World Traveler

I was in Bangkok and I wanted somewhere to go that I hadn’t been before. Anyway, I got chatting to one of the tuk-tuk drivers and his English was excellent and he told me about loads of places that I hadn’t heard of and hadn’t been to. We set of for Lumpini Park which has a huge night market, plus a huge area where you can sit and have dinner and/or a drink. There is a huge stage where bands perform and dancers too. It was an excellent night and the tuk-tuk driver took us for free so I bought him a drink and we all had a fabulous time.

I then travelled around Thailand for a while and a few months later I got back to Bangkok, I was sat outside having a drink with some other travellers and I bumped into the same tuk-tuk driver, he stayed for a drink and we got chatting and he said he would take us out again and as I had a great time last time I trusted him to pick a good place.

We arrived at the place and paid to get in and shortly realised it was a ping pong show (not the sport, but it involves ladies on stage – get the gist?) I found it embarrassing enough but just to be a bit worse, I had my mum with me, but hey, I was in Thailand so I suppose it something that has to be seen! The girls on stage started the show by shooting ping pong balls (with their lady bits) into pint glasses, then proceeded to pull out, scarfs, flags and even razor blades which they actually demonstrated cutting paper with first!

After that, it just got worse and worse (I’d rather not go into detail but believe me it was horrible!) I stared at the wall the whole time as I couldn’t look and then made a swifty exit! It certainly was an experience that I never expected to have!

Read more about Thailand……

Ananda Apfelbaum doing Thai Massage (www.traditionalthaiyogamassage.com)

I have never really been into massage as I don’t like strangers touching me, but in Thailand for most of the massages they can do it with all your clothes on, this made me feel way more comfortable, plus I was with my mum who wanted a massage at least three times a day and in Thailand that is easily affordable, even for those on a budget!

Thai massages are very strange, the do the job but they pull you into some very strange positions and do some odd things, I couldn’t help but laugh - in fact I actually laughed through nearly the whole massage They sit on your legs and pull your arms back, then twist you and turn you and sit on your back while your sitting up, then haul you onto their knees while your laying down. Yes, very strange. I think I ruin the ambiance of the place as all you can hear is me laughing my head off, especially if its a foot and leg massage as I get very ticklish feet.

There are also a lot of reflexology places, I tried that too but I found it to be a more painful experience than pleasant, almost everywhere they pressed on my feet hurt and I really didn’t like it at all, plus I really don’t think toes should be pulled out of their sockets - is that right??

Then there are head massages. Hmmm, a strange one yet again! I have had a head massage before in England and Thai head massages are very different. Some bits of the massage are nice but some bits feel like someone is hitting you on the head with a big stick, I have no idea if it is a stick or if its hands, all that I know is that is not very nice and fairly painful!

Read more about Thailand…..

Everywhere you go in Thailand there are fire shows which are amazing and I have even seen 8 year old children doing it. I suppose its actually fire dancing; you either have a long stick with fire at both ends or you can have poi, which are basically two bits of chain with fire at both ends and you hold one in each hand. There are loads of different moves and each person has their own unique style. As they dance and swing their poi in all different directions the fire creates fantastic patterns which look stunning in the dark.
 
I was so wow-ed by fire dancing that I managed to find a place that makes poi and also gives you lessons, obviously whilst learning you don’t set the poi alight, however its still a very painful experience – that’s something I wasn’t aware of beforehand!
 
In my group there were about five of us and the other people seemed to have no problem in learning the moves but I was hopeless! The poi kept getting tangled together and the balls at the end bashed me in the face and legs repeatedly so I was covered in bruises and thought I was going to get a black eye, luckily I didn’t. Its definitely very frustrating and I had to hold myself back from throwing my poi down and launching myself at the teacher for all the pain he was causing, but then I managed to do one of the moves and I got really excited again (lucky for him!)
 
So I persevered and managed to get a few other moves under control. After a few lessons I was much better and I practiced loads but still there is no way I am ever lighting those poi on fire because no matter how much I practice I still go wrong and I know that I will just set myself on fire! So I have come to the conclusion that its better to sit back an watch others fire dancing, much safer too!

