In Phuket! But first, back to those Tigers...

We are at THE BEACH!! Actually, so far we haven't seen too much of the beaches that the legends are made of, but we will tomorrow when we take a boat to Phi Phi Island (possibly where they filmed "The Beach," the Leonardo DiCaprio movie??), which is supposed to be spectacular with perfect white beaches and clear water, limestone pilings, etc! Our hotel is beautiful, but in a very busy area of Phuket that reminds us of a mix between Cancun and South Beach... not necessarily a good thing!! But the hotel itself is soooooo peaceful and beautiful that we'll be just fine hanging out here in the evenings and spending the days at the beach.

So back to Chaing Mai, the northern part of Thailand we flew out of this morning. Yesterday we visited the "Golden Triangle," most well known throughout history for the Opium trade... now a days, a conviction of harvesting/selling/dealing Opium in Thailand will get you a DEATH sentence... they are not kidding around. Anyways, now it's known for great views and a popular market that sells goods from Burma, Laos, and Thailand. We also visited the the place where the 3 countries all come together for a nice photo opp.

The day before yesterday was our favorite day in Chaing Mai, for two reasons: Elephants and Tigers. We headed to an elephant camp in the morning, where we had some really close encounters with some really huge elephants. They are such sweet animals, and reminded us a little bit weirdly of dogs, because once they knew you had a treat (in this case the treats were bunches of bananas or sugarcane) they would do anything to please and you couldn't hide them anywhere... they knew you had them behind your back and would reach their sniffers right around you looking for the goods!! The sugar cane was tied together with grass in bundles of about 6 cane logs at least. Those elephants would crunch them all in one bite (did I already say this in the last post?? b/c it really blew my mind) like a peppermint candy. These bundles were at least 8-10 inches in diameter, of solid sugarcane and they had NO problem obliterating them with one bite. They could also easily handle a whole bunch of bananas in one gulp. We would feed them just one at a time, to try to make our stash of treats last longer, and took some really great pictures in action.

After feeding them, watching them bath in the river, and seeing a show where they played soccer, painted, and performed other cute tricks (again, kind of dog-like!!), it was time to go for a ride! We climbed on to a tall platform and "boarded" our elephant (which we named the Hankster, after Sarah's dog, because he was so damn cute) while a "Mahout" (elephant trainer) sat bareback in front of us, and led the elephant for a beautiful walk through the river and on trails through the hills. To say the views were scenic doesn't do them justice. Back at camp we had a buffet lunch and then went shopping at the elephant painting gallery, and picked out a painting just like the one we had seen our elephant paint during the show (soon to be seen at Casa Fiallos!). We also saw a HUGE spider in a web stretched above one of the trails, and in my panic to run underneath it quickly, I almost ran over a 9 year old Swiss boy who unfortunately for him blocked my way. I felt really badly about that.

On the way back to the hotel, we decided to swing by the "Tiger Village," just outside of town. For $30 for both of us (cheap compared to what it cost to see the baby Cheetas in South Africa a few years ago!), we bought tickets to pet a 7 month old "Medium" Tiger We signed a waiver, promising not to sue them should we lose any fingers, etc. and were escorted back to where our medium tigers were playing. We were made to first read all of the rules, which I'll try to remember as best I can:

Only approach the tiger from behind.

Do not make any sudden movements or gestures.

Do not play or run around the tigers.

Do not pet the tiger's head or tail.

There had to be more because basically it might as well have said "DON'T MOVE!!". Oh, and my favorite one that was posted on all cages: : Do not put ANYTHING in the cages, ESPECIALLY FINGERS OR HANDS!!!!! And I'm thinking: that is until you walk right in with them, then it's OK?

