A taste of Thailand

Welcome to the “Kathmandu” to Istanbul 2015 trip blog! Due to the tragic events in Nepal in April, the trip is starting from Bangkok instead of Kathmandu, so the first section will have less mountains and more jungle-clad hillsides. Will and I (Izzie) will be taking this lovely bunch:

At Hualampong Station for the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Left to right, at back: Martha, Rob The Elder, Maree, John, Jo, Anil, Ed, Kent, Peter, Eugene, Eamonn and Izzie. In the middle: Kat and Kelly. And at the bottom: Rob The Younger and Jen.

Julia is joining us in Chengdu, China. And Will was not in the photograph because he was guarding the Bag Pile of Doom.

Our beautiful chariot Penelope is awaiting us in Luang Prabang, Laos, so until then we are talking a train, a bus, a boat and a number of songthaews (bench-seat minibus taxis).

But I’m getting ahead of myself – first the group had a few days to explore Bangkok. Temples, river trips, shopping, nightlife and of course yummy, yummy Thai food. With the rain giving way to blue skies, some chose the best day to visit The Grand Palace and Wat Pho. The upside of travelling in south-east Asia during the rainy season is the wide range of delicious fruit available. And other, more chewy delicacies, if you dare!

The Grand Palace

Wat Pho

Chao Phraya River

After 2 nights in Bangkok, we headed to the train station for our overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai. Pulling off at just past 6pm, dinner was served and everyone was pleasantly surprised by how tasty it was. A far cry from airline food!

Izzie & Will tuck in

An attendant came around and efficiently set up the sleeper berths and soon we were all being gently rocked to sleep by the movement of the train.

Rob the Younger, and Jen

Rob the Elder, ready for bed

Eamonn, Ed & Eugene holding the bags in on the way from the station

Chiang Mai was ours for exploring for almost 3 whole days and many set out both to explore the city and to further afield for adventure or culinary activities.

Zipliners - (at back) Peter, Rob the Younger, Ed, Eamonn, Izzie (at front) Jo, John, Eugene, Kat, Anil

Jo all kitted out and ready to go

John

Father & daughter team - Kat zipping between platforms... 

... and Ed abseiling

Anil doing his best gibbon impersonation

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep

Rob the Younger and a croc

The cooking course group went shopping in the market

The ladies on the cooking group had an even better time than expected when they were joined by Stefano the Italian who was rather easy on the eye and “had very strong hands”, or so I’m told!

Taste explosion wrapped in a betel leaf

Martha finely chopping

Kent & Maree cooking up a storm

Maree & Kelly taking instructions 

Eamonn & Kat went to Art in Paradise, a 3D art museum, for something a bit different

Rob the Elder (taking photo), Jen, Rob the Younger, Peter, Will, Eamonn and Kat (not pictured) took bikes out into the surrounding hills

Peter, after wiping the bugs off his teeth!

Anil (aka Action Anil) and Ed take the prize for being up for both zip lining and rafting.  The younger members of the group cannot keep up!

Action Anil

Tomorrow we’re all off to Chiang Khong, on the banks of the mighty Mekong River. En route we’ll stop in Chiang Rai to see Wat Rong Khun or the White Wat. From Chiang Khong the group will cross the river into Laos and country number 2 for a lazy couple of days floating downstream.

I’ll leave you with the most cared-for chicken in Thailand on its afternoon walk on a string.