TravelStream™ news feed for member rnjean on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/rnjean en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:34:05 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rnjean/1/1207945800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rnjean/1/1207945800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rnjean/1/1207945800/tpod.html Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:34:05 -0400 Bangkok and Beyond

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Doi Inthanon National Park, Thailand

Today it is a long drive to Southern Chiang Mai Provence and Doi Inthanon National Park the highest peak (2565m) in Thailand. On the way up there are three waterfalls which which cascade down from the slopes of the mountain. We visit two-Wachiratan Falls and Sirithan Falls. They are impressive and peaceful sights. At Wachiratan, I buy and eat my first bag of crunchy dried frogs. Hmm, tastes like chicken! When we get to the top of the mountain I am stunned by the beauty and peace of a high altitude rain forrest, complete with lichens, orchids, mosses, and I am told, close to 400 varieties of birds. We only see one or two species, but the air is cool and it is a slice of heaven up here. They have a little souvenir shop and I buy my "Doi In" tee shirt. I trek alone through the rain forrest along a elevated wooden path constructed in a loop around part of the park.

We leave the peak and drive a ways to another stunning sight. These are the Great Holy Relics Pagoda of Nabhamethanidol and Nabhapolbhumisiri-King and Queen Pagoda's built by the Royal Thai Air Force to comemorate the King's 60th Birthday in 1989. To be honest the view from here was more breath taking than that of the peak on Doi Inthanon.
The gardens are beautiful and inside one of the Chedi's is an octoganal marble hall housing a tall standing Buddha made of marble as well. I feel I could stay in this spot forever-it's so peaceful and serene here. Sunlight breaks in stunning rays of light throught the clouds across the Chedis to make for a memorable afternoon.
We could only visit one of the Pagoda's as the other Pagoda was being cleaned and spruced up for the upcoming Sangkran ceremony that would be held here in two days.

Most of the tourist information I have read tells travelers to stay away during Sagkran as it is one big wet mess. I'm sure travelers have their own opinions, likes and dislikes about it. I have not made up my mind yet as I have scheduled tours while everyone back in Chiang Mai are getting soaked from what I hear. Hmm, maybe I will go down and check it out on Sunday and see what it is all about-that's supposed to be the big day.

As we drive back to Chiang Mai, off in the distance just above the tree tops, the flashing brilliance of gold catches my eye-the setting sunlight being reflected off of the Chedis of distant Wats. For a brief moment I understand why they are gold and my mind again wanders into a dream.
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Chiang Mai, Thailand

The flight from Bangkok was "rattle and hum" on a local carrier and only took about an hour. Chiang Mai is not much cooler than Bankok this time of year, but it is a world away as far as pace and rhythm goes. My first impression of Chiang Mai is that of a modern city, hot, humid, lots of traffic, air pollution, and motor scooters. That was my first impression. But Chiang Mai is a mystical place as well. A city surrounded by mountains, and a mystique that slowly takes you over, sunset by magical sunset. The city dates back to 1296 I am told and has been conquered and retaken several times. You can see hints and nuances which whisper the age of Chiang Mai in the crumbling walls which surround the moat of the old city. This city has more of a feel of antiquity about it. And there are Wats everywhere to explore!
Transportation will either be by Tuk-Tuk, Sawngthaew, or motor scooter. I will eventually be brave (or crazy) and rent a 2 stroke motor scooter for my jaunts about and around town. I actually end up using all three modes to get around.

The city is accessible as are the people, who are warm, welcoming and friendly. I am walking distance from the Anusarn Night Market. This is a major hub of night activity. There is a large variety of foods, massage booths (of which I get many!), a nice slow vibe, and lots of crafts. Chiang Mai is the crafts center of Thailand and the workmanship of most of the crafts here is impressive.

For the next couple of days, I have booked myself on a number of tours going further into Northern Thailand. For today I will take the 30 minute drive up a winding road to Chiang Mai's most sacred temple Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
For the evening, great seafood at Ping Ping (a local seafood eatery in Anusarn Night Market), and lot's of Muay Thai to finish the night off. This will be my rhythm for a week or so in between tours..sounds boring huh? ;-)
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Bangkok, Thailand

I will be leaving Bangkok tomorrow heading North for Chaing Mai. I am looking forward to it as Bangkok is a very intense place! I understand why many of my friends use the city as a staging destination for many of their other travels in Thailand. I am originally from New York City and spent a good many formative years there prior to moving to Los Angeles so I considered myself-a somewhat street smart city boy. That is until I came to Bangkok!
Yet, there is something I know I will miss about this city-the curious mixture of holiness and excess, all coexisting in some strange but Zen-like harmony. As crazy as Bangkok is, it has a magic all it's own. Having only seen a little, in a very short time, it is good reason to come back.
A bit about the photos. I admit at this point the quality of the photos are somewhat bland and amatuerish-which is in fact what I am (hehe). I am a bit disappointed in my new skills at travel digital photography and I am still getting used to using my new Canon PowerShot. So, practice makes perfect, (Or at least tolerable). So-here we go!
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Bangkok, Thailand

Well, outside a new hotel on the Silom, I get into this Tuk-Tuk. They all seem so eager to help! So one driver asks if I like seafood. "Of course" I say, "I love Seafood!" "I take you to good restaurant!" So we go, I am with a friend and I know something is up, but I really want to see just what the scam is. We end up at this seafood place at the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. The place is really jumping and the meal ends up being so overpriced that I finally figure things out. The establishment pays the Tuk-Tuk drivers to bring fresh Farang over for a overpriced meal and the drivers get a cut of the business-Duh. Ok, everybody's got to make a living, underhanded though it may be, and at least now i'm initiated and am no longer considered fresh farang (I hope)!
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Los Angeles, California, United States

Finally leaving Los Angeles after three grueling weeks of work for my first trip to Bangkok, Thailand-"The City of Angels". We hope this is true!
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Bangkok, Thailand

Arrived at Suvarnabhumi International after a long ass flight.  Longest flight in my life.  The stop over in Taipei at 1 am was most boring, but I am still excited to be on my adventure.  Taipei International Airport seems like a very sterile and quiet place. 
I am struck by the overwhelming balmy heat as I step out of the cool of the very modern airport into the "limo" (taxi). The heat at 3AM feels very tropical-hot, wet and oppressive.  Silent electrical storms flashed back and forth across a black and mauve sky as my cab driver and I race down the freeway away from the airport. 
After the 45 minute drive from the airprot it took about another half an hour or so to find the hotel which was hidden behind another building that was being demolished. For a minute I felt like I was on one of the little crampt side streets of Chinatown back in L.A.  My cab driver was lost and could not find the hotel and he kept driving around asking for directions. The lobby of the Win Long was dark and the night clerk was making out with his boyfriend-that's a good sign I guess. Amazing how things look so different on the internet! 
The hotel was a big disappointment but the staff was friendly, warm and helpful.  I would only end up staying there one night before finding other digs.  I am getting this feeling that things change quickly in Bangkok, I was later to find this assumption was more than on the mark.
Today I am to have my first of many adventures and tutorials in local modes of transportation-one of which is the dreaded... Tuk Tuk's from Hell!  I can't wait!
 
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