Archive for the ‘Thailand trip 2016’ Category

Thailand trip 2016

Sunday, September 11th, 2016

We had a great trip to Thailand, our first since April 2007. We didn’t have any solid plans, other than to make sure we saw Ayudhya, a place I’ve never been to on any of my 10 (or so) visits to Thailand, and to splurge on a night in a luxury hotel (the Shangri-La). I didn’t really need a vacation so badly, since we were just in Japan in June, but Zen has his school and this is his last long holiday until November, and that would be waiting a bit too long… so off we went to Thailand for a week, with a spare day before we flew, and two when we got back (a long weekend Monday).

The flight was smooth, we got to our hotel in a great location down a car-less alley near the river, near Khao San Road, so we got some great roadside restaurant food, cheap, and some beer, then walked around a bit, and chilled out in the hotel room. I went off at 6:00 to meet Val, and we hung out, had some food, then headed off to Nothing But The Blues to play some music and to listen to some great tunes! A lot of fun!!

As usual, click on the picture to see a larger version of the picture.

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Sunday, September 4th – Hanging out at the airport!!

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Hanging out at the airport!!

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Hanging out at the airport!!

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The view from the window at our hotel in Bangkok…

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F.U.B.A.R.!!

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Khao San Road, 2016…

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Feelin’ good on Khao San Road!!

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Lookin’ good!!

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The temple near our hotel…

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Naoko & Zen hanging out at the local temple…

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River walk!!

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Hanging out with Val in Bangkok!!

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Nothing but the blues at Nothing But The Blues!!

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Blues blues blues!!

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While his guitar gently weeps!!

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The rock ‘n’ roll doctor in action!!

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Oh Lord, yeah!!

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Khao San Road Sunday night craziness!!

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Khao San Road Sunday night craziness!!

On my way back home, I wandered around Khao San Road for a bit, got a reminder of how crazy it used to be when I was hanging out in Thailand in 1992. Noisy, loud, gross. Cool t-shirts for sale, though.

Monday morning we had our breakfast at the place, it was okay. The plan was to go to Ayudhya by bus, two hours or so away, and cycle around the ancient ruins. But Zen was sick, so we gave that up for this year, maybe some other trip. Instead, we got a tuk tuk to drive us around some local attractions. Then we bought some beer and hung out in the hotel room.

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Monday morning love!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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In a tuk tuk!!

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Town tour around Bangkok!!

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Climbing up the Golden Mount!!

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Climbing up the Golden Mount!!

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Climbing up the Golden Mount!!

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Climbing up the Golden Mount!!

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Broom museum!!

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My new friend!!

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My new friend!!

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Golden Mount!!

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Canal bus people!!

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On the canal bus!!

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Feeling the canal…

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Canal!!

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Heading back to the hotel after a day of adventure!!

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Scary!!

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Dinner adventure!!

Tuesday we had our breakfast, then I took Naoko and Zen to see a Thai kickboxing club that I’d found on my wanders the evening before; I didn’t tell them where I was taking them, though, so it was a fun surprise, they liked it.

Then we took the river taxi to the Shangri-La, checked in, and enjoyed the pool, high tea on the 24th floor with the great view of the river, and in the evening happy hour in the same place. Great place to hang out!!

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Tuesday morning Muay Thai!!

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Beautiful forever!!

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Beautiful forever!!

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Awesome orchids!!

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Awesome orchids!!

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Awesome orchids!!

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Enjoying the Shangri-La Hotel for a day – afternoon tea!!

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Enjoying the Shangri-La Hotel for a day – afternoon tea!!

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Enjoying the Shangri-La Hotel for a day – afternoon tea!!

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Enjoying the Shangri-La Hotel for a day – happy hour!!

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Enjoying the Shangri-La Hotel for a day – happy hour!!

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Enjoying the Shangri-La Hotel for a day – happy hour!!

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Cool river life!!

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Cool river life!!

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Cool river life!!

Wednesday we stayed in the Shangri-La as long as we could, then took a bus to Pattaya. Got there around 5:00, were herded into a mini-bus, got to our hotel about 30 minutes later. First impressions of Pattaya weren’t great – ugly, crowded, and full of lonely old men and shops overflowing with massage girls. We found a decent place to eat that wasn’t over-priced, lots of locals eating there too, and then headed back for some sleep.

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Wednesday, September 7th – Shangri-La super-staff – Cherry!!

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Shangri-La super-staff – Cherry!!

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Wednesday love!!

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The road to Pattaya!!

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Pattaya dinner!!

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Crab curry!!

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Pattaya neon town!!

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Walking Street!!

Went for a steak breakfast, then to the big shopping centre, and finally off to Na Klua fish market. The fish market was awesome – we bought shrimps from one shop, then took it to the next one to be barbecued. Washed it all down with beer! The experience was so amazing, we did it again the next day!!

Spent part of the afternoon on the balcony drinking beer and reading; I heard something rustle and looked down, it was a huge iguana, probably about 2 metres long from nose to tail! Just sitting there, enjoying the world, occasionally pulling himself forward along his belly to find another position. Then he did a half turn and moved back. The next day he did the same, and the morning after (Saturday, when we checked out) he was still doing the same thing. Moving back and forth about two metres a day, one circuit. Well, I guess that’s one way to stay in shape…

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Thursday, September 8th – Steak breakfast!!

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Pattaya beach!!

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Pattaya beach!!

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At Pattaya Na Klua fish market!!

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At Pattaya Na Klua fish market!!

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At Pattaya Na Klua fish market!!

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At Pattaya Na Klua fish market!!

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Buying a green papaya salad at Pattaya Na Klua fish market!!

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Great food at Pattaya Na Klua fish market!!

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Great shrimps!!

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Vegetables at the fish market!!

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Interesting salacca fruits!!

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Pool dudes at the fish market!!

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Freeze dried durian snacks!!

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Lovely tamarind snacks!!

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These dried cherry tomatoes are amazing!!

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Our neighbour for three days…

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Our neighbour for three days…

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Nice place!!

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Nice place!!

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Dork!

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Dork!!

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Pattaya dinner love!!

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Great food!!

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Great food!!

Friday we didn’t have any plans, so we pretty much just repeated what we did on Thursday – had a light breakfast, then went to the fish market again for some food. Except this time we had much more – including 1.5 kilos of barbecued shrimp, two different types! Great!! We also bought a bunch of snacks to take back.

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Friday, September 9th – back for more the next day at Na Klua Market!!

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Back for more the next day at Na Klua Market!!

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Scallops at Na Klua Market!!

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Mango rice and fried fish at Na Klua Market!!

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Shrimp!!

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Last dinner in Thailand – not so inspiring…

Oh yea – here’s a look at the lovely snacks we brought back!!

We brought back some awesome snacks!!

We brought back some awesome snacks!!

See ya later, Thailand, we’ll be back!!