AYUTTHAYA, very hot and seeing many ruines

First sending a package back home, because I already have too much baggage with me. 3 kg back home cost around 1000 B sending to Holland, and this will take 2 months!

Tourday throughout Ayutthaya to visit the old ruine temples. These temples are so different from the new ones and way more beautifull. We arranged a 4 hour tuktuk drive for 500 Bath instead of 1200 Bath. THe most temples you have to pay for, but we are Dutch so you know what happened...the walls of the ruines are not that high to climb :-) So after a really hot day of visiting old stones we visited a nighmarket to get some food. Believe me, Ayutthaya is the hottest place so far, sweating like a waterfall.

I wanted to buy a small notebook, just because this is so mare relaxed that writing down in my big travel journal...sorry Dominique ;-) And almost very place has free Wifi, better than looking for an internetcafe every time. In the city centres you can't find good electronic shops, so the taxi tok us outside of the city to a big Tesco Lotus. Just bought the newest version of a small Sony VAIO notebook voor a really good price. Got some free extra's with it as well. And that in a store were nobody could speak English. This is a good buy, only thing is that some programs are still in the unreadable Thai language :-(

And you think this would be a short day? We met some Dutchies on the balcony and we had a long chat like everyday.

Leaving relaxing PAI to CHANG MAI; Just a day to take a break...

Started the day with the motorbike, just taking some pictures of Pai. The rest of the day just chilling. Spend 3 hours in an internetcafe. Found out that I have some problems with T-Mobile and DSB. DSB curator is asking me for money, well I never got money from this bankrupt bank so why should I pay?

Jumped into a full minivan to Chang Mai. We had lot's of fun in the minivan. Me and Edwin got stuck in the back of the van for hours, this bus was way too small. While waiting on the train in Chang Mai we decided to have dinner close to the trainstation. The girls in this restaurant looked like giving you a lapdance every moment... The nighttrain consists out of 3 wagons and we couldn't sleep at al. Too bumpy and too noisy. We met some Vietnamese travellers and had some Chang-beers and popcorn with them. In the morning we got some free drinks and food from the railwaycompany. The nighttrain to Ayutthaya took about 10 hours, but next time we take the sleepertrain again.

PAI, day 3

In the morning drived on my own into the mountains, talking with a Swiss girl that got stuck in this town. I went back to Stuart and Edwin joined us with the motorbikes. We went to several watrerfalls in the area. Everywhere Edwin and me went for a dive or a swim.Stuart was so tired of the last night. This is the second they I am the group leader and navigator. Just so lucky that we didn't get lost. At the end of the day we went to Pia's canyon and the hotsprings. We were first dissapointed after paying 200 bath for looking at hot smelly pools where people were boiling eggs. But after a jump into one of those hot mineral baths it was fantastic! So relaxing after the last few days. When we got back to Pia there was no power in the whole town, grat atmosphere with all the candles everywhere. We had some Pad Kai Thai again and a chat with Dutch people again. For the first time good music in a bar. So cocktals were ordered and it was just like Bloemendaal :-) We also arranged some bus and train tickets for tomorrow. Ayutthaya and after that Kanchanaburi.

Stuart went to sleep. Edwin and my got more food and went to Ting Tong Bar. But saturdaynight is boring in Pai. First night with a normal sleep of 7 hours.

PAI, day 2

Rented a 115cc motorbike for 100 bath per 24 hours! They don't ask for a license. And you don't need a helmet. Had a long day of riding. Stuarts' scooter broke down in the middle of knowhere. And we had to communicate in a small ocals village wehre nobody could speak English. Very funny conversations. The petrol station looked more like a lemonade bar!

Oh, the police got us off the road with our motorbikes...why? Because we were not wearing shirts! hahahaha...Edwin arrived in the evening, we met some coll German Chicks and hooked up with them. During our walk in the city many people jonied us from all different countries. One of the best nights till so far. So much fun in Bamboo and the buckets are killing! Just got back to my hostel and 13:00 the next day! :-)

CHANG MAI, cooking class

For the first time more then 3 hours of sleep :-)

Joinded the 6 hour cooking class from Gap's House. We had to make 8 different Thai dishes. 3 of them tasted so good! We went back and our hostel was fully booked. We decided we go to Pai, but the bus leaves in 30 minutes...rush! We had our own private minivan and the driver was crazy. Instead of 4 hours, the trip was 2,5 hours! So fast and dangerous with all the sharp curves.Arrived in Pai late but the atmosphere is fantastic! Live music and open mics everywhere. We met Sander and Debbie from Holland. Went to Lum Laa, Tington Bar and Bamboo. Lot's of new friends. And a short night :-)

JUNGLE TREKKING, day 2

Early breakfast and a fast 1,5 hour track. Again we jumped into the waterfalls and took a nice shower there. After that wildwater rafting. Very cool! Want to do it again.The bamboo rafting is not so special, the thing sinks and it's not fast. But you can let people fall off easy.

In Chang Mai we went to the Noght Market and bought loads of stuff. So cheap. I have to sent a package back to Holland already! Took a full body 1 hour oil massage at Bon massage, the best thing! Falled asleep there. Just 250 bath and very proffesional. After that to some bars with Stuart and Linda, had a long nice night. I was surprised when all of a sudden a baby elephant was standing next to me when I was drinking one of my cocktauils on the terrace...

JUMGLE TREKKING, day 1

Long drive (2 hours) to the Jungle trekking. Stopped at an orchid and butterfly farm. 13 people in a pick-up. The elephant riding was fun. Stuart was so scared in the beginning, even more fun. But some bananas in the elephants nose. And walked around the jungle.After that a 2,5 hour jungle track. I got so ho. I jumped with Stuart into a could refreshing waterfall. Linda joined us again with this trip. The track was pretty fast and heavy. Had a beatifull view on the mountains during the sunset. We slepped at a bamboo hut in a small mountain village. The food was good, but we had to pay for all the drinks. We had fun with 2 German girls, Marit and Tina. We stayed up till late, celebrated Lydia's birthday and decided to have double sandwich sleep.... because it was so could... :-) We didn't slep that much, many bedbugs, noise wind and to cold. I only had a t-shirt with me and no sleeping bag. And the Thai homemadewhiskey is strong :-)

CHANG MAI, Loy Krathong Festival

We rented some bycicles with Linda, Edwin, Bryan (Ireland) and discoved Chiang Mai. Thai were surprised when we got with our bikes on the highway :-) In the evening I needed some western food and enjoyed my cheeseburger. The lights and fireworks at the Loy krathong Festival were so amazing. Just like new years eve but 100 times better. So many people parying everywere, so many fireworks, you just buy them on the street. The lampoons are light that everybody puts in the sky, you just have to be there to feel the experience. There are Thai coverbans on the streets as well. We got back to the hotel late. On the way back home we ended up in a dark bar (Tinner Bar). Sometimes there was no power and that was a funny atmosphere. There was a coverband with music of the Red Hot Chili Peppers,Nirvana, RAdiohead and so on. Loads of cocktails and singing and crazyness...wonderfull night!

Jumped in the swimmingpool in the morning but the manager was not happy about that :-)