Beaches

Another 6 hours on a bus, and we were suddenly seeing sparkling waters. We took a ferry ride to the island of Koh Chang, a ferry ride, and then trekked until we found the “o so cool hippy hangout” described by Lonely Planet. Seeing that everyone else also reads Lonely Planet, it was full, but eventually we did find a nearby place of similar coolness and price range (about $4 for a small primitive hut with a bed big enough we figured the 3 of us could sleep). The best part was having dinner right on the water…a setting that would be out of our price range in most countries.

The first place we went had a new place which was described as the last remote beach in Koh Chang, so we decided to go there the next morning. It was about a 2 hour drive, the last bit of which did convince we certainly were at least making a good attempt to “get away from it all.” Once again we had a primitive hut with a bed which we decided really wasn’t big enough for the 3 of us, but we didn’t decide that until after 2 rather cramped nights. We swam, laid on the beach, read, and spent the evening sitting around tables eating and relaxing listening to the waves. Our second day we had booked a snorkeling trip, and since we were a bit remote, the 3 of us were picked up by a small motor boat and taken to the large boat with everyone else. Wielding our cameras, passports… we were shocked as choppy waters began splashing into the boat…by the time we reached the large boat we were completely drenched and had had a few rather harrowing moments, not to mention that our camera’s were barely dry. We dried off in the sun until we reached the snorkeling/diving destination which was really beautiful. Brightly coloured fish, interesting coral…it was really beautiful. After lunch we did a second excursion to national park waters where we could swim around a small island and see a wide range of underwater scenery. This was to be my highlight of the whole trip.

Planning our trip back to Bangkok in time for New Years eve, I discovered that we were a day ahead of ourselves when I went to book the bus ticket. We debated but decided to go ahead and head back to Bangkok and spend our “bonus” day there. It was lucky we did because after that everything was closed for the holiday so we wouldn’t have been able to see any of the attractions otherwise.

Rather than the government Mercedes bus we took to Koh Chang, our return boat was a tourist wonder….double decker bus, wild painting on the outside, hot pink interior, with films such as Mission Impossible and Snakes on the Plane for our viewing pleasure. The swaying bus made me a bit sick, but the laughs at such a gaudy display was worth it.

Birthday

I really wanted to skip this one, since as some as you know, it's a rather large number we're reaching this year. So my plan was to just let it skip by unnoticed and pretend it didn't happen. But MCC staff weren't about to let that happen! Rebecca talked me into coming to Dhaka for the weekend and have lunch with them after church. Shortly after we arrived the rest of the expat staff showed up to suprise me with a birthday lunch of really wonderful Indian food. After a great meal and me alienating a few people with predictions of where they'd be when they were 40, we headed to our country reps for coffee. I was completely shocked to walk in and see work colleagues and friends wielding signs and blowing noisemakers. Cicely and Reba had gone to great lengths to call all the people on my phone and invite all the people who have become special to me in my time here. It was such a surprise and really special...even though they also let everyone know exactly what milestone I was reaching so no longer can I convince anyone that i'm really 29!

Chang Mi, Thailand

As MCC Bangladesh volunteers, we are accustomed to long hours on rickety busses swerving to avoid various bikes, rickshaws, and animals. Therefore, a two hour flight to Bangkok was just too easy. We headed straight for the train station and after eating my favourite Thai meal (green curry with tofu and vegetables) we embarked on an overnight train ride. We were able to get sleeper seats, after a small diversion following the advice of an o so helpful Thai man informing us that seats were sold out for weeks, even months, but luckily we could get bus tickets just behind the station. Luckily, as we pondered the purchase at the bus station, we realized Lonely Planet discussed just such a scam. We went back to the train station just to check, and lo and behold, plenty of train tickets readily available! I’m used to scam artists in Africa, but they are typically easier to spot.

We were a bit late but finally pulled into Chang Mai around noon the next day. We took a while to figure out what we were doing, it’s difficult when you can’t trust any of the advice you’re given, but things looked much better after lunch and finding a room. For lunch I enjoyed long standing Thai favourites….falafal pita and cappuccino…ok, maybe more popular in other parts of the globe, but completely unheard of in Bangladesh so a real treat. In fact, our culinary journey through Chang Mai would maybe not appeal to those of you NOT living in a developing country, but for us it was truly exciting… “O look, they have wheat bread.” “Do you mind if I get a Starbucks mint mocha” (that wasn’t me…I found plenty of fabulous coffee alternatives- Thai coffee is really good and Italian coffee was also available). Being used to all the fabulous vegetables in Thai food, I was a bit surprised to see their huge affinity for pork. Street vendors everywhere are selling sausages of different types and sizes. I bought some pastries with an overwhelming (and disgusting) taste of lard.

OK, but we’ll never get through the journey at this rate, so let me go to lists

Night 1 – walked through one temple en route to night market where we lost each other and seemed to find completely different areas. I found an overwhelming amount of craft booths, and had a 30 minute head and shoulders massage which was nice but definitely different from massages as we know them

Day 2 – journey in the back of a pick up to a large temple where Thai people go to pay homage. Was a bit shocked at how many food vendors, trinket salesmen, and massage. I did actually take advantage of the massage because by the time we got up there, I had such a head ache and was so car sick I needed a time out. Temple visit was followed by stops at kings gardens and cultural village. See photos.

We did another night at the night market, this time managing to stick together.

Day 3 – Christmas day. I’d been having such a headache, I hadn’t booked any of the excursions. I woke up raring to go, however, and managed to get added to a trip to Doi Inothon, the highest point in Thailand. We stopped at 2 waterfalls which were really pretty, a village where we could see the women weaving traditional cloth, and then on to the peak. The brochure had sided like it was a bit of a trek to the peak. I think the description of this will maybe help you have a glimpse of the real Thailand, and I was less than enamoured. You first view the surroundings from the parking lot…very pretty. You walk a quite short paved path to the giant sign marking the highest point, you walk a few feet further (it actually seemed we went up more) to a Buddhist altar, and a short distance again to a snack shop and trinket shop. When we’ve hiked out to Cape Lookout in Oregon we have joked that it would be nice to have a vending machine out there, but seriously, in Thailand, they would.

That evening we had a nice Italian dinner followed by a stop at the coffee shop and joining all the other foreigners making skype or MSN calls at the internet café. I even found a mince pie to complete the holiday…the place selling them was more like an Irish pub so I was mocked mercilessly for charging into a bar and ordering a mince pie, but well worth it!

Day 4- our final day in Chang Mi so we visited the arts and cultural heritage museum which was interesting and very well done. After a snack, we headed for the train for another overnight journey back to Bangkok.