Watch the Signs

(first image shot on the other side of main Phi Phi tourist village)

One thing I love about visiting other countries (or sometimes locally) is seeing notices and signs that are from another language base, translated into English. Now I’m by no means making fun of the translators (I cant translate into any other language and have fun at times with English!), but sometimes signs make no sense, little sense, or are just unfortunate in their wording. Walking to the main tourist village area of Phi Phi one day, I could not help but notice a number of signs aimed towards the likely drinking tourist. Ultimately they make perfect sense…I’m just not used to such sense being posted on a sign…

Perhaps its me, but I was pretty aware of these two warnings.

Tomorrow might just wrap up Koh Phi Phi and move us onto the final destination of the holiday. Back home in New Zealand, its dark, cool and raining. Quite the opposite to my time in the photos above.

May 5, 2014 0

View Point

A new morning had me heading up to a spot I had seen the previous day when venturing outside camp – View Point. Unsurprisingly, I later learnt that view point is just a generic term used on the island for various walks that led to a view. I’ll always remember this one as View Point however. So, heading off after a large buffet breakfast, sweating at the beginning of the climb in the hot and humid climate I entered the walk.

At the bottom, just to the right of the main photo was this open plan building. The sign ‘cheep’ suggested perhaps some backpackers use it for evening camp – but being at the beginning of the bush and open plan, Im not sure I would survive the mosquitoes!

Clearly some KISS fans from days gone by also (note trash under rotting leaves).

Almost immediately the track started a fairly steep, long and uneven climb. I could see why the sign said not to go after 6pm – loose rocks, tree roots and at times hard to see track would quite easily get someone lost or injured. As I ventured up, I was soon to see how I too has misjudged the simple lookout point walk.

Entering the bush area the humidity and temperature grew (also it was warming up from the previous night). Full on breakfast, I had failed to pack any water. Back home a 40min walk is quite manageable. The temperature and constant climb were taking their toll. I was loosing a lot of fluids, and then was hit by a wave of dizziness, sight and hearing diminishing. Now, Ive never passed out in my life, but I can only assume that was what was about to happen. I sat down on a rock, put my head between my legs and waited. That water would have been quite good right now! Sitting and waiting all you can do is think. I had no water, no communication device (just my camera!) and was in no fit state to try and head down the steep and uneven terrain back to people. Reflecting on it now, I was foolish not taking water, and Im still amazed how quickly this track took it out of me.

I don’t know how long I waited, but I eventually felt like I could stand again. I didn’t want to be beaten by this 40min View Point. Rather than head back like sensibility would do, I pushed on ahead (now taking mini breaks). Shouldn’t be too far to the top!

An it wasn’t!

Its always hard to judge height when you are on a track. What looks like the top of a hill often is not. You scale one mound, only to be confronted by another. I wasn’t sure how high I was at this point. The trees had thinned out. The view was fairly good. The sun was scorching out of the shade of the trees! The sign ’10 min’s’ wedged in a tree indicated I was nearing the top. I had to make it now and pressed ahead.

And there it was!, View Point! Half obscured by the ever growing trees, what I could see was nice.

After viewing, resting, resting and some more resting, I began my descent back to ‘home’. Along the way (both there and back) I could hear the sounds of birds and monkeys (except for that bad part climbing up). I spotted this little one on the way down:

(can you spot it?)

Reaching the bottom, the first task was locating the nearest place that sold refreshments. I must have looked terrible when they served me! Next step was go for a cooling swim, and then a little nap.

More tomorrow!

May 3, 2014 0

The Old Temple

Old temple. Northern Thailand.

April 24, 2014 0

The Golden Triangle

Heading North, the Golden Triangle, we reached the edge of Thailand. Looking out across the narrow straight of water the two neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Laos could be seen. Off far away in the distant centre was also China. Laying on the waters edge of the other two were several very large Casinos. I’m told they are very popular, and people in China take a long all day boat trip to visit them. Boats raced up and down the straight. I wondered how they really police it from an immigration perspective.

Looking from a highpoint above, we saw a small centre island between the countries. Im sure it belongs to someone, but we were told how it was, long ago, a popular trading point for poppy’s (opium).

We then headed over to the road boarder to Myanmar (I think it was that way). The line to get across was massive. Stocks of mostly water came trundling in via bike – some quite comical the load and size. The one in the below image getting the shakes as it rode past. A popular market area for Thai I’m told. I did notice a markedly lower number of tourists.

