Yesterday was breezy as we caught the after math of the storm but it was very pleasant down by the beach. I am not sure we would have sat out in such a wind in Padstow, but it brought the temperature down to a reasonable level.
Because it was cloudy the pool area was almost empty so Rosemarie enjoyed an unfettered swim in the afternoon.
In the evening we went back into Hua Hin to our perch above the Pacific and ate Rock Lobsters which were delicious, before another trawl around the night market to fill time before we could catch the bus back.
This morning we were up at 5.30 to see the sunrise again. This time we were successful and at 6.15 a radiant gold ball broke the horizon, much to Rosemarie's delight. We stayed until about 6.30 and then returned to bed. We were joined this morning by a gardener who was sweeping the leaves up and a Japanese female tourist who was wandering around listening to her I pod.
No pirates and no security guards either. It was perhaps a little early for both.
Today we pack up to move to Cambodia tomorrow we are looking forward to that and have no idea what to expect. We will have to get some Cambodian currency when we land as we can't get any before we arrive. About 3000 Cambodian Reals to the £ apparently. All these things are sent to try us.
Have no idea when we will next find a wi fi hot spot so our next blog may be a little delayed. All in all a very relaxing week in Hua Hin and Rosemarie can never again say that I have never taken her to the beach. So, two objectives clearly met there then.
It seems odd that we have been so relaxed whilst Hurricane Sandy has created so much disruption. We have seen following that story with great interest and heavy hearts. We have been watching both CNN and the BBC world news and all we can say is how grateful we should be for the reporting stances taken by the BBC. About ten minutes of CNN is all I can take. There's my little rant for the day.
And so onto Cambodia.
Wednesday 31 October 2012
Tuesday 30 October 2012
It is always good to know that what you write is being read, so thanks to all of our readers. A baht is worth 2 pence to answer one question and thanks to those of you who have offered to get litre bottles of beer in for us as we progress.
It transpires that the man who sweeps the beech with a traditional besom brush also has the onerous task of raking the beach as well. So yesterday as we sat there in 37C he appeared in his wellies and raked the flotsam and jetsam up. Rosemarie thought the beach looked much tidier when he had finished.
In the evening we went back into Hua Hin and had another meal in our restaurant perched over the Pacific. We watched small fishing boats with green fluorescent lamps fishing at night around the bay and saw two men wading through the shallows with large torches searching for prey.
After our meal , another trawl of the night market, which was incredibly hot, and surprise , surprise led to the purchase of an embroidered dress.
This morning we got up at 5.30am to watch the sunrise over the Pacific. A romantic gesture ,I thought. We dressed and made our way to the shore line , all of a hundred yards, and saw a huge storm with lightening and heavy rain out to sea. Unfortunately the heavy clouds obliterated the sunrise and after 40 minutes we returned to our bed. It was a very touching moment ,just the two of us up apparently, watching the ocean. A once in a lifetime opportunity.
There weren't even any security guards around which I felt a little concerned by as they appear to be about all day long. Had it been Africa,Somali pirates could have swept in at any time. Rosemarie being far more sensible, said that we were perfectly safe as pirates would have grounded out on the sand bar.
Always good to have someone with a lot of common sense around.
After we returned to bed the storm hit and we heard heavy rain for a while, the day is now cloudy and a little cooler than it has been. And so another day beside the Pacific in store, who could ask for more?
It transpires that the man who sweeps the beech with a traditional besom brush also has the onerous task of raking the beach as well. So yesterday as we sat there in 37C he appeared in his wellies and raked the flotsam and jetsam up. Rosemarie thought the beach looked much tidier when he had finished.
In the evening we went back into Hua Hin and had another meal in our restaurant perched over the Pacific. We watched small fishing boats with green fluorescent lamps fishing at night around the bay and saw two men wading through the shallows with large torches searching for prey.
After our meal , another trawl of the night market, which was incredibly hot, and surprise , surprise led to the purchase of an embroidered dress.
