Mum and Dad visit Thailand

Sri Lanka 2018

6th February 2019 - Snake Farm

This is Mum and Dad's second trip to Asia after our two weeks in Vietnam a couple of years ago. They were reluctant as Thailand can get very hot, but as I've been living here for over two years already and there's a good chance I'll be here a lot longer I thought they should make the trip.

After a morning doing the admin stuff, SIM cards, BTS cards, MRT cards we headed down to Silom and the Snake Farm (Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute). The institute both educates people about snakes and extracts venom from the many snakes they keep for use in anti-venom. We got there in plenty of time for the 2pm show so we looked around the museum first. The museum is extensive and tells you all you need to know about snakes and when it comes to the effects of their venom some things you'd rather not know.

Today before the main event of the snake show we had an extra bit of entertainment as it was a training day for national park staff. They were being taught to catch snakes. Like a task on the Generation Game first the handlers showed them how to catch the particular snake and then they all got to try. The trainees ranged from relatively confident to the scared to death. Even the smallest twitch by the snake would cause them to jump backwards. All good fun as long as it wasn't your turn.

I've been to the snake show many times and I always enjoy it. The chief handler gives a running commentary in English and Thai as a range of snakes are brought out and the handlers show them off; some by holding them up to the audience and some like the cobras that they treat with the upmost respect. We got there in plenty of time so we had a front row seat just to get Mum as close as possible.

7th February 2019 - Wat Arun

Today we went out to explore a little give Mum and Dad a feel for Bangkok. Where better than down by the Chao Phraya River which has been Bangkok's life blood through the ages. We took the free boat from the Saphan Taksin BTS to Icon Siam the new shopping complex which opened recently. The shopping centre has a big viewing platform (accessed via the Apple Store) which gives a great view up and down the river and is a lovely spot to watch the constant flow of boats up and down.

On the ground floor is Sook Siam, the ‘Town of the Amazing Thai Charm’. Covering a large part of the ground floor is are a wide range of traditional stalls set out like a Thai floating market. It is mainly food but also some arts and crafts. It is a great place to taste the wares from many of the stalls and a great way for Mum and Dad to try the many flavours of Thailand.

From Icon Siam we jumped on another boat and headed down to one of my favourite temples Wat Arun. The huge 'prang' standing at a height of over 80 meters. Built in the Khmer style the tower is decorated with millions of small pieces of colourful Chinese porcelain. You used to be able to climb half way up the prang but the stairs have ben closed off since the latest renovations.

The surrounding temples are just as interesting and also covered in the beautiful porcelain fragments.

After a long hot day out and about we headed home and I got Mum and Dad down to the pool at the condo to cool down.

8th February 2019 - Golden Mount

Another favourite temple of mine is Wat Saket at Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mount). another hot day so we took a taxi over so we'd be fresh for the gentle climb to the top in the hot, hot sun.

Along the way up the gentle spiral of 344 steps there are plenty of interesting things to stop and admire and out of tune bells to ring.

At the top is a smallish temple and big golden stupa. Inside the temple are a few statues which devotees are layering in gold leaf.

It's a great view looking up at the stupa.

And an even better 360 degree view of Bangkok.

A view which can be admired on the gentle walk back down.

From the Golden Mount we took the motorboat along Khlong Saen Saeb to Jim Thompson's House. The motor boat ride is an adventure in itself. Clamber down into the boat and off it goes. The motorbike helmeted ticket collectors walk along the outside of the boat taking money as we speed along the canal. Once at our stop it's another clamber out before it speeds off again. I've seen Jim Thompson's House a few times before so I sat down and had a drink as Mum and Dad did the tour.

In the evening after a lovely meal at Big Mama's we headed down to Soi Cowboy for a drink. The neon alley of go-go bars. When in Bangkok it has to be seen.

9th February 2019 - Floating Market

Saturday is my golf day so I sent Mum and Dad off on a floating market food tour that I had done in the past and enjoyed. They were lucky and even though it was a group they were the only ones booked on so they were very well taken care of.

One of the stops was the train market where a few times a day the market which sits on the train line retreats to let the train right through the middle.

The tour stops off at three 'floating markets' although most of the market in each case is around the harbour. Each one has it's own charm and being a food tour there is plenty of tasty food along the way.

10th February 2019 - To Chiang Mai

After a few days in the big city it was time to fly up north the Chiang Mai for some relative peace and some beautiful countryside. It's only an hour flight but once we're inside the Chiang Mai city walls it feels a million miles away from the chaos of Bangkok.

