MAK returns many shades darker

So my trip has come to an end, but I don't feel lonesome at all, as I am battling a new foe, his name is jet lag.   The first night was quite fine, as I beat him out by not sleeping a wink on the plane (over 15 hours).  Tonight is another story.  He has nestled beside me since 1 am and refuses to leave.  Due to his presence, y'all can see what I did on my final day in Phuket.  

Day 31. Phi Phi.  The day started early, as I would be in a speed boat all day hopping around Phi Phi Island.   The sand is so fine and quite lovely to walk on!  This is Maya Beach.  The tour guide didn't stress enough how this was where the movie, "The Beach," was filmed.

Clear waters.  See the Coral?

Monkey Island!
Pretty, aye?

Khai Island

Amazingly soft sand :)

Day 32. Hong Kong. I said my final farewell to Phuket's street Pad Thai and headed to the airport.  Sadly, my stay in Hong Kong was just overnight.  I would be flying across the ocean blue the next morning!

Day 33. New York. Good thing, NY is 12 hours behind Hong Kong, enabling me to not only arrive on the same day that I left, but also in time for lunch!  At 2 pm Eastern time, I proceeded to inhale kimchi and bim bim bap in my kitchen.   

Until time affords me another adventure, I hope you have enjoyed traveling with the MAK!

Operation rid self of short tan - FAIL

Day 30. Phuket. I journeyed from more quiet Karon to Patpong. Here is the cheap seafood lunch I found for 140 BHT! Yes, I ate it all :)

Luckily, after a little before noon, the sun came out shining and I even tried to get rid of my short tan on Karon beach. I am sad to report no success -- for now!

Day 31. Racha Yai. Today, I was in for a treat -- my introductory diving course with 2 50-minute dives! After getting picked up at 7:40 am, my instructor and I boarded a boat that took us a hour and half away from Phuket to Racha Yai. I must say that there is nothing that compares to being underwater. Regulating your breathing proves very calming. Hovering over the coral and letting the school of fish swim around you are experiences that I will never forget. Shucks, I always forget to plan around the activity, not location. If I had realized how much fun diving would have been I would have nixed my last 2 full days in Cambodia and came to Phuket to get my PADI certification -- the seeds for my next trip have been planted! :P
Getting ready!These waters beckoned!After 2 dives, you get to feel accomplished by receiving a Certificate of Recognition! Panaeng curry that I inhaled after coming back from the dive! I was bloody hungry!

I shall now retreat into my air conditioned room and watch Korean TV. Before coming to SEA, I never watched Korean soaps. Now these soaps are my major form of entertainment after a tiring day! Oh, the wet suit worn for diving is not conducive to tanning. Short tan, when will you leave me?! Anyway, tata~ :)

Second helpings of Pad Thai, please!

Sawatdika again from Thailand! It's already day 30 of my trip of solitude. I'm happy to have arrived in Phuket yesterday after scrambling on the temples of Cambodia. Sadly, the chance to rid myself of a very noticable short tan seems unlikely given the light drizzle! I offer you some of the temples of Cambodia, while I schedule an introductory diving course :)

Day 23 - 28. Siem Reap. My first 3 full days in Cambodia were devoted to seeing the temples. It's best to go see the temples early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is not so strong. I loved scrambling on top of the temples!

Here's my tourist picture at Angkor Wat!

Bayon - my favorite. Try finding the 216 faces!Ankor Wat at dawn.

My legs got exhausted after holding these towers up :P

On day 28, my last full day in Cambodia, I learned how to make Amok Fish!

Bye, Thailand!

It's day 23, before I leave for Cambodia today, I present to you Thailand. 

Day 20. Chiang Mai. I devoted myself to the art of consumption.  Memory does recall learning about the culinary process :P   Apparently, this outdoor kitchen is where it happened.

Pad thai

Tongue must taste the creaminess, sweetness, saltiness and spiciness of green curry.  Perception must be in that precise order!

Spring rolls

Tom yum soup

Chicken and cashew nuts

Mango with sticky rice

The parade of the fruits of Thailand begins -- here comes durian!

Mangosteen

Rambutan

I have forgotten what this was!

After class, I boarded, fully stuffed, the night train and said farewell to Chiang Mai.  The train would have me in Bangkok by the next day.

