We arrived in Pai the other day, and rented small motorbikes to get around, and see the sights.
The motorbikes are lots of fun… when they work. I have developed an uncanny ability to stall my bike at any given time (I think the bike is playing games with me… I am not amused).
Two days ago we went to Doi Inthanon (Thailand’s highest peak with a Wat near the peak).
When we got to the base and tried to find a cab to the top (which should cost 30 bhat per person) the cab drivers would not so it for less than 1000.
We went to Wat U Mong yesterday, and it was amazing.
This Wat is much older than the others we have visited. The ruins are amazing, and to top it off there are creepy underground tunnels you can walk through.
in Thailand!
We made it to Chiang Mai; the ‘bus’ was an actual bus and not a mini van, and the A/C worked!!!
For the most part we were comfortable, and at about midnight we stopped at a restaurant some where between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
We leave for Chiang Mai in a few minutes, it is a long 12+ hour bus ride.
hopefully we actually get a bus, the guide book warns of travel agencies selling bus tickets but at the last minute cramming people in small minivans… at least the tickets were cheap only 200 bhat each.
Now that’s style!!!
Mexican coffee Thai Style. Make sure to read the english description; it is hilarious
Cars lined up as far as the eye can see, in every direction 
this is what gives Bangkok its indescribable aroma.
Wat Pho in Bangkok features the largest reclining Buddha in all of Thailand (46 meters!!!). It symbolizes Buddha’s passing into nirvana.
Buddhas head is 15 meters abovce the ground!!!
The soles on Buddha’s feet are decorated mother pearl (not sure what that is), and featured many Buddha images.
We went to the amulet market today, I was hoping to find some magical amulet with +int +stam, and +spell damage but no such luck.
There were thousands of ‘lucky’ amulets but I was skeptical as to how much luck they would actually provide, there were also many amulets made of ivory (can’t bring those back thanks to CITES… but that is a good thing).
We did what every tourist in Bangkok must do at least once…
We visited Patpong market, Bangkok’s infamous red light district a few nights ago.
There are numerous ‘shows’ one can see, from the tame ‘ping pong’ show, to the dangerous “dart show’ and the gross bird show (we did not see that one thank god… insert bird flu joke here).
This was a cool festival held all along the river’s edge through out Bangkok. People would buy banana leaf boats decorated with flowers, candles and at least 3 sticks of incense, and set them afloat in the river.
We made it this time
The Grand Palace is amazing, the detail and the decor is like nothing I have ever seen before. I cannot even imagine the amount of man hours required to build and maintain this place.
Freshly made Pad Tai; so delicious
Those Thais make a mean squid-kabob
more tentacles means more iron!
