Angkor Wat

I read an article when I was probably around 10 years old in a newspaper about a guy that was travelling in South-America. There where photos of him with Machu Picchu, the old Inca city, in the background. I remember thinking how amazing it was and how amazing it would be to see it with your own eyes. In 2000 I did and it was such a big thing for me. Angkor Wat, was in the same category. Something that I really really wanted to see with my own eyes. And WOW, in the last days I've been hanging around there and it's just amazing.

Bought a 3 days pass to the Angkor Wat area. With in it are many Wat's of different sizes and in various conditions. The most famous is Angkor Wat it self. But there are many more and some are just beautiful. There are a lot of tourists around but somehow we have managed to stay away from the big tours and been to many of the Wat's when they are not busy. We have also taken our time and found quiet spots and really soaked up the experience of being there.

Cambodia, Siem Reap

I had both been told and read about the scam buses that run from Khao San Road in Bangkok to Cambodia. So I had been warned !! But I just refused to believe that each and every bus would run a scam. After reading this article, I found out that I would be hassled in Cambodia anyway if I would do it on my own. So since I found out it would cost me more to get to the borders with public transport rather then with one of the Khao San buses I decided to take mini-bus aka "scam bus" to at least the border and see how it would go from there.

It all started out well, left just after 7 in the morning. Our luxury mini-bus was not even full so we had good space and air-con. Started seeing the signs to the borders and looked at my watch, thinking this is not to bad. It was about 10:30, and then we turned into this restaurant. The first scam stop. We had to change buses and wait for more people.
Then we were in for the second scam VISA service. 1200 bath for a VISA to Cambodia. I just did not see the point in buying that from them since we were on our way to the borders where we could just do it ourselves for 1000 bath so I declined the service and made miss popular with the guys there. Threatened to be left behind at the borders since it would take me much longer. I was not to worried because I knew that it was very unlikely that we would be leaving right away.

2 and 1/2 hours later and 2 people more and one old truck. We headed to the borders that was about 15 min away from the restaurant. It was just a normal border crossing, with grumpy men behind there desks, checking and stamping.

It was very visible as soon as we entered Cambodia, that the country is poorer than Thailand. A lot of street kids begging and a bit of a chaos going on. This border town is also known to be very unpleasant.

Next we got on a shuttle-bus to the government bus-station where we were supposed to catch our next bus. And according to things I had heard and read, this is where the scams really begin. They bus drives very slowly, stopping in restaurants for ages to make sure that you arrive late in Siem Reap, and usually it drops you off at some guesthouse, and you are kind of held hostage there. It is also a kind of a mafia around the bus station that makes sure that you can't get any other transport from there without them getting a cut. Even the police is in on it.

After waiting for my bus for 1 1/2 hour and at the same time trying to find some people to share a taxi, I met this Japanese girl that understood a bit Khmer and she could figure out that there was some problems with the bus and they had no clue when it would get there. They guys kept saying it would come within 20 min. By then it was almost 15:30 and I knew that it would take at least 6 hours to get to Siem Reap with a bus and about 3 hours with a taxi. I finally met this Australian couple that were willing to share a taxi and off we went from this rather unpleasant place.

I had heard that the road from here to Siem Reap was bad. But OMG I was not prepared for how bad it was. It is a dirt road with the biggest pot holes I have seen and just awful. I was so glad that we were driving in a car with seat belts and air con, but not on a old bus. But it got better. It started raining and the dry dirt road changed into a muddy and very very slippery road. We were skidding all over the place and got very close to hitting other cars and getting seriously bogged/stuck a few times. But in the end we arrived safely in Siem Reap. It was about 12 hours after I started my trip.

Back to Bangkok - NEW PICTURES

I've left paradise behind and I'm back in Bangkok. It is 37'C and I'm sweating in places I did not know you could sweat !! The plan is to head over to Cambodia tomorrow. My biggest achivement since I arrived yesterday is to finally upload my picture !!! Know that some of you have been waiting for that. So here they are at last: Back to Australia, New Zealand, the South Island and Thailand

Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, close to better know Koh Phi Phi. Koh Lanta was not hit as bad in the Tsunami as Phi Phi. Some off the better dive sides in Thailand are around this area.

When I bought my trip I was told that it would be about 2-3 hour boat trip from Krabi to Koh Lanta that would stop in Phi Phi. But the "boat trip" turned out to be 2 X 10 min ferry ride, since we where driven down in mini-bus, that dropped us of way out off the biggest town on the Island, magically in front of...yes you guessed it, a travel agency, where we could book taxis back into the town we had just driven through. So again I just had to smile. Had lunch with some people that where also on the bus and since we where already more then half-way down the Island we decided to head further south from the big town to a very quiet beach. After finally finding a taxi that was not asking ridiculous amount off money we headed down to Bamboo Bay. Found a lovely little place, the Last Beach Resort. Basic bamboo-huts and a beach. Teamed up with some people to collect fire-wood and grill on the beach.

