Until the Next Time

Our return trip from Railay to the Krabi Airport was a little different than our initial trip to Railay Bay. We got up at 4:00 a.m. because Thomas's swimmer ear was bothering him, checked out with reception at 6:15 a.m. and then walked 15-20 minutes with our knapsacks to the pick-up destination. Sadly, it was low tide again so we had to walk forever to the boat. This time the captain did not offer to help us with our knapsacks which surprised me. The walk over sharp stones, sinking mud and then into knee deep water was completely different with a knapsack on the front and back of your body. Thomas and I were in our bare feet and we took longer than the two women who wore flip flops on their feet. I came in last which did not bother me and I cursed constantly during the walk. I guess because we paid for both trips after we arrived we did not get any perks to entice us to reuse the service. The captain was waiting for us at the boat and did help us get our knapsacks into it before setting sail. During the walk I was terrified of tipping over, wrecking my electronic devices and looking like a drenched rat for the flight to Bangkok. Once we arrived at the dock in Krabi, no motorcycle picked us up and we had to walk the distance to the taxi with our knapsacks on. One of the young girls who traveled on the boat with us carried my technology bag to give me a break. Once at the airport our flight was delayed by an hour and Thomas's earache got worse by the minute. We had tried to deal with his ear infection the day before we left but the only pharmacy in Railay Bay was closed on the Sunday. On the way to the airport we even stopped at a pharmacy in Krabi but the pharmacist had nothing to give Thomas for his earache. 

Once we landed at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangok we purchased ear drops with antibiotics at a pharmacy there and Thomas put them in his bad ear while riding the airport line into the city. Sadly, the drops did not do much! By last night he was in more pain than ever with a swollen neck and a fever. At 1:00 a.m. this morning he went to the nearby Samitivej Hospital as he knew he could never manage the two flights home tomorrow. They gave him 10 days worth of oral antibiotics, steroids and pain relievers and told him his infection was bad and could not be helped with ear drops. The three drugs and doctor appointment in the Emergency Ward only cost $80.00 Cdn. All the drugs were put in a designer paper bag with the hospital's name on it and Thomas had five-star service. Nancy had told us that medical and dental costs were reasonable and this experience verified it. In Canada, one drug would probably have cost us $80.00. The bill showed us just how much profit the pharmaceuticals really make at our expense in Canada. 

Fortunately, this morning Thomas felt much better and we are confident that by tomorrow he will not experience a great deal of pain on the flights home. In the morning, we leave Nancy's at 7:00 a.m. and fly to Hong Kong at 11:10 a.m. At 5:05 p.m. we leave Hong Kong and land in Toronto at 8:20 p.m. The second flight looks short because of the change in time zones but it is over 15 hrs which is a long sit. 

Today's weather was 35C or 95F. While we were outside Thomas said he could not wait to get home to cold weather! I am positive that he will not say this once he actually is at home! We drank mango smoothies as we walked to keep our core temperature down so we could stay cool and survive the heat. I had a simply glorious time in Thailand and Thomas enjoyed it but he thinks he needs five star adventureless travel in the future. No way! It was wonderful to see and spend time with our friend Nancy and are looking forward to her return to Canada in July. Thanks, again, for sharing your apartment and time with us! Hope everyone enjoyed our holiday as much as we did. I am looking forward to picking up Sebastian and bringing him home. Hope he remembers us! Get a Fitbit One and get walking! http://www.fitbit.com/one We walked around 153 km on this trip and still need to add in the steps for tomorrow. Traveled 90663 steps or 61.83 km the first week and did the remaining kilometres during the rest of our holiday. I am waiting for my Fitbit to send me my stats from last week as it gives me weekly updates. Take care my friends, until the next time! xo

Stormy Weather

Last night my friend, Nancy and I decided to go for it and take a boat tour to the Ko Phi Phi Islands. The weather forecast stated a mixture of sun and clouds which was good news and Thomas said he wanted to stay back and relax at the pool. I was excited that I would have another opportunity to see more of southern Thailand and get to some of the isolated beaches. At breakfast Thomas started singing the "Gilligan's Island" song and substituting Nancy and my names for Mary-Ann and Ginger. I told him to stop as it was not a good omen to sing that song. I had a few concerns at that time as the clouds looked ominous and there was no sunshine anywhere in sight. Note that all days that it has called for rain it has been a mixture of sun and clouds. At 9:30 a.m. we boarded the boat as Thomas waved and relaxed by the beach. 

