Thailand, february of 2010

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bacafamily

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31st Jan - 2nd Mar 10

My husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage and are taking our whole family on a roundtrip of Thailand.

Starting Jan 31st we are boarding the plane to Moscow and then on to Bangkok. In Bangkok we hope to get a taste for the Thai city and get some shopping. After three days we are boarding the night train to go to Trang. From there we are going out to island# 1: Koh Bulone Lae. After than the plan is Koh Lanta and Koh Jum and on to Phuket to fly to Chiang Mai for some jungle treks and maybe a hill tribe? we'll see what happens.
adventure!! stay on this link to follow us! we will try and stay updated.

1 February 10, Bangkok, oriental city!

we were in Bangkok for a few days and fell in like with the city. I love the noise and the life, hate the dirt,… » more

5 February 10, Koh Bulone

Koh Bulone is paradise and the whole family is really loving it. Today was anniverary, and we spent it travelling but also on the beach,… » more

12 February 10, Koh Lanta first impression

coming from Koh Bulone makes Koh Lanta appear busy and rushed. Speaking to people traveling from other spots, like Phuket, makes me realize that it… » more

16 February 10, Betrayed by paradise, Koh Kradan

We spent a nice week on Koh Lanta, with lots of spa, relaxing,hanging out, some shopping, a daytrip going snorkeling outside Koh Rok, and an… » more

We spent a nice week on Koh Lanta, with lots of spa, relaxing,hanging out, some shopping, a daytrip going snorkeling outside Koh Rok, and an elephant and jungle trekking. Then it was time for a break and we did a two-night-stay on Koh Kradan. Koh Kradan has a great reputation for great snorkeling and diving and crisp white sandy beaches.

Damon started out the trip with being sick and he pretty much stayed sick the entire stay, having massive headaches and fever off and on. Dengue fever???

The "resort" we stayed at, Kradan Beach resort, was of poor standard at high rates. It was more of a hostal type living than bungalow in paradise. The beach was nice and white and lots of shaded spots and they had hung up some hammocks in the trees for guests to use, which gave a nice laid-back feeling.

As for the snorkeling... it was cloudy water and hard to see much in the water. Koh Rok was far better. At first I thought it had to do with the wind that stirred things up, but after 3 three days of bad water I realized that it must be something else, perhaps algae season. so that was too bad, since we chose Kradan for this very reason. Otherwise we would have gone with originally planned Koh Jum.

In chasing after the perfect water for perfect snorkeling I had an accident. I waded out over corals to get to the other side of the reef. Once out there the water was so murky I could barely see the hand in front of me. There were high waves that kept pushing towards the reef, scraping me on the corals. I figured if I could only get a bit further out I would be able to swim around the reef and get to the sandy spot. However, in swimming I pushed my foot into a sea urchin and really hurt myself. At this point the ocean is seemingly angry with me and determined to smash me against the reef and into the forest of sea urchins, so I realized I needed help and sent Damon up the coast to get a boat to fetch me from the outside... He got all of southern beach involved in watching kids and helping me get out of the water and eventually I ended up at the nature reserve office with various scrapes, cuts on arms and legs and needles in my foot, caring for the wounds with lime juice! Things could have gone far worse and I feel lucky to have gotten out when I did.

The day after we left "paradise" and went back to Koh Lanta and back "home" to Ancient Realm, where I cured my mental state with cocktails and Jack Johnson at sunset... :)

Today will be a trip to the doctor's office and then some spa and poolside massages for the girls. Low, low key... » less

24 February 10, last days with adventure and birthday

sawadee ka! The last few days have been packed with activities, mixed up with spa and beach relax. Jannika went off with a friend to… » more

sawadee ka!

The last few days have been packed with activities, mixed up with spa and beach relax.

Jannika went off with a friend to a cooking school for a morning of learning, cooking and eating! Now I can make Tom yum, glass noodle sallad, Pad Thai, curries and much more at home! if I can only find the ingredients....

