From Bangkok we took a train north to Phitsanulok, where Metha lives. We would take his truck up North from there. Hitting the biggest city in the North and another closer towards the border. This was the nature adventure part of the trip. Waterfalls, elephants, tigers and more.

DAY 4 (Wed 2/01): I woke up early this day while Metha was still sleeping. Upstairs Ko has a floor that is just for storage. I did some exercise in the empty bedroom. Looking out the window I saw monks making their morning walks. Metha said they start very early in morning and walk pretty far. The monks get their food for the day from these walks. People give dishes to them and pray as they go by.

The train ride was pleasant as we had front row seats in the car (thanks to Metha’s friend). There is more leg room. The train wasn’t crowded though. It’s a little shakey at times and going to the bathroom can be interesting.

Made it to Phitsanulok. Metha’s father picked us up at the train station. His parents are very friendly. I saw Metha’s “NU Home.” The name of his apartment building. It looks like a big house. NU stands for new and it stands for Naresuan University. It’s 2 years old. Looks great. And he has all 30 rooms rented out by students. His parents manage the place. At night we went out for drinks with two of Metha’s friends. One of them was his roommate, P-Nong, who is quite a character. He spent time in Alabama and got thoroughly acquainted with Alabamba football and having a good time.

DAY 5 (Thurs 2/02): Let’s see…had brunch at a cafeteria on campus, got my third Hepatitis B shot from the hospital on campus, left in the early afternoon for Tung Salaeng Luang National Park. We drove about three hours east to the park (OK, I slept). Before reaching the park we stopped at Sidit Waterfall. The area was really quite. There were some teenagers at the waterfall when we first go there. With enough pressure I got Metha to swim me. I wanted to make it behind the fall and I did. The water wasn’t clear at all and it was freezing. A little scary if you keep thinking about what there could be.

We made it to the park. Again it was quiet. When we entered we were told we were the only visitors in the park. The first thing we did was go to the information center. We asked for a tent for the night and what sights to see. The sunrise over the plains was recommended and we asked for two bikes to be set out for us to ride in the morning.

We drove down a bumpy, windy, at times very narrow dirt road to reach Pinewoods.

There are two camp sites there (there weren’t any campers) and it’s a good place to see the sunset fall behind the mass of pine trees. After sunset it was time for dinner. There is no place to eat in the park. We were told the closest village to the park has two places to eat that might be open. We found the village. The first shop was closed but we found the second one and it was still open. We had some good food. I ate the meal voraciously with chop sticks. Hehe, I picked my bowl up the finish every last bit. The lady told Metha she like they way I ate. We asked for breakfast to be delivered to our tent at 8am the next morning.

That night we made smores by a fire. Metha never ate smores before! I love sweets. I ate double or triple the smores Metha did. I think there turned out to be one more tent that night. Amazingly, I slept through the night and woke up without any insect bites.

DAY 6 (Fri 2/03): 5:45am Wake up. We biked that same windy, bumpy and hilly dirt road for about 30 minutes to a look out point. We caught the sunrise in it’s tracks. We went back to our tent and found our breakfast waiting for us. We ate suki yaki, noodles without soup. After breakfast we had tea and relaxed before setting out. The hostess at the information center was very friendly. She told us in the park there are parts of deep jungle with wild elephants and tigers. So, we didn’t see any of these, but we would see elephants up-close in Chiang Rai. She also suggested a stop at the BN Farm on the way out. We did. It was a farm for growing all sorts of fruits. There we had juice, ice cream, and I bought some dried fruits for the road.

The drive to Chiang Mai was six hours. I slept a lot again. I owe Metha so much for sleeping while he drove. I told him I could drive if he needed me too though. We were going to stay at a hotel but Metha gave his friend one phone call and then it was set. We would stay with P-O (Sirirat). She has a nice big house in a nice and quite neighborhood. Metha and P-O used to be co-workers at NU University. Soon after we got there we went out for dinner. We went for a traditional styled dinner and dance show called khantoke.

DAY 7 (Sat 2/04): Chiang Mai has it’s own style and culture. Like in China, Beijing has it’s own norhern style and customs and Guangdong has its own. Metha likes Chiang Mai a lot for this. His favorite city he says. It so happened that the annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival was happening. This was a great treat. The three of us drove into town to see it. We ended up parking right where the parade would end. The parade starts at one end of town and walks to the other side. So, when we parked the procession was still at the other side. We wandered around and check out the sights. The flower contest was at this end. We waited for the procession. When it came it was very colorful and lively. The highlight for me was seeing a dancing horse. He was dancing to the band music. Really, he was popping and everything. It was cool.

