First day of work after our holiday.
I'm glad that I don't have a huge pile of work. It gives me time to get used to my desk again :-)...
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Back to Work
Monday, 25 November 2013
Back Home, Back to Reality
Day 25
Our trip to the airport yesterday was thrilling!
We arrived at our hotel early to ask if the mini van could pick us up early because of the protests, just to be sure we would arrive in time. The guy at the reception couldn't reach the company, but said it could be that a taxi arrived at 9pm with travelers from the Chiang Mai bus. We just had to wait and hope we could take that taxi to the airport.
Our plans to end our holiday with a good foot massage got cancelled, because we had to sit and wait at the hotel.
At 9pm, no taxi arrived. We asked to call the company again to make sure they wouldn't be late at 10pm, due to the traffic. No answer and no worries. They should be in time, the receptionist said. 10pm he got a call that they would be 20 minutes late. 10.20pm they called to say they were nearly there. 10.30pm two motorbikes rushed onto the parking lot of the hotel, shouting to get on. They would take us to the taxi. Before we could say anything the receptionist had thrown our luggage on their steering wheels. My boyfriend jumped on the back of the motorbike, so I did too. I hardly had a place to sit, because my driver was a bit overweight. I literally had to grab him by his 'love handles' to have some grip. You can't even imagine how that drive felt! I feared for my life! Thai drivers are f*cking crazy!
We got at the taxi stop nice and safe, but apparently there were other travelers who were waiting there as well and had been standing there for a while. The motorbike drivers promised the taxi would be there at 11 at the latest, so we could be at the airport at 11.30pm. That was hard to believe, since the airport was at least 45min away and the traffic was still jammed. The police had blocked the street where we were waiting and made it a one way street. No stress!?
The minivan arrived at ten past eleven and I saw the driver putting a large bottle of Chang (Thai beer) from his car to the side of the road. This was a really dangerous situation, but because of our lack of time and the problems on the road, we had to get in. Their wasn't enough room for everyone and their luggage to get in, so me and my boyfriend had to take seat next to the driver. It took him at least 30 min to get out of the city onto the speedway. Almost every road to the speedway was blocked buy the police, but he managed to find a way. He rushed at 140km/h to the airport. I held my eyes closed for the whole ride.
We arrived at the airport at midnight. In time for our flight, but a few people had to run to catch their plane.
Our flight went well, no problems. We arrived half an hour earlier, at 1.30pm.
Back home, back to reality!
We're so tired. We have to have an early night! We have to get up at 6 for work :(!
Our trip to the airport yesterday was thrilling!
We arrived at our hotel early to ask if the mini van could pick us up early because of the protests, just to be sure we would arrive in time. The guy at the reception couldn't reach the company, but said it could be that a taxi arrived at 9pm with travelers from the Chiang Mai bus. We just had to wait and hope we could take that taxi to the airport.
Our plans to end our holiday with a good foot massage got cancelled, because we had to sit and wait at the hotel.
At 9pm, no taxi arrived. We asked to call the company again to make sure they wouldn't be late at 10pm, due to the traffic. No answer and no worries. They should be in time, the receptionist said. 10pm he got a call that they would be 20 minutes late. 10.20pm they called to say they were nearly there. 10.30pm two motorbikes rushed onto the parking lot of the hotel, shouting to get on. They would take us to the taxi. Before we could say anything the receptionist had thrown our luggage on their steering wheels. My boyfriend jumped on the back of the motorbike, so I did too. I hardly had a place to sit, because my driver was a bit overweight. I literally had to grab him by his 'love handles' to have some grip. You can't even imagine how that drive felt! I feared for my life! Thai drivers are f*cking crazy!
We got at the taxi stop nice and safe, but apparently there were other travelers who were waiting there as well and had been standing there for a while. The motorbike drivers promised the taxi would be there at 11 at the latest, so we could be at the airport at 11.30pm. That was hard to believe, since the airport was at least 45min away and the traffic was still jammed. The police had blocked the street where we were waiting and made it a one way street. No stress!?
The minivan arrived at ten past eleven and I saw the driver putting a large bottle of Chang (Thai beer) from his car to the side of the road. This was a really dangerous situation, but because of our lack of time and the problems on the road, we had to get in. Their wasn't enough room for everyone and their luggage to get in, so me and my boyfriend had to take seat next to the driver. It took him at least 30 min to get out of the city onto the speedway. Almost every road to the speedway was blocked buy the police, but he managed to find a way. He rushed at 140km/h to the airport. I held my eyes closed for the whole ride.
We arrived at the airport at midnight. In time for our flight, but a few people had to run to catch their plane.
Our flight went well, no problems. We arrived half an hour earlier, at 1.30pm.
Back home, back to reality!