This morning we got up at 5.30am to watch the sunrise over the Pacific. A romantic gesture ,I thought. We dressed and made our way to the shore line , all of a hundred yards, and saw a huge storm with lightening and heavy rain out to sea. Unfortunately the heavy clouds obliterated the sunrise and after 40 minutes we returned to our bed. It was a very touching moment ,just the two of us up apparently, watching the ocean. A once in a lifetime opportunity.
There weren't even any security guards around which I felt a little concerned by as they appear to be about all day long. Had it been Africa,Somali pirates could have swept in at any time. Rosemarie being far more sensible, said that we were perfectly safe as pirates would have grounded out on the sand bar.
Always good to have someone with a lot of common sense around.
After we returned to bed the storm hit and we heard heavy rain for a while, the day is now cloudy and a little cooler than it has been. And so another day beside the Pacific in store, who could ask for more?
Monday 29 October 2012
Another day in the heat finding the shade and enjoying the luxury of this hotel. One of the great jobs here is to be a gardener who gets to sweep the beach every day. Yesterday he appeared in Wellies to walk the water line and sweep up all the debris into a long handled dustpan. I have to say he didn't look totally satisfied in his work.
In the evening we have been joining the growing band who leave the hotel to go into Hua Hin where things are considerably cheaper. To give you an idea a bottle of water (500ml) in the hotel is 100 Thai baht, the same can be bought in town for 8 baht. Consequently the "smugglers" go into town and buy water ,beer and snacks to bring back. Being with Rosemarie ,of course, we do this in style, taking an empty rucksack and filling it with litre bottles of water and beer so as not to look too conspicuous. However our companions last night showed no such panache and came back on board the minibus with gallon containers of water and put cardboard boxes of beer in the boot.
The maths are relatively simple, a litre bottle of water costs 14 baht in town, in the hotel it would cost us 212baht including taxes. Even with the 200 baht the hotel charges for the bus to take us into town it is easy to make a profit. I am surprised some budding entrepreneur isn't making a killing selling to their guests.
Hua Hin is obviously a centre of German and Northern European tourism, everything is translated into German including the menu of the restaurant we have found which perches out over the Pacific on stilts.
There is no European type esplanade because that's would remove business opportunities, how stupid of us to think there might have been one.
Despite staying in the shade all day yesterday because on Doctor's orders I am not allowed to sunbathe I managed to get sunburn on both of my legs and my face. Clearly the cotton umbrella I was sheltering under did not stop UV rays. Luckily for us we caught it in time and I covered up otherwise it might have been serious. I can still feel my forehead burning as I write this.
There is a really friendly night market in Hua Hin where no no one keeps out at you and tries to persuade you to buy something au,ch a change from Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
In the evening we have been joining the growing band who leave the hotel to go into Hua Hin where things are considerably cheaper. To give you an idea a bottle of water (500ml) in the hotel is 100 Thai baht, the same can be bought in town for 8 baht. Consequently the "smugglers" go into town and buy water ,beer and snacks to bring back. Being with Rosemarie ,of course, we do this in style, taking an empty rucksack and filling it with litre bottles of water and beer so as not to look too conspicuous. However our companions last night showed no such panache and came back on board the minibus with gallon containers of water and put cardboard boxes of beer in the boot.
The maths are relatively simple, a litre bottle of water costs 14 baht in town, in the hotel it would cost us 212baht including taxes. Even with the 200 baht the hotel charges for the bus to take us into town it is easy to make a profit. I am surprised some budding entrepreneur isn't making a killing selling to their guests.
Hua Hin is obviously a centre of German and Northern European tourism, everything is translated into German including the menu of the restaurant we have found which perches out over the Pacific on stilts.
There is no European type esplanade because that's would remove business opportunities, how stupid of us to think there might have been one.
Despite staying in the shade all day yesterday because on Doctor's orders I am not allowed to sunbathe I managed to get sunburn on both of my legs and my face. Clearly the cotton umbrella I was sheltering under did not stop UV rays. Luckily for us we caught it in time and I covered up otherwise it might have been serious. I can still feel my forehead burning as I write this.
