Second update from Thailand

Sawadee Khrup everybody.

Sorry we haven't updated you sooner on what's been going on but it's just been soooo busy over here.

The last episode finished with us in Bangkok about to head out for dinner and then Royal Thai Massages.

The story continues....
(and probably not all of it as we don't have a few hours to write this up)

Massages were great (at least I though so, Sandra wasn't sure what to expect and was a bit put off by them using pressure points and so forth) however I enjoyed it.

The next day we booked a tour  of the klongs/canals (through the same guy who did the bike tour) and it was amazing, we met our guide at the Sheraton (after a bomb search of the car) and headed off with Nooch? up the river.  Firstly we went by river ferry (large longtail boat) and stopped
at the end of the line/stream for a quick look around the local markets then by smaller longtail up the main river and into the country areas surrounding Bangkok.  We had a great time racing along the smaller canals and then stopped at a local Wat/temple to have a look around, walked to the nearby town and had sensational Pat Thai from a street vendor.  We then decided that we really wanted to see the Grand Palace before we left, so Nooch took us on a tour of this as well.
Most excellent.

We also mentioned that we wanted to look at possibly getting some suits etc made for us so she then took us to one of the biggest chains in Bangkok for a look.  Of course we bought a bit.......54, 000 worth......Baht of course.
Hmm this is taking a long time maybe I'd better move ahead faster.

Met up with our tour group that night (for some strange reason the clothing store gave us a free ride to the hotel, possibly because they had just taken us for one somewhere else.......)

After we met, we went out for dinner with the group and then back for an early night.  The next day we departed for Kanchanaburi (River Kwae) and had a great time around there, looking at all the
touristy things and staying in a guesthouse on the river. (and getting massages)
Highlights were the War museums, more temples, shopping and the atmosphere (though Sandra's getting a bit miffed at the lack of wine not to mention no champagne availability).  From Kanchanaburi we hopped on local buses to Ayuttaya (old capital with all the ruins) and walked around there for half a day before getting the overnight train to Chiang Mai (and meeting the other two for our tour on the train, Breanna and Jessica from Canada).  Very good train journey with
someone to pull out and make your sleeper bed and a good nights sleep except when they add/remove carriages.

In Chiang Mai we had a free day (sort of) and spent it (literally) by going to see the Wat overlooking the city Doi Suthep? (which was stupendous) and then visiting a few factory outlets for the girls (besides the guide, I'm the only other male in this group so the weight of opinion regarding
shopping is against me. (though it's been lots of fun)
For some strange reason, Sandra wanted a silk tablecloth and napkins plus a few other things which then took a few hours of messing around making sure they understood the measurements
correctly etc.  Pity I didn't triple check their understanding of my silk shirt because that had to go back and be redone.

The next day we left for our 4 day trek of the hilltribes.  It was sensational, some hard work and hot weather but the tribespeople were very friendly and our guide and porters (for the food only, not our backpacks) were tremendous.  Getting us to each village at our own pace and cooking superb 3 course meals each night (and putting up with a bit of whinging occasionally esp when any distance is translated into 'just hour and half more'.  After the elephant rides, bamboo river rafting and just the excellent company, we didn't want to stop.  (in fact our clothes just about started to walk themselves further)

After this it was back to Chiang Mai for more shopping (bartering can be a lot of fun esp when you don't really need/want the thing and are just seeing what lengths the vendors will go to for a sale), looking around (cycling on main streets is an experience) and lovely food.  A great dinner that
night, esp as we went to a place that had some champagne.  We decided on the Spanish champange at 900Bt a bottle, not the Moet at 4000Bt.

We left Chiang Mai this morning for Chiang Rai (up in the North of Thailand near the border) we first travelled by local bus for nearly four hours (not so much fun when I finally got the delhi belly, from the large number of 'ratshit' chillis I ate last night not the food and a couple of the girls went out to the local bars and didn't get much sleep and tried to do so on the bus)  After the bus we travelled by river on longtail boat for about two hours to Chiang Rai, interesting trip given the amount of water flowing down the river and taking the boat down rapids.

Tomorrow we go up into Myanmar (Burma) and Laos and will be back in Chiang Rai in a few days time ready to move back to Chiang Mai and finish our tour and start our cooking course.

Sorry I can't tell more in this message but time is short and we've done so much.
Until next time

sean and sandra

PS   I think Sandra is missing someone as a lot of dogs in Thailand are getting pats from Farang (non thai peoples)