So we go in with our medium tigers (there were 4 in the grassy caged area we were at), and the trainers corral one that seems a little feisty to me. Let's just say none of my pictures turned out well with this cat, because he was not happy to be taking part in this photo session and I was up and away from him in about 2 seconds. While the trainer was trying to force the now kind of pissed off tiger to sit back down so we could resume our session, I had to speak up, "No, that's OK! How about that one over there? You know, the one sprawled out on his back passed out? That is my kind of tiger." I didn't say ALL of that, but that is what I was thinking. Because I really don't need my picture with a mad tiger. So we went over to the sleeping cat, approached it from behind, knelt down, and took some great pictures. It's amazing how much easier I can smile when I don't have a snarling tiger threatening to leap at my throat at any minute (don't worry Mom, we were never really in danger... he was just a brooding teenager I think, too small still to do any major damage). So while we're with Mr. nice guy tiger (the passed out one) pissy cat decides to misbehave some more and go over to the door and leap on it like he wants to get out now and go explore the rest of the park. The trainers had to remind him who was boss, and that was my cue to go back to the other side of the fence!! Again, why they charge the most $$ to get into the cages with the adults is beyond me! I mean, I get it that it's the most popular, so they charge more... but it's the WHY is it the most popular??? that I don't get!! I would think as the risk to your life goes down, the price would go up, not the other way around. But anyways, on our way out we saw a couple, literally lying down in the grass, practically cuddling with an adult tiger (as it slept)... I sure hope that tiger didn't have a bad dream and wake up with these idiots draped all over him, because I wouldn't want to be them if he did!

OK, that's all for tonight! More about Phuket over the next few days I'm sure. Tomorrow we're doing Phi Phi Island, and then James Bond Island the next day.

Love,
Meagan

Rules of petting a Tiger coming soon

We just finished an amazing dinner in Chang Mai of grilled chicken skewers with peanut sauce and rice (for $4 including drinks for both of us!), and it's late... 10 PM our time (about the latest we've stayed up yet, and so I'm too tired to go into this tonight, but yesterday we saw an elephant paint, took a great potential Christmas Card photo on said elephant, in a river, and we pet a tiger (only a 7 month old tiger but he was plenty big enough), and did so much more, which I will write about next time. Did you know it actually costs MORE to pet a full grown tiger, which I think is just CRAZY... both that it's the most expensive option (people would pay MORE to risk their limbs and lives??) ... and that people line up to do it!! People who apparently have never heard of Sigfried and Roy.

But more on that tomorrow!! I just wanted to write a quick post to say that tomorrow we leave Chang Mai for Phuket.... this trip is going by way too quickly, but out of all the places we are visiting I might be most looking forward to Phuket. We will have internet access there, so I'll write more as soon as I can!!!

Love to everyone!
Meagan

Blessed by a Buddhist Monk

Today when we arrived in Chang Mai, we visited Doi Sotep, a beautiful temple built in 1383, 12 kilometers up on one of the mountains around this city. We had amazing views of the city from up there. A Buddhist monk blessed us with water (splashed it on us with a palm branch) - a very cool experience!

Yesterday (back in Bangkok) our guide took us about 90 minutes outside of the city to a famous water market. We boarded a longtail boat and headed down the canal to go shopping! People sold everything hot thai meals (cooked right in their boats), to hand made teak items, to fake Louis Vuitton handbags (no, I didn't buy one) from their longtail boats and from waterfront shops. At certain points it was a traffic jam of vendor and customer boats in the narrow canal.

After coming back from the water market we had free time to wander around Bankok. I decided to be brave and try some ramen noodles from a street vendor. They looked at me like I had 4 eyes when I said I wanted noodles only (I could have picked from up to 4 things to put in the soup, but I was already a little wary of a street vender and the only item I really would have liked from their selection of mostly veggies was shrimp - and they looked really suspect). So they cooked my noodles and then I picked a sauce for them that looked and smelled delicious. I was so excited to try my first authentic Ramen noodles, and they actually would have been so good and enjoyable, except that I think the sauce I had them put on the noodles might have burned a whole in my stomach, if I ate them all. SO SO SO HOT! So I had a few bites (the huge bowl was only $1, so I didn't really care if I didn't finish all the way) and we went on our way. A lot of the street food here looks really great, and Fodor's says as long as it's cooked fare, Thailand is one of the best places for street food, so I think I'll try again and next time be really wary of sauces.
Last night we bought tickets to a kickboxing match, which we found out started at 6:30. We go in and are escorted to the FRONT ROW, ringside!! We knew our tickets would be really good, because even in a place where everything seems so cheap, kickboxing is their favorite national sport and it was either buy the most expensive tickets ($60) or stand in the grandstands in a mosh-pit type area... so we shelled out the $60. And it was worth it to be so close to the action (and so far from the people screaming and yelling and placing bets left and right during the matches). Some amateurs started off at 6:30 (they looked no more than 14 or 15) and one boy actually was knocked out and had to be taken out by stretcher in the SECOND match! I am sure he just had the wind knocked out of him b/c he weighed no more than 90 pounds and took one too many knee kicks to the stomach from his opponent. By about 9:30, the bigger guys were facing off and it was really a spectacle. The kickboxers enter in and bow to each corner of the ring, say prayers, and do a little ceremonial dance around the ring. Thai music plays before and during all the matches, even while they're duking it out...

