THAILAND

20.02 -  02.03.2014. 

Met my mom in Bangkok and we traveled in south and south-east Thailand. 

(Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms of total area, with an area of approximately 513,000 km2 and is the 20th-most-populous country, with around 64 million people.)

Bangkok may look like a typical big city when you are in the new city-centre. The moment you go a tiny bit out of the tourist shopping area, you're in Asia. They say it's the place where east and west meet, it just might. It's dirty, has crazy traffic, but kinda gets under your skin and makes you wanna go back!

Thailand is so incredibly cheap. Food, drinks, everything is so delicious and calculated to euros or dollars basically costs you nothing. Especially coming from Australia, it felt almost unbelievable. This coconut would be about 20 euro cents. 

Even at the markets where the prices were more than double and you had to bargain a lot, it was still pretty cheap and as in remote areas, they were desperate to sell, so in the end they gave you the price you wanted. 

Amazing electricity solutions!

We attended a Thai cultural evening. Traditional food, music and dance. Dancing is lovely but it gets truly boring as they mainly just move their hands which was technically exceptionally good but didn't hold the excitement for too long. The guys by the way are not gay or transvestite here, they just wear the make-up to look as good as women on the stage. 

Visited Damnoen Saduak floating market! 

Sticky rice with mango! Have I mentioned I adore Thai cuisine, and this is one of the best desserts!! Heaps and heaps of fresh juicy fruits every day. I could live on only that! 

Bangkok skyline.

Bangkok has the world's longest place name (listed in Guinness World Records): "Krung thep mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Phiman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit",
 which translates as: "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (unlike Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."

The Burma railway, more known as The Death Railway. Constructed by Japan during WWII, using forced labour. Around 240 000 people were used, more than 100 000 of them died as a result of the project. Railway was 415 km long. Now is only 130. We actually took the train as we headed towards a little village near the River Kwai. The ride was bumpy and oldschool with scenic views, still had mixed feelings while keeping the history in mind.

Jungle River resort near Kanchanaburi. A beautiful Mon tribe village situated right at the river kwai. Connected to mainlands via the river only, to get there had to jump into those lovely little boats with all our stuff and off we went. 

Yes, english or the lack of it was sometimes an issue

Palm springs, literally

Got thrown out of the boat somewhere upstream and got to float several kilometers down until had to catch the boat again and discovered getting towards it was harder than it looked.

Mon tribal music and dances. Much more lively and entertaining than Thai cultural program but ten times weirder as well. Unorganized and random, kinda left you speechless, I'm not saying that in a bad way, just still can't really make up my mind on that. 

Thailand likes its valentines day.. and all other holidays. Apparently they like to celebrate all kinda holidays from whatever culture. Aka they have nothing to do with christianity but they go all out for christmas. 

Tiffany transvestite cabaret show. Yes none of the girls on the photo were born as a girl. In Thailand they believe there are three genders: girls, boys and all those who don't belong and were born into a wrong body. I think it's fair, it's everyones own business.

Tourists buying crap they don't need. In Pattaya you cannot relax when you go to the beach, with a 3 second interval (at best) there is somebody trying to sell you something, if needed passionately. The fruits and other snacks are often welcome, everything else, not so much. 

I look like I just won a beauty pageant, which I didn't, it is just the best and most beautiful Mai Tai cocktail probably! 

Then again Thailand is major in pageants. There are more than 700 held every year, including: miss drunk and miss hangover. 

Taxis in Pattaya. Cost 10 baht. (0.22 euro). They never leave without 14 people inside and they do not care tourists may not be as tiny as the locals. Also, keep in mind that the first car never takes you anywhere, the last one does and then the long row of cars in front of that can go back and the new last car can go next. 

Can't get enough of the food. Various seafood from the night market, passionfruit wine and coconut pancakes! Another dessert that I'm gonna miss like crazy.

Pattaya walking street. Non-stop nightlife and a hundreds go-go bars.

Spirit houses! Yes it is connected to religion (every house or place has a protective spirit) but they also must love their crafts. This kinda house exists  next to almost every house. Some smaller, some bigger.