Read more about Thailand….

Koh Phangan is one of Thailand’s well known islands, mainly because of its full moon parties, not to mention the black moon parties, the half moon parties…..any excuse for a celebration really! My first experience of Koh Phangan was for my birthday, which is December, unfortunately, so there were loads of holiday makers and the island was absolutely packed - its probably the busiest time of year. For some silly reason I thought that there would be some spiritual side to these parties so I got a shock when I got there.

I barely saw any Thai people, just loads of disrespectful foreigners throwing bottles at peoples houses, fighting and shouting and I hated every minute of it! I went back to Koh Pahangan a few times but not at the peak season and the parties were brilliant, less people, and travellers rather than hooligans on holiday.

Sunrise beach, where the parties happen, is lined with bars each playing a different style of music so there is bound to be something for everyone. I even took my Mum to a full moon party and she had a great time! The beach is covered with UV decorations, fire dancers and loads of people dancing and there is a fabulous vibe. The party usually goes on until about 8am but there is usually an after party on somewhere else so ask around if you want to stay up - if you have had any Thai Red-bull I guarantee you won’t be sleeping (its illegal in most other countries as its so strong.

Watch out for broken glass on the beach and getting on the wrong side of any of the local people (believe me, you will regret it!) and when you have to take your shoes off when you go into a shop (out of respect in Thai culture), take your shoes in with you as someone stole my flip-flops (they were really cheap flip flops but very comfortable!) but luckily I managed to find a pair out of all the discarded ones on the beach!

Read about more celebrations……..

I found out about Air Asia when I was travelling around South East Asia and although I was on the smallest budget ever imaginable its a very economical way of getting about. Air Asia is one of the few budget airlines operating in Asia and is a great way to travel around Asia cheaply.

With flights between Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore it connects you with ease to the whole of South East Asia. Flights are as cheap as chips, literally, with many flights as low as $10 USD including taxes! When I was travelling Asia I often found it was actually cheaper to fly than to get a long distance bus or train - that makes a change and its certainly an easier way of getting around, rather than on a bus with random children and chickens on your lap!

Air Asia has now introduced a new route that links Australia’s Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur, hopefully there are more routes to come connecting Asia to other parts of the world at very low prices. Flights are quick and easy to book with either online or telephone booking facilities. Some travel agents also book Air Asia flights but at a slightly increased cost. The website is really user friendly and its also available in a few different languages and has currency converters etc. There are usually special deals on flights and regular sales for even bigger bargains. The website is www.airasia.com

I have flown with Air Asia plenty of times and generally flights leave and arrive when they should do and the staff are generally very helpful and friendly. I would highly recommend them, although I haven’t yet flown with them long haul.

More travel deals….

Thailand is amazing and is by far one of my favourite countries with its clear turquoise waters and sandy white beaches, fabulous shopping (when you can find clothes that fit!)  There are stunning temples and beautiful islands and I found it very easy and safe to travel there, much safer than living in London, that’s for sure!  Over the last ten years its popularity has grown dramatically and is now a huge tourist hot spot and in many places there are more tourists than locals.  Your spoilt for choice when it comes to entertainment and sight seeing and the food will blow your mind (quite literally sometimes as its fairly common to find its a bit more chilli than you can handle!) 

The Thai people are pleasant but generally stick to themselves and can often be shy, except for the children who will often come over and talk to you to practice their English, which I must say is very good.  Prices are very good, for everything, so even if you don’t have much to spend you can still live very well and afford to treat yourself regularly.  There are three seasons; hot season, which is unbearably hot and humid, cool season, the best time to go and monsoon season, where it pours down for a few hours a couple of times a day, plus the humidity is very high, timing of the start of each season varies from north to south.

 http://www.tourismthailand.org/default.aspx

http://www.worldtravelerjournal.com/category/thailand/

I wonder why women are so ridiculed for what men call an insatiable appetite for shopping.My husband just becomes too sweet whenever he senses my eyes fancying something. At his sweetest best, he very enthusiastically tries to draw my attention to something else[more interesting] and then something else and then again something else and …. Before I could crack his “coded message” [meant to steer me clear of shopping], I used to rejoice in his enthusiastic participation in “window shopping” and finding interesting things![not anymore]

