THE THREE ALPHA TRAVEL

… this time it was the north – what I always heard that it is worth the most, if you are into talking to real people. In the south of Thailand it seemed it was all for the money We did not have many days though and so we decided (after a lot of thought I have to say) to go for Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and around and after visiting the Golden Triangle enter Laos from its northern and most popular amongst travelers, border.

Muay Thai in Chiang Mai

Many things are said about Chiang Mai but as always I held my expectations not so high. It’s a good trick because you don’t get disappointed! I have to say this though; Chiang Mai was the place that I was proved wrong about the Thais. I do not know if it is a thing of the north but the people there were really friendly and answered your questions free of charge Being a place of considerable historical significance and a heaven for the expats, I was surprised to see it almost deserted. We had a nice time wandering around the temples and eating the food of the north. Oh yeah… there I also witnessed my first Muay Thai boxing fight. very violent and very, very spectacular.

From there to Thaton; a very nice village was a four-hour ride. As a base to explore a bit more of the north we rent a bike and we went to Mae Salong (an even better one) and around – my favorite place of Thailand. Getting close to Ban Klang it started raining so much that we had to leave the bike in the middle of a muddy road – we couldn’t even walk up ourselves and we started looking for shelter. We finally found a monk living by himself in a meditation retreat and spent the night with him. Beautiful experience  and I will always remember him! From there it was off to the Golden Triangle.

Glimpse of Burma

We rent a bike for two day and follow the road to Mae Sai. Passing through the mountainous region of Doi Tung it was one the most beautiful of journeys. On the top we could see the all-green , all-lush mountains of Burma. The checkpoint before Mae Sai was something out of a Indiana Jones movie (you know the part that Indy and his dad pass the borders from East to West Berlin?). After staying one night in Mae Sai in a beautiful home stay (Chad House) we visit the Hall of Opium, Sop Ruak (the actual center of the Triangle) and Chiang Saen. It was then back to Chiang Rai and to the border of Laos (Chiang Kong). The north definitely made me want to go back to Thailand some time…

The first of the two late posts from my quick passing from Thailand (2 weeks)…

A beach in Koh Tao - people not included

So after Bangkok and for some strange reason we decide to go South. South in Thailand means beach, beach and beach. Oh yeah… did I mention The Beach? Well that as well. First stop; Koh Tao (Koh = Island, Tao = Turtle) which we thought it would be a nice and peaceful place to explore the beaches (remember?), lie down, read a book and talk with the locals. It is. But not when the full moon party in Koh Phangan has just finished. That was the case and it was even difficult to find a place to stay! When we did we rented a motorcycle and explored the island for one day. Still though the bitter taste of the all-for-the-party-tourist cake we ate there is still sour in our mouths. So we decided to try Koh Phangan itself. Typical tourists have a strange way of moving in a crazily similar pattern so we thought; let’s try and where the root of the evil is.

Sunset in Koh Phangan

When we arrived there I honestly thought I was in the wrong place. As it resulted it was only the wrong time (or for US the right one ). The full moon party had finished a week ago and everything was deserted… so we stayed for a bit. I reckoned Koh Tao as an island was more beautiful but the hangover faces of the “backpackers” made it uglier. Koh Phangan came as a relief. Nice, empty and cheap-priced. Even the locals seemed a bit relieved from the party wave having moved out – until the next full moon obviously. We thought; this is enough of the east coast and though the next logical visit would be Koh Samui ( the third big island in the row) we headed back to the mainland.

Talking about the people once more… Bangkok did not let me decide but seeing the two islands, Thais are definitely used to strangers. Prices are fixed. If you want it; good, if not; somebody else will. Are behaviors like that too? I was about to find out on my next visit the west coast of Thailand, leaving from Krabi.

Hello from the capital of Thailand! It was funny when I heard from somebody actually reciting Bangkok’s full and proper name which is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit!!!

Bangkok temple

There are possibly many Bangkoks but I have seen mainly two of them. The cultural part of the city lies on the south of the chaotic and up and bustling suburbs of Kao Sahn. The best temples and the palace can be found there. It’s a place more relaxed than the central Bangkok. The latter is a full of trafic and noisy place to be. That is where all the businesses and offices are – thus the rush. I had to see the center because I spent some days in the house of Mathieu, a French VJ that has been there for two years now. All in all it is a place I would go back to and why not a place to work at.

One thing you do understand when you visit the capital is that Thailand has been in the tourism game enough time now – probably the first country in whole Asia to have suspected the boom in the sector. While travelling and seeing more of the country I hope to find an authentic place or places (I know many would tell me; good luck) and meet the real people of Thailand. I will keep you informed on how that goes. For now goodbye!