Just to let you know what the current situation is.
I'm back in Nong Khai where I collected my bankcard from Mut Mee, the guest house to which my parents sent the card, thanking you kindly for doing so.
I do leave however, at 1820 this evening on a night train bound for Bangkok.
I may upgrade my seat if possible because for the past couple of days I have not been feeling all that good. I am much better now but my neck and back were full of aches and pains and I was getting some cold symptoms. From what I here though there has been something going around.
Yesterday I woke feeling a bit better but still very much aching in the shoulders and back.
Coming up to four months in Thailand and still not having a massage, now was the time to do so. I had seen one place advertising a herbal sauna and part of me wishes I had of chose this option (still may try today).
Instead I opted for the full body massage. Oh... hang on... got that wrong... I think I must of opted for the full body torture session instead. This was one of the most gruelling hours of my life, well at least pain wise. I kept quiet though, putting a brave face on, (well; brave or contorted with pain), continually thinking... 'this is good pain'.
My thoughts were correct. I felt sooo much better after my tortuous time that I would definately recommend it.
I think the fact that I was feeling a bit fragile anyway, amplified the pain considerably.
It was all finished with a heat massage. This was so good after the agony I had endured.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A slice of Pai...
Chilling out at the bungalow,
or down by the river,
or even at the Hot Springs.
Life was tough but we struggled through.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Ode to Swede
Cleaver in Hand,
Doc Martin on Foot.
Bomber Jacket.
Checked Shirt.
Don't forget the skinhead and
crisp white bow tie to complete the look.
La La Lala La Laa
Time filled with the condition of your car.
A life of sailing, but not always plain.
Cross Country Skiing, saying Cheseus in Vain.
Sailing boats, cross country skis,
throw in some admirable deeds.
Then Skol not once,
nor twice,
but Skol thrice,
Skol, Skol, Skol
To the Adventuring Swedes.
Doc Martin on Foot.
Bomber Jacket.
Checked Shirt.
Don't forget the skinhead and
crisp white bow tie to complete the look.
La La Lala La Laa
Time filled with the condition of your car.
A life of sailing, but not always plain.
Cross Country Skiing, saying Cheseus in Vain.
Sailing boats, cross country skis,
throw in some admirable deeds.
Then Skol not once,
nor twice,
but Skol thrice,
Skol, Skol, Skol
To the Adventuring Swedes.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Ankor Wat... No Battery??
Excuse the very much over used pun, Wat??, but it had to be done.
Lets see now. The 6th March, I had arrived in Cambodia the evening of the 4th March. It had been a surprisingly long journey from Nong Khai having left on the 3rd at 1820 and arriving in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 24 hours later.
This was a combination of overnight train from Nong Khai to Bangkok, followed by what was supposed to be a nice comfortable bus to Aranyaprathet (thai side border town), then a swap to a smaller, even less comfortable bus in Poipet (Cambodia side border town), for the continuation of the journey to Siem Reap.
The comfort thing I really don't mind at all. I find that often I am able to switch off on journeys, or simply accept that it is a necessity to get me from A to B. The reason why I mention it is because when I booked the ticket I actually chose to go through one of the booking agents in the Bangkok train station. I would usually make my way to each individual point by means of local buses etc but after my train journey I wanted a little bit of simplicity and the fair was reasonable for the distance covered and the work on my part removed.
Not that it is important but there was a picture of a VIP Bus on the advertised ticket that I purchased. These buses are pretty swish and so I kind of got my hopes up for a nice cormfortable 4 hours to the border.
Oh how they lied with their fancy pictures and words..... but with a non-refundable ticket in hand and a care free attitude to go with it; on to the adequate bus I got.
This journey could be a story itself, though I don't think it warrants it, and so back to the 6th March.
Reunited with Tom and Tim, it was today that we were off to visit the world famous Ankor Wat site. We set off nice and early in the morning around 8 am I seem to recall. We had intended to get there in order to see the sunrise but altered our plans and opted for seeing just the sunset, agreeing that we would be more than satisfied with this and no doubt quite happy for the extra time in bed.
We hired bicycles for the day. Charming rickety, old things. Just the way to view a historic site.
Many a person will say take a tuk-tuk with guide but for me, I feel that cycling the site was the way to do it. It meant that we could choose our own pace, our own path, and interpret our own perceptions. Not only this but we also gained a greater sense of achievement and perhaps a more personal connection.
