Kiwi On Tour - Thailand Pt3

11/02/2024

Wheel repair Thai styles. No wonder the cab was cheap.

09/02/2024

02/02/2024

Yesterday was a nice relaxing day. A nice walk along the moat, a great foot massage, a visit to a huge locals market, BK and then a couple of beers playing connect 4.

01/02/2024

This is a big part of the famous Mae Hong Son loop. Enjoy the views as I did. Amazing ride back to Chiang Mai.
It should have been a few days riding but I had issues and did in one 😞

30/01/2024

It started out as a simple ride from Pops village to Pai. I made the mistake of following Google maps. 2h 20min or a slower way which was 45min more. So off I went for a 2h 20min ride. Rode over some of the worst roads I have ever encountered and wanted to turn back so many times. I didnt get pics of the worst as i was trying to stay on the scooter. Lucky I came across a military check point at one stage as the road I was looking for didn't exist where I was but did about 500m up the road. There were some great views, almost ran out of gas and arrived at Pai over 4 hours after I started the trip. Sigh. A great trip in hindsight, but very taxing on the body and the scooter.
Pai is a place I have been wanting to go to for the last couple of years. It is not what I hoped it would be. It is a tourist hot spot. They can't ride scooters, they cross the road without looking, they just walk blocking the road, they think they are cool with no helmet or shirt, they don't like the Thai food and this place now looks like a European med island I would imagine. It is not Thailand other than its location. I left after having a brief look around and was really pi**ed off for the ruination of this once great place and the lack of respect for Thai culture. Grrrr
Stopped off for some more nice views and lunch.
Next was to visit the famous caves and would recommend it to everybody. You get a private guide and the place is huge. The boat ride and fish feeding was cool.
It was getting late so time to find accommodation. Google maps failed again and I ended up riding and extra 30kms. Not so bad. The place Isaiah recommended was booked so I found a nice little cabin. 600 baht for a night.
Unpacked and had a snooze. 3 hours later and I had missed a chance at dinner. Oh well, breakfast will be that much better.

30/01/2024

Pt 2 photos

30/01/2024

Pt 1 photos.
Met up with Pop who rode up from Chiang Mai in the morning and met at his Uncles house. He went for a look at the refugee camp, met a cute little Monk, checked out the army base on the Myanmar boarder and visited his old school. An amazing experience and very humbling.
We went and bought a TV for the refugee camps English classes that they do in the evening.
We all went out for dinner and had hot pot. Yum. Damn they can eat for such little people. Twice what I could get through or more. A great evening to end that part of the trip. Next stop is Pai

28/01/2024

A huge day scootering to a remote area where I will meet Pop from Mhonsa to visit his old school and refugee camp.
This place is amazing and the trip here was fantastic both for views and fun scootering.

28/01/2024

I have been posting daily. Have they been showing up?

24/01/2024

Today was always going to be a bit busy. I didn't think so busy, but here we go.
Headed out west of Chiang Rai to visit elephants. Always wanted to, so did. It was awesome and we got very deep in the river to the point I hoped she could swim. Also found out that elephants are scared of cats and make a lot of noise when that happens, they can also use their trunks to flick away some poor unsuspecting dog. Poor dog. Interesting.
Then went and checked out a freaking big snake. So soft and squishy.
I then scootered back to visit a temple that had monkeys but it was the wrong temple.
There were signs around about Merino sheep. I thought why not. Apparently the Merinos were in Chiang Mai this week. Still can't believe I paid 100 baht to see freaking sheep. Anyway.
From there I headed north to stop in at the Karen Long Necks from last year and deliver a few presents for the kids including a jigsaw of them. The guy on the gate wanted 600 baht ($30nzd) to enter. I explained it was just to deliver gifts and showed him. He still wanted 600 baht so I vented and left.
Next was the actual temple of fish and monkeys. I just got off my scooter and was having a minute to myself when this little bastard stole my drink, twisted the lid the correct way and proceeded to drink all of it in front of me. Ferk.
There were monkeys all over the place.
When I went in they gave me a stick to tap the ground or generally fend off the monkeys. They were fine until I got a bucket of food. Pretty much scattered it and ran away lol. The baby monkeys climbing the rocks were cute.
After escaping the monkeys I headed over to the Golden Triangle. After looking around I asked a boat guy if we were allowed to visit Laos. He said sure jump in. So off to Laos and I was allowed 30ish minutes there at a market. Very cool and got some weird stuff. Ok Cobra Whiskey. Hmm.
There was a visit to the O***m Museum also. I think that was before the boat.
Anyway it was insightful.
Next was getting accommodation. I checked on Expedia and the place was 600 baht for the night. I went to the counter and asked how much for cash, he said 800 baht. WTF. He wouldn't budge so I said I would book online. He said ok so I did. Then he tells me there is no room available as the last one was just booked online and I would have to find elsewhere to stay. Ferking Ferk Ferk. I asked him to see who booked the last room as I had confirmation from Expedia. It was me who booked the last room OMG this guy isn't so bright.
The room is on the third floor ffs.
That was about the day, other than struggling to find a place to eat as they all close once the tourist day is over.
Tomorrow heading west and then south. Maybe Pai area or maybe back to Chiang Mai.