11th February 2019 - Doi Inthanon

I booked a couple of tours for us up in the north the first is a day trip from Chiang Mai into the Doi Inthanon national park and to the highest point in Thailand.

First stop is Wachirathan Water fall a multi-step fall with a total drop of around 80 metres. We climb up alongside the main step which is following quite strongly and look down on little rainbows in the mist at the bottom of the fall.

From there we walk down beside the many steps through the greenery. This is a lovely stop.

In the car park were a couple of the ubiquitous song-thaew which are everywhere in and around Chiang Mai. They are great for short trips around town but I'm not sure I'd want to do a day trip in one.

Next up the Sirithan Waterfall where we walk down through a wooded area to a viewing platform looking across at the waterfall itself.

The waterfall is nice but I think this is all about the setting.

From there it was on to The Royal Project research station.

This is a great project set up 40 years ago by the former King of Thailand to encourage the local farmers to grow flowers and vegetables instead of opium poppies which used to dominate this area.

The beautiful flowers gave me plenty of opportunities to play around with the depth of field on my new camera.

Time for lunch and a walk around a local market selling the produce from the area. Lots of dried fruits and some really tasty fresh strawberries.

From there we headed to the roof of Thailand, Doi Inthanon. We drive almost to the top and only have to walk the last 100 yards through the trees to the top.

At the top are a couple of monuments and lots of birds flitting around the trees and singing their songs.

The most impressive man-made structures in the park are the twin Chedi's of the King and Queen. These two sit on small hills opposite each and surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens. The two Chedi were constructed by the Thai Royal Air Force to commemorate the 60th birthdays of the King and Queen in 1989 and 1992.

I love the photo below the clouds give a fantastic back-drop to the twin chedi.

12th February 2019 - Elephants

We spent today at the Karen Elephant Experience, a small elephant camp affiliated with the famous Elephant Nature Park. This camp is south of Chiang Mai so we didn't get to see the big Elephant Nature Park but I much prefer this sort of experience where we really get up close with the elephants.

After a long winding road up into the hills we had a quick briefing and it was out to the elephants. First up we fed them baskets full of fruit with them behind flimsy fences; this is a way to get used to them before the walk. Mum and Dad were a bit tentative at first but they soon relaxed into it.

Once we started walking the elephants were right there with us and we were their new best friends for as long as we had some fruit.

We didn't walk all that far with the elephants but spent a hour or more watching them eating the foliage and scratching themselves on the trees.

Each elephant has its own handler who looks after their own animal and all control is exerted with the positive encouragement of food rather than through any punishment.

There were 4 elephants in all; two older ones and two 'teenagers'. The young ones were very playful, rolling around on the ground, climbing over each other and generally having fun. Mum and Dad went in for a photo but Mum keep a close eye on the young one especially when it reached out and rubbed her ankle with its trunk.

Time for a group photo.

And just the two of them.

After lunch we headed down for a mud bath with the elephants. Only 3 or the 4 came down to the mud bath, I don't think the young male could be trusted that close to tourists whilst having fun in the mud.

The young female especially loved the mud rolling around in it and letting us rub mud into her side. Mum and Dad stayed on the sidelines for this bit taking the photos.

It was great to be right in there with them, the mud cooled them and us down a little.

After the mud it was time to head down to the river to wash off. The elephants lay down and buckets at the ready we gave them a wash.

We tossed water, the elephants sprayed water.

By the end it turned into a water fight throwing the water right over the elephants, tourists versus handlers.

This really as a great day out and I'd recommend it to anyone.

13th February 2019 - Chiang Rai

Next up three days/two nights in Chiang Rai. First stop was the White Temple.

This was built or in fact is still being built by an artist who originated from Chiang Rai and although it is a temple its main purpose is as a tourist attraction. He wanted to give something back to Chiang Rai and it has already pulled in many, many tourists so is doing its job.

The temple is intricate and wired in equal measure. The above I think is supposed to symbolise the souls reaching up from hell to the heavenly temple.

Inside the temple were hand painted murals including some strange themes including one with pictures of super heroes; batman, superman and the rest of the gang.

We stopped off for lunch just a few hundred yards down the road but a world away. The Coconut Cafe I think it was called. The bowls and glasses were all made out of coconut shells, the food delicious and the view out over the paddy field gorgeous.