There is a really friendly night market in Hua Hin where no no one keeps out at you and tries to persuade you to buy something au,ch a change from Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Sunday 28 October 2012
Another quiet day by the Pacific Ocean in Thailand's cold season where the average temperature is about 34C. Rosemarie and I have both decided that we couldn't cope in the warm season! We lounged by the sea,swum in the pool and took the hotel bus into Hua Hin. We missed the bus we had booked because, it appears, we are incapable of telling the time. However,we went into town and had a wonderfully impromptu meal at a sea food restaurant perched 30 feet above the Pacific. We hadn't planned it and it was probably all the more enjoyable for that.
I appear to have given some of you the impression that we weren't keen on Bangkok. In fact we loved it, the chaos and the adventure are all part of this trip. The Thai people are wonderful, incredibly helpful and always apologetic if they think they have got something wrong.
We are now here until Friday morning, so there is plenty of time for Rosemarie to work on her tan which is coming along nicely.
I appear to have given some of you the impression that we weren't keen on Bangkok. In fact we loved it, the chaos and the adventure are all part of this trip. The Thai people are wonderful, incredibly helpful and always apologetic if they think they have got something wrong.
We are now here until Friday morning, so there is plenty of time for Rosemarie to work on her tan which is coming along nicely.
Friday 26 October 2012
Yesterday we moved from Chiang Mai to Southern Thailand. This involved getting up at 6.30 and leaving the hotel at 8.30. The Centara Hotel in Chiang Mai had an aura of faded opulence. The hall carpet outside our room was rucked and our bedroom carpet had a four inch slash in it. At breakfast the milk jug had a three quarter inch chip on the rim.
Our flight was delayed by half an hour but gratefully the rep organising the transfer was there when we arrived. We were bundled into the back of a Toyota and driven three and a half hours to get to our present hotel. We expected a rural ride through pastoral scenes but the first hour and a half was spent in the suburbs of Bangkok. After that we did see some some paddy fields, some cows grazing and the salt pans which line the coast to the north of here. Somewhat reminiscent of southern Brittany.
We stopped to go the toilet half way and as we did we encountered a severe rain shower, I waited a while for the rain to abate but saw Rosemarie and the guide running back to the car so felt , in the interests of masculine dignity that I had better make a run for it. We all need up soaking wet and shivering as the air conditioning in the car didn't help matters at all.
The Thais are clearly quite an industrious nation, all along the road were countless small stalls selling a variety of goods, from car bumpers to oranges, salt, wheel trims and all manner of foodstuffs.
I am very concerned however, that in their drive to separate the tourist from their money they are encouraging multi national conglomerates to become a part of their society.We saw Tesco's , Burger King KFC, McDonalds and all the usual suspects. When we try to experience Thailand do we want to have the best steak in town at Duke's or go to a 24 hour KFC? Chiang Mai reminded me somewhat of Fuengirola 20 years ago, but without the Red Barrel. Spanish bars , German beer houses, Italian restaurants, who could ask for more?
Our arrival at Hua Hin was unexpected the hotel is set in a large garden with palm trees and we can see the Pacific from our room on the ground floor. Two downers, one we told to look out for grass snakes as we walk in the grounds, and two we can't swim in the ocean as there is a problem with jelly fish. However, we did manage to go for a paddle like two small children on their first visit to the sea.
Thursday 25 October 2012
In the last blog I was talking about the markets And organised anarchy. The market sets up on the pavement so that you can not see the shop fronts from the road and walking space is dramatically limited and yet all concerned seem to arrive at a peaceful conclusion.
Chiang Mai has been an experience and a half. On day one Rosemarie left her phone on a sofa in the lobby. When she returned 10 minutes later the phone had gone. Result pandemonium, hotel staff were searched and later their lockers were too. our room was searched by security before the hotel arranged for us to go to phone shop to buy another phone.
This did not prove easy and it took three attempts to fins a shop that sold phones and SIM cards and which had an assistant who spoke good enough English to understand our predicament. We eventually purchased anew phone.
