Christmas in Thailand

It's a little late, but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Jim and I spent a week in Thailand for our Christmas break.  Some  of the other foreign teachers traveled abroad to places such as the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Thailand just like us.

We flew into Bangkok and stayed for one night in a very nice hotel called Legacy Suites.  I enjoyed having robes and slippers provided for us in the room. It was also nice to sleep in a very comfortable bed and have a larger bathroom with a separate shower and tub.  We could only stay one night, but we came back to the hotel again at the end of our trip so we could fly out from Bangkok.

Legacy Suites

Legacy Suites (robes included!)

Legacy Suites view from entrance

Legacy Suites view of the pool

Legacy Suites view of the pool from above

The first thing we did on Saturday was to go directly to the train station (Hua Lampong)  and make sure we had everything in order for our trip to Krabi. We also checked our bags into "left luggage" for a small fee.

Hua Lampong train station

Left luggage

Once that was taken care of, we got on the subway and headed out to see some things. We had only one day to spend in Bangkok before our train to Krabi, so we went to Jatujak, which is the weekend market. That means it's only open on Saturdays and Sundays.

The MRT subway system of Bangkok

Christmas hats on many travelers

Fortuneteller in an odd outfit at Jatujak Market

 Since we were there on a Saturday and it happened to be Christmas, we spent all day shopping and getting gifts for ourselves and friends and family.  I only brought one backpack to Thailand (thanks to Katie Crehan for the backpack!) so I knew I would have to buy one more bag to carry all of the souvenirs and I did. I love it.  I also bought a "summer hat" that was perfect for keeping the sun out of my face. It looks kind of like a hat Jason Mraz would wear. We also bought some Chinese style lamps and a Thai-elephant table runner for future decorating.



After walking past hundreds of shops which continued on for an eternity, we sat down at a little make-shift restaurant nestled in between the shops, which actually was a lot bigger than it looked. We crammed into a table next to another couple. Although the tables were dirty and everything thing looked very used and old, it was a perfect way to "get down in there" and experience Thai culture and food.  Everyone speaks English, at least a little bit (more than in Korea even) so we had an easy time of it. We ordered some papaya salad, chicken satay, bbq chicken, and spring rolls.

Jatujak Market shops

Restaurant at Jatujak Market

Jim eating chicken satay with Singha Thai  beer

Me with my chicken satay and Singha beer

After we spent all day shopping, we hopped in a cab and went over to Hua Lampong train station, picked up our luggage, and waited for our train.  Once it arrived, we got settled in for an all night trip. This train has cars with seats that transform from tables to beds. There are also beds that hang from the ceiling.  The ride wasn't bad. We were able to order a meal and some beers on the train.  The food was ok - we had sweet and sour chicken and cashew chicken. they came with sides of different curries and soups.  The train stopped a lot on our way there. Sometimes it stopped in the middle of nowhere and sometimes it stopped in towns at other stations.  The whole ride took 14 hours!

The train out of Bangkok to Krabi

Sleeper train with beds above and below (before conversion)

Train meal

 We were supposed to arrive at the Surat Thani station at 7am, but instead we got there at 11am.  We got off of the train and what we saw wasn't Krabi at Ao Nang beach where we were headed, but instead we saw a shuffle of shops and travel agencies on a street. We found our travel agency booth and asked what's next and they said we should hop on the bus to takes us the rest of the way (2 or 3 hours) to Krabi.  Well, the bus was full and there were 5 other passengers from Canada and England who also needed to get there. The agent said, "Don't worry, another one is coming".  Sure enough, our ride came and it was a truck with seats in the flatbed and it had a roof where he stored our luggage (no straps).  It was a little nerve wracking traveling down the small highway in the back of a pick-up, but it was only a 20 minute ride because he was actually heading to another agency where we would get in a van and continue the 2 hours to our hotel.  The van was packed with foreigners and Jim and I were jammed into the front seat with the driver (they sit on the right and drive on the left side of the road in Thailand).   A few hours and sore backs later, we got to...wait for it...another agency.  Jim asked what we do next and they said, jump in this van and we'll take you to your hotel (which cost a little more money).  So finally, another 15 minutes later, we arrived to our GORGEOUS hotel. It was all worth it once we got there.

This was the Mercure Deevana hotel in Krabi on Ao Nang Beach.  The ceilings were high, the hotel was open-air and beautiful. There was a warm breeze and never any bad weather.  I was relieved to get there.

Ahh, finally here. Oh, and that's my new hat.

Jim checking us in.

The first thing we did was sign up for massages. We needed them so much! After that, we settled into our room and went to the hotel for dinner and just relaxed until it was time for our massages, which were two hours long and extremely nice.  I don't think I've ever had a more relaxing massage.  It was a really nice touch when she had me turn onto my stomach and when I looked the the hole for your face, I saw a bowl of tropical flowers floating in water. How creative is that?? Anyway, when we finished, we came out and they had prepared ginger tea for us. So we sat there and drank it and we were in heaven.

Hotel lobby

Hotel lobby

Pool and pool bar

Pool

More of the ginormous pool

Pool bar (front)

Our room was like these rooms - walk out pool access

Jim taking a tour of the place

Our patio comfy-chair

Taking a dip in the pool outside of our room

This had to be the best hotel I've ever been to.  The weather was beautiful so we were able to spend time outside at the pool or on our patio.  We swam a little bit, but the water was a little cold.  We enjoyed drinks poolside, and had delicious buffets at the hotel restaurant.  Breakfast was included and there was so much food.

