Khao San Rd Bangkok

Khao San Rd Bangkok

Ok, I know this is not a new place to most of you as anyone who has been to Thailand, the chances are you have either stayed here or come through it. Well Nothing here has changed, except that I would say it's busier and especially now there is more police presence, and even the military are here with sub machine guns, due to the bombings that went on in Bangkok on New Years Eve. Freshly squeezes orange juice is the rave at the moment. For less than and aussie dollar you can get a ice cold orange juice that was squeezed about an hour ago. The usual stall are here, with clothes, shoes, DVD's CD's etc... But I have noticed at night that have these portable bars. Cocktails, and mixers are cheaper than inside the cafe's and you can sit out in the street and drink and basically talk dribble and travel stories to the person who is next to you or anyone else who will listen.
Some things don't change. I arrived here yesterday evening and I noticed these three guys outside the toilets repairing the very very small hot water system for the shower. Its the size of a shoe box. This morning I get up and there are the same three guys still working on this shower system. I left my guest house at about 11.30am and you guessed it, they were all still there working on it. (To my indo friends, does that sound familier?)
Take this guy here who is running the internet cafe. You put 10 baht (which is a coin) about 35 cents into the slot next to the computer and you get 15 mins of Internet time. The guys is playing some sort of online game and when he gives you change he doesn't even look up to see who you are, he just passes the coins and doesn't miss a beat with his game. - Hmm Kids.
Anyway, thats me done and dusted for another one of Titch's Tours. Catch you all soon, and I'm outa here,
Cheers Titch

Koh Chang - Thailand

Koh Chang - Thailand
Hey there thrillseeksers, well I managed to cross the Cambodian border the other day only to find that the last ferry to the Island of Koh Chang left 5 minutes ago. Is that Murphys Law? And by the way who is Murphy, the guy who makes up all these laws???
Stuck in a Thai town called Trat wasn't that bad as they have a nice night market with cheap good and fresh food along with cold local beer.

The Next day u early and head for the ferry terminal and about 20 clicks down the road. The 50 minute ferry ride drops us at Koh Chang, Thailands second biggest Island and I would have to say the most moutainest (is that a word?)

The seafood here is amazing and the views and sunsets are incredible to say the least. Did I mention this place has mountains? The roads are like a disney land roller coaster and no place if you have a fear of heights, steep hills, geckos, and of course the sun and heat which is relentless from 8am - 6pm. After that there is no wind, the place comes alive at night and it all cools down. And you now what? There is no Mozzies here! Yeah I have been lightning coils everynight thinking how good they are working untill I realise that they are just not around - Bonus

Sianoukville - South Cambodia

Sianoukville

Southern Cambodia Jan 9th 2007

Well you had better get to this place fast as I don't think it will be like this for Long. The Beaches are calm, warm and the white sand really squeaks on your feet. While sitting on a banana lounge, the beach sellers offer you lobstar, mangoes, pineapple, fish and a whole assortment of stuff. There are bars all along the beach and happy hours seem to go for 5 or 6 hours. Bers are al US$1 which makes it easy and to rent a motor bike is $5 per day.


Today I went on a snorkling trip and for the $10 price tag it included, a pick up from your guest house, breakfast, a boat trip, to two snorkle sites, Water, Coke, Lunch consisting of BBQ fish with salad and fruit salad for desert as well as a trip to a place called Bamboo Island. Th funny thing about it was that I walked around the island and didn't see any Bamboo.

Just getting back to the Motorbikes for a minute, this is the land that the police will pick you up for having your headlight on during the day, but won't do anything about it if you don't have it on at night. Go figure!!!

Today the weather was quite hot and the sky is clear so a bunch of us are going down to the beach for yet another happy hour to watch the sunset.
Last night I saw a bushfire here and the whole town came out to watch. The one and only fire truck cam to the rescue but quickly realised that they didn''t have any water in their truck. They had to go back to wherever to fill up. It was almost comical and it looed as if houses and other building were out of harms way.

There also looks as if there is a bit of development going on here so with the prices as low as they are and accomodation in the $5-$10 range, I don't think they can keep it a secret for too long


Photos are fro Top to bottom,
1. The Beach just up from My guest house
2. Bamboo Island
3.Serendipity Beach

Cambodia January 2007

Cambodia

January 2nd 2007
Well If Laos is the land of Beerlao, as everyone seems to drink the stuff, then Cambodia, is the land of Fresh fruit, cyclo and drivers, motor bikes and of course the grand temples of Ankor Wat, and the land of the Baguette. A legacy that the French left. The baguettes somehow retain their freshness even later in the day and they are everywhere.
Flew into to a town called Siem Riep, the home of Ankor Wat. Found a cool little room one block from this street called Pub Street. Yes as the name suggests, its a street full of bars, that brag happy hours, great food, and traditional Khemer dancing. At night this place comes alive as the street sort of closes, New Orleans style and people wander from Bar to Bar or sit on one of the many balconies in the steet and have gander at all the passes by below. Along with the tourists comes Mobile phone shops, cheap internet access, skype (so you can call home for bugger all), and did I mention cheap beer. So far I have been able to buy a ubiquitous can of the bmber fluid for 40 US cents. I don't get it.
Up early to see the Famous Ankor Wat and surrounding Temples. Fast Eddy, my tut tut driver says he can take me for $4 for the day. Sitting in the back of his tutu tut feeling like Lord Muck heading to the Largest of all temples had some sort of King and Servant feel about it, but all this is lost when you see the size of Ankor Wat and more to the point, how many people are there crawling and taking video and photos from every vantage point. There were heads on them like mice.
As you go to some of the lesser Temples, the crowds thin out and there is a heap of walking and climbing to do. In the end they all started loking the same, except of the last one called Ta Prohm. Thats the one with the tree roots that have started to overhang at the entrances to some of the doorways. This place was ver cool and spooky, as seen on Tom Raider with Lara (hubba Hubba) Croft.

Mobile Phones???

You have got to see this Mobile phone revolution in Cambodia and Laos. They have phone shops next to phone shops all selling the latest Nokia's and Motorolas along with a heap of brands that you have never heard of which I presume come from China and are alot cheaper. Yesterday I saw a girl selling beads on the beach txting an sms while trying to sell stuff. She must have been 13 years old. But the classic was when on a bus for 6 hours in Northern Cambodia and the bus driver was at first on the phone and then he sent an sms while passing a truck on a hill and going around a corner. I am in Sianoukville which is the beach area in Southern Cambodia and the bloke who picked me up from the bus station on his motor bike anawered a call while driving me to the beach. He drove with one hand while somehow holding my pack and was laughing over the phone. You've got to laugh.