Just an observation I have made is that there are considerably more solo female travellers here in Asia then male. I didn't even think about it until a local guy in one of my guesthouse pointed it out to me. That was a few weeks ago and it got me thinking. So I started to observe the other people in my various guest houses and it is true. There are many couples, groups of guys and groups of girls and occasionally mix groups and a lot more solo women the men.
I wonder why it's so as I don't think it has anything to do with daring to go traveling by oneself. Perhaps more women feel the need to go travelling or perhaps those who want to go travelling don't have friends who want or can come with them.
What do you think the reason is?
Sunday 30 September 2012
Massages
Today I got a Thai massage. I love them! Before coming to Thailand I had never had a Thai massage and now they are one of my favourite.
Throughout my trip in Asia I have had all kinds of massages. Balinese massage in Gili Trawagan, deep tissue massage in Bali, Chinese massage, foot reflexology and blind massage in Malaysia, a hybrid massage with Swedish and Thai massage mix and of course Thai massages in Thailand.
I can tell you never to go to a blind massage. I did that in Penang and thought that it would help a good cause as it is a occupation for the blind people. However it was the worst massage I have ever had. This blind person did me more harm then good. I am sure there are other places where they have been properly trained, unfortunately I got a really bad one.
With Thai massage I just love the way they push and pull, bend and stretch, knead and hit, twist and turn you. Some of the movements feel like they should be hurting you but the way these ladies work on you just makes it wonderfully amazing! It also helps that it's amazingly cheap to get massages in Asia! :)
Throughout my trip in Asia I have had all kinds of massages. Balinese massage in Gili Trawagan, deep tissue massage in Bali, Chinese massage, foot reflexology and blind massage in Malaysia, a hybrid massage with Swedish and Thai massage mix and of course Thai massages in Thailand.
I can tell you never to go to a blind massage. I did that in Penang and thought that it would help a good cause as it is a occupation for the blind people. However it was the worst massage I have ever had. This blind person did me more harm then good. I am sure there are other places where they have been properly trained, unfortunately I got a really bad one.
With Thai massage I just love the way they push and pull, bend and stretch, knead and hit, twist and turn you. Some of the movements feel like they should be hurting you but the way these ladies work on you just makes it wonderfully amazing! It also helps that it's amazingly cheap to get massages in Asia! :)
Saturday 29 September 2012
Chiang Mai and Tiger Kingdom
A few days ago I left for sukhuthai. I spent one day there discovering even more temple ruins and felt that I finally had enough. Today I made my way to Chiang Mai. I have checked into a cool guesthouse with loads of other travellers. I managed to get one of the last dorm beds in this place. You wouldn't be able to notice that it is low season now.
One of the major attractions just outside of Chiang Mai is the tiger kingdom. I have been trying to do some research on this place to find out if the tigers are treated well or not and if they are drugged or just sleeping and used to the attention they get from people. My research had not helped me at all! There are many people saying that the tigers are drugged and just as many saying that they are not. Has anyone been there and can tell me themselves from their experience as I would love to go as long as the tigers are treated well. I won't go and support the establishment if there any kind of animal cruelty involved.
One of the major attractions just outside of Chiang Mai is the tiger kingdom. I have been trying to do some research on this place to find out if the tigers are treated well or not and if they are drugged or just sleeping and used to the attention they get from people. My research had not helped me at all! There are many people saying that the tigers are drugged and just as many saying that they are not. Has anyone been there and can tell me themselves from their experience as I would love to go as long as the tigers are treated well. I won't go and support the establishment if there any kind of animal cruelty involved.
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Tempeld out!
Today I went with my new friend Miriam, who I met at my guesthouse, on a temple tour. We went to most of the temple ruins in Ayuthaya and now I am completely templed out and have seen to many Buddha statues for one day!
Some of the ruins were beautiful, however many were just ruined ruins and there was not much to see but what felt like a few piles of bricks and a few destroyed Buddhas. There is a lot of restoration work going on but it looks like very slow work and that in perhaps 20 years or so they might be done with it.
Some of the ruins were beautiful, however many were just ruined ruins and there was not much to see but what felt like a few piles of bricks and a few destroyed Buddhas. There is a lot of restoration work going on but it looks like very slow work and that in perhaps 20 years or so they might be done with it.
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Ayutthaya
Today I left Bangkok and made it to Ayutthaya by train. I still can't believe how cheap the train ticket was. It cost me 15 baht for a 76 km journey. In European currency's, that is nothing!
Ayutthaya used to be one a very important trading town as it is flanked by 3 rivers, which protected it against invasions but also gave it easy access to traders. That was until the Burmese came and attacked the city which fell in 1767. The city was looted and the Buddhas melted for their gold. Now most of what's left are the ruins and a modern city which has been rebuilt around them.
Tomorrow I am going to wander around and see all of these historical sights and hopefully learn more about the faiths of the people and of what happened here back in 1767.
Ayutthaya used to be one a very important trading town as it is flanked by 3 rivers, which protected it against invasions but also gave it easy access to traders. That was until the Burmese came and attacked the city which fell in 1767. The city was looted and the Buddhas melted for their gold. Now most of what's left are the ruins and a modern city which has been rebuilt around them.
