Lookback: Thailand (2012): Part 3
In 2012 I backpacked through Asia and in this lookback series I'll take you through some of my experiences. Our journey in Thailand continues
Our backpacking trip through Thailand continues, don't forget to checkout last weeks journey if you haven't already
Lookback series
As most of us still have heavy restrictions when it comes to travel. I'll do a lookback series on Sundays, to different destinations. These can be all from countries to stores
As many of the photos are around 10 years old, they might not be as high resolution and level of quality we try to stay at today
Hat Rin, Ko Pha-ngan
Today I moved out from my beach hut in Hat Mae Nam, where I have spent the last days. I must admit a lot of that time was spent on the beach & ocean, and even more in an Internet cafe (it was only 400 bath an hour) where I managed to catch up some of the anime’s I haven’t been able to see since I left. Which I must admit is one of the things I mist the most. They have ice-cream down here, so my other need is taken care of (if you know me, you really know what I’m talking about here).
One boat ride later took me over to Ko Pha-ngan, an island north for Ko Samui where I have been staying the last days. After docking I grabbed some food and took a taxi/bus/…. have no idea what they are called, everyone call them different names, but they work like a bus. Anyways, now I’m in Hat Rin where I will stay 1-2 nights. Got a really cheap room, only 350 bath a night with fan (no air-con, but haven’t used air-con rooms now for a few days anyway). But you can definitely feel that this is a tourist area, since the internet is 2 bath a minute, and no time discount. I have been walking around through many Internet Cafe’s before I found one that offered one hour for 100 bath, which is still expensive, but much better than 120 bath that every other place asked for.
One thing that’s annoying is that I’m currently at a lot of places with nice beaches and beautiful looking oceans, but I can’t bade. Was at the doctor today so that he could look at a wound I got on my foot a few days back when I cut myself on a coral reef when snorkeling. It wouldn’t stop coming out fluid of the wound and it was yellow so I was afraid it started to get infected. Was told it wasn’t infected, but I can’t get water in my wound for 10 days (about the time I’m staying around beaches before I move on inland).
Dangling in the tree-tops
Today I went of on a Adventure trip, I got picked up in the morning near where I slept (after the worst night of sleep so far. It was not the heat, but like a billion tiny bugs every where in the room). After having the fastest roller-coaster ride in my life to the starting point of the adventure. We headed of to a Muay Thai training camp. You can see our guide on the picture about to kick. After trowing in some kicks and punches we headed on, but just when we were about to take of one guy on the tour screamed out; Look at that guy. We looked over and show the master of the training camp having a piece of cloth in his mouth tied to a BIG weight and moving his head up and down as he was nodding (Unfortunately no pictures).
Next out was a Chinese Temple, which was beautiful. The picture shows one building of several, the temple was located high up and you had a incredible view in the background just stretching out over the forest and ocean. It’s an really old Chinese temple, and you’re probably wondering why there’s a chines temple in Thailand. It’s believed that Thailand once was part of China (we are talking way back here), before Thailand as we know it was created. So you still have a huge percent of Chinese people that are born and raised in Thailand for many, many generations now. So it’s only natural that the Chinese people build a temple in Thailand.
After wards we headed back into the island, where some of us went Elephant trekking. I stayed behind and played with a monkey who was there, but we had to be careful since it was trying to bite us a lot. After the others came back we got to see someone feeding the monkey, but he was just playing with the food. After that I got to feed the Elephant, which was fun.
Next we went over the road where a lovely dinner was waiting us true Thai style. It was good to sit down and relax and enjoy some food. As soon as we where done we moved 100 meters to the left, and became Robin Hood and his gang for a little while. Where we got our hands on some bow’s and arrow’s.
After an few more spots it was finely Tarzan’s turn for a visit, he wasn’t home, but we got to see his lovely forest. After dangling with your feet loose 100+ meters in the air we went on and I bet that there is no way you’ll be able to guess what we did next… So you finely give up and want me to tell you. Sure, we went to a sauna. You read right, I said sauna. It was awesome to say it the least. Sure this is the hottest place I ever been, but getting into the sauna. The hot steam poring out on you. Oh, how a lovely feeling, and you feel so refresh afterward.
Turtle island
I’ve once again moved on, and have now landed upon a big turtle. To be more precise Ko Tao, which Tao in Thai means Turtle. Today have gone to more or less just travel, so there ain’t that much more to say. Except, check out Mr. Banana
Prachuap Khiri Khan
I’m now of the island, and back on the mainland and have started my travel towards Bangkok. I’m currently in Prachuap Khiri Khan where I’ll spend the next few days. I’ve heard that they have some really nice national parks in the area, so I decided to go here on my way back from the south (which is now). Since I can’t be in water for the next 7 days, there were no point for me to stay on the islands where the main events are water based.
I arrived at 3 AM at the local train station in Prachuap Khiri Khan, that’s only three hours behind schedule. When I arrived I’ve stumbled upon my feet of the train, where I’ve spent most of the time sleeping in a sitting seat on 3rd class with more bugs than you’ll find in an horror story. I was walking around for a little while before I found an Guest House that were open and I could get a room for what were left for the night. I paid, and went up to my room. Up there I had a TV (which had a ton of English speaking channels), walls, bathroom and a bed. I was surprised that my room had a TV since I only paid 200 bath (about EUR 5).
Today have gone to walking around and seeing parts of the area. This is so far one of the best places I’ve been, I can count the tourist I’ve seen here on one hand. So everything has local prices, and no annoying tuk-tuk drivers/tailors/you name it. It has a nice temple on top of a mountain, where I almost had a heat stroke trying to clime it with my 8 kg backpack. But when you got to the top the, view was incredible. And not to mention all the monkeys that were around the path the entire way to the top. But I was warned before going up to not carry any, and I mean ANY food on me, because the monkeys are hungry and might attack.
I’ve spent the day to see a few more sights and a market down by the beach. It’s fun to walk on the markets, because they have everything. And such a huge selection in food, over half of it you have no idea what it is. I’ve tried a few of the local food they have, and should probably try more, but I have to admit I’m a bit scared to try some of the food I see in front of me.
Next week we'll continue our travels in Thailand and celebrate Songkran
Tags: #Lookback #Thailand #Backpacking2012