We ate northern style noodles for lunch at the bargain price of 75¢. A bargain because they are so good. With our stomachs full we drove to Doi Inthanon National Park, the roof of Thailand. Within the park lies the highest point in Thailand. On the way up to the point we stopped at one of the waterfalls. When we made it to the top the air was crisp, cool and very refreshing. At the top there is a nice trail on wooden walkway.

That night we had dinner at a busy local restaurant which also had traditional dance and music but on a smaller scale. The dance was a martial art dance and was good. He played with swords and spit fire too. It was warm but we sat outside. We had beer and ice cream to cool us off. Almost forgot, we visited a huge night bazaar after dinner. A street full of shopping.

DAY 8 (Sun 2/05): Metha and I traveled alone during the day. Saw a view of Chiang Mai from Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Buddhist temple up on Doi Suthep mountain. Walked around the square three times, lit incense and prayed. Had a bracelet made of rope tied on by a monk. You’re supposed to keep the bracelet on for a certain amount of days. Metha told me this after I already took it off. The monks do not put them on females as they are not supposed to touch them. This is done by an assistant. Fed the elephant Tay outside on the street. A little sad to see him chained to a certain spot all day. I hoped to cheer him up with a snack. He was just a baby. Bought a brass bell in the close-by market.

[I know why I’m backdated on most everything, it’s because I’m very detailed.]

DAY 9 (Mon 2/06): Peanut butter and jelly breakfast, that was nice. Said goodbye to P-O. Drove to Ban Tawai Wooden Village, the wood carving capital of Thailand. They have a huge market selling handicrafts. I was searching for a carving of an elephant to add to my collection wood carvings. I saw a great piece at the night bizaar in Chiang Mai but I din’t buy it because I thought I should keep looking. Now, I wish I bought it. It was of an Indian elephant god. So, I dragged Metha to many places in search of an elephant. As we were leaving Ban Tawai, I wanted to stop at one last place. It was this huge barn with woods of all different kinds laying around. I thought of my dad’s barn. It wasn’t a store but a small factory. It was dark and there were just a three woman working. I wandered around a bit, the ladies smiled. I guess it was okay for me to be there. If I found something I think they would’ve have sold it to me. But I didn’t. Will I ever make it back to Chiang Mai? Dunno…but I will be back to Thailand.

We drove north heading for Chiang Rai…

My two week vacation for Chinese New Year was spent in Thailand. Let’s do this in steps because there are a lot of details. Here are my accounts of my first days of the trip in Bangkok.

NIGHT 1 (Sat 1/28): Metha and Ko picked me up at the airport. Metha and Ko are friends from college. They were roommates freshman year. Ko is quite the entrepreuner. Co-managing a home improvement business, evironmental science consulting practice, insurance and cosmetic salesman, soon to be coffeeshop owner. Needless to say his cellphone is ringing every other minute. But he was happy to take time off. He is a great taxi/tour guide/breakfast deliverer and more. We stayed at his place the first and last 3 nights in Bangkok.

Got in around 10pm. Drove into the city, parked and took a tuk-tuk to Chinatown (watch the ride. 10mb) A tuk-tuk is an automatic rickshaw that makes for quite an interesting taxi ride as they drive really fast. Saw a big dragon given to Thailand from China celebrating the King’s 60th anniversary on the throne. Went into a buddhist temple and said some prayers (this would happen quite often on the trip). I didn’t know which day of the week I was born so I prayed to the same one Metha did, the Reclining Buddha.

DAY 1 (Sun 1/29): I think we got a late start because of me. I was tired. We (Ko, Metha and I) visited a floating market in the city. This is a dock with many vendors in boats and canoes selling food and goods. There is a more famous floating market in another city west of Bangkok Metha wanted me to see but we didn’t have time. This one was good enough for me. We ate brunch and then went for a two tour ride on the canal stopping at different places here and there. It was really interesting to see the homes right on the canal. They don’t have carports, they have boatports. Their mailboxes stand on a post sticking up out of the water. We visited an orchid garden and two temples. The tour was pretty cheap, cheaper than an entry to a famous temple.

After the tour ride we all got a traditional Thai massage. It was funny because Ko said he felt worse after the massage than before. His guy went a little rough on him. I remember the guy holding Ko’s legs and arms, putting his feet on Ko’s back and then arching him in the air. It looked uncomfortable for him.

