Thailand's version of a house boat...

It's been a few days since I've blogged, I've been out in the wilderness...again! We had a free day in Chiang Mai, where Anne (my roomie) and I wandered around, did some shopping, and got a great Thai Massage. I could get addicted to this :)...At one point the woman was underneath me, I was doing an arch backwards, all the while cracking my back. it was insane!

A word about the food. I LOVE THE FOOD!! I have Pad Thai every day from a street vendor (and it costs about .90) and they all taste a bit different, because really, it literally translates to Thai noodles :)...I've learned to love mango & sticky rice (which has a dollop of coconut milk on top)...Deep fried bananas. Yummmm. Tom Yum soup also good, and the currys! Wow! There is a third curry called Panang Curry which is hotter than the red or green. Thank god Toronto has so many thai restaurants, I recognize alot of the dishes. A word about the beer. I've worked my way through the different types, and so far my favourite is Chang. I'd love to tell you that I am drinking a ton, and really partying it up, but that'd be a lie. We're so tired at the end of a day, it's to bed by 830-9...Truth be told, that's pretty typical for us. We're up and at em by 8 am, and by 830pm we're exhausted.

So Friday, we took an overnight train to Ayutthaya (pronounce Aye-you-tay-ya)...there we biked around the town, and checked out the ruins of old temples. Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand before they moved it to Bangkok...The highlight was the head of a buddha inside a tree.

From there, we got in a van and drove for 4 hours west to Kanchanaburi Town, and beyond...There we got on a rafthouse. This is thailand's version of a houseboat. But there are a few differences...it doesn't have a motor. Instead a tug boat dragged us out to the lake and tied us to the mainland in a non populated area. That was amazing. There we were, watching the sunset between the mountains, and taking swims off the side of the raft house. Our driver & guide made us an amazing meal, and we were in bed by 9pm.

We pack alot into one day...We left the raft house this morning, and drove to the Erawan Waterfall where we hiked up the 7 levels of waterfalls. Thai families go there for sunday picnics, and at each pool you can dive in and have a swim. They were truly georgeous. There are fish in each pool and they love to nip at your heels. I didn't love that but Ben & Anne thought it was amazing. Then this afternoon we drove to Kanchanaburi (yes, pronounced how it's spelt), and biked for 3 hours around the town, which included a visit to the Japanese Railroad Museum, and to the Bridge of the River Kwai. Holy depressing batman!! But we learned a ton, and it was really moving...

Tonight we have free time in Kanchanaburi, and we are staying in a georgeous guest house. We'll probably hit the night market, and do some shopping. The night market in Chiang Mai was great too, this one is more about second hand things...which should be interesting. The night market is a bunch of stalls selling great stuff, and blocks and blocks of it. And EVERYTHING is negotiable. They're asking 200 Baht?, you offer 150...(which is less than $5), it's alot of fun. My roomie likes to shop too...we're dangerous!

Tomorrow we're flying to Krabi, where we start our sea kayaking. I am told that the south is much hotter. Jeez...it was 45 degrees today. We're showering 2-3 times per day, it's phenomenally hot!

So in a week, I am off on my own, and a plan is coming together....I am going to stay in the south for about 3 days, trekking around the different islands, then fly to Ko Samui (Ko means island) which is on the other side of thailand, but still in the south- I hear they have detox meditation retreats which I am keen to try for a few days. Then I'll fly up to Chiang Mai again where I want to do a cooking course, go out to the zoo, and other wandering. Then I'll return to Bangkok for a few days.

Believe it or not, this trip doesn't take us to alot of tourist places, so I feel like I need to go back and do the touristy stuff. Surely, today, I was biking through the countryside of thailand, lotus flowers everywhere...but I have yet to see the Grand Palace in Bangkok...

Anyways, off to do some research. It's pouring rain outside for the first time in days, so hopefully the weather will break to a balmy 35...oh yeah...

xo
K

Up into the hills...

So wat tee ka! (hello!)

We're back from our 3 day trek into the hills of Northern Thailand. Wow. What an experience...(I know! I keep saying that, but seriously the hits keep on coming on this tour). Let me start from the top...

