Just Back From Thailand

On our first night my travel buddy and I stayed in New Bangkok, in a nice and affordable hotel called ‘The President’.

We dumped our backpacks and headed out for our first real Thai Green Curry. Note to self: when asking for a ‘little bit of spice’ in Thailand – they make it HOT!! Although still to this day I have never had a curry that comes close in comparison in taste – YUM!

The following day we headed into old Bangkok – Kao San Rd – so many cheap food stalls selling everything imaginable – a bargain shoppers’ paradise!

After a tough day fighting the crowds at the shops, we had to see it for ourselves and so we headed for the infamous Padpong Rd for some light entertainment!

The following day we hired a tuk-tuk (a small motorbike with a carriage on the back for 2 people) and driver and went to visit the Wats (Buddhist temples) of Bangkok. Getting into the spirit of it all – we prayed for safe travels and lit incense.

The next day we took a 2 1/2hr minibus up north – to Kanchanaburi in an 8 seater minibus, which we shared with 21 other passengers – crazy! Kanchanaburi was such a quaint, quiet town, you would never know that 38,000 lived there!

We were staying in an amazing bungalow right on the river Kwai – paying AUD $6 per night for a brand new cottage.

It was so peaceful and surreal being right on the water, it spoke for itself.

The following day we went elephant riding for 2hrs, and got to ride upfront on the elephant’s neck – a scary thought knowing if we fell off we would be trampled!

We then took a bamboo raft down the river, before stopping off at the Hellfire Museum – a tribute to those who died whilst building the River Kwai Bridge.

Next we headed to some waterfalls, where I purchased a local favourite of honey root (similar to skinned and fried sweet potato). We then spent the next 1 1/2hrs on the River Kwai train which went into a cave where all the POW who had fallen ill were kept, it was a very eerie and emotional place.

We then went to a natural hot springs pool, set in the rainforest, which was a toasty 60 degrees! A perfect way to end a busy day.

Its funny, three times now, I had been walking/driving down the street and saw an elephant just walking on the side of the road – it had to be seen to be believed!

The next day we hired motorbikes and rode the 130km round trip to Erawan waterfalls which were simply stunning! They had 7 viewing platforms and each platform had an awesome view of the waterfall which then led into calcium limestone pools which looked magnificent!

We got to the 7th level after a 2km hike where we swam with some local teenage girls.

After 1 1/2hr ride home – riding my motorbike at 70km/h with the wind blowing through my hair, I felt like nothing could stop me!

From there we then went further up north to Chang Mai, where we went trekking in the Jungle, but that’s another story!

It was hard to believe that this was only the first week of my journey – I still had almost another 3mths of this to go….ahhh it’s a travellers life!