The next day, we signed up for elephant rides at Nosy Parker's down the road.  Here are a few pics we took while waiting.

They had beautiful fresh flowers everywhere

Merry Christmas!

We were very excited about riding elephants and later going to check out the beach.

A van pulled up to take us to the elephant rides and when we got there, it looked like a jungle in a way.  It was set up with wooden huts and there was a lot of grass and brush.  Our first guide chatted with us and took us to look around at the area, including over to see the sick elephant. He said we could feed her when our ride was over. He showed us the log stretched across the river with a rope above it tied between two trees that we could balance on to cross the river.  He also showed us where the elephants bathe three times a day.  The guide that took us on the elephant was really funny. He even got off of the elephant to let us ride up front and he took our picture a lot.  He was very playful with the elephant. I'm pretty sure the elephant tried to hit him with some leaves, ha ha! The ride lasted an hour and although our guide offered to show us more of the area, we had to decline so we could see the beach before sunset. It was after 3pm at this point. So afterwards, we left.

Nosy Parker's

You must go up to the top of this to get on the elephant

Meeting the sick elephant

Where the elephants bathe

The walking path through rubber trees

Crossing the river

Crossing the river

Our elephant guide/trainer

Elephant caravan

Riding in the jungle

Elephant crossing

Feeding the sick elephant after the ride

Yummy pineapple and cucumber!

Jim is in love

  

Heading in to Railay Beach

Railay

Railay

Longboat

After our elephant ride we got changed at our hotel and went out to find Railay Beach. We were advised by some of the other seasoned travelers that Railay was much better than our beach, Ao Nang, and we should see the sunset there.  Also Railay is where a lot of rock climbers stay.  I guess you can even sign up for a day of climbing even if you're a beginner. So, we found the area at the shore at Ao Nang for longboat rides to Railay which was 15 minutes away by boat. They said we had to get on the boat again at 6pm so we only had about 2 hours to be on the beach. We agreed to it and once we got there, we saw a lot of people laying out and sunbathing on the beach, but it was cooling off. There were also a lot of stores and resorts and restaurants.  We spent time laying out and a little time in the very shallow water (you had to sit down to get fully immersed). Then we grabbed an appetizer and some drinks at one of the many little bars.  There were more people than I expected walking around there.  All in all, the area was small and not very spread out.  We had a good time, but when we had to head back, our boat never came. There were 4 others waiting for the same boat, but some guys from Railay said we could pay for their boat and get the money back from the other guys which we did.  It was dark when we got back.

Merry Christmas again!

Chi Chi drink

Delicious

We did see the sunset at Railay

In the distance, shops and resorts

Locals

The beach lit up at night

Once we returned to our room after the trip to the beach, we decided that we should explore the nightlife a little.  We took a tuk-tuk (Say that 5 times fast. Pronounced "took-took") to the busier streets and there was a lot to see. Stores, bars, restaurants, and people.  There was one Irish bar in particular that we wanted to check out. It was called The Irish Rover. There was live music by one guy playing guitar and singing. However, we got there right as he was finishing.  

Live music at the Irish Rover

We also found "doctor fish" which are miniature carp that clean off the dead skin from your legs and feet.  It was the weirdest feeling having tiny fish nibble away at your skin. It felt like they were tickling our feet.  I've always wanted to try it so I can cross that off my list!

Doctor fish

Doctor fish

Doctor fish

We stopped into a different bar afterwards and there happened to be a soccer game and a basketball game playing on two different TVs. The teams happened to be a few of Jim's favorite so he was in heaven!  All in all, it was a great evening to end our trip to Krabi. The next day we left the hotel and got in a van to go back to Bangkok.  This time, our travels were much easier.  There was no confusion and we even got to ride a double decker bus.  Once we got back to Bangkok, we visited Lumphini Park. It is a very big park with lots of space and beautiful flowers. I was dying to try one of those coconut drinks where they slice it open and stick a straw in it so I carried that around as long as I could. It was too much for me to drink though.  I was pretty surprised how much coconut juice is in there!  Afterwards, we took the sky rail to see the city from above. We also walked along the river to see all the different shops.  Later we grabbed dinner at another Irish restaurant. We didn't do ANY of the things like they did in The Hangover 2, but we still had a great time. We booked another stay in the same hotel room, but we couldn't stay the night because our flight was at 1am.  We were exhausted! Fortunately we slept on the plane so that was good. Five hours later, we were back home and it was early afternoon.  Needless to say, it was nice to sleep the rest of the day.  

Waiting for the train at a Thai diner. The food was great! I had a coconut shake with my  Pad Thai. Mmmm.

I had a coconut shake with my  Pad Thai. Mmmm.

Waiting for the train again.

There are a ton of stray dogs in Thailand. Here's one of them.

Half the population owns a motorcycle and/or drives one.  I even saw  3 or 4 family members on one bike at a time.

Lumphini Park entrance

Lumphini - me and my coconut drink

Lumphini - boy and girl scouts coming for a scavenger hunt.

A view of Bangkok.

Lumphini Park

Lumphini Park

Work out equipment in the park.

Lumphini Park

Around the Thai Markets in Bangkok

Shopping in Bangkok

Riding the sky rail in Bangkok.

Another view of Bangkok from the sky rail.

We both loved being in Thailand SOOO much that we are already planning to go back someday for a vacation.  It's expensive to fly there, even from Korea, but everything is extremely cheap. The food, the souvenirs, the hotels, everything.  The weather is beautiful and always warm, the people are very friendly, and the food is amazing.  I can't wait to go back!

More later!