back as i am a tad flat chested....
I spent all day today at a Thai cooking course .... i might be able to rival Ros (Mrs Barrett) with her spring rolls now. Learnt also how to make all the curry pastes and curries from scratch as well as tom yum and pad Thai to name a few. Hope I can find all the ingredients back in brissie
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