Drove from Chiang Mai for a couple of hours up into the hills of Northern Thailand. For this trek, we only brought our day packs (THANK GOD), and a couple of days of clothing. We had a guide (named KoKo), and a porter named Gan (along with our regular guide Neung)...yes, I have totally butchered the spelling, but I am thinking phonetically these days :) The first day we walked about 3.5 hours, and about 7km. It felt like straight up...but maybe that's me :)

We were dropped off at 1000 meters (above sea level), and trekked to 1400 that day. What amazing views, we were heading up the sides of these hills, which by Ontario standards are very close to mountains :)...the views were stunning. The biggest mountain, which I can't remember it's name but is translated to mean "Big Mountain" seriously, this language slays me! It is a limestone mountain, and stands at 2500 meters above sea level. We arrived in the village at about 6...we were greeted by about 20 kids, all yelling "FOOOOOTBAAAALLLLL". I guess that's what we tourists are good for :) So we made Ben (the 19 year old limey on our trek) do it...He was very entertaining, and the kids were hilarious. So shy, but over time they were very friendly, and wanted to know about everything. My thermarest got much attention :)

We stayed in a bamboo hut. In one corner was the cooking pot where our guides made us dinner. Pretty much the best thai food I've ever had :) We slept on mats on the floor. Oh yes. A word about the toilets. Yeah.I can't say I am a fan of the asian toilet. you stand with your legs about a foot apart and pee downward. They call these "happy rooms" ...and when I pee on myself. I tell you I AM NOT HAPPY!

Anyways...that was too much information...Day 2...was CRAZY. We walked 13 km, KoKo said it was 60% up, and 40%down. and I say, He's a big liar. We were meandering up and down hills. We stopped at a georgeous waterfall, and took a swim (if I can figure out how to put pictures up I'll post one), and we walked through alot of bamboo forests.
**Useless Fact alert: there are 60 different types of Bamboo in Thailand.
so, little known fact, I am moderately afraid of heights. This made yesterday especially challenging. Some of the paths were about a foot wide, with a very steep drop (at least 3 stories) to my right. I was having a hard time with that. But I am here to write this note, so obviously alls well ends well.

So finally, at about 4pm, we arrive at the second village. they have electricity, they have a brand new guesthouse, which is beyond beautiful. oh yes, wait for it. AN ARMY of women waiting to give us Thai massages. BOOYA! That was the best!!! We all were pretty much comotose thereafter. This place was so beautiful, in a valley, and the buildings were built into the trees (they've called it Tree House Chiang Dao)...very amazing.

And today...just a quick 2.5 hour hike up into the meeting point...seemed like a cake walk compared to Day 2. After we were done, we headed to the Elephant Park where I rode an elephant. HOW COOL IS THAT? the highlight was going across the river, and having the elephants suck in water through their trunks, and spray it all over us...

So tonight, free time, finally, we're heading to the night bazaar. Tomorrow, just hanging around Chiang Mai. My roomie is amazing btw. Anne, from Denmark. She celebrated her 60th birthday on Tuesday night in a hut..that was pretty cool. She has a house in Peru, and loves to run. We're already planning a Toronto/Copenhagen marathon exchange...(TRP, Kim, prepare yourselves :))

So wat tee kaa (also means good bye :)

Kim, the spaz, on the back roads of Bangkok

So yesterday was an amazing experience. Our tour took us on mountainbikes around the back streets of Bangkok. This is so hard to explain. In the innner city of Bangkok, all of the houses are attached together, and there are little paths, maybe a meter wide (at most) inbetween the "streets" ...we were doing this on our mountain bikes.

We biked for about 3 or 4 hours, and saw great homes (which by Canadian standards are slums), but just homes here...We saw some small temples that were sweet, and very off the tourist beaten track. All the young children would yell "helllllooo" as we tourists biked past. I realize that I am not a very good at biking in confined spaces. I started using my elbows as bumping pads on the concrete walls...needless to say, I am using my polysporin. And I fell once. Yes. I was the only one...the judges are in...I am a spaz...

