Mountains of Mae Wang

We woke up at 7:30 today went to a yummy breakfast, I got pancakes with mango, thinking it would just be on top of the pancake, but it was inside as well. So delicious and of course served with honey, not syrup.

Then we got on our tour bus 830am and headed to the mountains of Mae Wang, Thailand for our day of trekking. Our first stop was the elephant farm, where we road elephants for about 40 minutes... Adrienne and i sat on one elephant with one leader, she had tried riding it bareback but our elephant wasn't very cooperative. Of course our elephant was the stubborn one, that didn't want to walk when it was supposed to, wanted to stop and eat, scratch its butt and ears on trees, run when it wasn't supposed to etc. It was quite the ride up and down the steep mountains to say the least.

After that we trekked about 30 minutes to a natural waterfall, Mae Wang. Adrienne and I were the only ones who got in. It was so refreshing, we stayed and hung out here for about an hour.

Next, we trekked down the mountain got lunch which was included, which consisted of sticky rice, glass noodles, veggies and potatoes in a curry sauce. Then for “dessert” we had, pineapple and watermelon that was so fresh and delicious.

After a very filling meal we took our van to the bottom of the river and went down on bamboo rafts with one “driver”,with a large bamboo stick leading the way, and getting us through some white rapids.

After a busy day we heading back to the “Old City” of Chiang Mai, got shakes and some dinner.

Chiang Mai

We arrived in Chiang Mai 11 hours on the night bus around 7am, took a taxi bus to a popular guesthouse street, Soi 5 and found a guesthouse... recommended by Lonley Planet called Ban Wiang. After we checked in we took a little nap, then headed out for breakfast to this family owned restaurant where I got fried french toast served with honey and tomatoes, random but delicious.

After that we walked around the city for a few hours, saw several wats, then walked toward the river and back around our area for lunch. Back at our guesthouse we booked a full day tour for tomorrow, to the mountains of Mae Wang.

No sleep till Chiang Mai

Today we woke up, exhausted since we haven't really been getting much sleep the past couple of days and got breakfast and iced thai coffee at a local stand.

We walked along the river to Wat Pho, the home of the largest reclining Buddha in the world, it lies 15 m high and 43 m long and is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok. It was beautiful. After about an hour here and walking around in the sun we took the boat back to our street and got another foot massage for $3 USD for ½ an hour, it was just what we needed.





On the way back to our guesthouse we grabbed a snack of sticky rice, mango's and coconut milk, a local dish that is delicious. We walked around for a bit grabbed some dinner than took a taxi to the bus station for our 7:50 bus to Chiang Mai.

Hangover Bangkok

Today we woke up a bit hungover, had maybe 4 hours of sleep and were starving, so we got... McDonald's. I know, I know its pathetic, but we just needed something to help us feel better, good and greasy and something that we were used to.

After that we went to get full body massages for about $6 USD, for an hour!! It was amazing and just what we needed. Feeling a lot better we headed about 30 minutes out of the city by taxi to the weekend market, called Chatuchak. Its one of the largest markets in Thailand, we walked around here for a few hours then hopped on some taxi motor bikes who took us to the bus station so we could purchase our bus tickets for Chiang Mai. We found a bus company where we bought tickets for $14 USD each for a 10 hour bus ride with A/C, perfect!

Then we headed back to Koh San Road got some $1, pad thai, relaxed for a bit then got ready for another night out. We bought some $1.47 large beers walked around the streets for a bit ran into some other backpackers we met, hung out danced for a few hours, then headed home around 4am.

St,. Patricks Day

Today we slept in a bit then got dressed for the day and headed out to brunch and had brunch with a couple that was on our van to Bangkok.

After that we took a tuk tuk to visit two beautiful temples, one of which had a huge standing Buddha called Wat Intharawihan, it was amazing. Then we took a boat for .50 cents down to China town which had tons of people, shops, street food and was a bit overwhelming.


We then headed back to our guesthouse for a bit, got some 25 Baht dinner equaling less than a dollar then headed to the ping pong shows in the red light district. After that we headed back to Kho San Road for St. Pattys day and drank it up with some fellow backpackers and lady boys for this lovely holiday.

Bangkok, Thailand

We awoke at 6:30am, to get out last breakfast in Siem Reap and headed out to Bangkok on an 8am bus. The trip was supposed to be 8 hours which is what we planned for. It actually ended up being 11 hours, 2 being at immigration standing in the extreme heat. We got lunch at the Cambodian/Thailand border of BBQ chicken which was actually really good.

We didn't need a visa to get into Thailand but are permitted to stay 15 days since we entered by land, so we will have to figure out what to do with the extra few days were are going to be staying... no biggie.

We arrived in Bangkok around 830 pm, found a guesthouse right off the main popular backpackers road called Koh San Road, left our luggage,changed and headed out for the night.






We had our first Thai dinner and beers, then ended up walking around and getting foot massages for about $3 USD for a half hour which was heaven. There was an amazing cool breeze coming through and we were sitting outside for our massages it was just perfect.

After that we got some beers and walked around to tour some of Bangkok, stopped at some bars and watched street dancers before calling it a night around 3am... so far we are loving Bangkok!

Temples

Today we got picked up by our tuk tuk driver and tour guide around 5:30 am to head out to the temples. We saw the sun rising over Angkor Wat, which was beautiful. After that we headed to Angkor Thom housing many steep steps and then onto Ta Prohm. Here it looks like many of the structures are being swallowed by the jungle.



After a very hot and humid 97 degree afternoon of walking around seeing the many temples, we took a break for lunch. I got a chicken and vegetable curry stir fry, we sat for a bit then continued out of the main temple area about 30 minutes to Banteay Srei. This temple is considered by many to be the jewel of the Angkor temples and means, “Citadel of the Women.” Almost 9 hours later of touring these amazing temples we called it a day and headed home.
Grabbed from dinner did our last tour around Pub Street and the markets and heading back to the guesthouse to relax and pack up to head out tomorrow morning at 8am for Bangkok.