First stop was in Bangkok, we stayed at the CH Guest House in Banglangpu, where most backpackers staying Bangkok, I’ve always stayed at the same place, the people were great, it was sort of clean, and it had great food. It was at the top end of the Koh San Road away from the main hustle and bustle at night when the street markets opened. Koh San Road is the backpacker paradise, it has everything, it opened up at night, it is an amazing place. The streets would come alive, street vendors push their cart up and down the street selling fruit, chicken sate, all types of dessert and many different types of food, some, you wouldn’t think of buying, but I tell you that some of the bugs taste all right.
Justin hangs out of a Tuk Tuk in the streets of Bangkok.
The Chao Phraya River, It runs through Bangkok with all little waterways which was their main transport years ago. Most of the people lived on the river; they used their boats to go up and down the river to trade goods.
John, Justin, Robyn and I on a long tail boat up the Chao Phraya River.
(Photo taken by Glenn). John is still trying to figure out how his camera works.
A view of all the houses along the Chao Phraya River.
Me with a snake around my neck, at the snake temple.
One of many crocodiles at the farm.
We went in to watch the snake show. He had 3 snakes, but only 2 hands.
After the show they milk the snakes.
That night Glen (hougie) and I went looking for a night club, but ended up in a Thai bar, with traditional Thai dancing, I had fun.
We went to the Doi Sutep temple in Chiang Mai. You can see Robyn, Justin and John below the left dragon; it had around 125 stairs up to the top.
At the top of the temple, the hill tribe people sell their products they make.
We then did a 5 day trek in Northern part of Chiang Mai in the Chiang Dao Mountians we staying in local villages.
In a village for the night, our first stop.
I had to try a pipe of opium
The two English girls on the elephant, 4 hours to the next stop.
Robyn and Glen on the 4 hours elephant walk, what an experience.
I love the elephant part of the treks.
We went into the caves through the Chiang Dao Mountain, using bamboo torches to see, it was pitch black.
When we came out the other side, Mosquito and an English girl rolling a number, with mosquito’s mate on the guitar. We had a rest spot to catch our breath and to take in the sights.
Then 5 hour rafting down the Mae Kok River, it was the best part of the trek, we had a few obstacles and crashes on the way, but it was great fun, especially floating behind the raft.
In the calmer waters I got behind the bamboo raft to float downstream on the Mae Kok River.
The English girl (can’t remember her name) just making some breakfast or coffee.
The opium doctor has a cigarette and coffee for breakfast.
The six major hill tribes within Thailand are the, Akha, Lahu, Karen, Hmong, Yao and Lisu each with a distinct language and culture. The tribal peoples who inhabit the Northern region of Thailand around Myanmar (Burma) and Laos.
The last stop before we went to the car and back to Chiang Mai, it was a market in a tourist area for all the different hill tribes to try and sell their clothes to the western people.
The next day we arrived back in Chiang Mai, so we hired motor bikes and rode up to the Doi Sutep Temple.
One of the waterfalls and swim holes on the way up to the top, we walk up to the Doi Sutep waterfall, bit of a hike, and one of many waterfalls on the way up.
One of the waterfalls and swim holes on the way up to the top.
You can see the monks walking up as there is a temple up the top, with a fantastic view of Chiang Mai.
Up the top is another small village, a hill tribe lady making some clothing to sell.
From Chiang Mai, we then went back to the CH guest house on Khao San road Bangkok, Robyn got very sick and had to be hospitalized in Bangkok for a few days, very bad dehydration, I left her a map and directions for her to get to Bottle Beach on Ko Phangan down in the Thai gulf. She had to get a train from Bangkok overnight to Surat Thani, 8 hours, and in the morning a ferry to Koh Samui, 4 hours, then a ferry to Ko Pha Ngan, once arriving on Ko Phangan she then had to get a taxi up to the north of the island to Chulaklam, then a long tail boat for 20 min. Around to Bottle Beach. The four of us guys gave up on Robyn, thinking that she will give up and wait in Bangkok for us.
About 6 days being on the island, who happened to come in on the long tail? YES she made it, we were all impressed that she made it from Bangkok all the way to Koh Phangan by herself, and I know she was very proud of herself.
We got the overnight train to Surat Thani, and then we had to get the ferry to Ko Samui then another ferry to Ko Pha Ngan.
Justin and John on the overnight train.
Glen being a clown on the overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani.
We met up with Peter and Dani in Bangkok; they came to the island with us all. It’s not the first time, I always catch up with Peter when I go to Thailand.
Arriving at the beautiful Bottle Beach (Haad Kuad) on Ko Pha Ngan.
We stayed at Sea Love bungalows; On Bottle Beach they have 3 places to stay; OD bungalows, which was on the rocks and Bottle Beach Bungalows. I’ve stayed here about 5 times, finding Sea Love Bungalows, the better place to stay.
Mr. Rod is the owner of Sea Love, I stayed here 1989 for around 2 months; he was like a second father to me, giving me the bungalow at the back away from everything, just a great guy.
Nit and Neung who worked the front desk at Sea love Bungalows.
Gary, he is from New Zealand, just one of the many people we met on the island.
Views from the restaurant.
The bungalow, Mr. Rod gave to me to stay in.
Glen, walking back to the bungalow.
Robyn’s not taking any chances of dehydration again always had a bottle of water with her.
If you look at the top of this picture, you can see a big rock, I’ve taken about seven different groups up to this rock in 1989, this visit was the one trip only, it takes roughly 3 hours up and 2 ½ hours to get back down, from the top it is a 360 degree view.
Few of the guys who did the trek with me.
On the top of the rock, everyone is just relaxing and enjoying the view.
Justin, resting his feet after the climb.
Pam (Canadian) and Bev (German) enjoying the view.
From the top of the rock looking down on bottle beach
After the climb to the top of the rock, everyone just sitting around telling the different stories. The first picture you can see Peter, (left at the back) I’ve met up with Peter on nearly every trip I’ve taken in Thailand, especially to the islands, he’s like me loves Thailand, the food, sun and relaxed people who travel.
The next day we walked around to Paradise Bungalows, Joe and his wife Gai, use to run Sea Love Bungalows for Mr. Rod for a few years, so they decided to start their own business. It’s just around from Chulaklam, about a 1½ hour walk. I went around visiting and stayed the night at his bungalows. So quiet, he has 8 bungalows.
Joe, Gai his daughter and workers at the reception, Paradise Bungalows.
Joe at the counter of the restaurant, Paradise Bungalows.
Glen passed out on my veranda and Gary relaxing in my night hammock, you see I had one out for the day and another for the night, so I could lay and listen to the music after a smoke, what a way to live, now I know why I stayed so long last year, it’s a shame I had to go back to work.
I think Glen is happy.
Well, it’s time to leave the island and back to Bangkok to fly home, waiting for the long tail boat to take us to Chulaklam.
Robyn, Glen and John at Tongsala Pier Ko Samui, ready to get the ferry to Surat Thani then a train to Bangkok.
I think the train host fancied John.
A beautiful sunset from the train.
Loung and Sai, the girl who worked at the CH Guest House on Kao San road in Bangkok, they were there the last 4 years I’ve been there, very friendly and also funny girls.
Loung, with that cheeky smile.
This trip was a little different, as I always travel by myself, meeting up with different people, but this time I went with some great friends from home, we all had a great time. It's good to experience a holiday in a foreign country with close friends, enjoying the good and also the bad times, having a good laugh at each other’s misfortune, having too much to drink or smoke, you can never forget things like that, and it's a holiday I will never forget.
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