something-to-remember: Thailand- a journey- (part 1)

It has been a long time since I wrote my last entry and the new year has begun. Already February and still winter in Europe. Snow has fallen again and many wonder how long this winter will last this year.

Now, you can sure imagine why it took me so long to write again. Thailand. A holiday about four weeks and a tour you now will be able to follow. As I usually do, I write always after I did my journeys.

So how was the journey? How did I do it? What did I saw and experience?

First I'll give you an idea about the way I took.

Starting in Berlin with flying to Bangkok. There I met my friend fro Pattaya and we took the bus to his town. I stayed there for about four days. This I can recommend. Starting slowly and get use to the air, temp. food and so on. Then my way went back to Bangkok to take the airplane to Hat Yai in the very south of Thailand, near Malaysia. From that little town I had a guide to travel with in the south and so we went to Satun, Trang and Krabi, where I had my own time and took a tour to Phang- Nga and the "James Bond Islands". Then my way went on to Phuket. Staying there to get sun and other fun. From Phuket my journey went on with a flight to Chiang Mai in the very north of Thailand, into the hills. There I stayed a couple of days and then went on to Lampang and Ayuthaya near Bangkok. Of course Bangkok was the last station and to stay there a couple of days is a must and as a last station very much to recommend. Then as you may already know my flight to Berlin has come and now I am sitting surrounded with snow and much colder temp. as I had in Thailand.

So back to Pattaya.

Fanny think first- it is Bangkok. Well, all the area around Bangkok up to two hours from the town itself is called Bangkok.

Lovely 33 ° C and the ocean in front of me. A little wind breezing and the asian food in the mouth. Sleeping as I belong and making my walks with my friends. Seeing all the plants and oh so many different palms so you began to wonder how much different are out there and all have different fruits too. Living in an area which is quite new but some hotels already looks like being ten years old, but that's because building fast and cheep and then no one cares to look after as it should be. So no wonder as most employes work in town but live on total different place so it is nothing the Thai people thing about. Also coming from the fact that Buddhism is a religious thing and not some rules of life you follow, so that means people are much like day to day live and not thinking much about tomorrow.

The beach in Pattaya is not that big but wow how many people are already here and umbrellas to save your skin from burning as the sun is much stronger here then back home.

Of course drinking and eating my Coconut and walking around the town. Well, much enjoyable and much to learn. The mini- busses quite cheap (10 Bath) but the taxis expensive and you have to make up the price with them as they don't do taxameters. It's because the Mafia, but what is new in that.

Mostly quite an interesting thing to see is that old style of buildings stand right between the new once. Sometimes very close. Some buildings obviously are not old but no one is in there and it is mostly because owners have problems with themselfs. The Scene quite big and interesting and so you can watch the girls and boys sitting in the bar and waiting for the "rich" man to have an affair with. Kind of. It's true since the G.I. s came from the Vietnam war to get their girls it became a big thing to be young and get old man to pay for your life. Mostly food and cloths and this and that and many times for a whole round i the bar. Most older man like this, some younger too. Some because they can be the big man, some because they get somebody beside who is nice, young and beauty. The difference of age can be very big, so don't wonder. But be more concern about the fact that it can get very loud on the streets as each disco, each bar tries to overturn the other one. And most singers can't sing. But the food is good and I also eat a- well call it spit from the birds... as it is a net of a bird and you know the leaves become the net with the help of the spit of the bird. So this they cut and put into water and at the end it is a soup. Tasted sweet but strange and comes clearly from the side of china as people there can eat strange things without a twinkle of an eye.

Pattaya has also a little harbor and many boats, so it is fun to travel to islands, get fresh fish and have a walk on the beach in the centre, though they made the beach and walk way smaller to make the streets bigger. The mistake seems to make every country in the world and no one seems to learn from the others.

Of course as January is a very good time to come to Thailand as the rain period is over we still can see christmas decoration. Yes, because of us tourists. Christmas trees, angels and lights.

But above this, take a ride to the hill above the city in the afternoon, just before the sun gets down and climb to the big Buddhas. What a view and how nice to end a day and then go eat somewhere some good fish food. And yes a bit outside Pattaya is also a Temple with Wats. You can come there with busses but better take a taxi and make the price up (just now should be around 800/900 Baths for the ride to the temple and back and to the hill with the Buddhas). Very nice and lovely area and temple and Wats and with a little sea around.

There is also a Buddha on the rocks.. just see on the pics! How they made it- don't know.

So all in all four days will be right to start in Pattaya and get you use to the typical feeling you will have in Thailand. Also having time for a massage, changing your money and starting save (more or lesson) with Thai food but be aware that it is very spicy as long you don't tell the waitress to make it less spicy or you choose some less spicy food. Pattaya is not such a big shopping area, but nice and calm and easy going. Also ask about the "Gay" areas as you can see drag shows there in the afternoon, which are fun and you just have to take your table and please for drinks.

So you will be able to start the big journey around this country.

Now of course pictures to get a feeling of what you could get into.

Enjoy.