22/01/2024

Well today started out with Marmite 😀
Then a cat with a jumper on. Where a cat had been :( and then a scooter ride to get a better fitting helmet.
Today was more of a set up day for the start of my big trip tomorrow.
I fed some pigeons some pork crackling and bought Dog food for the dog I am visiting tomorrow.
Then dinner and a weird YouTube person, who was very loud.
Then a random evening trip 50 min away to see the sun set at a dam. A really nice trip there through a random town and beautiful scenery.
As you can see I tried the zoom on my phone also. Pretty damn good.
Had too many JBs on the way home and now bed time.
Tomorrow will be another awesome day.

21/01/2024

Another later one. Maybe that will be the habit or less JB.
Flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai yesterday. A bit over Bangkok.
Settled in and met up with some friendly faces from past trips.
Headed off to a market and pub crawled back to the hotel and somewhere along the way got a tattoo repaired.
Had a late Japanese meal and my favorite food place here. Yum

20/01/2024

Ok a late post.
Yesterday started off with a hearty breakfast. Yum
Then I jumped on the BTS to the next stop but didn't get off and rode the line to the very end while getting off at the odd station and getting on the next train. A bit of a random adventure.
Wondered around a bit and ended the night with Sukhumvit seafood and a wonder past the stalls that pop up and sell so much weird bits.
That's it.
Today I am off to Chiang Mai.

19/01/2024

Today was my first full day in Bangkok. Love this place more and more on each trip.
I headed out early before the place gets to its usual busy.
A nice walk up Sukhumvit Soi 11. Very different during the day. Packed at night.
I had breakfast at The Coffee Club. Way cheaper the NZ for a comparable meal and better food.
Then I caught a canal boat. Nice cheap and quick way to get around. The went for a walk to a market/shopping mall. This place is huge and amazing, and way cheaper than the famous Pratunam Fashion Mall across the road. There is a panoramic photo. 3 x 7/11s all within about 50 meters of each other.
The market was amazing and I found what I needed.
I was up to about 20kms walking in the first 24 hours at this point so got a Grab car back to the hotel and had a rest.
I headed off late arvo to Terminal 21 for food. This is the best and cheapest in Bangkok that I have found so far. 86 baht ($4 nzd) for 2 meals. The drink was 30 baht.
Then a walk up Sukhumvit Soi 23 to my favorite ladies for a Manicure and Pedicure. Oh so good. I did fall asleep and my phone dropped on the foot water. Doh. The phone is fine.
Back to the hotel via Soi Cowboy and that's about that.
The bugs are out in full force and biting, but only if you stay still.
That's it on day one.

18/01/2024

Well here we go again 😀
Note to new peeps: this page is set up for my friends and family who may be interested in following. If you want to join and follow that is great. I am pretty open with what I put on here and do not need any negative or bs comments. If you do not like something I do, I do not care. Look the other way if I go for an elephant ride etc.
That is all 😀
----‐----------------
I forgot how much I hate the flight, but very well worth it.
It took 3 hours from landing to get to the hotel. Thinking a few flights landed at the same time and caused a big bottle neck. Anyway.
Rather than a train or a taxi, I booked a private car through Klook to Sukhumvit for under 600 baht and it makes life a lot easier and one less thing to worry about.
After getting to Hopeland Hotel it was time for a shower (very needed) and then off to explore at 8pm. I walked for around 13km or 18000 plus steps. Realizing on the walk how much I love this place and the people. Home is awesome but here is different and becoming more and more familiar.
Tomorrow will be more exploring and relaxing. Yay.