We're so tired. We have to have an early night! We have to get up at 6 for work :(!
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Bangkok: Grand Palace
Day 24
We checked out of our hotel and ordered a taxi to the airport for tonight. It's our last day today!
My boyfriend wanted to see a buddha but we accidentally winded up at the Grand Palace. To enter it you need to be dressed appropriate, so cleavage, legs and arms covered.Watch out here! You can borrow clothing for free inside at the ticket office, but outside at the walls there are scammers who tell you you have to buy from them. The soldiers at the gate also say you have to buy, but don't! Just go inside and give 200 deposit, you'll get it back later if you return the clothes.
My boyfriend had to put on hippiepants. Pretty funny!
The palace didn't impress me that much. Other places left a greater mark. The texile museum did impress me though!
During a few decades the Thai clothing style had become western. The royal couple had planned an 8 month trip around the world to visit other leaders and cultures. The queen was really bothered with the fact that a traditional Thai garment didn't exist anymore. Two years before their trip she began with the designs of 8 garments together with a designing team. Even a French coutourier was part of the team. She ordered them to visit tribes with their own traditions of weaving. The result was splendid. Thai fine handmade silk and clothing patterns based on old traditions and garments that expressed
Thai culture.
This museum really impressed me. There's a studio where you can try on a garment. Pictures coming soon!
After this visit we kind of wondered around.
We're now at the hotel, waiting for our taxi to the airport. Hope that goes well, because traffic is jammed because of the protests in Bangkok!
We checked out of our hotel and ordered a taxi to the airport for tonight. It's our last day today!
My boyfriend wanted to see a buddha but we accidentally winded up at the Grand Palace. To enter it you need to be dressed appropriate, so cleavage, legs and arms covered.Watch out here! You can borrow clothing for free inside at the ticket office, but outside at the walls there are scammers who tell you you have to buy from them. The soldiers at the gate also say you have to buy, but don't! Just go inside and give 200 deposit, you'll get it back later if you return the clothes.
My boyfriend had to put on hippiepants. Pretty funny!
The palace didn't impress me that much. Other places left a greater mark. The texile museum did impress me though!
During a few decades the Thai clothing style had become western. The royal couple had planned an 8 month trip around the world to visit other leaders and cultures. The queen was really bothered with the fact that a traditional Thai garment didn't exist anymore. Two years before their trip she began with the designs of 8 garments together with a designing team. Even a French coutourier was part of the team. She ordered them to visit tribes with their own traditions of weaving. The result was splendid. Thai fine handmade silk and clothing patterns based on old traditions and garments that expressed
Thai culture.
This museum really impressed me. There's a studio where you can try on a garment. Pictures coming soon!
After this visit we kind of wondered around.
We're now at the hotel, waiting for our taxi to the airport. Hope that goes well, because traffic is jammed because of the protests in Bangkok!
Saturday, 23 November 2013
Bangkok: Shopping City
Day 23
I love Thai fashion!
We went shopping today. You can find things that are in style back home, but with a Thai twist. Very unique stuff too.
I bought a very nice shirt and saw a few dresses and blouses, but was on a tight budget. I also bought two amazing handmade pillows for our sofa for 900 Baht (around 20 euros).
Fashion shopping? Siam Center is the way to go! Prices from 20 to 150 euros a piece. Mix of small shops from young designers and bigger Thai clothing & accessory stores. You will not find H&M and Zara here, but why the hell would you want to shop here if you have the store at home???!!!
For electronics, MBK Center should be walhalla. We thought so too, but it was very dissapointing. Prices aren't that much cheaper than back home, so it would be much smarter to buy your device at your local store if you want warrenty :-)!
I love Thai fashion!
We went shopping today. You can find things that are in style back home, but with a Thai twist. Very unique stuff too.
I bought a very nice shirt and saw a few dresses and blouses, but was on a tight budget. I also bought two amazing handmade pillows for our sofa for 900 Baht (around 20 euros).
Fashion shopping? Siam Center is the way to go! Prices from 20 to 150 euros a piece. Mix of small shops from young designers and bigger Thai clothing & accessory stores. You will not find H&M and Zara here, but why the hell would you want to shop here if you have the store at home???!!!
For electronics, MBK Center should be walhalla. We thought so too, but it was very dissapointing. Prices aren't that much cheaper than back home, so it would be much smarter to buy your device at your local store if you want warrenty :-)!
Friday, 22 November 2013
Welcome to Bangkok
Day 22
From our hotel at Sam Roi Yot we managed to arrange transportation to Bangkok. We travelled by minivan with a crazy driver who certainly wasn't living in the land of smiles and he had awful long nails.
We got there OK.