Little did we know that the storm from hell was about to approach when we were in the boat that held 15 people! After 15 minutes rain started coming down in sheets and all the water that landed on the canopy made its way to a opening above the seats where Nancy and I were sitting. The waves were increasing in size and everyone was ordered to have their life jacket on but Nancy and I had put ours on much earlier than when they made the request. The interior of the boat was not protected and rain, also, came into the boat from the sides. Within seconds we all looked like drowned rats! The captain kept moving the boat into the storm and the guide said we had to go through it. Everyone on board looked unsettled and I was praying that we would just turn around and go home. We continued on until we got to Chicken Island and at that point the captain decided not to anchor and instead kept going into the storm. Many boats had already anchored there to shelter from the storm and I could not believe his decision. Once we got around that island the waves increased in intensity and the rain came down so hard and fast that it was difficult to even see as the rain was pelting against our faces. It was at that point I realized that I still had on my Fitbit One which was not waterproof and that made me panic even more. I might drown and wreck my Fitbit One!  Finally, the captain realized that the trip was too dangerous and he turned the boat around to anchor at Chicken Island. Perfect place for a chicken like me to roost!! Once off the boat we sheltered under tin roofs for about 15 minute until the intensity of the rain decreased and the black clouds turned into shades of grey. Next we reboarded and set off for Bamboo Island through a storm that returned to the same intensity that we had sheltered from 15 minutes earlier. At one point, I told Nancy that I wondered how long Thomas would wait to remarry and hoped that whoever it was would love my baby, Sebastian! Nancy told me not to worry but she knew the last place anyone should be was in the boat that we were sitting in! Nervous Nelly had told us to reconsider and I had some regrets about our decision. After what seemed like a lifetime, we made it to Bamboo Island where the rain stopped and the clouds changed to blue sky with partial cloud. Everyone needed this change in weather as we were mentally and physically exhausted from the ride. However, in the distance we could see the black clouds that we had driven through and could see that the storm was not over. I was glad that it would not be until later in the afternoon that we would even need to move the boat in that direction.

Bamboo Island was beautiful, safe and dry. Since we explored there for 30 minutes, I hung my clothes on the the trees and tried to dry them as it was unpleasant wearing cold, damp clothing. Before we knew it was time to reboard and go to Ko Phi Phi Don Islalnd. The rain never returned but water from the wake and choppy water poured into the boat and no one could protect themselves from it. Nancy and I truly had the worst seats on the boat! Near Ko Phi Phi Don Island we stopped to snorkel but I was not going to test fate as I considered myself to be lucky to even be alive. No snorkeling for me in water filled with jellyfish! Next we moved on to nearby Monkey Bay and Viking Cave. Finally, we made our way to Ko Phi Phi Le Island where the views at Pileh Bay and Maya Bay were incredible. Maya Beach is where the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.

Our trip home was fairly uneventful compared to the morning trip except for when the captain stopped the boat and asked for volunteers to sit in the front as the boat was not balanced and sitting too deep in the water at the back. No one wanted to move so the captain continued on and then stopped again and said four to five people must move forward. This time five men volunteered and the ride was then much smoother with less wake. I had no intention of moving anywhere as I was cold and wet and knew I would freeze and get even wetter up front.

A tip for anyone going on boat tours in Thailand. Always wear a bathing suit, cover up and flip flops as they sometimes ask you to get out of the boat in knee to thigh deep water and walk ashore. All day as soon as I felt like my sopping clothes were merely damp, I was asked to get out of the boat or walk to the boat and then I got wet again time after time. It started to irritate me after the third time. Around 5:30 p.m. we were dropped off in hip deep water and made our way towards the beach. Dry land felt wonderful! Thomas said he thought of us and hoped that we were not experiencing the storm that he did and just believed that we were okay! Would I do it again, absolutely yes! Now I know what Gilligan felt like in his boat before it shipwrecked!

To end our night we purchased a large, red, paper Chinese lantern while walking down the beach. After lighting it, we said a prayer for our friend Scott and sent it to be with him in the Heavens. It turned into a tiny speck of light before its flicker disappeared in the dark sky. 

Another photo album will be posted within the next day. Nancy took the photos with her camera as I did not want to take Thomas's camera with me. That was one of the best decisions that I've ever made as I am sure it would have been tossed around and soaked. Take care my friends! xo

Paradise At Last!

Yesterday was definitely my favourite day of our trip! I loved the adventure we experienced getting to our resort as well as being on a plane for the day! While in the Suvarnabhumi Airport we even had an adventure. Once we arrived, we looked up the number of our departure gate for the Krabi flight on a small TV monitor and went there to wait for our flight. No one else really showed up but we were not too concerned at first as the mob of people sitting at the gate beside us were going to Phuket which is a city not far from Krabi. Thomas who has nicknamed himself "Nervous Nelly" told me we needed to find one of the gigantic flight boards and I volunteered to go as I needed the steps. Once I got to the board I was shocked to find out that we were in the wrong location and had to move to a completely different wing of the airport. We had to hussle our butts as there was only 20 minutes to boarding. Once we got to our correct gate it was full of people and within 10 minutes we were on the plane. We still are not sure what info we looked at that told us the wrong gate but we both read it!