Damon then brought new friends of ours on the elephant jungle trekking for a second elephant encounter. They went into caves and explored on their own this time, which had been a success.

The Day before Felicia's birthday, Damon took her out on a kayaking trip. They fed monkies and learned about the nature around the island. It had been hot out there, without shade, but definitely worth it as it was the first wild monkey for Felicia. She lets you know she fed a baby monkey!! :)

Felicia's birthday got moved and celebrated on the 23rd, since the 24th has become a transit day... We started out her day with birthday gifts in bed and then birthday cake and singing for breakfast. The German Bakery on the island helped us out in making a nice chocolate cake for her. We went on with some Tuk-Tuk adventure. Felicia loves riding them, so we rented one for ourselves to drive around the island. It started out great and the kids were all enjoying it and the traffic was slow and good, which allowed Damon to ease into driving on the wrong! side of the road. ;) Then we reached viewpoint. well, barely as the motor was a weak one and the carrier as heavyyy to pull up the hill. once up, though, one has to come down.... and it went fast... a bit too fast and the brakes were really bad, forcing Damon to use the sole of his shoes in attempting slowing us down. (we later found out two GB people had died here two weeks ago.... ) He managed and all went well, but we were majorly shook up and scared. Damon had also gotten too close to the hot motor and burned himself raw on the leg. At the place where we stopped they put Aloe Vera on him and then we went on to view the island (after someone had looked at the brakes and fixed them up). It is beautiful nature and so much more than just beach and pretty views over the sea. On the way home we stopped, yet again, at the dr's office and took care of Damon's leg and the evening was spent at the resort, with good friends and great food. A nice birthday dinner / last Lanta dinner with BBQ fish and king prawns, birthday cake and a jug! of white russian. The night ended a while after the kids started to doze off by the table, exhuasted, satisfied and happy.

Today was last day on Koh Lanta. We packed up the room and added a suitcase to the load. The people at the resort all came running to say their goodbyes and give gifts to all of us girls, they had all been so in love with our kids, pampering them all with manicures (even Luke, he escaped all but the last day and now has about eight different colors on his finger nails!) and massages. Felicia has been very sad, she is very emotional. She said goodbye to her friends and cried on the boat, taking off from Koh Lanta... We were worried about the shere volume of bags! but with the Thai people's friendly attitude and helpfulness, we managed to get to boat 1, transferring to boat 2 and get to the hotel in Phuket, with all 7 bags and all 3 kids, all intact! PhiPhi was busy, busy, busy. Mass amounts of boats and traffic out at sea. I heard stories of it being absolutely secluded about 12 years ago and since then it has exploded. There were tons of people and traffic at the pier, and it would have been easy to get lost or lose a bag in tranferring. Arriving at Phuket we were surprised at the size of the town. We are staying in Phuket town. It is big and buzzeling with life. Not catering to tourists, at least in our part of town. I knew it was big, but I had thought it'd be a huge tourist place. But then again, there is no beach in town. After checking in at Samkong Place, we had dinner out with dancing, enjoying fresh fish, papaya sallad, sundried beef and sushimi. Now the kids are all in bed and tomorrow we take off to Chiang Mai for a last few days in Thailand. I am not sure what the connectivity will be like, so I thought I would fill you in all the way before we get there, in case I can't get online at the hotel. (sorry for the novel.... it's hard to pick highlights when it's all so fabulous!)

Well, lots of love!!

Swe-Bacas, Thailand

http://www.mytripbook.com/index.php/members/4598

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25 February 10, Chiang Mai

We arrived in Chiang Mai on Feb 25th. The first impression was that it is cooler weather, and a slower pace than Bangkok. We checked… » more

We arrived in Chiang Mai on Feb 25th. The first impression was that it is cooler weather, and a slower pace than Bangkok. We checked into Rainforest Boutique Hotel (nice place but very bad location). The first day we spent strolling down Tapei Rd, window shopping and eating variously. :) in the evening we went to the night market, the big thing in Chiang Mai. It is very large place downtown Chiang Mai with tons of handicrafts and foods of different sorts. Most visitors are tourists and the offered goods and prices are thereafter.