We went back to Khoah San Road for some "retail therapy"...it is SO cheap here. I bought a purse ($2)...pants $3.50...more pants $3.50. and yes, they are georgeous. The good thing about backpacking is that my inherent laziness to carry a bunch of crap is the only thing that is keeping me from not rebuilding my entire wardrobe :)

Last night we took a sleeper train to Chiang Mai, which was a very pleasant experience. We've just arrived in our guest house, and we're off on a 2 day trek to the hilltribes, where we'll stay with a traditional village on a hut floor. We'll also see waterfalls, and general jungle goodness. On our way back we're stopping at a Elephant Camp, where I'll get to ride an elephant! woohoo!

xo
K

PS. it's only 35 today :) feels nice...

TukTuk Bangkok

After 21 hours in the air, 10 hours on layovers, and 3 airports, I made it to Bangkok with my luggage all in one piece YAY! I met a couple of girls from the other tour leaving today as well, they were very sweet, and about 19...we decided to go on an adventure and get food and a walk, and we got into a tuktuk where he proceeded to take us to different places around Bangkok...no, nothing dangerous :)

But, i forgot what my trusty guide books told me. they tend to be happy to drive you for very cheap, as long as you go to different stores, where they get coupons for gas if they take you there...after our 3rd silk shop (with very pushy salesmen) we had had enough...We did get to see the Golden Mount which is a beautiful temple on top of the hill with the best views of Bangkok.

Met my group tonight and there are only 5 of us, and I am the second youngest believe it or not...I had fears of being very out of my league. All is well. We went to Koh San Road, the home of all of the tourists, and it was shopping MECCA which I love...am going back tomorrow. it is about 39 degrees here, and I feel VERY overdressed...tomorrow we bike around the back streets of Bangkok, then to a sleeper train to Chiang Mai...big week ahead.

Hope all is well with you xoxo

K

Phuket!

Well, my last day at ILR was last week, so I am free as a bird! And I decided, that not very often does life offer you a break. Usually I leave one job for another, and this time I don't have to.

So I've decided to go traveling. Seriously. I am going to Thailand! I leave April 30th, for a month. I am doing a gap adventures tour for the first 2 weeks, then the second two weeks I am wandering on my own. Everyone is wondering, "why not with Brian? or with a friend? are you nuts?". Well, don't answer that. I am probably nuts, but that has nothing to do with the traveling :P.

And as for by myself, at Brian's encouragement (he's seen me without a job for a week now, he probably just wants me out of the house :)) I am going to give it a try. I have never traveled on my own before, and it will be a learning experience.

I have a few goals for this trip...because I am a loser, and I always must have goals...

1- Have the trip of my life.
2- Figure out what I want to do with my career
3- Learn how to cook thai food
4- Get thai massages
5- Take good pictures...

I am sure I'll think of more. It has been about 10 years since I did a blog with my travel adventures, so here it goes. I'll be updating and I'll figure out how to make it so you can signup for email updates...

Best Dilbert Ever.

cool shiznit in my hood

Everyonce in a while I am stunned by the great things that are in my 'hood. I live on the west end of toronto, and I am really into live music. (Well, live music at small venues to be more precise.)

There are a few places that I've been to lately that are really charming holes in the wall that you should go to, really.

Hugh's Room- It's been around for a million years (well 5 probably) and has great live acts. It's so darn civilized. You have dinner, you sit at a table, and you stay seated while the band comes on to perform. Civilized. And people are so respectful of the music, and the listening, I love it.

Dakota Tavern- basement, country, quaint and cool. This place is at Dundas & Ossington. How amazing is that? to be that hip and down to earth. Not to mention, it's a favourite of the Six Shooter crowd, and I love everything on that label.

Not My Dog- this place is tiny, and charming. I saw Justin Rutledge there just before christmas with about 23 other people. although it's no good for acoustics etc, it's just a cute little bar.

the Intersteer- this institution used to live 2 doors down for years. it was gross, and disgusting. Now it's had a facelift, and looks alarmingly like the last one, but nice. and you can use the bathroom without bathing in lysol afterwards. Their beer of choice is Zyvitz (can't remember how to spell it, but that's definitely how you say it)

The local- well it's been awhile, but it's awesome. good pub food, right next door to the Revue, and it's got some good art and local music. one of my favourites.

Anyways. try them. they're good. in my opinion. which may not be yours :)