Yesterday we toured three ancient sites in Chiang Mai and felt really special as it was just the two of us and a guide. The guide was excellent and gave us agood history of the city and region. In the afternoon we rested and in the evening had an excellent Thai meal in a restaurant recommended by our guide.
We have been a little perturbed by the large number of single mature if not elderly males here who have younger Thai escorts and noted on our walk this morning several stickers on phone boxes stating that girls are not for sale.
Chiang Mai is a centre of tourism and there are hundreds of massage parlours and genies arranging trips. It seems odd to us that you could want to go and visit a "traditional" hill tribe as though they were animals in the zoo and we have not been able to bring ourselves to do it.
Tomorrow we move to southern Thailand to the beach for a slightly more relaxing time.
Chiang Mai has been an experience and a half. On day one Rosemarie left her phone on a sofa in the lobby. When she returned 10 minutes later the phone had gone. Result pandemonium, hotel staff were searched and later their lockers were too. our room was searched by security before the hotel arranged for us to go to phone shop to buy another phone.
This did not prove easy and it took three attempts to fins a shop that sold phones and SIM cards and which had an assistant who spoke good enough English to understand our predicament. We eventually purchased anew phone.
Yesterday we toured three ancient sites in Chiang Mai and felt really special as it was just the two of us and a guide. The guide was excellent and gave us agood history of the city and region. In the afternoon we rested and in the evening had an excellent Thai meal in a restaurant recommended by our guide.
We have been a little perturbed by the large number of single mature if not elderly males here who have younger Thai escorts and noted on our walk this morning several stickers on phone boxes stating that girls are not for sale.
Chiang Mai is a centre of tourism and there are hundreds of massage parlours and genies arranging trips. It seems odd to us that you could want to go and visit a "traditional" hill tribe as though they were animals in the zoo and we have not been able to bring ourselves to do it.
Tomorrow we move to southern Thailand to the beach for a slightly more relaxing time.
Monday 22 October 2012
Impressions of Bangkok! It's a very difficult city to describe, it would be hackneyed to say organised chaos. There is chaos but in more in terms of an understated anarchy against the system. Very untidy, very dirty, huge amounts of poverty and conditions we would not tolerate. Traffic is horrendous, perhaps the worst I have ever seen. They are going to have major problems in years to come. Take London's traffic problems and multiply by five and you might have some idea.
We travelled to the Grand Palace by taxi and were totally unprepared for what we saw. The magnificence of the design and the quality of the work defy description. It is a spectacle like no other a technicolor extravaganza which does not allow the eye to settle on one particular aspect, so your eyes begin to drift and you suddenly find it hard to concentrate on one aspect for more than a minute. We were very lucky because as we were leaving they shut it for the afternoon for a ceremony.
We had our first bad experience of the trip when trying to get a taxi back to the railway station we got in a meter taxi to be told by the driver he would not use the meter as traffic was so bad. As a Londoner I should have got out immediately but accepted the fare of four pounds to go the station. He then tried to take us to a travel agent and when we refused to get out of the cab stating that we told him that we had wanted to go to the station he lost his temper and said we should have told him before. He took us to the station with bad grace.
It is not so much that we were conned for two pounds, the fare would probably have been two rather than four but it is the principle that hurts.
We booked our train tickets successfully and caught a fully legal taxi back to the hotel. We spent another happy hour in the Internet cafe and then wandered off to a street market where interestingly we bought nothing.
We travelled to the Grand Palace by taxi and were totally unprepared for what we saw. The magnificence of the design and the quality of the work defy description. It is a spectacle like no other a technicolor extravaganza which does not allow the eye to settle on one particular aspect, so your eyes begin to drift and you suddenly find it hard to concentrate on one aspect for more than a minute. We were very lucky because as we were leaving they shut it for the afternoon for a ceremony.
We had our first bad experience of the trip when trying to get a taxi back to the railway station we got in a meter taxi to be told by the driver he would not use the meter as traffic was so bad. As a Londoner I should have got out immediately but accepted the fare of four pounds to go the station. He then tried to take us to a travel agent and when we refused to get out of the cab stating that we told him that we had wanted to go to the station he lost his temper and said we should have told him before. He took us to the station with bad grace.
