So here we are again. Another week, another country and another quandary as to what bits to blog about! It's been 10 days in Thailand now and once again we had no idea what the week had in store before we arrived. Fortunately we have been blessed to stay with another fantastic tourguide - as she puts it herself "I have the german organisation with the french flair.... a good combination". Thailand isn't a place I'd put top of my list when planning my trip, but now I would say it's a must for anyone visiting Asia. First thing to note that from the outside it seems like a well developed, organised country with an efficient road and transport system. But we have also had the opportunity through Patty to see the other not so glamourous sides of Thailand.
We were based in Chiang Rai and on the first day Patty took us on a tour of the north. We visited the Burmese border and the golden triangle (where you can see Thailand, Laos and Burma in the same view- we even went to laos for 30 mins... can I say I've been there now?). She also took us to the Opium museum, which at first i thought was an odd choice of tourist attraction. After 2 hours wandering around the museum I could see why its so important. First the museum went through how and where poppies grow, the golden triangle being a hotspot. Then how opium is extracted and what different parts are used for. A whole section was dedicated to the trade triangles and how over past centuries this has fed illegal drug trade, responsible for further crime and corruption. The next section of the museum was dedicated to the history of medicine which I found particularly interesting and how opium and heroin effect different parts of the body. This can bring the benefits of pain management, but also the intense side effects we associate with drug abuse and addiction. The museum finished with the modern debate of legalisation, accounts of addicts and what Thailand is doing to cut the illegal drugs trade from the root - the production of opium in the hillsides of Northern Thailand as well as the strict policies on drug possession. One of these projects is the gardens of Doi Tung set up by the Prince's mother to provide other agricultural work for those involved in the opium trade which we also visited that day. I found this very insightful and educational to learn about and see how it is so much a part of Thailand's history and culture. As well as to think about the UK and the responsibilities and part it has played over the centuries.
The other major trip we have done in Thailand was a trek in the hillside with a local friend of Patty's called Nan. We were trekking through the jungle up the hillside stopping off at villages en route. As we went he gave us a fascinating tour of the medicinal properties of all the plants, different bamboo and uses, and providing insight to the simple yet wholesome lives of the people. In his words "good people, good hearts". We even stayed overnight in a hut in the Luhuyi tribal village where we helped to cook dinner and joined in with traditional dancing. Despite the langauge barrier the people were constantly smiling at us and apparently pleased to show us their community and way of life. A hole for a toilet, pigs living under the first floor, walking barefoot, one stove in the centre of the living area..... a far cry from the UK or Bangkok life we were soon to experience. We finished off the trekking with an elephant ride which in itself was an amazing expereince... not least because my legs were jelly from trekking up 1500m through the jungle and I was gald of a seat! Sat for 30 mins on the neck of the elephant was unforgettable. It was a bit like being sat on a bristly toothbrush initially but much more comfortable than a horse! For their size elephants are incredibly steady and I felt quite safe as my 16 year old friend plodded his way through narrow paths, along streams and down stony ridges. These elephants are obviously trained to take tourists for rides, but seemed to be enjoying the ride themselves as they munched on sugar cane and bamboo as we wandered through their natural habitat.
Earlier in the week we had spent a few hours at an elephant park where elephants are trained to kick footballs, play the harmonica, spin hoops on their trunk, score a hoop with the ball and paint pictures! They really are an intellegent animal and may now be number one in my all time favourite animal list (I know you all have one too).
The final day in Chiang Rai we went to the drop in centre in Mesai (border of Burma), which i'm sure Marie will explain more about. For all my youth work experience, I was blown away by the hardwork and dedication of the volunteers and the beuaty of these children. We spent only half a day with them, helping with games and teaching english and preparing the centre to be painted. The children themselves are gorgeous and to think they live on the streets, constantly savaged by the prostitution trade is heart breaking. The issues, poor health and need for care they bring with them are evident and it was nice to be able to support and help even for a short time. The centre is providing a daytime refuge for them to come and sleep, shower and get good food, whilst many others are already being sponsored to go to school in Burma.
We took the overnight bus to Bangkok so we could spend 24 hours here before flying mainly becuase we'd heard such mixed reviews we wanted to see it for ourselves! There were only traces of the floods in the parts we saw -sandbags at shop entrances and a few restaurants by the river still unopened. We decided to walk around the city and learned the hard way that tourist information maps cannot be trusted for a self guided walking tour! So after about 9 hours we saw many temples, walked along the river, took a ride on the sky train (a great way to see the high rise buildings in the city) and walked our heels raw! Which brings me to writing this. So in summary of Thialand....
Highlight- elephant trekking in the jungle
Lowlight - Elephant blowing air in my face through his trunk until I gave him a banana!
Food highlight - the mini bananas i helped myself to whilst trekking (much nicer that any I've tasted in England) Yes I've been converted and today even had a craving for them!
Funny moment - when I mixed the words for hello and thankyou on my second day much to the amusement of my fellow travellers! It's so hard when you have to learn a new language every 10 days!
Surreal moment - sat on the overnight bus to Bangkok trying to block out the Thai music with an earplug in one ear whilst watching pride and prejudice. Oh and with a scarf over my face to block the smell of the woman behinds feet as she kept insisting on sliding them onto the arm between our chair...despite my strong elbow sliding them back.
Thai moment - at 6pm in every public place everyone stops to respect the playing of the national moment
Wish it were in England moment - the countdown at traffic lights so you know how long you have to wait!
Moving moment - when we stop at the Laos Island and Patty bought each of the street children an ice cream. The picture of their faces lit up will stay with me.
So there we go. Nearly 8 weeks away and this time next month it's Christmas! We fly to Singapore tomorrow for 4 days then onto Australia on Wednesday. Did i mention my feet hurt?!
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