Happy new year from Thailand

As you would probably guess they like fireworks, firecrackers and anything else that makes a bang........

and sending lanterns into the sky

Hua Hin

So the last part of the trip is the relaxing bit at Hua Hin, which is likely to consist of:

Sun
Shade
Swim
Food
Read
Watch
and other challenging tasks.

And of course, given its Thailand..........massage.

Now the hotel spa treatments were a bit pricey, so i thought i would try the place at the end of the drive. It looked legit, no ladies outside wolf whistling to attract clients, so i gave it go.

One hour later, i felt relaxed but with Thai massage its no pain no gain. The lady then suggested a foot massage.

PLEASE NOTE FEMALE READERS SHOULD SKIP TO VERSION 2

Version one (male readers only).
It was alright, felt a bit girly but it was cheap and i was doing my bit for local economy. THE END

Version two (female readers only)
It soon became clear i had misunderstood what was on offer. No pounding/massaging of feet but some scrubbing/moisturising. Now i might be a bit slow but eventually i worked out i was getting a pedicure and she was going hell for leather on the sole of my feet and heels. At the end i just paid manfully and left but back in my room i had to give them a quick feel - soft as anything. Now the dilemma, i can manfully go and ask to be pummeled half to death with a Thai massage, but can i really ask for "that thing she did with my feet"

More Photos posted

Ok, managed to get a decent internet connection so have posted additional photos of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, including trips.

You should be able to get to them from here


Alternatively just google "picasa alex gipson" and you should find them.




p.s. whatever you do don't google "alex gipson sexy photos" - that was all a long time ago,we were in early 20's, if Shane Warne is still dating Liz he would not appreciate them being available on the web, and to be honest Ryan Giggs has not helped all of us that had proper Super Injunctions in place which now seem to have been lifted.

Chiang Rai

Last day in Chaing Rai, sees a tour to Doi Tung Royal Villa and the Mae Luang Garden next door.

Doi Tung is the range of hills and used to be an Opium producing area (and there is probably a fair amount still going on). The villa was built for the King's mother -now deceased - 22 years ago and was inspired by trips she took to Lausanne, and is therefore an interesting mix of Thai and Swiss.

Quite basic in areas, it is used for a few days a year by the royal family, but otherwise open to public.

The location was partly due to the fact that the hills do have a bit of a Swiss feel to them (minus the snow in winter) but also to bring employment to locals in order to encourage them away from previous trade.

The gardens next door are 18 years old but seem quite mature and very well laid out.

On the way back we stopped at the Chiang Rai flower festival, which is an annual event, over 10 days starting just before Xmas. Photos to follow in due course and will hopefully do it justice.
In the morning i fly to Bangkok and then travel down to Hua Hin, for the more relaxing part of trip.

Golden Triangle

Day trip from Chiang Ria taking in:

Local artist complex
Village life
Monkey cave
Trip over border to Burma for a couple of hours
A couple more temples!
Visit to Opium Museum
Trip on Mekong River
Visit to Golden Triangle viewing spot where Laos, Burma and Thailand come together.

You can also see two new Casinos being built in Burma and Laos, who don't have the same gambling restrictions as Thailand.

It sounds quite an itinerary but most places were close together and actually it was quite a relaxed day.

Chiang Mai Temples

Today was a temple day.

Firstly travelling around 45mins outside Chiang Mai into the hills to see Wat Suthep, a temple dating back to 1383. Whilst all temples have common themes, a pagoda, an ordination room and a main hall, they do all seem to have an atmosphere of their own, partly i guess down to location/size and how much they continue to grow with often quite new rooms being added.

This one certainly had an important feel to it and i believe is one of the most visited in the region. Apart from spending time taking in the various sights, my guide informed me:

i was born on a Friday (i guess i should know that) which is the blue day (something i share with the current Queen, hence the blue flags that are often seen with national flag and yellow flag - i think Monday - of the current King)

that my birth date makes me a goat in Thai calendar and monkey in Chinese

Afterwards went back to Chiang Mai to see oldest temple in city. Smaller but similarly interesting.

Then a 3 hour drive to Chiang Rai for next step of trip in north.

Chiang Mai part two

One full day here, which included tour to:

Orchid Farm
Maesa Elephant Camp
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden.

Be warned, i might well post a lot of photos shortly, you may well be advised to wait until i have been back a while before looking at them, as they probably need a fair amount of editing (if you have been on an elephant ride, you will appreciate that there is a fair amount of click and hope).

All three venues were very interesting, in their different way, and it made up a good three quarter day tour.

I am never sure what really to think of animal projects such as the camp. Clearly the show the put on, with elephants playing football, painting and entertaining are not an insight into the daily life of an elephant in the wild. That said it was not as cring-worthy as it sounds, and shows the ability for man to train the animal, in the past that would be to work transporting people/goods,now its for "Thailand's got talent". (I will refrain from a very unfair Susan Boyle joke). Overall there were strong testimonies to the preservation work undertaken by the camp, and the animals appeared to be kept in quite good conditions, so its probably overall a good location.