It
is January 18th, 2003 and as promised, here is an update on how Freedomgirls
trip to Thailand is going. Not a whole lot to report in this segment
as we really have been just concentrating on relaxing (beach, beach,
beach thats all we do is beach!! hehehe). We had a fabulous flight
thanks to Asiana Airlines. It was uneventful, which is always good
when flying, and everything from leg room, meals, service, the
personal inflight T.V./ computer games, to the fact that there was
ZERO turbulence made the trip the best we have ever been on.
It was an 11 hour flight from Seattle to Seoul Korea. We got in after
midnight in Bangkok and we only stayed the night at a near by bungalow.
We then returned the next morning to the airport and we flew directly
to Koh Samui.
Koh Samui is a beautiful island that is quite popular with tourists.
The main Beach area is called Chaweng Beach. We found a lovely resort
called Baan Talay. It is located in a quieter end of Chaweng Beach
and comes complete with a swimming pool directly in the middle of
all the bungalows and next to the beach. Each bungalow has airconditioning
(an absolute must here-when one is not on a budget), your own private
bathroom and hot shower, and TV (Yayyy CNN). Included in the cost
of the bungalow is free breakfast buffet. You name it , they've got
it in this buffet. It is very nicely done and the service at this
resort is second to none. Thai people are so very friendly. Many tourists
don't make an attempt to speak Thai when dealing with the locals,
however if you do try and speak their language they love it. We are
doing our best to speak Thai every chance we get and we notice how
differently we get treated. They want to help us learn and they have
fun with our accents and our mistakes. In Thailand, it's all about
being happy and smiling. It is rare to see a Thai person mad or upset.
"Mai pen rai" (pronounced "my pen rye") translates
to mean "no problem", and that quite sums up how the people
of Thailand live their lives and deal with the tourists. Nothing is
ever a problem to them and they seem to be very happy go lucky in
their attitudes. It is truly a great place to be.
We
both have noticed the increase in the Western way of life, not only
since 15 years ago but even since we were here last, just 2 years
ago. Yes ladies, there is a Starbucks on Koh Samui. There is also
a McDonalds, a Burger King, a Pizza Hut and a Mall complete
with a KFC! Most people in this part of Thailand have a good handle
on the english language so it is very easy for the tourists to get
by. Another thing we have noticed this visit is the number of Thai
people using cell phones. A country that I once thought was less developed
than our own, is definetly not!! It still gives me a chuckle though
to see the locals driving down the street on motorbikes talking away
on their 'mobile' phones. The motorbike is almost the number one form
of transportation on Koh Samui. They are equivalent to our 'scooters'
in North America, but they tend to look more sporty. Thai people will
drive on these scooters carrying a family of 4! It is still quite
amazing to see a woman in a dress riding side-saddle on the motorbike
with a 3 year old up front , the father driving and another
child on the rear! Unbelievable balance built into them from the time
they are born.
The
night life in Chaweng Beach area is amazing! It makes us feel old
because we used to be able to go out every night and take in the bars
and the discos, but now it seems that once every few nights is enough
for us. We have a Thai friend named AREE, that took us out to the
local disco. Mostly only Thai people at this particular place: they
had a live band that was fabulous. We were shown such a terrific time
by AREE and her staff. AREE is the bird trainer at the Samui aquarium
which is located at another part of the island at the SAMUI ORCHID
RESORT. The bird show is amazing and AREE is the head trainer and
the master of ceremonies for the show. They have birds that ride bikes
on highwires, birds that play the dice under three shells game, birds
that do math and birds of prey that swoop down and take things off
the arms of a volunteer from the audience. These birds are unbelievable
and AREE and her staff (Tipphy, Ban, Jenny, Raymon, and Mon Kon) have
done a fabulous job. At the same location we were also fortunate enough
to view the Bengal Tiger show. After the show we were taken behind
the scenes where we met the trainer. He took us to see the Tigers
up close and in person. One of the Tigers had a cut under his
chin from fighting with one of the other tigers. The trainer allowed
us to watch while he treated the cut with antiseptic and then gave
the tiger a pill. Just like a child, the trainer had to camouflage
the pill in a minced up ball of pork. The trainer then informed us
that not too long ago he had spent a month in hospital because one
of the tigers had grabbed him by the ankle and was dragging him in
to the cage for a meal! He thought that he was dead because he could
not alert his other training staff and the tiger would not let him
go even after hitting him with a stick...but, thank god , after the
third hit the tiger let go and he dragged himself to safety. He told
us of another one of the trainers that was in hospital for 3 months
after a group of tigers attacked him. They bit him on the head and
body and he played dead. One of the bigger tigers then came and chased
off the others. He stood over the injured trainer and licked the wounds
on his head. The trainer still played dead and other trainers then
came and scared off the Big tiger and got the trainer to safety. To
this day they still don't know if the big tiger saved the trainers
life on purpose or if he just wanted the "food" to himself.
The
sun has been very hot and our trip to Thailand would not be complete
if one or both of us didn't get sick... soooo... we will not disappoint
you. We both took ill. Food poisoning and perhaps a stomach bacteria.
So after a few days of staying in our room, no eating, lots of bathroom
visits (from both ends I may as well add) and a trip to the pharmacy
for medicine, we are back on our feet and touring around. Today we
visited "Big Buddha". It is a huge monstrosity of a golden
Buddha that towers high above everything. It is stunning and beautiful.
Thai people are very religious and the golden buddah is quite a symbol
that they idolize and pray to. It was a very peaceful , tranquil and
spiritual place. Even if one does not have a religious denomination
to speak of, you can't help but admire and appreciate what they have
here.