Day two in Chiang Mai, after sleeping in from staying out late..., we strolled around Old Town. Chiang Mai has some very busy streets but inside the old city walls are some small and narrow alleys where it is so calm and quiet that you wouldn't think you were in the very center of a large city. We dropped by some of the very many temples and got Felciia intrigued by Buddhism. She loved the gold buildings and Buddha relics, and was fascinated by the monks walking the streets and sitting in the temples. Matilda would then ask where we saw all these monkies! :)

The evening was spent at a different place of the night market, where we found a food court where they had a dance show on that evening. The food courts in Thailand are the best place for eating. You have all the variety of the world and prices are very low. Felicia, who loves sushi, got a full plate of nigiri and maki rolls for under $4! a plate of noodles or rice prepared with seafood, was around $1!

Day three in Chiang Mai was excursion day. We started with oversleeping, again... and headed off in a hired cab to Doi Suthep a large temple ground situated on a hill top with great view over the city (unless too misty weather like when we were there...). After the temple we went to a wonderful waterfaull (MaiSa waterfall) with 10 tiers where you can picnic, swim and play around. When the kids were chilled down (mountain spring water will do that pretty fast!) we put them to bed in the car and went to the handicraft village of BorSang, where we looked at silk factory and silver jewelery making.
The evening was spent at the culture center for dinner and show. You sit on the floor and eat Lanna style food, while groups of dancers put up cultural shows.

Day four we went shopping at the airport plaza (central plaza) and spent a day wandering around this gigantic mall, some shopping but mostly taking in the culture of asian shopping-mania going on around us. There was a line of a dozen people waiting ot get in to Swensens ice cream! Just a thing like that! On one floor there were clinic after clinic, just like any other store, selling beauty treatments like botox, facials, laser treatments, Dermashocks, etc.! Every clinic seemed busy with clients waiting in the front room.
The evening we spent at the Sunday market, the best of markets we experienced in all our stay. This is where the locals come for sunday shopping and entertainment. The handicrafts here are all real and the prices are lower than anywhere. If you plan a stay in CM, make sure it's over a sunday! We loves just strolling around looking at stuff, taking in the atmosphere, enjoying foods (like tofu on a stick served with green chillis! and buckets of straweberries for the kids!) and when the feet got tired we stopped for snacks and foot massage.

Day 5 was pack-up day. we spent some time at the hotel pool, and the rest of the family took a nice long nap while Jannika went for a bike ride down the street to develope some 300 pictures to look at on the way home. The night was again, spent at the night market and the food court there, along with some last purchases, like an extra suitcase... ;)

Except for the mall, there were surprisingly many tourists all over the place, we had thought we left tourist mainland when we left the islands in the south, but even here the streets are lines with tour guides wanting to sell tickets to attractions, all of which we avoided. I don't think it's natural for monkies to ride bikes and show off, or for elephants to kick ball, or tigers (sedated) being pet by mass amounts of people as if they were little pet kittens.

All and all, we are happy we went to Chiang Mai to see something different of Thailand, and we enjoyed the city and the night markets, which is a very big part of the culture. The temples and the nature around the city were all amazing. Having said that, if we were to do this trip again, I would exclude Chiang Mai untill the kids were old enough to do a three-day-trekk in the jungle amongst hill tribes and elephants in their natural habitat.

Departure day started early, 5 am the signal went off... Plane ride to Bangkok, and on to Moscow, to end up in Stockholm (3 am Thai time...) for a 2-hour car ride down to Aspa Blankenborg. The trip was a terribly, seemingly never ending, bad one, with stomach illness and delays. The circle is complete! :(

So we say LaGon Thailand for this time, perhaps we'll see you again some day! » less