Tomorrow I am going to wander around and see all of these historical sights and hopefully learn more about the faiths of the people and of what happened here back in 1767.
Sunday 23 September 2012
Group photos
What is there not to love with group photos? Most of the time I feel they can capture the moment and show what a great time you have had with some amazing people. So here we have a few pictures of some of the awesome people I have met on my journey so far!
Saturday 22 September 2012
Visa run
I have just landed in kuala lumpur. The reason for this is that I had to do a visa run. Well technically I don't need a visa for Thailand, but I only get to stay there for 30 days and since I have stayed longer then expected I had to leave the country and will be flying back to Bangkok tomorrow. I have basically been travelling for two days straight!! I left koh Tao at 10 in the morning, after a 6 hour boat ride I was finally back on the mainland where I had to wait for a bus to take me in to Surat Thani, by then it was already late afternoon so I just checked into a backpackers hotel. I had to leave the hotel at 9 this morning to make it to the airport, hang around there for a couple of hours and the finally get of the flight for KL. Then in KL I had to take another bus into the city and finally I have arrived in china town. All I will be doing is wait for tomorrow where I get on the bus yet again to hit the airport. This time when i arrive in bangkok I am going to be planning my trip to northern Thailand. We will see how that goes as I have been hearing from people that there is massive flooding there at the moment and that the trains might not even be going north at the moment. If that's the case, my back up plan is to go south to the islands again.
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Sunday 16 September 2012
Torrential rainfall
Yesterday I got on the boat that would take me to koh Tao. All day the weather was stable and a little sunny. However halfway to koh Tao it starts to rain and as soon as we hit the pier it was as if some one had dumped a massive bucket of water on top of us! Within 30 seconds I was soaked through to my underwear and my bag had started to leak through. Of course to get where I wanted to I needed to take a taxi, which had obviously parked far away. Also the taxi couldn't reach my hostel so I had to walk even more! In the end I didn't need to take a shower anymore and just needed to dry off. Everything was soaked. Even though these rains usually last for about half an hour before calming down and just drizzle for a bit afterwards, but if you get caught in it there is nothing that can save you from getting soaked.
Friday 14 September 2012
Scooters!
Through out my entire trip I have always seen people renting scooters and ride off with them on some unknown adventures. Having no drivers license and have never driven a scooter myself, I decided its probably not a very wise of me to even attempt to rent one. However since I came to koh phangan I saw there was not to much traffic, so I decided to rent one and explore the island. I have had so much fun the past few days! I have managed to master the skill of driving a scooter and I feel so proud of myself. Keep in mind the fastest I have gone is about 45 km/h and that's on a flat road with no other people, scooters or cars around me. I usually go so slow that I have 12 yea told kids on scooters wizzing past me in some extreme speeds. I don't mind as driving slow gives me the opportunity to see more of what is around me and really enjoy the ride.
Even though it is the law in Thailand to wear a helmet, you rarely see them on peoples heads and more often hanging on the side of the bike. There will be tourists driving ridiculously fast and bikes with whole families of 4 and none wearing helmets. The only time you will see people wearing them is when there is a police checkpoint, as there is a 500baht fine. Even though it would feel so much nicer without a helmet I refuse to even just drive across the street without one!
Even though it is the law in Thailand to wear a helmet, you rarely see them on peoples heads and more often hanging on the side of the bike. There will be tourists driving ridiculously fast and bikes with whole families of 4 and none wearing helmets. The only time you will see people wearing them is when there is a police checkpoint, as there is a 500baht fine. Even though it would feel so much nicer without a helmet I refuse to even just drive across the street without one!
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Koh Samui and koh phanang
The past few weeks after I left Bangkok I have been really lazy and do apologise for not updating you guys!
The thing is that I went to koh Samui and just became very boring. I didn't do anything else but stay by the beach and do nothing at all. Today I left the ultra touristic island for a slightly smaller one called koh phangan. This island is famous for its full moon parties. I came in the perfect time to miss them as I am not particularly interested in those kind of parties. Which also means there is less people on the island!
Now it's evening and there is a torrential rain storm going on. It has been raining more and more lately as the monsoon season in nearing. However I actually do not mind this rain as it is still warm out and when you go into the rain it feels like someone has just poured a bucket of water over you! Also the rains normally do not last for long, which makes it ok and not as boring as the european rains where it can drizzle for a week non stop.
The thing is that I went to koh Samui and just became very boring. I didn't do anything else but stay by the beach and do nothing at all. Today I left the ultra touristic island for a slightly smaller one called koh phangan. This island is famous for its full moon parties. I came in the perfect time to miss them as I am not particularly interested in those kind of parties. Which also means there is less people on the island!
Now it's evening and there is a torrential rain storm going on. It has been raining more and more lately as the monsoon season in nearing. However I actually do not mind this rain as it is still warm out and when you go into the rain it feels like someone has just poured a bucket of water over you! Also the rains normally do not last for long, which makes it ok and not as boring as the european rains where it can drizzle for a week non stop.
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