I dont remember who made the “profound” observation that when men are upset they invade countries and show aggression, and women either eat or go for a shopping! [You decide which is more constructive!Which one builds health in an economy and which is disastrous to economic health of entire states]

But once in Bangkok[Check the weather in Bangkok now], he was really so different!Probably because it is bangkok - the city of angels, the shopping paradise of the world.[Compare price for flights to Bangkok]

Prices are low and quality generally high and the range and variety is pretty amazing - Thai silk scarves, gemstones[Beware of the gigantic gem scams], tailor-made clothes and traditional handicrafts.There is something for everybody.Street stalls and shops on the street, with smiling Thai faces behind the counters, will generally have lower prices for the same product than the higher end shopping centers and department stores[because they pay a high establishment cost]However, this does not mean that the price difference does not reflect on the quality of the product.Nancy Chandler’s Map can be a very helpful guide in locating the right places.

But the fun is not so much in the shopping plazas as in the night markets dipped in the exotic Thai flavor.You have the 35 acres Chatuchak weekend market, the Suan Lum night bazar, the Pratunam Market[best for buying clothes] and the much talked about PatPong Night market[map]

In case you are fortunate enough to have missed the reputation of Patpong, it is the heart of Bangkok’s notorious redlight areas.The place seems entirely made for men.The nightlife strip runs along two short lanes. Bars share street-space with restaurants, massage parlors, a couple of hotels.The sex industry began during the Vietnam War when it became the base for rest and recreation for the American soldiers, but from their Patpong’s “reputation” took off on its own.The night market in overcrowded streets sell fake watches and clothes mostly and is packed with white men mostly.

It is convenient to take the Bangkok Metro for going to most places in Bangkok.And in between your touring of the city dont forget to taste the fabulous Thai food made in a local style and served in a local ambience.

By the way, did you know the real local full name of the city is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit Thank God, I did not read in a school in Thailand, surely I would have been expected to know the capital of the country!

When someone says “Thailand”, many things come to mind.The breath - taking beauty of turqoise sea, and white sand and bright sunshine, the mouth - watering aroma and taste of local cuisine, the pulse - pounding dance bars of Bangkok, the dignified ruins of ancient and gorgeous temple architecture. It seems the country has laid out a robust menu to suit all tastes.

However, if you look at Pattaya for sometime, the city which stares back to you is distinctive for one reason - the unrestrained, unapologetic and unusual promotion of sex - tourism. But the Alcazar show is something which is distinctive to the city and goes well with its overall persona and is yet an artistic expression of sensuousness.

The performers are stunning beauties in their extravagant costumes enacting some Thai traditional story.But those most beautiful of “women” are not women.Alcazar showcases the cabaret by transvestites and even if you knew you will find it difficult to believe all those beautiful showgirls were not girls at all.
The glamour and glitter of Alcazar show is a must see in Pattaya.

Oh my God! I lost count of the number of times I exclaimed in sheer surprise on my first night out in Pattaya. Those of you who have been there know what I mean, and for those who haven’t, are you ready to taste the legendary night life of Pattaya.

Well I intend to tell you all about Pattaya, as I saw it. But then, laying bare the soul of this city by the sea, which I so much want to do, might be a challenge to my vocabulary!And please do excuse me if some of you out there find my account not measuring up to the reality of Pattaya:of course you understand I run a respectable blog!

Come spend a night in Pattaya!You will love it, or hate it, but you will not forget it!

By the way, have you noticed I am taking you to a beach and starting with its nightlife. Nothing of the sea, sun and sand, you are probably wondering why.By no means are these natural beauties worth overlooking.But each place has a distinctive character of its own, and Pattaya is distinctive not as a destination to bronze by the sun but as one to booze and …

Not sun, sand or sea, there is another “S” word screaming on your face all over the place here.So I begin our journey to this well known hedonist paradise in my next post, which I can not but call “SEX and the city”