Once we arrived at our hotel we went to look for some food and ended up at Khao San Road. Not our cup of tea, that's for sure. A street full of drunken tourists and during our five minute walk we passed two fights.
Back at the hotel (Penpark Place) we turned on the TV. Our favourite channel, Lotus Macau, was playing Kill Bill. Chilly Billy!
From our hotel at Sam Roi Yot we managed to arrange transportation to Bangkok. We travelled by minivan with a crazy driver who certainly wasn't living in the land of smiles and he had awful long nails.
We got there OK.
Once we arrived at our hotel we went to look for some food and ended up at Khao San Road. Not our cup of tea, that's for sure. A street full of drunken tourists and during our five minute walk we passed two fights.
Back at the hotel (Penpark Place) we turned on the TV. Our favourite channel, Lotus Macau, was playing Kill Bill. Chilly Billy!
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park - Phraya Nakhon Cave
Day 21
Finally! I've seen one of the most beautiful things ever! A temple, bathing in the sunlight, located in a cave: Phraya Nakhon Cave.
When we got back to the entrance of the park, we cruised to the other side of the park with our scooter. Believe it or not, everything went splendid with that thing! No accidents and we came across maybe 10 cars and a few other scooters on our way. Ideal for inexperienced bikers like us!
Finally! I've seen one of the most beautiful things ever! A temple, bathing in the sunlight, located in a cave: Phraya Nakhon Cave.
Unfortunately there were some filmmakers shooting a documentary, so we were limited in our walk around the cave. But that didn't stop me from soaking up the splendor of this place and taking some pictures.
To access the cave you need to walk along a trail first that brings you to a beach. Normally, you can go there by boat, but the waves were to high for transfers. This trail was just stretching our legs!
At the foot of the mountain (at the beach) you start another trail that brings you to 430m high. This one is a bit more advanced than the other one, but still OK!
We chilled at the beach for a while after our hike and visit to the cave.
When we got back to the entrance of the park, we cruised to the other side of the park with our scooter. Believe it or not, everything went splendid with that thing! No accidents and we came across maybe 10 cars and a few other scooters on our way. Ideal for inexperienced bikers like us!
We visited the visitor center where we could read some more about the park in Thai and went walking around the Nature Trail to spot some animals. I don't think many tourists come here, because parts of the trail that haven't been used for a while. Plants have been living their own lives and wooden bridges miss some steps. We managed to spot a giant lizard (I wasn't fast enough to make a picture), a monkey (who I thought was dead, because he was lying very still on the wooden trail!), a fish with legs and some crabs.
Tomorrow we'll be heading to Bangkok, our last stop before we go home!
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Short Stop at Hua Hin
Day 20
My boyfriend booked a very nice hotel yesterday: Nicha Resort Hua Hin. Clean bed, clean bathroom, quiet, nice bed and Wifi was OK, so I was finally able to Skype home. We slept in and checked out at noon.
We tried to book a bus at the bus terminal, but everyone kept sending us to a travel agency up town. Once we got there we could only book a trip to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park or go with a mini van for 1500 BHT for the two of us. It's a one hour drive so it was overpriced, but other agencies were closed and we had to book a hotel at Sam Roi Yot first. That was quite a challenge because apparently Wifi not for free in Hue Hin, even at Starbucks. We managed to find an ice cream bar that did have free Wifi and with an old waitress, who we could not understand and neither did she understand us. She kept pointing to the menu board with her ice cream scoop. Eventually she got it right and we got a discount. It was pretty funny.
We also managed to find a hotel: Koram Resort.
My boyfriend booked a very nice hotel yesterday: Nicha Resort Hua Hin. Clean bed, clean bathroom, quiet, nice bed and Wifi was OK, so I was finally able to Skype home. We slept in and checked out at noon.
We tried to book a bus at the bus terminal, but everyone kept sending us to a travel agency up town. Once we got there we could only book a trip to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park or go with a mini van for 1500 BHT for the two of us. It's a one hour drive so it was overpriced, but other agencies were closed and we had to book a hotel at Sam Roi Yot first. That was quite a challenge because apparently Wifi not for free in Hue Hin, even at Starbucks. We managed to find an ice cream bar that did have free Wifi and with an old waitress, who we could not understand and neither did she understand us. She kept pointing to the menu board with her ice cream scoop. Eventually she got it right and we got a discount. It was pretty funny.
We also managed to find a hotel: Koram Resort.
We arrived at Sam Roi Yot and there's NOTHING to see here. A few tourists and that's it. It's super quiet!
We'll be staying at Koram Resort for two nights and then we're off to Bangkok.
Tomorrow is our trip to the Phraya Nakhon Cave. I'm so excited. But there's one thing I'm a bit worried about. We need to rent a scooter.
I hope we make it out alive!
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