It is not so much that we were conned for two pounds, the fare would probably have been two rather than four but it is the principle that hurts.
We booked our train tickets successfully and caught a fully legal taxi back to the hotel. We spent another happy hour in the Internet cafe and then wandered off to a street market where interestingly we bought nothing.
Yesterday was a 6.30am pickup so we were up at 5.00.We witnessed Bangkok waking from its slumbers and wondered if it ever really sleeps. Our first stop to pick up another couple, proved disastrous as they weren't ready.After a 20 minute wait we were all for leaving them.The van driver lost his temper and we went off in search of other customers. We returned to collect the errant ones who came on board eating thier breakfast and laughing. This did not go down well.
We travelled to Ayutthaya on a larger bus and went to the Royal Summer palace. We were expecting a wonderful Asian building but instead got something close to Kew Gardens with Victorian Buildings. It was however very beautiful.
The next stop was an ancient temple which gave some indication of the age of this civilsation.Very awe inspiring.Two temples later and an hour's drive on the bus we boarded a boat for a 2 hour river trip back to Bangkok.Lunch on the boat was good and we docked in central Bangkok.We then had to drop severalpeople off at other hotels and suprise suprise we were the last drop off, getting home at 4.30. A long and tiring day.
In the evening we went for a meal and had one of the hottest dishes I have ever had. Beef cooked in black pepper. From my first taste I could tell it was too hot for Rosemarie.I had a piece of ginger which cleared my sinuses and my ears.Chilli was in abundance.I have had milder really hot curries in Indian restaurants.We will not be ordering this again!!! Then home for an early night after a highly educative day.
We travelled to Ayutthaya on a larger bus and went to the Royal Summer palace. We were expecting a wonderful Asian building but instead got something close to Kew Gardens with Victorian Buildings. It was however very beautiful.
The next stop was an ancient temple which gave some indication of the age of this civilsation.Very awe inspiring.Two temples later and an hour's drive on the bus we boarded a boat for a 2 hour river trip back to Bangkok.Lunch on the boat was good and we docked in central Bangkok.We then had to drop severalpeople off at other hotels and suprise suprise we were the last drop off, getting home at 4.30. A long and tiring day.
In the evening we went for a meal and had one of the hottest dishes I have ever had. Beef cooked in black pepper. From my first taste I could tell it was too hot for Rosemarie.I had a piece of ginger which cleared my sinuses and my ears.Chilli was in abundance.I have had milder really hot curries in Indian restaurants.We will not be ordering this again!!! Then home for an early night after a highly educative day.
Saturday 20 October 2012
People generally are strange aren't they? Like the couple who decide to take two adjacent travelators and converse across them as they travel in tandem. Or the guy who sat next to us on the plane who insisted on using a Vicks nasal inhaler. Who wants to be travelling next to a stranger with a streaming cold?
Toady we were up at 6.00 for a three temple tour. the Golden Buddha first, majestic at 9 metres tall and made of solid gold hidden in concrete for several centuries.
Then on the longest reclining Buddha in the world and last to the White Marble temple where the King had imported marble from Italy. Cost no problem!
We moved swiftly to the temple of mammon called MBK, rather like a giant indoor market. A pleasant hour was whiled away looking at various items but the only thing we bought was some more rechargeable batteries, our appear to be expiring in the heat.
After we returned to the hotel we walked to a pleasant Internet bar where we booked hotels in Penang and KualaLumpur
Dinner was in a sea food restaurant near the hotel recommended by our taxi driver and very good it was.
And now for an early night as our tour tomorrow leaves here at 6.30.
Toady we were up at 6.00 for a three temple tour. the Golden Buddha first, majestic at 9 metres tall and made of solid gold hidden in concrete for several centuries.
Then on the longest reclining Buddha in the world and last to the White Marble temple where the King had imported marble from Italy. Cost no problem!
