Originally, I had wanted to go to Bali for my vacation. Unfortunately, I discovered two things; 1) flights to Bali from Japan are still super expensive, 2) I just didn't have the energy to plan a trip while working full-time and taking an AQ course. While surfing the Intrepid Travel site, I found a tour of Norther Thailand that fit my Golden Week dates perfectly! So it was decided that Elz and I would head to Thailand for an adventure!
Day 1: Sunday, April 27, 2008
Day 2: Monday April 28, 2008
When our train stopped in Phitsanulok, we hopped off and discovered it was sweltering! We met our local guide, Naa and went out to the parking lot. Naa asked for two volunteers to go with her in her jeep and when no one volunteered, a girl named Karen and I did. We got to spend the next hour in an air-conditioned vehicle (I fell asleep almost instantly), while the others piled into a songthaew (picture in a bit).
We arrived at our guesthouse and relaxed a bit. Most people went for a swim in the guesthouse's pool and a Thai massage but Elz and I decided to hang out in the cafe part and get a drink. We went for a walk around the neighbourhood (a little sketchy - there was a mystery squirrel-like animal in a cage and some crumbling buildings). We risked our lives trying to cross the road (it was worse than Rome!) and by the time we returned it was so hot that we went for a swim (we had the whole pool to ourselves!). The guesthouse was located beside some farms and it was so peaceful and tropical.
That afternoon there was a spectacular thunderstorm. The whole group ate dinner together and most of us shared a bunch of dishes. The curry was amazing. It wasn't too hot and so flavourful. Unfortunately, the lighting in the restaurant was bad so no pictures of that fantastic meal.
That night we chilled in our little cabin/room and watched Tim the Gecko run around the walls. In Thailand, when the sun goes down, the geckos come out! They make a cute chirping/squeaking noise.
Day 3: Tuesday April 29, 2008
After a great breakfast at the guesthouse, we paid our bills and got into a songthaew. This popular vehicle in Thailand is kind of like a large pick-up with a roof and bench seating. I'm sure my mom would have been freaking out if she saw me in this...
A little info: Sukhothai is about 450 km north of Bangkok on the Yom river. It was the first capital of Thailand from the mid 13th century to the late 14th century. The old city of Sukhothai comprises approx. 45 square km of ruins, which have been declared a World Heritage Site.
My memory is like a sieve, but I'm pretty sure this is Wat Mahathat. We learned that Wat means temple in Thai and that Mahathat indicates the main/major temple. According to the booklet, Wat Mahathat's grounds are 206m long and 200m wide and are surrounded by a moat (representing the edge of the universe), which encloses 198 chedis.
Lastly we biked to Wat Si Chum, which was my favourite. This temple contains a 15m high sitting statue of Buddha that spoke to the Thai army (I don't remember if Arjan told us what he said). The statue was gorgeous and I love how it peeks out of the opening.
For lunch we went across the road from Wat Si Chum and discovered that our local guide, Naa had cooked up a feast! She had made the most delicious pumpkin yellow curry, pork with corriander (and I actually liked it!), rice, vegetables and fried chicken. There were also mangos for dessert. It was the most magnificent picnic and probably my favourite meal of my trip to Thailand. I would kill for more pumpkin curry...
Full of delicious food, we got back into the songthaew and drove to the bus station. We caught a bus to Lampang (4 hours away) and then another songthaew to our guesthouse.
The Riverside Guesthouse in Lampang was beautiful. All teak and tropical, it was run by a foreign woman, her Thai husband and their cute son. We spent some time before dinner looking around, smelling the flowers (frangipani!) and of course, relaxing by the river.
That night for dinner we went to a local restaurant and then to the night market. The two Dutch girls on the tour, Arjan and I bought some fruit and then sat in the cafe part of the guesthouse and chatted (Elz wasn't feeling so well so she went to bed early). We ate the most delicious lychees I've ever tasted and I got to try jackfruit, mangosteens and rambutans. Arjan had also bought some fried crickets and because I was feeling adventurous I tried them too. They weren't bad...after eating four I decided they tasted like less crunchy potato chips.
Day 1: Sunday, April 27, 2008Nagoya to Bangkok
We caught a JAL flight from Chubu Airport and landed in Bangkok at around 6pm. We managed to find the taxi stand (and didn't get ripped off!) and an hour later found ourselves outside of our hotel, which was located near Khao San Rd. (backpacker central). We met our tour leader, Arjan and then found a 7-11 to get some snacks and breakfast (I didn't want to chance street food the day before a 5 hour train ride).
Day 2: Monday April 28, 2008Bangkok to Sukhothai
VERY early the next morning we met our fellow tourmates (there were two other Canadians on the tour, one named Laura who went to York...yeah, freaky!) and caught taxis to the train station. While waiting for our train we got to experience standing for the Thai national anthem (played everywhere at 8am and 6pm) and see people wearing yellow (Monday's colour in honour of the King).
(The train was a bit different from the shinkansen and we were sitting in what would be the green car. We found out that Thai train bathrooms are only used while the train is moving...so that...well, the waste can be disposed of...)
