For Argyll

Sorry this has taken so long, my camera has been playing up again!…

Charlotte, myself and 2 American hippies we picked up along the way left Kanchanaburi to get the bus to Ayutthaya on the morning of 12th October (Monday I think!), we were hoping to spend the day in Ayutthaya then get the night train to Chiang Mai but it didn’t work like that!…….

We got to a guest house who were willing to look after our bags for us so that we could do a tour of Ayutthaya as we were short of time, and the lady there phoned around for train tickets for us, but the train was full! We then found a travel agent who had a bus service, 10 hours on a bus! I really didn’t want to do it but had no option, I only had 2 days in Chiang Mai as it was so really needed to get there, ended up not doing the tour though as I was scared it would be delayed and I’d miss the bus, the others didn’t mind though as they’re travelling for a while and so were considering staying in Ayutthaya anyway. So, alone and armed with my out of date Rough Guide to Thailand book, I waved them off on their tour and went to book the bus. I wasn’t alone for long though and ended up going for diner with an American girl called Ginger who was also heading to Chiang Mai, on the train though! So, got the bus, and so did the others in end, the journey was fine, I had 2 reclining chairs to myself and slept just about the whole way so it went quite quickly.

Once there, the bus took us to accommodation called “Nice Place Guest House” I have no idea why they called it that because it certainly wasn’t. We ended up checking in anyway as it was the easy option but as soon as we got in to the 4-bed dorm I knew it was a mistake and planned on making my exit later, the Belgian guys I met in Kanchanaburi were on their way….

So we went for breakfast, but being the only meat eater among 3 vegetarians proved to be a problem. They really wanted to find a veggie cafe and so we trailed about for around an hour looking for one, passing so many nice places with vegetarian options on the menu (this is all after a 10 hour bus journey - argh!!), I was just about to send them on their way and go and get a big bacon roll when we found a place, not a vegetarian place, but a place they were settling for anyway! So we ordered breakfast and hippy #1 started meditating over his muesli, feeling the energy from it or something, I don’t know, so at that point I went to the travel agents next door and booked tickets for the next leg of my journey, Bangkok to Koh Tao. When I got back, they were gone and I decided not to try too hard to find them again!

NB. Can I just point out that I have nothing against vegetarians (I have dabbled in vegetarianism once or twice myself) or hippies but these guys were just tooooooo much!

I was having a wander when the Belgians (Dieter, Tommy and Steven) called to say they were here, so I went to see them in their accommodation, Julie Guest House, which is the place I wanted to stay in in the first place! They had one room left, sharing with one other guy, so I took it. I then went back to not so “Nice Place” and checked out again, still having to pay for the nights accommodation, I was annoyed at first but when I converted in to pounds I was okay, it was just over one (there is no pound sign on these machines)! So I checked in to Julie Guest House and then went for dinner with the Belgians and some Swedish girls, it was such a laugh. Once back, we bought some beer and sat on the roof of the guest house where they had big cushions, hammocks and mattresses for chilling out on, it was great!

Dinner with the Belgian guys and Swedish girls.

The following day (Sunday 14th I think!) the Belgians and I hired motorbikes to do a tour of the city, though being the wimp that I am (but possibly being quite sensible too) I didn’t take one myself and instead sat on the back of Dieters the whole time, I’m glad I did as he was very entertaining! He was singing all the way, hits including “Three White Mice” (his own version of Three Blind Mice) and “Supercalifragilistic…….”

Biking in Chaing Mai, I was with Dieter (middle).

First stop was the Butterfly and Orchid Farm which was lovely, then the snake farm where they took great pleasure in winding me up, it took a lot of courage for me to look in to the alligator pit, and when I did one of them grabbed my ankle pretending to be something biting me!

Dieter and Tommy being arty at the orchid farm.

After a wander round the farm they had a snake show with cobras and other deadly snakes, I sat right at the back! After the snake farm we carried on along the road and up a big winding hill where at one point I had to get off and walk because the bike couldn’t cope with both of us! We then came across a bunch of kids playing football by the river, they were so sweet! Tommy and Steven ended up joining in on the game while Dieter and I took lots of pictures! When we were leaving they ran after us, right up to the side of the road and were waving and blowing kisses, it was like something out of a movie! The guys are hoping to go back with a new football for them!

Football with the local kids.

That night we went to the night market, it was amazing! So huge and so much to buy but as I was having to carry everything, I couldn’t buy much! They had these big spider keyrings which again, the Belgians kept winding me up with, swines! They then bought some food from the local delicacy stall……..

Steven

……while I stuck with the veggie noodles. However, I wasn’t off the hook, and later was bullied in to trying one myself! I eventually agreed to do it but everytime I got it close to my mouth and saw it up close I wimped out! Eventually with much encouragement and hassle, I did it! And I have to say, it wasn’t actually that bad, salty and crispy! Though I’m not in any rush to have them again! I knew people wouldn’t believe me when I told them so while Steven took a video on my camera, Dieter took a picture on his but I need to wait for him to email that to me! I can prove it!!!

We all left Julie’s Guest House at 10am the following day, they were heading to Pai while I had a taxi booked for the airport - I decided a one hour flight to Bangkok was going to be far more enjoyable than another 10 hour bus journey, plus I didn’t want to waste another day travelling when I have so little time left here. It was really sad leaving them but I have been invited to Antwerp anytime and they’re threatening to come to Scotland too - Beware!!!

One last thing - to answer a couple of comments -

Jamie - the Mozzies are like midges with not only attitude, but on steroids too! Bites are much better now, thankfully!

Uncle David - modes of transport I have been on or in in the past month include a Mini Cooper, 4 planes, buses, tuk tuks, songthaews, a motorbike, a bicycle, a catamaran, ferries and elephants!

Hopefully the next, and probably last, instalment will be with you soon!

Emma x