We're just getting ready to fly off to LA later today to begin our travels in the US (no we didn't get tickets to Michael Jackson's memorial event - we will be arriving there as the crowds are leaving!) We're back at our guesthouse 'Wendy House' in Bangkok where we have been staying for a while now, inbetween visiting Cambodia and Krabi on the Thai South West coast. Wendy House has been a lovely place to stay here in Bangkok. Very warm and friendly staff, nice restaurant, the ability to store our luggage here when we went off to Cambodia and Krabi and just across the road from the famous MBK centre - great place for gettin
g cheap clothes and stocking up on all those little necessities that you find you have run out of! Oh and there's a great little laundry next door to the guesthouse too! We have really enjoyed our time in Thailand and can quite see why people come here year after year. Our 6 days in Krabi was very relaxing. We stayed right by the Krabi river which had a lovely walkway to wander along in the early evening when the sun had gone down. Our host, Somchai, was heavily into Wimbledon so we even got an update on what was happening each morning at breakfast! Got to see a few matches too - altho
ugh the satellite signal was a bit random over there to say the least! There was a great little night market that was interesting to wander round in the evening. It sold all kinds of fruits and vegetables and at nearly every corner there was somebody cooking up a storm of tempting (and often not so tempting!) culinary delights on offer! Our favourite was sticky rice with mango! One day we took a long tail boat over to Railey Beach (only way to get there!) which was incredibly beautiful with white sand beaches and, at least at this time of year, not to
o crowded. When we arrived at Railey the boat anchored up quite a way off shore so we had to climb out into the sea and wade (knee deep
to start with!) up onto the beach. Bit of a surprise if you weren't expecting it - particularly if you had all your luggage with you! We didn't but some people had huge cases with them. No problem though as the local guys lifted them over their heads with seemingly little effort and transported them to shore! Another day we went
on the ferry over to Phi Phi Don Island, which had been devastated by the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004, but now back on its feet again. We climbed up (along what is now also the tsunami evacuation route) to a fantastic viewpoint where you cou
ld sit and survey the whole island and surrounding sea and also see the smaller uninhabited Phi Phi Leh island which was the backdrop for the film "The Beach." While in Krabi, CK spent an afternoon on a Thai cookery course so she can delight her friends and family when back home (you're all in for a real treat!) You can see her here with Chef Miss Ya, stir frying a pan of Morning Glory. (Strange name for a strange vegetable but don't worry I don't think that particular item will be on CK's menu back in the UK!) We did manag
e to get about quite a bit in Bangkok, despite using it as a bit of a hub between our trips to Cambodia and Krabi. We visited the Grand Palace where, finding ourselves inappropriately dressed (despite wearing long cutoffs and T-shirts) we were loaned suitable Thai clothes in order to be ab
le to wander about outside. You can see CK in the photo modelling a rather attractive two piece set in blue! Another day we visited one of the floating markets where you get to take a boat along the canals and view all the stalls and goods on sale. There are women cooking up pancakes and all manner of food on the boats and although it's heavily geared up towards tourists now it was still a fascinating experience. The same day we als
o visited the famous
Bridge on the River Kwai which always reminds me, and probably others, of the film which was regularly on at Christmas time for year after year! Then it was onto the Tiger Temple where orp
haned cubs who have been rescued are looked after by a group of monks. Every day (after giving them a really good feed!) they lay about sleeping mostly but you get the chance to go up and stroke them and have your photo taken! It was an exhilarating experience and fortunately one we both survived with all our limbs intact!
g cheap clothes and stocking up on all those little necessities that you find you have run out of! Oh and there's a great little laundry next door to the guesthouse too! We have really enjoyed our time in Thailand and can quite see why people come here year after year. Our 6 days in Krabi was very relaxing. We stayed right by the Krabi river which had a lovely walkway to wander along in the early evening when the sun had gone down. Our host, Somchai, was heavily into Wimbledon so we even got an update on what was happening each morning at breakfast! Got to see a few matches too - altho
ugh the satellite signal was a bit random over there to say the least! There was a great little night market that was interesting to wander round in the evening. It sold all kinds of fruits and vegetables and at nearly every corner there was somebody cooking up a storm of tempting (and often not so tempting!) culinary delights on offer! Our favourite was sticky rice with mango! One day we took a long tail boat over to Railey Beach (only way to get there!) which was incredibly beautiful with white sand beaches and, at least at this time of year, not to
o crowded. When we arrived at Railey the boat anchored up quite a way off shore so we had to climb out into the sea and wade (knee deep 
to start with!) up onto the beach. Bit of a surprise if you weren't expecting it - particularly if you had all your luggage with you! We didn't but some people had huge cases with them. No problem though as the local guys lifted them over their heads with seemingly little effort and transported them to shore! Another day we went 
on the ferry over to Phi Phi Don Island, which had been devastated by the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004, but now back on its feet again. We climbed up (along what is now also the tsunami evacuation route) to a fantastic viewpoint where you cou
ld sit and survey the whole island and surrounding sea and also see the smaller uninhabited Phi Phi Leh island which was the backdrop for the film "The Beach." While in Krabi, CK spent an afternoon on a Thai cookery course so she can delight her friends and family when back home (you're all in for a real treat!) You can see her here with Chef Miss Ya, stir frying a pan of Morning Glory. (Strange name for a strange vegetable but don't worry I don't think that particular item will be on CK's menu back in the UK!) We did manag
e to get about quite a bit in Bangkok, despite using it as a bit of a hub between our trips to Cambodia and Krabi. We visited the Grand Palace where, finding ourselves inappropriately dressed (despite wearing long cutoffs and T-shirts) we were loaned suitable Thai clothes in order to be ab
le to wander about outside. You can see CK in the photo modelling a rather attractive two piece set in blue! Another day we visited one of the floating markets where you get to take a boat along the canals and view all the stalls and goods on sale. There are women cooking up pancakes and all manner of food on the boats and although it's heavily geared up towards tourists now it was still a fascinating experience. The same day we als
o visited the famous 
Bridge on the River Kwai which always reminds me, and probably others, of the film which was regularly on at Christmas time for year after year! Then it was onto the Tiger Temple where orp
haned cubs who have been rescued are looked after by a group of monks. Every day (after giving them a really good feed!) they lay about sleeping mostly but you get the chance to go up and stroke them and have your photo taken! It was an exhilarating experience and fortunately one we both survived with all our limbs intact!
2 comments:
Ah I'm sooo jealous of all this! It sounds absolutely brilliant! I'd love to visit some of the Thai islands and beaches. Thai food is my favourite food. Glad you survived the Tiger visit. When Joyce R visited somewhere similar in England she got knocked over by a grown tiger cub and ended up having to have a hip replacement! Do you remember? So am glad you both survived the experience! The tiger looked very cute!! take care love Helen xxx
Yes, I do remember that now you mention it! Fortunately 'our' tigers were so stuffed with food that they were very sleepy! We were only allowed to approach them from behind to stroke them. There were about 10 tigers altogether and you could go to each one in turn! We only went to a couple though. We loved Thailand too - and the food! One of our favourite places on this trip! Love Julie K XX
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