April 23, 2014 0

On the Road Chiang Rai

Compare to New Zealand, the one biggest difference on the road is the motorbikes/scooters. At home, I’m lucky to see 2-3 other bikes on my commute to work. In Thailand, scooters are absolutely everywhere. Helmets, as far as I understand, are strongly recommended, but not compulsory (Actually, I’m not sure about licences for bikes either as I was told I can hire one even without a car licence…). As we headed north on the main highway, I watched out the window as we passed scooter after scooter, sometimes transporting a family of 4 and 5 to work. The speeds for no helmets and multiple passengers, sometimes side saddling was astonishing and on reflection a bit of an eye opener of how safe I am (when at times I feel like I am fighting against our local health and safety ‘rules’).

Entering the Chiang Rai district, we stopped for a local coffee at the highest hot spring in Thailand. Local ladies were boiling and selling hot spring eggs. Turning off the main road was a tall spring (behind the above image). “its just a fake one” our guide announced. Sure enough, I get out of the van and can hear the petrol driven pump shooting the spring up into the air. Amusing if nothing else. I wandered towards the boiling egg part. I think this was a real spring. No pump to be heard anyway.

Walking behind the sign of the above image was a set of stairs. It looked like it went into further spring pools, but was either abandoned, or turned off? – I was the only one looking that far anyway.

As we left we passed this amazing looking building, almost complete

Now, to the untrained tourist eye (me), it looked like a new temple. I asked the guide what it was? “Oh, it was going to be a luxury sauna for the tourists. The locals protested it would take all the water and they were not allowed to continue”. I guess its just going to sit abandoned, almost finished. You’d be kicking yourself for not getting the tick from the local community before sinking money into that!

Off down the road we headed for the boarder. Thats tomorrow.

April 22, 2014 2

Wat Rong Khun – The White Temple Thailand

A bit of a large photo post for one place I visited for today – Wat Rong Khun – the White Temple of Thailand found in the Chiang Rai provence. Designed by famous artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, Wat Rong Khun is a piece of architectural beauty. Building starting in 1997, the wider temple grounds are still being worked on to this day, although the temple itself is all finished aside from ongoing maintenance to keep it shining in the surrounding landscape.

Approaching the entryway we are welcomed by some ‘tree spirits’ reminding us that no whisky (drinking) is allowed within the temple grounds, and also no smoking. The whisky tree shows images of people with ugly distorted faces, acting like monsters (basically really drunk people), and the smoking one shows people with poor, early aged complexion. There is also the Predator. I don’t expect his type are welcomed either.

Here is the cardboard version of Chalermchai Kositpipat

Ringing a big bell, we enter onto the temple grounds and towards the temple. It really is an amazing piece of work (and functioning temple). Im reminded that no photos can be taken inside (Im sure you will find someone who’s been disrespectful if you google for it), but up to the door is fine. Carp swim in the small moat surrounding.

Looking from the side, you can see a bridge one ascends to the temple. on the right, at the bottom the gleaming white is a dirty brown. Thats not lack of maintenance, its the spirits/beings whom are not pure enough to make it up.

We were instructed not to hang around the entry to the bridge posing for photos. One, it blocks traffic flow. Two, its not particularly good to hang around all these arms trying to pull you into the sludge/mud as you try to ascend to the temple. I grabbed a shot as we walked over.

Inside the temple (no cameras) was a mix of traditional and artwork. The artwork was interesting as it showed all manner of things that were ‘bad’ – wars, guns, superheroes, someone that looked like Michael Jackson from thriller etc. etc. that was all looking back in the direction of the bridge. Looking forward it was more colourful and peaceful.

I then visited the good luck well and walked through some of the walkways with hanging offering tab things (their correct name escapes me for now)

And came across a tree with some more recognisable characters. I was told they were not all bad, but their spirits were corrupted or troubled and would never be pure. Bat Man, Hell Boy – makes sense. A few more nasty heads there too.

Behind that tree was what must be one of the most impressive looking toilets in the country

An that concludes my visit to the White Temple. Tomorrow we will continue with a look around some more of the Northern edge of Thailand.

(wish all road cones looked like this!)

April 21, 2014 2

Chiang Mai Street Market

Whether day or night, one would never have a problem buying ‘things’ at Chiang Mai. However, the night markets are a must do for any tourists dropping into the area. Whether you want to sample the huge variety of tasty food, look for goods, trinkets and gifts, or dip your feet in a vessel of fish to remove dead skin (I missed doing this – maybe next time) – the evening street markets have it all!

I mentioned yesterday that business really gets moving once sundown comes. The temperature, still fairly hot, becomes a lot more comfortable in the evening, and even in the crowds of people (in the central market areas) you don’t find yourself craving a drink of water every 5 minutes.