The site, as anyone who has visited will tell you, is incredible. It truly is awe-inspiring. No doubt about it but despite these things being very much true, I was, hmmm, not disappointed, but, well, perhaps, not as impressed as I had hoped to be.
How can I say such a thing? A wonder of the world. One of mans most amazing achievements and here I am saying that I was not as impressed as I had hoped.
I think this is due to a couple of things. Firstly, though it was to be expected, the amount to which the site is a tourist trap. I had expected it. In fact I was not too bothered by the amount of people, mostly children, who seemed to continually try to sell their wares, though wish they had of done so just outside of the temples. I think in terms of how tourism had spoilt it was evident at the famous temple that most know due to the movie Tomb Raider. I think for each of us this was a disappointment as board walks had been erected and a very linear path was put in place with what was essentially a stage for photographs next to the iconic tree. I realise that such things are put in place to help protect the aging ruins but it did take away some of the majesty of the site.
Secondly I think that the temple I visited in Phi Mai, Thailand was perhaps my favourite. This, however, was just one temple and really can not compete with the vastness of the Ankor site.
Admittedly it does struggle to compete with the main Ankor Wat itself. An absolutely magnificent wonder to behold, especially when bathed in the light of the fading sun.
We had toured the whole siteand ended with the main Ankor Wat (Wat being Temple) , in time to catch the sunset. Truly Awe-Inspiring, breath taking, and many, many other cliched words of description still may not do it justice.
Though I would maintain that one day is enough to see the site and experience a great deal, many would say 3 days is what's needed, I would definately go back and with a dedent camera I think I could spend a week there taking hundreds of photos.
This time, however, it was not to be and sadly the camera that I am using on my trip ran out of battery.
What kind of fool would travel to one of the most historic sites in history and not take a full battery.
...... Oh....... that would be me.
A fool, but a fool with vivid memories.
Lets see now. The 6th March, I had arrived in Cambodia the evening of the 4th March. It had been a surprisingly long journey from Nong Khai having left on the 3rd at 1820 and arriving in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 24 hours later.
This was a combination of overnight train from Nong Khai to Bangkok, followed by what was supposed to be a nice comfortable bus to Aranyaprathet (thai side border town), then a swap to a smaller, even less comfortable bus in Poipet (Cambodia side border town), for the continuation of the journey to Siem Reap.
The comfort thing I really don't mind at all. I find that often I am able to switch off on journeys, or simply accept that it is a necessity to get me from A to B. The reason why I mention it is because when I booked the ticket I actually chose to go through one of the booking agents in the Bangkok train station. I would usually make my way to each individual point by means of local buses etc but after my train journey I wanted a little bit of simplicity and the fair was reasonable for the distance covered and the work on my part removed.
Not that it is important but there was a picture of a VIP Bus on the advertised ticket that I purchased. These buses are pretty swish and so I kind of got my hopes up for a nice cormfortable 4 hours to the border.
Oh how they lied with their fancy pictures and words..... but with a non-refundable ticket in hand and a care free attitude to go with it; on to the adequate bus I got.
This journey could be a story itself, though I don't think it warrants it, and so back to the 6th March.
Reunited with Tom and Tim, it was today that we were off to visit the world famous Ankor Wat site. We set off nice and early in the morning around 8 am I seem to recall. We had intended to get there in order to see the sunrise but altered our plans and opted for seeing just the sunset, agreeing that we would be more than satisfied with this and no doubt quite happy for the extra time in bed.
We hired bicycles for the day. Charming rickety, old things. Just the way to view a historic site.
Many a person will say take a tuk-tuk with guide but for me, I feel that cycling the site was the way to do it. It meant that we could choose our own pace, our own path, and interpret our own perceptions. Not only this but we also gained a greater sense of achievement and perhaps a more personal connection.
The site, as anyone who has visited will tell you, is incredible. It truly is awe-inspiring. No doubt about it but despite these things being very much true, I was, hmmm, not disappointed, but, well, perhaps, not as impressed as I had hoped to be.
How can I say such a thing? A wonder of the world. One of mans most amazing achievements and here I am saying that I was not as impressed as I had hoped.