We moved swiftly to the temple of mammon called MBK, rather like a giant indoor market. A pleasant hour was whiled away looking at various items but the only thing we bought was some more rechargeable batteries, our appear to be expiring in the heat.
After we returned to the hotel we walked to a pleasant Internet bar where we booked hotels in Penang and KualaLumpur
Dinner was in a sea food restaurant near the hotel recommended by our taxi driver and very good it was.
And now for an early night as our tour tomorrow leaves here at 6.30.
Friday 19 October 2012
Here in Thailand
Arrived safely in Thailand. The weather is 30C and the people are very friendly.
Had a great meal in a fish restaurant just around the corner from our hotel and then lost the first draft of this blog which didn't please me.
The journey was arduous, oh to be 30 again.
Looking forward to a tour of Bangkok tomorrow but we have to be ready to go at 7.30 so an early night for us now.
We both feel in need of a good night's sleep.
Had a great meal in a fish restaurant just around the corner from our hotel and then lost the first draft of this blog which didn't please me.
The journey was arduous, oh to be 30 again.
Looking forward to a tour of Bangkok tomorrow but we have to be ready to go at 7.30 so an early night for us now.
We both feel in need of a good night's sleep.
Here in Thailand
Arrived safely in Thailand. The weather is 30C and the people are very friendly.
Had a great meal in a fish restaurant just around the corner from our hotel and then lost the first draft of this blog which didn't please me.
The journey was arduous, oh to be 30 again.
Looking forward to a tour of Bangkok tomorrow but we have to be ready to go at 7.30 so an early night for us now.
We both feel in need of a good night's sleep.
Had a great meal in a fish restaurant just around the corner from our hotel and then lost the first draft of this blog which didn't please me.
The journey was arduous, oh to be 30 again.
Looking forward to a tour of Bangkok tomorrow but we have to be ready to go at 7.30 so an early night for us now.
We both feel in need of a good night's sleep.
Monday 15 October 2012
Monday 15th October
Back in Launceston after a showery drive back from Luton where we celebrated Patrick and Sarah's ruby wedding . The sumptuous surroundings of Luton Hoo provided just the right background as friends and relatives gathered for much jollity and enjoyment.
The food and company were good and the weather was fantastic.The sunshine on the Italianate garden and the guests frolicked with gay abandon. As normal we were on the naughty table but overall behaved ourselves just enough to be forgiven. All in all a memorable day.
Our return home was marred by the mundanities of life,unpacking,again,!!!!Washing , and cleaning the oven, the move from one extreme to another established in the wink of an eye.
And so we return to major and rather fraught preparations.
Back in Launceston after a showery drive back from Luton where we celebrated Patrick and Sarah's ruby wedding . The sumptuous surroundings of Luton Hoo provided just the right background as friends and relatives gathered for much jollity and enjoyment.
The food and company were good and the weather was fantastic.The sunshine on the Italianate garden and the guests frolicked with gay abandon. As normal we were on the naughty table but overall behaved ourselves just enough to be forgiven. All in all a memorable day.
Our return home was marred by the mundanities of life,unpacking,again,!!!!Washing , and cleaning the oven, the move from one extreme to another established in the wink of an eye.
And so we return to major and rather fraught preparations.
Thursday 11 October 2012
All around is total havoc. Packing and repacking taking place on a daily basis. Is 20 kilos enough? Which shoes do I have to leave behind. What, are you going to Liskeard next Wednesday morning?
Do we have to go to that meeting next Monday?
How many shirts do you need? Isn't 10 enough?
The list of jobs to do seems to be growing rather than shrinking. To cap it all the garden is drenched, the lawn needs cutting, the veg plot needs turning over and we are off to a Ruby wedding celebration for four days. Who needs stress on this level?
Do we have to go to that meeting next Monday?
How many shirts do you need? Isn't 10 enough?
The list of jobs to do seems to be growing rather than shrinking. To cap it all the garden is drenched, the lawn needs cutting, the veg plot needs turning over and we are off to a Ruby wedding celebration for four days. Who needs stress on this level?
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