Since I wanted to dive, I decided to move closer to the big town in the north. In the back of the pick-up truck on the way I met this lovely girl from USA that was also moving. So we decided to team up and share a bungalow. Good move since it was cheaper and she was a very good company.

Did some diving at it was awesome !! The highlight was to see a big Leopard Shark. I had yet to see a shark and before we jumped in I commented on it and as we came around the first corner..there it was.

On my way to Koh Lanta, but...

I decided to head to Koh Lanta next to do some more diving. It took me a while to get there. First I took a boat to Suratthani. And from there I should have been on a bus to Krabi where I wanted to spend a night. But since I "missed" my bus, I had to stay the night in Suratthani.

It is actually wonderful to travel around in Thailand. You drive around in a mini-bus (or in the back off a pick-up truck) from one travel-agency to another, preferably changing into another mini-bus before you board your boat or big bus to your destination. And at each and every place they try to sell you accommodations or onward ticket to your next destination. Usually claiming to be much cheaper than what you can get at your destination.
It's also very common that the bus driver has to run some errands on the way as well. Like buying some electric equipment, dropping something off or picking something up and they always have to stop for petrol. Think the funniest thing that has happened to me so far, was to be rushed in to a mini-bus that was leaving. Well we started picking up some more people and drove around for ages, running some errands as well, only to end up again at the same place where we waited a bit longer before we finally left for our destination. But eventually you end up where you wanted to go!!

Anyways since I "missed" my bus, I was actually there 30 min before the bus should leave. I just think they did some mistake, because I had changed my travel-plan over the phone. And in Thailand it is very important for people to "keep a face" so it is hard to admit to making a mistake. So it best to just smile and find another solution together.

So I spent the night in Suratthani. Found a hotel that was clean and cheap, and full of Thai businessmen. Went out to explore the town and ended up in a Night Market. Tried different kind of food, but skipped the old lady that was selling fried worms & various bugs. Hardly any other tourists around and in the end I was glad that I had to spend the night there.

Ko Pha Ngan

Next was Ko Pha Ngan which is an Island best known for it's famous Full Moon parties. The Island fills up with party thirsty people and there is a huge rave like party on the beach. I was not there for that....but there was a Black Moon party. Not nearly as big. But it was a good party on the beach with fire shows and games and people in various drunken/drugged state all over the place. We got a lot of warning from locals before going not to take any valuables with since there was very common due to the darkness that people got robbed at the beach. But we did not have any troubles. People were friendly and we had a wicked time.
I went there with Lucy (UK), Riina (Estonia) and Amir (Israel) whom I had met up with in Koh Tao while diving. We stayed in a fairly posh place and had a good time. But I decided that the Black Moon party was enough for me and I could skip the Full Moon one :o)

Songram - New Year

The Thai New Yearwas mad. Stayed in Koh Tao!! Basically it is all about splashing water at people and throwing white powder on you. It is just so much fun. Nobody can stay dry for the day. Everybody has water-pistols, buckets and hoses and it is just a big playground. I had so much fun. Definitely an event I would like to participate in again :o)

Koh Tao

Koh Tao is beautiful. I'm doing my Advance diving course here. So far I've done 2 fun dives and my Deep and Navigation dives. Tonight it's the Night dive !! I am just enjoying this so much !!! Met loads of lovely people and plan to stay for a few more days. Thailands biggest holiday is coming up in 2 days. And as far as I know it a good fun with a lot of splashing water on people.

Kanchanaburi

On the way from Koh Chang I met up with a Norwegian guy that was on his way to this village Kanchanaburi where the famous bridge over the river Kwai is. But he wanted to see the Tiger Temple where you can pet the tigers. It sounded all pretty interesting so me and the danish girl I was hanging out with in Koh Chang decided to join him. I do always have mixed emotions about animals in captivity and the visit to the Tiger Temple was no different. But interesting to say the least. Enjoyed my stay !! Met this Thai lady on the minibus back to Bangkok that just did not stop talking to me....in Thai all the way. Very sweet !!

Koh Chang

Been in Koh Chang for the last 4 days and it's a small paradise. It is Thailand's second biggest island, located South-East of Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand. Decided to come here and meet up with Steve, from my Africa trip, yes once again!! So I went to Lonely Beach, booked into a beach hut and had some nice days with him and some friends. We hired scooters and drove around the Island. The island is fairly mountainous, so it was a good thrill on the small scooters. There has been a lot of swimming, relaxing and drinking buckets on the beach. I also met some nice people on the bus on my way down here, one Danish girl. So I have been practicing my danish a bit in the last days :o) Steve left today, but I'm gonna have a few more relaxing chill-out days and maybe a couple of massages before I head somewhere else.