My facebook page has some pictures of the damage to his house, it's terrible to hear and has really upset us.
After hearing the awful news from Sri Lanka about our guide and friend Shakeer and his family being fire bombed out of their home I though I would eventually publish the full unedited journal of our trip. It ends at page 26 so isn't too long, but it's a mystery where the final couple of pages went. Anyway it's been added to the Sri Lanka previous holiday, takes a lot of scrolling down to read it all but it does give a full and frank account of our trip. Hopefully it might persuade a couple of you to visit Sri Lanka, take your kids and book a tour with Shakeer. Please pass this on to friends and friends of friends to read so that we can get at least one tour booked for him to help him get himself back on his feet.
My facebook page has some pictures of the damage to his house, it's terrible to hear and has really upset us. I've been looking at booking with a guide to visit the sights and sites around Chiang Mai. Just had a quote for 2 day trips, including fuel and entry to everything and lunch. 16200 baht!!! Is someone having a laugh? I have read you can hire a songtheaw for the whole day for 2000 baht.
Here's hoping I'm not hugely misguided in rejecting this kind offer. Also booked the car parking at Heathrow. A great price of £76 for 23 nights parking with a meet and greet on arrival and departure. Makes it easier to get there and away. Skypark have some good prices with a summer code. *** Queried the price with the guide, Joy, and he has replied that he will do the 2 days on tour for only 3000 baht if we pay for all our entries and lunch. Now I'm not sure but I think we'll be going some to spend £250 on entrances and food unless he is taking us to Alton Towers and Madame Tussauds! Booked up for the 28th and 29th July now. He has sent me the names of the zip lining place and the elephant sanctuary so I can research entrance fees. Still not sure about going to see the Karan 'long neck' tribe, seems a little weird to go and stare at people like a human zoo. Well for now we are all booked and sorted as far as we can be. Just need to get the sun cream and mozzie spray and we are set for the off. Packing to begin next week once we have washed all the snorkels and masks in Milton. Less than 4 weeks to go and the excitement is growing. Well I'm currently trying to plan what we can do while we are in Chiang Mai. Not sure how we are even getting from the train station to The Castle Hotel yet! Seems the best way to travel is using the red songtheaws, kind of like a shared taxi with bench seats in the back. I've contacted a couple of tour guides to book a trip up the mountain to see Doi Suthep and maybe visit some local tribes. We'd also like to do a half day cooking class and I'm working on everyone to come on the jungle zip lines. Another string to my bow is I've been trying to upload some old holiday videos so I can add them onto this site. Without paying the premium monthly fee I'm limited to setting up a youtube channel and posting them from there. Check it out - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcxa2zrdVlL_toltalwfu5w There will me more added in time and hopefully lots once we get to Thailand. Just like the Perahera video from Kandy I hope to include some content that is useful to travellers and lets people see what we have been up to. Well every year we have the same discussion and every year we are close to the limit with out baggage allowance.
We have both read and begun to plan what we will need to try and minimize our packed clothes. The biggest problem seems to be shoes! This year I'm reverting to the zip-off trouser as my only choice of trouser / daytime shorts. I was amazed and surprised to find Karrimor zip offs made for all weather trekking in Sports Soccer for the bargain price of 2 pairs for £32. They pack down to almost nothing which is useful. I've decided to cut down to only 2 pairs of swimmers this year as well. Still leaves me the dilemma of whether to pack my beach shoes, trainers and sandals! Packing for the kids has always been easy. Three of everything seems to get us through till the next laundry visit. Hoping that this year Sam can really step it up and use only half of one of the bags. As we are only taking 2 bags out with us she's got half a bag to fit in her stuff. Despite my suggestions of wicked weasel bathing wear to reduce space she is exploring other alternatives! Hoping to hear any tips or suggestions from those reading the blog as to how they reduce their hold luggage weight. Well there's suddenly a wealth of Thai food available in little old Consett! I say a wealth but it's up to 2 different options. Tiger Bills where I have to be honest the Red Curry, Pad Thai and Massaman Curry have been top notch. Also Oodles of Noodles where we had a slightly disappointing experience for Sam's birthday.
Trying really hard to get the kids to try more than some noodles or rice as I'd really like them to eat more local food when we travel. If anyone has any tips or suggestions about Thai dishes please comment on the blog to let me know what we should try. Also as our plans are out there any suggestions for restaurants you've visited in any of these places would be welcome. Really looking forward to trying lots of places to eat, posting some 'reviews' and maybe a few pictures while we travel. Well the train tickets have been booked for both journeys now. After paying 5610 baht for the Chiang Mai leg I was expecting a lot more for the Bangkok to Ko Tao leg. What with the journey being, overnight, involving a bus and ferry transfer and being a popular route.
The bad news was that the Bangkok to Chumphon tickets only go on sale 30 days before travel. Further bad news was then to be had - all 1st class tickets on the train were booked! But we could book a 2nd class ticket to Lang Suan 60 days in advance and get off a stop early at Chumphon for just a few baht more. We were charged 6185 baht for the 4 of us in 2nd class sleepers almost 2000 baht cheaper than 1st class. I took the plunge and booked it. Should add to the experience! Looking forward to the catamaran trip out to Ko Tao and eventually relaxing on the beach. GT Adventures a company near our hotel have already offered us some resort dives for £40 each and a speedboat tour of the island for £120 for the full day. Less than 7 weeks to go now! |
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April 2023
AuthorHi, I'm Ian Lockey. As a family we have loved travelling and just wanted to share our experiences online with friends, family and anyone else who drops in. |