And our ride is here! We're off to a dinner/dancing show, and I'm starved. Love you all, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING ONE DAY EARLY! Love, Meagan

On our way to Chang Mai today!

I need to be super quick, we're in the Bankok Airways lounge on their free computers, and only have 5 more minutes before we head to our gate. We are having the most amazing time in
Thailand. It's such a beautiful country. I will write more later when we reach our hotel in Chang Mai ... it's the northern part of the country where we will go see an Elephant Camp and ride on a river raft tomorrow and see some amazing temples today. The northern country is more mountainous but still very tropical area (I THINK, since we haven't been there yet!). I still need to write about our great time yesterday at the Floating Market outside of Bangkok and our evening at the Kickboxing matches (really cool!), so I"ll definitely try to seek out computers at our new hotel this evening!

More later, after touring around Chang Mai!! Love you all! Meagan

Wats up from Bangkok

We woke up bright and early this morning (thank you jet lag!), with plenty of time to have a relaxed breakfast and find the computer center before meeting our guide and driver at 10 AM in the lobby of our hotel. The breakfast buffet area is on the top floor of the hotel and has a nice view of the city area around us. After eating a LOT of rice for breakfast when we visited China (our last trip to Asia) we were very happy to find breakfast included pancakes, bacon, cereal, orange juice, toast, croissants, made-to-order omlets (I really wish I liked eggs b/c I would have them fill mine with bacon and cheese I think), and for those who can stomach it that early in the day, Thai style noodles (they were good, but just a little too spicey for before-noon for me). So we filled up and still had time to go back to the room for a 30 minute power nap before we met our guide at 10.
Our first stop was the Chao Phraya River, that flows all the way from the northern part of the country... several smaller waterways come together to make up the Chao Phraya by the time it reaches Bankok. We took a longtail boat ride (a longtail boat is what it sounds like - a long skinny boat, covered by a canopy, with a big car motor on the back and propeller at the end of a long pole that sticks into the water and in the big part of the river you can really move in them!) through the main river way and then up several canals, away from the city center, to take a look at "real homes" away from the tourist sites. We had the boat to ourselves, so we sat back and relaxed, enjoying the scenes from the water. We passed many beautiful temples and in the back canals saw homes right on the water, so close it was a little bit like a Thai styled Venice.
We stopped at one dock and bought food to feed the catfish living in the waters - more fish than I've ever seen! Along the temple waterfronts they don't kill the fish (a Buddhist thing), there are just a crush of fish popping up everywhere you look. When you throw them the food it's quite a sight to see them all competing for the most pellets.
After touring around the city by Longtail boat for about an hour, we stopped at Wat Arun or Temple of the Dawn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Arun). You can climb up this temple to reach two terraces that have a great view of the riverfront, the Grand Palace across the way, and the city. The incline is very steep and the stairs are made for very small feet (I didn't let go of the handrails for a second), and on the way up I made the mistake of looking behind me and down below and about lost my breakfast.
I loved the hand made statues covering every surface of the Wat, all seemingly quilted with brightly colored porcelain and seashells from China.
Next we visited another temple, Wat Pho, where we saw the largest Reclining Buddha in Thailand (I'm shocked that there is another one larger anywhere in the world!). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho - You can hardly capture him in one frame of the camera. Made of concrete and plated in Gold, the Reclining Buddhas feet alone dwarfed me.
In another Wat (Today was the day of Temples!) we saw a massive golden Buddha, made of solid gold, but the size of the Reclining Buddha still impressed me more, even if he wasn't gold to the core.
By the time we made it to the Grand Palace at 2:00 in the afternoon, I was started to fade and really looking forward to lunch. We spent about an hour walking around the elaborate royal dwellings that were built in the late 1700's by Rama I (the King) -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Palace. At the Grand Palace we saw the Emerald Buddha (who has three wardropes that change with the seasons, and only the King or the Crown Prince are allowed to change his solid gold attire from one season to the next), many very "Grand" halls and monuments, and beautiful gardens full of sculpted trees and tropical flowers.
One thing I did not expect about Bankok (which I should have just from looking at the map) is how tropical and lush everything is. Driving down city streets in the heart of the commerce district even, vibrant greens pop out at you everywhere. The streets are clean, the drivers actually for the most part adhere to the lanes (a first for our travels in the Eastern hemisphere!), and the people are inredibly friendly.
So if you see what time this is posted (about 11 PM our time, 11 AM your time) and wonder why I'm up so late - we made the mistake of taking a "nap"after we got back to the hotel around 5... and woke up at 10 PM... oops. So now our goal is to be back to sleep by 1:00 at the latest, so we will not just crash tomorrow afternoon. I think we'll be fine because tomorrow is a much more relaxed day... we visit some markets and I can't remember what else, but I know we won't be going from Wat to Wat to Wat like we did today. So wish us luck falling back asleep in the next few hours, even though our bodies are telling us it's the middle of the day! I normally don't have any problem sleeping at anytime during the day, as anyone whose ever lived with me knows, so hopefully Enrique will be able to as well!
So far - SO SO SO GOOD! And I haven't even touched on the Thai food yet - we had a wonderful lunch, and I think we'll really enjoy our meals here. I'll save that for another post when we have more meals under our belts.
Love to everyone! Love, Meagan and Enrique
p.s. Sarah - GOOD LUCK ON THURSDAY AND IN THE FINAL DAYS OF TRAINING, WE ARE THINKING OF YOU!!