(First real meal in Thailand - yeah, not so great)
The train took a while to pick up speed but eventually we left the poorer looking areas of Bangkok behind and started whizzing by lush farms and fields. The train's windows were quite disgusting so I couldn't get any good pictures. After a small cake snack, we were served lunch. It wasn't bad but wasn't great. I wasn't a fan of the sausage-type things at the top.
When our train stopped in Phitsanulok, we hopped off and discovered it was sweltering! We met our local guide, Naa and went out to the parking lot. Naa asked for two volunteers to go with her in her jeep and when no one volunteered, a girl named Karen and I did. We got to spend the next hour in an air-conditioned vehicle (I fell asleep almost instantly), while the others piled into a songthaew (picture in a bit).
(J&J Guest House - This place was fantastic!! And oh, their mango shakes were to die for!)
We arrived at our guesthouse and relaxed a bit. Most people went for a swim in the guesthouse's pool and a Thai massage but Elz and I decided to hang out in the cafe part and get a drink. We went for a walk around the neighbourhood (a little sketchy - there was a mystery squirrel-like animal in a cage and some crumbling buildings). We risked our lives trying to cross the road (it was worse than Rome!) and by the time we returned it was so hot that we went for a swim (we had the whole pool to ourselves!). The guesthouse was located beside some farms and it was so peaceful and tropical. 
(Hey, you can't help but take silly photos in front of this crazy plant/tree!)
(This is the first time I saw actual mango trees! And luckily it was mango season in Northern Thailand while I were there. They tasted like candy - sweet and perfect!)
("If you can't find Laura, she's in the restaurant drinking mango shakes!")
That afternoon there was a spectacular thunderstorm. The whole group ate dinner together and most of us shared a bunch of dishes. The curry was amazing. It wasn't too hot and so flavourful. Unfortunately, the lighting in the restaurant was bad so no pictures of that fantastic meal. 
That night we chilled in our little cabin/room and watched Tim the Gecko run around the walls. In Thailand, when the sun goes down, the geckos come out! They make a cute chirping/squeaking noise. 
Day 3: Tuesday April 29, 2008Sukhothai historical ruins
Sukhothai to Lampang
After a great breakfast at the guesthouse, we paid our bills and got into a songthaew. This popular vehicle in Thailand is kind of like a large pick-up with a roof and bench seating. I'm sure my mom would have been freaking out if she saw me in this...
(At the historical park, we chose bikes, tested them out and then started our bike ride! I did actually remember how to ride a bike...)
A little info: Sukhothai is about 450 km north of Bangkok on the Yom river. It was the first capital of Thailand from the mid 13th century to the late 14th century. The old city of Sukhothai comprises approx. 45 square km of ruins, which have been declared a World Heritage Site.
(These structures are called chedis. Wow...something that I actually remember from my Sacred Places course at Waterloo)
(Our tour group. Everyone was lovely....except the British guy in the front...)
My memory is like a sieve, but I'm pretty sure this is Wat Mahathat. We learned that Wat means temple in Thai and that Mahathat indicates the main/major temple. According to the booklet, Wat Mahathat's grounds are 206m long and 200m wide and are surrounded by a moat (representing the edge of the universe), which encloses 198 chedis.
(Hailey and Laura)
This is Wat Si Sawai. It's a sacred pond temple and was built in the Khmer style during the 12th and 13th centuries as a Hindu temple.
(Rare walking Buddha)
Lastly we biked to Wat Si Chum, which was my favourite. This temple contains a 15m high sitting statue of Buddha that spoke to the Thai army (I don't remember if Arjan told us what he said). The statue was gorgeous and I love how it peeks out of the opening.
(This was one of the hardest Aaron shots EVER!)
(If there's a broom in the area, Elspeth will find it!)
For lunch we went across the road from Wat Si Chum and discovered that our local guide, Naa had cooked up a feast! She had made the most delicious pumpkin yellow curry, pork with corriander (and I actually liked it!), rice, vegetables and fried chicken. There were also mangos for dessert. It was the most magnificent picnic and probably my favourite meal of my trip to Thailand. I would kill for more pumpkin curry...
Full of delicious food, we got back into the songthaew and drove to the bus station. We caught a bus to Lampang (4 hours away) and then another songthaew to our guesthouse. 
The Riverside Guesthouse in Lampang was beautiful. All teak and tropical, it was run by a foreign woman, her Thai husband and their cute son. We spent some time before dinner looking around, smelling the flowers (frangipani!) and of course, relaxing by the river. 
(This is the life!)
That night for dinner we went to a local restaurant and then to the night market. The two Dutch girls on the tour, Arjan and I bought some fruit and then sat in the cafe part of the guesthouse and chatted (Elz wasn't feeling so well so she went to bed early). We ate the most delicious lychees I've ever tasted and I got to try jackfruit, mangosteens and rambutans. Arjan had also bought some fried crickets and because I was feeling adventurous I tried them too. They weren't bad...after eating four I decided they tasted like less crunchy potato chips. 
Stay tuned to hear about the elephant conservation centre, thai hot springs and our village homestay!