 

Day 21. Bangkok. First day of exploration, I was taken for a spin around Bangkok, just as all the guide books warn.  Here is what happens: a man approaches you and says a tuk tuk driver can take you to see a few wats.  The man even whips out a map to show you.  Then a tuk tuk driver appears, he does take you to a few wats, but makes you stop at shops along the way.  In the oddest way, I was lucky when the tuk tuk left me behind at a wat, when he saw that I did not make any purchases at the stores (he must get a commission) because I never paid him-- just a mere annoyance.  Second scam, a woman approached me about purchasing gems at a cheap rate here then reselling them in the U.S.  I just smiled and walked away.  On a positive note, here is  my hotel.  I love it here.  Awesome bfast that changes daily, great staff and space :) 

Some of the wats I saw on that infamous tuk tuk route.

View from Golden Mount.

For dinner, I walked to Cabbages and Condoms, the closest thing I would get to anything associated with the happenings at red-light district.  The proceeds from this restaurant go to fund safe-sex education.  The food isn't amazing, but the condom theme was quite amusing.

Condom dress -- will it ever go into style?

Condom Santa and I

Time to get your education on!

Btw, the restaurant is right by Bangkok's K-town.

 Day 22. Bangkok. One day wiser about the ways of Bangkok, I avoid tuk tuks and strangers.  I enjoy my morning wandering around the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Po.  Transportation provided by ferry for only 13 BHT :)

HI, I'm a tourist!

All my meals were provided by the food courts at Bangkok's huge shopping centers.  Quite an awesome deal when an entree is around 60 BHT, less than 2 bucks, compared to eating at restaurants that will charge you around 150 BHT for entree then another 40 BHT for rice then tax and VAT!  It's better to eat at the courts than any restaurant -- unless you have a local recommendation.  Food courts are also great for ppl watching.  My lunch of baked rice with Taro.

My dinner of noodles with fish and egg.

My efforts to visit the red-light district were thwarted by monsoon rains.  I pondered a bunch if I should risk getting caught in another potential downpour to see lady boys and old men with younger Thais in a concentrated area, but couldn't get myself to complete the journey (I had already seen some anyway). Hence, the end of MAK's journey in Bangkok!

Missing elephant kisses

Sawatdika!  Day 22, before my 2nd day in Bangkok begins, here is Chiang Mai, part 1, for your viewing pleasure.  

Day 19. Chiang Mai. After inhaling bfast, I waited to be picked up for my meeting with the elephants!  Look at all the red-truck taxis!

Before enjoying the Elephant Nature park, y'all need to listen.  Please do not go on a trek if elephants are being used.  Most of us have jobs that requires us to sit on our bums all day, so we all could use the exercise!  Curious as to why tourists should avoid elephant riding/trekking, well, the elephants have to trained. Training for working elephants do not vary for logging or tourism. Training begins at 4 or 5 years of age (Elephants have similar lifespan to humans, reaching between 65 to 75 years of age). The training tactics include being put into a cage, barely big enough for the elephant.  Inside the cage, their legs are tied up and then the poor baby is jabbed all over with a nail on a stick (Even inside the inner ear if not obedient) to learn to comply with human commands.  The elephant's spirit is intentionally broken.  If you've already been -- no worries, y'all, didn't know the tactics used.  Everyone should go to my Elepant Nature Park to visit the rescued elephants and opt for elephant kisses instead :) 

We make contact with the one-month old baby!

Baby making contact with me :)

I forgot whose feet these are.

Posing with the adults!

Elephant kiss number 1

Elephant kiss number 2 in progress

Kiss complete!

Elephants like to be fed.

Humans like to be fed.

Into the waters we go!

Elephants also like to be bathed.

All clean!

Cute bum, aye?

Take a wild guess as to what we are?

I had such an amazing time here :)  Highly, highly recommended. 

Chiang Mai, part 2, to come along with Bangkok.  Tata!

Sawatdika :)

Sawatdika!  Apologies for the lack of updates -- Yes, I am aware that it is my 21st day in Asia.  However, I just arrived in Bangkok after a 13-hour train from Chiang Mai.  The city beckons! Hopefully, this tiny update including the rest of Hanoi and bits of Chiang Mai will hold you over!

