I just got back from a wonderful adventure in Thailand. I went on an all Korean tour with my friend Jodelle. We were the only English speaking people on the tour. It turned out to be a wonderful experience, and we made some new friends. In Bangkok we got to explore two great temples--the Wat Pho Temple and the Wat Arun Temple. They are very different in style; both unique and beautiful. Then we took a long boat down the Pho River to see the many water houses along the edge with people on small flat boats selling fruits of all kinds--many I have never seen before. From Bangkok we went to Pataya, a smaller city on the beach about 2 hours from Bangkok. Our resort hotel was great--beachfront with five swimming pools. We had Thai massages (2 hours) and went to see the nightlife. We had front row seats at the kickboxing match. I wasn't too thrilled about this at first, but it was exciting! At halftime there was a snake charmer with bags of poisonous snakes including the cobra. It was fascinating to watch. Many people ran from the front row when the snakes came out. Dummy that I am, I stayed and took videos.
We rode elephants--I had to do this--it was on my bucket lists of things to do. I loved those elephants, such amazing animals. There was a show and the elephants played scoccer against each other as well as basketball, darts and bowling. Oh, and hula hoop on their trunks. We went to a crocodile farm (another show) and zoo. I fed a baby tiger his bottle of milk. I mean holding it and all. Just a big kitty! We visited a pineapple farm, an open street market, and a monastary.
Beach anyone? Plenty of beach action with sea walking (yes, under the sea with a bubble over the head fed by oxygen tanks), parasailing off an ocean barge, speedboating, and relaxing on an island beach. There were people from all over the world there: many Russians, Koreans, Chinese, Americans, British, Spanish, and Italians. The mixture of languages was fascinating to say the least. I enjoyed trying to identify them all.
Thailand is tropical so it was hot and humid with palm trees of everytype, banana trees, every fruit imaginable, and some I've never seen before. Dogs have it made there. They don't eat them, and many run free. They sleep anywhere they want including the side of the street. No leash law there.
It was a great trip, but alas, too short. Too soon we were headed back to Korea where it had snowed again and is experiencing some extremely low temporatures--quick change in the airport from shorts and sandles to boots and coats. Life goes on!