We visited Kao Sam Rd next. This is where many foreigners go when they first get to the city. There are many cheap hotels and many pubs and bars. We had dinner and walked around. It was really crowded. I had an ice cream cone. Did you ever dip your french fries in ice cream? A foreigner was eating some fried bugs he bought from a street vendor. He gave me one and I ate it with my ice cream. Can’t remember what kind of a bug it was. There was this girl was eating fried scorpion too.

That night Metha and I went to see Thai boxing. It was 1,000 ($25) Baht for a foreinger and 200 ($5) for Thai citizens. A little much but I wanted to see it. The main event was interesting. The fight after the main event was good too. There was a Westerner and Thai fighting each other. The Westerner was pretty agressive. He had some skills but wasn’t as traditional in his way of fighting. The Thai boxer got pretty angry at times but was also pretty cocky. The crowd got hyped during this fight. It looked as if the Westerner should have one but the judges said the Thai boxer did. Maybe because the Westerner was a little unorthodox. Not as near as unorthodox as the next Westerner would be. He fought an older Thai boxer that was overweight and out of shape. Basically, after like 20 seconds the white guy did a Mike Tyson and knocked the other guy out quick. Next match was a fight between kids. It was time to go home.

DAY 2 (Mon 1/30): This day we did a lot of walking. My feet hurt a lot after this. I wore sandals for many days after this trip. Where did we do all the walking? Around shopping malls. Siam Center, Paragon Mall (the biggest in Southeast Asia which is still unfinished), Siam Square and MBK Center. All these places are quite close to each other. The first two are very modern shopping malls. Paragon being quite nice inside. Metha and I enjoyed playing a video game called Eye Catcher. You have to find 5 differences between two pictures. As you get farther the it gets harder and time passes more quickly. Siam Square is a group of buildings spread out over a block or so. Lots of shopping and entertainment in a more market type feel. Luckily, everything is on the first floor. MBK is many floors of shopping. Inside it’s all a big market and you have to bargain of course. I got a North Face waist pack for $4.50, which I would end up using for the rest of the trip. I didn’t like bargaining when I first got to Asia, but you have to or you won’t get your money’s worth.

The shopping went from lunchtime to dinnertime. That night Ko took us to a good seafood restaurant in a canteen area so it was reasonably priced. Afterwards we had to walk quite far to get back to the car. We were lost and walking and trying to find our way. We came to a street that had some activity. We had a Thai dessert very similar to 刨冰 (baobing) called kong-wan or sweet thing. Oh, before we had the dessert I had my first encounter with a live elephant right in front of me. On the street, right in front of me. I fed him but I was scared he might wild out, like a horse may kick you if you get behind him.

DAY 3 (Tues 1/31): This day was even harder to get started than Sunday. Especially after that long day of walking. Ko took us into the city and just Metha and I would explore the city that day. We saw the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho Temple and Wat Jan (Temple of Dawn). Walking around the Grand Palace. Inside the Grand Palace there are some buildings that took like a year or two to build (don’t remember the exact the number), but the decorations outside the building took like 9 years or so. Great detail. Metha says he likes to sleep so much because his buddha is the reclining buddha. The one we saw at Wat Pho was huge. We took a tuk-tuk to a place next to river and had lunch. We then took a boat to Wat Jan (Temple of Dawn). Wat in Thai means temple. A strong faith and a strong respect for their King are embedded parts of Thai people. I read somewhere that Thailand is the land of smiles. I would agree with that.

That night we met Ko and Metha’s colleague and friend Pui for dinner and drinks at Suan Lum Night Bazaar. There’s a beer garden there and we had a good time.

I realized I’m lucky in a way. So many people in the world want to study English as a second language in hopes to be successful one day. To get ahead in this world so to say. I grew up where it is easier to get those things many call success. On the other side, there’s happiness in a simple life in whatever country you are in. It’s like my cousin Jake said, it’s wherever you came from and wherever you want to go. It’s all relative.

Tung Salaeng Luang National Park
Phitsanulok, Thailand

We camped at this national park maybe 2-3 hours away from where Metha lives (the city of Phitsanulok). I can’t remember exactly because I slept most of the way. We were told we were the only visitors when we entered the park. That night there was one other tent but it still seemed like we had the place to ourselves. We had smores by the fire (that was my idea of course). Early the next morning, we woke up while it was still dark. We rode bikes to this vantage point 3km away to catch the morning fog. We were the owners of the park that day.

Paragon Mall, Bangkok

I often feel dazed after a long day of shopping. Bangkok has lots of it. In modern shopping malls like this one and on the street. Maze after maze…I did lots of shopping.