We are here!

Due to lack of time this morning (and a computer virus at the hotel) I am going to save some time and just paste in the email I sent to family this morning, letting them know we're here safe and sound. I'm sure I'll have much more to report by the end of the day!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good morning from Bankok!

It's 9:05 AM here (9 PM US EST time) and we have a full day of sightseeing ahead of us. The flights, although long, weren't too bad at all.

Mom, Thanks for letting me know Clemson won!! It's because I wasn't watching I think!

Sarah, I read The Art of Racing in the Rain on the flight to Tokyo, and loooooooooved it!!!! Thanks so much for lending it to me! I'm halfway through The Help now too, and I hate putting it down, but I'm glad not to be on the plane anymore.

The internet access room in the hotel is having a virus issue, so I'm going to be quick, and anyways I don't have too much to tell just yet, because we got here around midnight last night and really haven't seen anything yet. The hotel is very nice and we just finished breakfast.

Love you all!
Meagan

Thailand/Cambodia Itinerary

3 days and counting!!! We leave for Thailand on Saturday morning... our flight goes from Atlanta through Tokyo and on to Bankok. Here is the itinerary from our tour company, A & F Tours; all spelling and grammatical mistakes are theirs, although I'm sure I'll have my share soon, especially when I'm typing on the keyboards overseas!

THAILAND and CAMBODIA TOUR -

22 Nov : Arrive in Bangkokon NW 341 at 23.45 pm and transfer to I RESIDENCE

23 Nov : After breakfast have a full day city tour , we will visit the Grand Palace Where we will see as well the Emerald Buddha , then we go to Wat Po Where we will see the largest sleeping Buddha , then we stop at Wat Traimit what is a large massive golden Buddha made of solid gold, from their We proceed to the river side and take a canal tour in the late afternoon On the way we will stop as well at WAT ARUN on Bangkoks famouslandmark
Lunch included

24 Nov : After breakfast we proceed to the floating Market on the
outskirts of Bangkok On the way you see the rural lifestyle what hasn t changed to much from
the Old time, the floating market is a colorful place [UTF-8?][UTF-8?]– perfect
location for Pictures so make sure you bring your camera we return to the Hotel around Lunch time and after noon is free to explore Bangkok on your own . Visit on Of the famous shopping malls or visit SUan Lum the night bazaar

25 Nov : After breakfast transfer to the airport and for flight to Chiang Mai on Bangkok Airways at PG 217 at 12.05 pm arrive at 13.20 pm , after arrival we proceed to Our Hotel and onward to DOI SUTHEP the most famous temple in North Thailand The architecture is different from themples you saw in Bangkok , then in the evening You will go to a Khantoke Dinner what is a northern style Dinner with a folkloric show

26 Nov : After breakfast we visit an an elefant Camp, where you see how the train the elephants, As well we see show and after we take an elephant ride true the tropical forrest and
along the river, then we board a bamboo raft and float Lunch included