Well, that's it for now, we will give you all an update in a while
after we move on to Railay Beach and Phuket! Till next time... keep
smiling and keep doing things that keep you young at heart!!!!
It
is January 18th, 2003 and as promised, here is an update on how Freedomgirls
trip to Thailand is going. Not a whole lot to report in this segment
as we really have been just concentrating on relaxing (beach, beach,
beach thats all we do is beach!! hehehe). We had a fabulous flight
thanks to Asiana Airlines. It was uneventful, which is always good
when flying, and everything from leg room, meals, service, the
personal inflight T.V./ computer games, to the fact that there was
ZERO turbulence made the trip the best we have ever been on.
It was an 11 hour flight from Seattle to Seoul Korea. We got in after
midnight in Bangkok and we only stayed the night at a near by bungalow.
We then returned the next morning to the airport and we flew directly
to Koh Samui.
Koh Samui is a beautiful island that is quite popular with tourists.
The main Beach area is called Chaweng Beach. We found a lovely resort
called Baan Talay. It is located in a quieter end of Chaweng Beach
and comes complete with a swimming pool directly in the middle of
all the bungalows and next to the beach. Each bungalow has airconditioning
(an absolute must here-when one is not on a budget), your own private
bathroom and hot shower, and TV (Yayyy CNN). Included in the cost
of the bungalow is free breakfast buffet. You name it , they've got
it in this buffet. It is very nicely done and the service at this
resort is second to none. Thai people are so very friendly. Many tourists
don't make an attempt to speak Thai when dealing with the locals,
however if you do try and speak their language they love it. We are
doing our best to speak Thai every chance we get and we notice how
differently we get treated. They want to help us learn and they have
fun with our accents and our mistakes. In Thailand, it's all about
being happy and smiling. It is rare to see a Thai person mad or upset.
"Mai pen rai" (pronounced "my pen rye") translates
to mean "no problem", and that quite sums up how the people
of Thailand live their lives and deal with the tourists. Nothing is
ever a problem to them and they seem to be very happy go lucky in
their attitudes. It is truly a great place to be.
We
both have noticed the increase in the Western way of life, not only
since 15 years ago but even since we were here last, just 2 years
ago. Yes ladies, there is a Starbucks on Koh Samui. There is also
a McDonalds, a Burger King, a Pizza Hut and a Mall complete
with a KFC! Most people in this part of Thailand have a good handle
on the english language so it is very easy for the tourists to get
by. Another thing we have noticed this visit is the number of Thai
people using cell phones. A country that I once thought was less developed
than our own, is definetly not!! It still gives me a chuckle though
to see the locals driving down the street on motorbikes talking away
on their 'mobile' phones. The motorbike is almost the number one form
of transportation on Koh Samui. They are equivalent to our 'scooters'
in North America, but they tend to look more sporty. Thai people will
drive on these scooters carrying a family of 4! It is still quite
amazing to see a woman in a dress riding side-saddle on the motorbike
with a 3 year old up front , the father driving and another
child on the rear! Unbelievable balance built into them from the time
they are born.
The
night life in Chaweng Beach area is amazing! It makes us feel old
because we used to be able to go out every night and take in the bars
and the discos, but now it seems that once every few nights is enough
for us. We have a Thai friend named AREE, that took us out to the
local disco. Mostly only Thai people at this particular place: they
had a live band that was fabulous. We were shown such a terrific time
by AREE and her staff. AREE is the bird trainer at the Samui aquarium
which is located at another part of the island at the SAMUI ORCHID
RESORT. The bird show is amazing and AREE is the head trainer and
the master of ceremonies for the show. They have birds that ride bikes
on highwires, birds that play the dice under three shells game, birds
that do math and birds of prey that swoop down and take things off
the arms of a volunteer from the audience. These birds are unbelievable
and AREE and her staff (Tipphy, Ban, Jenny, Raymon, and Mon Kon) have
done a fabulous job. At the same location we were also fortunate enough
to view the Bengal Tiger show. After the show we were taken behind
the scenes where we met the trainer. He took us to see the Tigers
up close and in person. One of the Tigers had a cut under his
chin from fighting with one of the other tigers. The trainer allowed
us to watch while he treated the cut with antiseptic and then gave
the tiger a pill. Just like a child, the trainer had to camouflage
the pill in a minced up ball of pork. The trainer then informed us
that not too long ago he had spent a month in hospital because one
of the tigers had grabbed him by the ankle and was dragging him in
to the cage for a meal! He thought that he was dead because he could
not alert his other training staff and the tiger would not let him
go even after hitting him with a stick...but, thank god , after the
third hit the tiger let go and he dragged himself to safety. He told
us of another one of the trainers that was in hospital for 3 months
after a group of tigers attacked him. They bit him on the head and
body and he played dead. One of the bigger tigers then came and chased
off the others. He stood over the injured trainer and licked the wounds
on his head. The trainer still played dead and other trainers then
came and scared off the Big tiger and got the trainer to safety. To
this day they still don't know if the big tiger saved the trainers
life on purpose or if he just wanted the "food" to himself.
The
sun has been very hot and our trip to Thailand would not be complete
if one or both of us didn't get sick... soooo... we will not disappoint
you. We both took ill. Food poisoning and perhaps a stomach bacteria.
So after a few days of staying in our room, no eating, lots of bathroom
visits (from both ends I may as well add) and a trip to the pharmacy
for medicine, we are back on our feet and touring around. Today we
visited "Big Buddha". It is a huge monstrosity of a golden
Buddha that towers high above everything. It is stunning and beautiful.
Thai people are very religious and the golden buddah is quite a symbol
that they idolize and pray to. It was a very peaceful , tranquil and
spiritual place. Even if one does not have a religious denomination
to speak of, you can't help but admire and appreciate what they have
here.