So we are now in Sangklaburi – northwestern but more western, Thailand. We arrived in Bangkok at midnight Sunday and basically crashed into bed. We managed to sleep till 8 am ( a new record for travel!) got up and had a big breakfast then hit the town. First off was a fish foot massage – tiny fish nibbled at our feet! It was great! We then walked down to the Palace and learned to fend off tuk-tuk drivers. More walking brought us back to the hotel and a swim in the pool. Then we slept (bad idea) for about an hour, met our tour group (3 Brits, 1 Aussies, 2 Kiwis – great travel companions!) and went to dinner. I had a green curry. Very tasty but fire for the mouth and mine wasn’t even that spicy! After dinner we went back to the hotel to sleep and get ready for the next day early morning start.
Tuesday we were up early to catch a taxi to the bus station. For some reason, our cabbie missed the station, was on the expressway, so had to drive a long way to turn around but still managed to get us there before our tour leader’s taxi! They were stuck behind a traffic jam involving a tuk-tuk! We then jumped onto a bus for 2 hrs to Kanchanaburi where we had lunch and then jumped on the next bus for 4 hrs to Sangklaburi. We arrived hot and somewhat tired. After a quick ride to our resort – which is beautiful! – many of us jumped into the lake to cool off and were surprised that it’s pretty much the temperature of bathwater. Dinner was great again but for some reason the generator was down so we were powerless until about 10pm, sweltering in our mosquito proof rooms! The fan was pretty good but it rotates so when the cool air is gone, you fell hotter than ever…
Today is a trip to the submerged temple – when they made the dam here the temple went under water – and a 1 1/2 hr elephant ride followed by a visit to a Karen village and up to 3 Pagodas pass. So it’s a full day with lots of sunscreen!
17 March 2010
Tokyo time!
5 hour ride from Bangkok – slept most of the time. Then lots of time waiting for luggage, train ride to Ueno. Next was a collapse followed by a very nice bath! Met up with Yuka for a great dinner (Thanks for making the trip Yuka!) a little laundry and bed – slept in till 11:00, which is only 9:00 Thai time so not too bad.
Today we grabbed a Suica card (makes thinking about $ for train trips a thing of the past) and went out to Odaiba. Walked down to the shore line and touched the ocean! Very cool! Next walked a bit through Decks which has a Edo era feel to it. Lots of little shops and eateries. Jumped back on the monorail to try to go to the Edo era-type onsen. Found out that there weren’t any mixed baths although the guide book said there were so headed over to the Palette complex instead. Very cool mall! Is set up to look like something from Italy, has many little shops, eateries etc. Next went over to the \Tokyo MegaWeb and took a ride in a little eco-car. That place is huge! Will have to go back in May and let Talon have fun there! Next up was a ride on the massive ferris wheel. Great view from there. There was also a huge gathering of cosplay kids (goth, lolita, etc.) which is strange to see outside of Harajuku, at least for me. Then went to see the trumpet playing robot – who was very good – and the interesting things that Toyota has set up. Wandered back to Ueno and walked through Ameyoko till we went to our favorite ramenya – worth the calories!!! Back to the hotel with a quick stop to pick-up a book for Kim (yes…I said Kim! I already have 2 books with me!) Time for more laundry, some TV with a Johnny’s boy LOL and bed…
18 March 2010
Tokyo day 2
Managed to roll out of bed – good thing the floor is so close. \Went to the train station and were attacked by an Andersen’s. Good pastries and coffee – too good! Made it out of the Andersen’s and hopped on the subway to Ginza. Our new Suica cards are crazy useful! Walked a bit in Ginza – huge stores, fancy stuffs, but the prices didn’t seem too expensive – maybe Whitehorse is the Ginza of Canada??? LOL Watched a piano/violin concert in the Yamaha building. Found a gadget store that I managed to drag Kim out of. Went to the Sony building and were blown away. Lots of new stuff, got to see FMVs from Final Fantasy 13 (I can’t wait to play when we get home!!!) went into a 3D concert – loud but pretty cool.
Jumped back on the train to Akihabara. Managed to get lost looking for a store that we like as we came out of a very different exit. Finally found it and it has changed! Instead of cool manga stuff it’s all kids stuff 😦 Went back to Ueno to get lost in Ameyoko on a hunt for the supermarket – will find it today! Back to the hotel to have a bath and get ready to meet Kim’s friend in Yokohama. Only got lost on the way there once! (That’s a tricky transfer when you don’t know the end point of the line and your stop isn’t actually listed so getting lost once was OK). Went to a British pub for dinner – tasty!!! Met 2 of Brian’s friends and got to speak Japanese with them – very fun!
Grabbed a train back to Ueno – didn’t get lost at all! – and headed home for bed with a quick stop at a conbini for snacks.
19 March 2010
Tokyo Day 4
Went shopping in Ameyoko – found every shop we wanted and made location references for next time! Now have lots of candy and other stuff 🙂 Dropped the shopping off and walked through Ueno Park. They are getting ready for hanami so a few sidewalk acts (percussionist, jugglers, accordion player) very cool! No festival food yet though…
Jumped in the subway to go to Roppongi – looked around Roppongi Hills which is a combo shopping centre, living area, entertainment area. Really nice Japanese garden there and went into the TV Asahi building. I even recognized some of the actors! Pretty much dark now so jumped back on the metro to go to Tokyo Tower. Amazing view! Went all the way up to the Special Observatory which is 250m up! Did a bit of shopping in the base of the Tower then headed back to Ueno.
Wandered around Ameyoko and found Za-watami! Managed to order dinner, say we didn’t mind the smoking/non-smoking section and tell them that we didn’t smoke – all in Japanese! Thanks for showing us the restaurant Yuka! I had the sashimi again – very yummy but still stayed away from the abalone intestine…
Went back to the hotel for a much needed bath – for sore feet!!! It was busy at first so we got to pack our bags then headed up – Ahhhhhhh 🙂 That’s about it for today!
19 March 2010
Tokyo last day
So this is it – woke up early to get ready before check-out. Wandered into a shop for breakfast then headed into Ueno Park. Lots of people but they are still setting up for the festival. Saw one performer but she wasn’t ready yet. Walked by the fountain then around by the Zoo – it was free admission today as it is the zoo’s anniversary! Walked through the zoo back towards the hotel. Lots of Festival food out now but it was too close to breakfast for me 😦 Kim had yakisoba in the station while we were waiting for the train to leave – I hear it was yummy! Made it to the airport, checked in and are now killing time waiting for our plane.
That’s it….
Kim & Jenn's Travel Adventures 