Derrick & Jillene's Adventure: January 2007

Nong Khai

We're now in Nong Khai. This is where we'll jump off from to cross into Laos. And we just can't get enough of the tuk tuks here! This one below is a little different than the rest we've seen, so we had to capture it with a picture. We might bring one home with us...

And this is how my day started out. I got a ticket! We weren't sure at first what it was for, driving the wrong way on a one way, or not wearing a helmet, cause I was guilty of both. In the end we figured it was the lack of a helmet (Jillene wants everyone to know she had hers on). We suppose it is only fair though, I've already gotten away twice, the last time was just yesterday when I knowingly went around a barricade to make an illegal right hand turn right in front of a cop. Because he didn't speak any english and I was playing stupid, he ended up just getting frustrated and letting us go. In the end todays ticket cost me a whopping $6.60Cdn.

After the circus of paying the ticket and getting my ID back we headed to a cool sculpture park Salakaewku in Nong Khai. It is quite amazing. You can see for yourself.

Well thats all for us. Next we're heading to Laos, so you may hear from us there. Take care everyone.

Sukothai

Next stop after Chang Rai was actually Lampang, but that was very short lived! After a few hours in the town we decided it wasn't for us, and jumped back onto another bus and headed to Phisanulok. Funny thing, why did we go to Phisanulok you ask... because we wanted to see the neighboring town of Sukothai. Make sense? We thought it did, but after we got there we realized they were actually 80km apart, not as close as we were lead to beleive. So we were back on the motor bike (110cc this time) for more epic road trips to see the ancient city and ruins of Sukothai. The time spent on the back of our little bike was well worth it, as I hope the pictures show. This was the old capital of Thailand founded in 1240. So these things we were looking at were pretty old.

This is just 6 of the 100 some odd pictures Jillene snapped this day. These ruins included over 70 historic sites spread over a 5km radius.

Chang Rai

After our little loop tour through Pai and such, and a nights rest in Chang Mai, we took off for Chang Rai. This is in Northern Thailand as well (about as far north as you can go), as it is right near the Laos and Myanmar borders. As seems to be the norm these days, we typically seem to spend more time outside the city we are visiting than in it. This was the case in Chang Rai. We rented a bike and headed north. Our first stop was group of tribal villages which was open to tourists to visit and view their culture. Below were our tour guides beleive it or not!

A typical house these people live in. Made of bambo and a thatch roof.

From the Long Neck Karen tribe. Apparently they originate from Burma, and their brass neck rings were used because they thought it would protect them from 'tiger bites'? Now they wear them cause their neck is seen as a sign of beauty and gives them a sense of identity within the tribe.

From another tribe, we believe this lady was Akha... maybe!

We made a long journey on our little 100cc bike to a town called Mae Salong. Was a great little town way up on a mountain/hill top. This was a view enroute. A pretty hill side terrace of rice patties, but unfortunately as they do, the tribal people were burning back some bush so they could gain more farm land. We have seen tons of this.

And another afternoon spent outside Chang Rai. A few of the sites we stumbled accross.

We don't have many pictures of Chang Rai itself, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a cool place. We both really liked it there. Here is one picture though, we loved these little trucks that you pile into the back of that act as taxis. Jillene sized trucks...

Pai N Around

The trip continues!

After our 4 days in Chang Mai we headed out to do a loop which would take us through 3 towns in Northern Thailand ~ Pai, Mae Hong Song, and Mae Soreng. They are up in the hills so due to the altitude the temperature was quite cooler, especially at night (single digits).

In Pai we enjoyed a pretty relaxing atmosphere, but very touristy. Everybody is very laid back, but the streets come alive at night where you can buy anything from Draft beer to your knick knacks made by the local village tribes. A big draw to Pai is the large number of pubs with live music (provided by other fellow travellers) every night. We spent a couple days here, and during the day we would escape by motor bike to see the surrounding area. This is a little of what we took in...

This was taken enroute to a 'non existant' waterfall. We hiked along this river forever never finding a water fall that was supposedly up stream. We think this must be a joke played on the foreigners by the locals!

Next stop was Mae Soreng. This town was a little bigger than we expected, but not as touristy as Pai. This is a view from above the town at a temple on the hill.

Well put...

One portion of the hill top Wat at Mae Hong Song. We have seen so many that we're past remembering all their names!

And finally we made it to Mae Soreng. A little more like it. Not so big, not so touristy! Just nice cold beer...

Happy New Year!

A little of our New Years Eve. It was a good one and we both had a great time. A picture of the 2 of us at one of the many bars we crashed. They were all offering free buffet dinners, so I felt I should try what everyone had to offer.

Jillene pacing herself.

Derrick not...

This is a lantern the locals light and send off into the night. It is fueled by a type of candle which heats the trapped air in the paper bag.

Doesn't do it much justice, but it is quite the site when they fill the sky.

It isn't New Years until I try and steal a Tuk Tuk.

This is me trying to explain to the owner/driver that it was all in good fun.

Happy New Years Everyone! Miss you all. Heres hoping everyone's 2007 was as memorable as 2006.

...Unless you had a shitty year, then any year you choose!

Our Thai Cooking Class

We decided to do a Thai cooking class so we could still enjoy the food we've come to love when we're back home. We made a ton of stuff, and only got some of it on film because we were to eager to eat it! It included a visit to a typical Thai market where the locals do all their shopping.

Chicken anyone?

I was the teachers favorite. This is Yui, and this is her thoughts on my Thai cooking skills.

Jillene did okay...

And this is a little of what me made. Below: Green Curry, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry, and Mango Sticky Rice. Not shown but we also made: Pad Thai, Spring Rolls, Hot N' Sour Prawn Soup. We got to eat it all, and I tell you it was good!

Chang Mai

We made it to Chang Mai after a bit of an adventure. Word to the wise, think twice about traveling from Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal to Chang Mai (the biggest bus station) on a Friday night before a long weekend. We've never experienced such crowds or traffic... A trip that can be done in 6-8hrs took 14 (overnight).

But we did finally make it, and in retrospect it was all worth it. It wasn't long befor we started taking in some of the sites. Our first stop was Wat Soi Duthsep (spelling?) and below are a few of the pictures we stole. The temple itself islocated about 15km outside of Chang Mai on top of a small mountain. It was a fun bike ride!