27 Nov : After breakfast a full day tour to the golden Triangle what is the border line between Thailand Laos and Burma , you will see the Mekong river what is the most important River in South east Asia , as well visit the border town of Mai Sai where many Burmese Goods are on offer , their we will vist as well the hall of opium what is an interesting Museum and where you learn why this is called the golden triangle Lunch included 28 Nov : After breakfast transfer to the airport and direct flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket On Thai Airways TG 129 at 12.35 pm arrive at 14.30 pm , transfer to the Hotel in Phuket BURASARI at Patong Beach

29 Nov : After breakfast have a full day tour to Phee Phee Island , one of themost famous Islands in Thailand , it s natural beauty made it famous as film sets and it s Preserved as an national park , you will have the change to swim and snorkel In Crystal clear water . Lunch included 30 Nov : After Breakfast visit the James Bond Island what used to be the set for a james Bond movie , their we visit a sea gypse village and we have the change to enjoy Different activities like kayaking.. Lunch included 1 Dec Breakfast at the Hotel free day to realax , visit one of the famous SPAS or Just relax on the beach

2 Dec : Breakfast and early transfer from Hotel to airport at 5.30 am for your flight to Bangkok on TG 226 at 7.25 am arriving at 8.50 am then connecting to Bangkok Airways PG 905 at 11.35 am arriving in Siem Reap at 12.35 pm , your guide Will wait for you at the Airport and show your name , transfer to Hotel for Check in Then start sight seeing tour of ANGKOR THOM and ANGKOR WAT At night visit an APSARA DANCE with dinner


3 Dec :After breakfast full day tour. You visi the fabulous Ta Prohm embraced by the
roots of enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers, Pre Rup, East Mebon, and
Neak Poan. Visit Krovan, Royal Bath of Srah Srang and Banteay Kdei
temples. Accommodation at hotel

4 Dec : After breakfast We embark on Ox cart to visiting the Khmer Village and enjoy view of the rice field and a lots of palm trees with great fresh air. We board on boat in Tonle Sap
Lake, the " Great Lake " of Cambodia , one of the largest in Asia . Here, enjoy a brief
cruise past floating villages complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals. Free leisure
for your own time for rolling at local market for shopping until transfer to Siem Reap
International airport departure flight on PG 908 at 19.30 pm arrive in Bangkok at 20.45pm.
proceed to EXIT 3 at the airport where your driver waits for you and take you to your Hotel

5 Dec : After breakfast free time to relax in Bangkok 6 Dec : After breakfast transfer to airport for flight NW 340 at 5.50 am. Pick up at Hotel at 2.50 am

Flight details :
FIALLOS/ENRIQUE FELIX MR 2.SWINGLE/MEAGAN MARIE MS
3 PG 217 Q 25NOV 3 BKKCNX HK2 1205 1320 25NOV
4 TG 129 Y 28NOV 6 CNXHKT HK2 1235 1430 28NOV
5 TG 226 Y 02DEC 3 HKTBKK HK2 0725 0850 02DEC
6 PG 905 Q 02DEC 3 BKKREP HK2 1135 1235 02DEC
7 PG 908 Q 04DEC 5 REPBKK HK2 1930 2045 04DEC

HOTEL ACCOMDATION :
22 – 25 Nov 09 I RESIDENCE DELUXE ROOM Deluxe room
http://www.bangkok.com/i-residence/index.htm
25 – 28 Nov 09 MANINARKORN HOTEL Deluxe room
http://www.maninarakorn.com/
28 Nov – 2 Dec 09 PHUKET BURASARI HOTEL Classic Room
http://www.burasari.com/
2 - 4 Dec 09 SOMADEVI HOTEL Superior room
http://www.somadeviangkor.com/
4 - 6 Dec 09 Bangkok I RESIDENCE Deluxe room
http://www.bangkok.com/i-residence/index.htm

EMERGENCY CALL THAILAND

A & F TOUR TRAVEL
Mr Franz
Tel : 081 6946009
Silom Road 120
10500 Bangkok


EMERGENCY CALL CAMBODIA


CHRISTIAN AIR TOUR
Mr. KIM HORN
Tel. 01- 2932359
No. 29 D, 225 Street, Phnom Penh
Cambodia