Day 16. Hanoi. My last day in Vietnam involved exploring the French Quarter and recuperating at my hotel.  Oh, yawn -- many apologies for my laziness! 

Day 17 . Chiang Mai. Stepping off the plane, I was in for a shock. The lack of honking and obsoleteness of the game of chicken left me utterly confused when crossing the streets of Chiang Mai. The tranquility of the residential streets in Chiang Mai's Old City was quite surprising.  After getting over the initial shock, I headed to the Night Market!  The Night Market was a shopper's heaven with cheap cutesy knick knacks, clothes and food!

Hmm, me and banana roti with condensed milk!

It looks good and tastes even better!

Pad Thai!

My one T-shirt purchased from the Night Market!

Day 18. Chiang Mai. My day long adventure in Chiang Mai began!  I realized all the Thais don't come out until later in the afternoon -- smart way to avoid the heat.  Anyway, bright and early I hop into a sawngthaew (red-truck taxi) to start my day!

Dropped off in front of  300-plus steps at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep! 

The lookout point (Chiang Mai is under there somewhere)!

Then I visited more wats in the Old City.  Here is Chedi Luang.

After visiting a few more wats, I finally made my way to the 3 Kings Monument, Anusawari Sam Kasat!  Thais leave offerings to the ancient kings.

After walking for hours in empty streets under the sun, I take a mango smoothie break.  Here is the view from the cafe. 

Later in the evening, I headed over to the Sunday market.  It was great -- vendors with cheap food and merchandise!  Sadly, the waters came from above, ending my night early.  Well, I am off now to explore Bangkok.  Hope y'all can wait for day 19 and 20 in Chiang Mai (my best days in Thailand)! :)

Check out my junk!

Day 13. Ha Long Bay. Read on to check out my junk! No, not the junk in my trunk. I mean the junk that I would be sleeping overnight on at Ha Long Bay. After speeding away from the Old Quarter, the bus brought us (myself and a lovely German couple) to a small speed boat that transferred us to our JUNK. Once on our junk, we began to cruise.

Legend says that the amazing limestone karsts formed from the pearls that a mother dragon drew from her mouth.
We cruised until we reached a remote floating village. The people living here have fisheries and live on houses that float on top of emptied oil drums. Amazing, aye? After the village viewing, we then changed into our swim apparel and jumped off our junk! It was really something to see the formations from the water level. The emerald colored water was so freshening! I saw eagles circling overhead, probably waiting for some poor tourist to drown! Swimming towards and reaching the karsts was an amazing experience. Looking closely, you'll find small snails and shells on the base. If you ever get a chance to swim in the bay, you'll never forget the feeling of looking up from the bottom of the karst! After the swim, we watched a glorious sunset. While waiting for the sunset, I even saw a butterfly skimming the water! After sundown, the shoveling of dinner commenced. To conclude our night, the German couple and I got cocktails and enjoyed star gazing on the deck -- that's all folks!

Day 14. Ha Long Bay. In the am, we departed from our junk and transferred into a smaller boat. The upper body strength of my guide, Canh, would ensure that I reach civilization, as kayaking was on today's order! Considering my past exhibition of extreme athleticism, I was very glad to be Queen! The Queen sits in front and just rows as she pleases, while the King sits behind and controls the rudder, breaks and compensates for the Queen's lack of upper body strength -- see, chivalry is not dead! And so off we went kayaking around the bay and along the karsts. The low tide revealed tiny crabs scurrying along the once hidden base.
We even visited a lagoon (before high tide would lock us in). We then took a break for lunch and cruised some more. This is Frog Island. I thought it looked like a parrot.

Then back into the kayak, we went! We later relaxed on this beach. Don't worry, I put them back in the water!At the end, we got back into our boat, and docked at Cat Ba Island. Finally, by body could recover from the nasty sunburn I got, despite all the sunblock slathered on. Somehow, I missed parts of my back and shoulder!

Day 15. Ha Long Bay (Soon to be Hanoi). Btw, I was the most popular girl in Vietnam. I haven't even bothered to count how many times I got bitten.

Well, I will be back in Hanoi this evening and leaving 'Nam on Saturday. Sadly, no fun activities will be partaken because I have managed to get myself sick and will be focusing on my recovery to avoid hiding my symptoms, while airborne. Hope you enjoyed following the MAK in northern Vietnam!