I think this is due to a couple of things. Firstly, though it was to be expected, the amount to which the site is a tourist trap. I had expected it. In fact I was not too bothered by the amount of people, mostly children, who seemed to continually try to sell their wares, though wish they had of done so just outside of the temples. I think in terms of how tourism had spoilt it was evident at the famous temple that most know due to the movie Tomb Raider. I think for each of us this was a disappointment as board walks had been erected and a very linear path was put in place with what was essentially a stage for photographs next to the iconic tree. I realise that such things are put in place to help protect the aging ruins but it did take away some of the majesty of the site.
Secondly I think that the temple I visited in Phi Mai, Thailand was perhaps my favourite. This, however, was just one temple and really can not compete with the vastness of the Ankor site.
Admittedly it does struggle to compete with the main Ankor Wat itself. An absolutely magnificent wonder to behold, especially when bathed in the light of the fading sun.
We had toured the whole siteand ended with the main Ankor Wat (Wat being Temple) , in time to catch the sunset. Truly Awe-Inspiring, breath taking, and many, many other cliched words of description still may not do it justice.
Though I would maintain that one day is enough to see the site and experience a great deal, many would say 3 days is what's needed, I would definately go back and with a dedent camera I think I could spend a week there taking hundreds of photos.
This time, however, it was not to be and sadly the camera that I am using on my trip ran out of battery.
What kind of fool would travel to one of the most historic sites in history and not take a full battery.
...... Oh....... that would be me.
A fool, but a fool with vivid memories.
Don't roll in the muck....
....It's not the best way to come clean.
In regards to my last post.......... Yes, I did get pick-pocketed by a Lady-Boy.
1....2.....3...... LOL.
Apparently this is fairly common in Bangkok but truthfully it was the first I had heard of it.
I am not annoyed. I was annoyed that I had allowed it to happen but it did and so we can but endure. Ultimately it was a series of unfortunate events that culminated in a professional thief doing their job.
In no way has it sullied my view of Thailand, Bangkok, Travelling, or indeed the awesome night that ended, for me, with a pesky lady-boy of the night stealing my wallet.......
...... but thankfully not my heart.
(Then I Would Be Concerned)
And so onto other things....
In regards to my last post.......... Yes, I did get pick-pocketed by a Lady-Boy.
1....2.....3...... LOL.
Apparently this is fairly common in Bangkok but truthfully it was the first I had heard of it.
I am not annoyed. I was annoyed that I had allowed it to happen but it did and so we can but endure. Ultimately it was a series of unfortunate events that culminated in a professional thief doing their job.
In no way has it sullied my view of Thailand, Bangkok, Travelling, or indeed the awesome night that ended, for me, with a pesky lady-boy of the night stealing my wallet.......
...... but thankfully not my heart.
(Then I Would Be Concerned)
And so onto other things....
My Police Report
At approximately 0500 on the morning of the 10th March, I , David Gandy, was pick-pocketed at the end of Khao San Road near the Burger King T Junction.
I had been out with two friends for a birthday celebration. We had just exited a taxi and were approached by a person whom I am sure was a transexual and was soliciting themselves sexually.
This person was insistently touching me even when told not to and that I had no interest in them. They continued to touch and grab, including private areas, and so I blocked the arms and moved them aside, all the while maintaining that I was not interested.
The person continues to annoy and touch until suddenly the person stopped, got into a Tuk-Tuk and disappeared.
A few moments later I realised that my wallet was missing from my right side pocket.
I am certain it was stolen.
Contents : Bankcards, Money, Train Tickets
Description of person: Transexual of S E Asian Origin
Approx 5"
White Shorts / Yellow Strappy Dress Style Top
Shoulder Length / Perhaps Longer Dark Hair
I had been out with two friends for a birthday celebration. We had just exited a taxi and were approached by a person whom I am sure was a transexual and was soliciting themselves sexually.
This person was insistently touching me even when told not to and that I had no interest in them. They continued to touch and grab, including private areas, and so I blocked the arms and moved them aside, all the while maintaining that I was not interested.
The person continues to annoy and touch until suddenly the person stopped, got into a Tuk-Tuk and disappeared.
A few moments later I realised that my wallet was missing from my right side pocket.
I am certain it was stolen.
Contents : Bankcards, Money, Train Tickets
Description of person: Transexual of S E Asian Origin
Approx 5"
White Shorts / Yellow Strappy Dress Style Top
Shoulder Length / Perhaps Longer Dark Hair
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