Wandering through you do see a lot of double ups of products on sale, but there is a lot of variety still also (as I found out when buying a gift and had to walk the entire market twice looking for the one and only stall that sold it).

Im not sure what stall owners did a decade or so ago, but one thing I noticed around stalls was the volume of smartphones being used to play games and watch tv shows whilst the vendors waited for customers. Some so engrossed in their shows, one could sift through all their merchandise and not even be given a single sales line. I certainly don’t blame them. Long hours – electronic devices help kill them. Perhaps (to me) it just felt like a odd combination for some reason. Actually, I do have an idea what some did 10+ years ago – a number of stalls brought along their 14″ TV’s plugged into power sockets on the power poles and sat watching them.

Bargaining and bartering of course is common place – many tourists aiming for perhaps too low prices, many stall holders obviously trying to take as much home as they can. The New Zealand Dollar converts pretty well in Thailand. Even with economies of scale, I really don’t see how some Thai survive. On some occasions their asking prices for goods just feels too low!

Being Northern, we also looked to do a bit of a tour out of the city. Some of that tomorrow probably!

April 20, 2014 0

Destination Chiang Mai

Our next stop had us heading to Chiang Mai – the “New City” (replacing the old one Chiang Rai). Im sure pilots get used to the view from above the clouds, but I always enjoy looking at the whole ‘new’ world that appears when I’m in a plane. The perspective of mountain ranges, valleys and planes all formed in clouds are a view I can stare at for hours (with a window seat anyway).

Arriving in Chiang Mai is a bit of a shift in perspective for one just coming from Bangkok. Its the largest northern provence city, but pales in comparison.

But as above, thats simply a perspective thing. I think the whole trip, as future posts will show, was from big city to eventual small township/island sort of thing. Driving from the airport I observed both what looked to be new developments in the works, and old unfinished developments – an indication of previous economic ups and downs. The temperature was warmer and more humid.

One thing, amongst many, to do in Chiang Mai as a tourist is to visit the night markets (more on that another day). They also offer numerous tours to the boarder, and animal based tours.

To be continued tomorrow.

Fo all those who recognise Easter – Good Friday to you!

April 18, 2014 0

Farewell Bangkok

Although I have countless more images from Bangkok, today can be the last, so we can move up north a little next time. Something I love to see in cities I have visited is the contrast between old and new. Todays top image is of just as such – a old rundown building (I think still inhabited) contrasting on the more modern cityscape. It reminds me of those movies where someone holds onto their house whilst the world grows up around it. I think here in Auckland (the central city area) land and building value is too high to see something quite like this (but to be fair, there are some old ones off main roads).

Like many cities, Bangkok offers a host of was to get around for the tourist. Walk (the most traditional), Taxi (sooo cheap on the metered ones when traffic flowing), Tuk Tuk(more expensive than taxi’s – I’ll do a feature on them some time) or the train network. I loved how the train (and walking) overpass spread across the city above the roads:

I was also intrigued by the seemingly hazardous mains power system (Bangkok much better than some other districts).

Farewell Bangkok

April 17, 2014 2

Buddha of Bangkok

Part of our time in Bangkok was spent touring around some of the local temples. For those who don’t know, Thailand is pretty much a Buddhist country. For me, it was quite interesting to see these temples pepper potted around the city (and other areas of the country – particularly the northern part). The above feature Buddha being the Fasting Buddha (I only saw the one fasting one on my journey).

We looked at the different styles of Thai Buddha’s – in part different craftsmen, put also specifically Buddha at different stages of social peace or times of war. Some clues had when looking at the arms, bone structure of face and ‘ringlet’ size (for lack of a better term as I write) of the hair. Of the two above, the one on the right shows he is made in tougher times with likely neighbourly wars.

The Golden Buddha (above) was impressive to see. Story has it, during war times, he was covered in concrete to disguise that it was actually made of gold. Years (I’m guessing many) went by, and people forgot about the golden one. Then one day, then moving to a new temple the concrete cracked (imagine the instant ‘oh my god’ as you the mover crack this massive statue), but rather than a disaster, the gold was again revealed.

One of my favourites was the Reclining Buddha. This is one MASSIVE figure. Too big to move, renovations of the building had to happen around it.

Once upon a time temples were the schools or universities of the community. People went to further their learning and studies. One such example was the temple area of the Reclining Buddha. Small building (open sided ones) surrounded the main temple areas, all featuring teachings on the body, herbs, yoga, meditation, and general wellbeing. Some pretty cool stuff.

Probably one more day of Bangkok tomorrow I think!

April 16, 2014 0