Our taxi driver who picked us up at the Krabi Airport must have had experience driving Formula 1 race cars. Most of the time he drove very fast while talking on the phone and even went on the wrong side of the road and the curb to pass. I held my breath and closed my eyes a few times but did not really worry as driving over here is more chaotic than in Canada. There was a storm coming and I figured that he was trying to get ahead of it. The long boat trip to the resort exceeded my expectations as I loved the uncertainty of it all. I cannot wait to take it again when we return to the airport Monday morning. I would love to go on a boat tour but Thomas said the safety standard do not meet his expectations and he will not go on a boat that is overcapacity. This saddens me as that experience is part of the charm of Railay Bay! 
When I travel I try to be flexible and not have rigid standards, that way I am rarely disappointed. As long as a room and bed are clean and bug free I am usually happy and I do not need fancy five star standards. Standards around the world are not always similar and there is good in everything regardless of what it looks like. It is comical to watch Thomas and I when we arrive at a new room. He puts his suitcase on the luggage holder and then methodically unpacks, hangs his clothes in the closet and arranges his toiletries. I keep my knapsack in a corner on the floor, leave everything in the bag, unroll my clothes when I need to wear them and arrange the toiletries that I need. Thomas said next year we are going on a golf vacation to Arizona which has no adventure at all! I do not golf and am not that excited about the plan.
Our second day in Railay Bay was incredible and tomorrow our friend Nancy is flying down to spend the weekend with us again. Sorry for sharing so many photos of the resort and Railay but it is so beautiful here that we feel compelled to take photos. If you ever visit Thailand, you must come to Railay Bay! While walking today, we observed two new complexes being built on the east side of the peninsula. Hopefully, the area won't be destroyed by new growth. April is a great month to visit as it is so hot many people stay away. We have not minded the temperatures at all in Thailand as they are nothing as bad as Morocco was when we lived there. It sounds like the weather at home sucks! The weekend weather here is suppose to be between 43-45C. Hope Ontario warms up before May 2nd!
Take care my friends! 

Looking Forward to Moving!

Chiang Mai has been a good experience but there really is not a great deal to see here. Not sure why it is in the top 25 locations in the world to visit on Trip Advisor. I would never include it on the list based on our experiences here. The Maetang Elephant Park exceeded our expectations and made the trip to Chiang Mai worthwhile but we were ready to leave the city on day 4. Five nights are way too much time to spend in this city! We enjoyed the Thai massages at our hotel but that is not a selling feature for the city. The weather has been spectacular with temperatures between 30C to 38C. No complaints in that category!

Many people come to Chiang Mai to trek through the countryside and live with villagers but we were not interested in that experience. Maybe that experience makes the city more endearing to visitors. If you ever visit here, I recommend organized tours to get you OUT of the city as there are only so many temples that you can visit and admire! Our two tours were great and reasonably priced. Both took us through parts of the city and countryside that we would never have experienced by ourselves. Also, I personally am tired of walking down the streets and being surrounded by men who have solicited or are looking for the services of young Thai women. At times, I have felt like screaming while walking by bars full of men! It appears to be a key tourist activity just like in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Hope this industry is not as popular in Railay Bay. When we explored the newer area of Chiang Mai today we did not notice the prostitution but there was nothing too dazzling about that part of the city. We walked 20000 steps or 14 km just looking for something interesting but never really found anything. 

Not many tourists are in the city right now so we have had to be very careful about where we ate. We chose to eat at the same restaurant - Ginger & Kafe four days in a row and had outstanding food. http://www.thehousethailand.com/kafe.php Last night we listened to Ella Fitzgerald, Carol King, Sammy Davis and Anita Baker while eating an incredible Malaysian seafood pho. I complimented them on the soup and they even gave me the recipe!! We can't wait to make it at home. The estate where the restaurant was located actually use to belong to a prince. Also, Lucky Cafe provided me with the best Mango Smoothies that I have even drank. When we returned to the cafe again today Thomas had cheap, cold beer and my drinks were more pureed mango than ice. I am going to write about both places on Trip Advisor as they deserve recognition. However, most of the other restaurants we investigated but did not eat at looked like they had questionable food. We tried Pizza Hut tonight and it truly sucked! We knew better than to chose western food but we did not think the Thai food looked safe at the places we checked out and took a chance. Some restaurants looked downright scary! 

Tomorrow we leave at 9:00 a.m. for the airport and at 11:30 a.m. we fly to Bangkok. At 2:30 p.m., after a short stopover, we leave for Krabi. Our next hotel is called Railay Bay Resort and Spa. http://www.railaybayresort.com/railay-facilities.php The views look wonderful from the pool and beach! I'm a little worried about the weather as the Internet has predicted rain for the entire time that we are there. I will be happy with clouds and intermittent sun and will hope for the best. Time is moving slowly for Thomas so I hope the next place meets our expectations.

Today I phoned home to check on Sebastian and discovered that he is not behaving or listening to Linda, an incredible dog whisperer, the way he should. Hopefully, he will clean up his act before we pick him up on May 2nd. He has been a going concern and a lot of work for her. We told Linda up front that he had questionable social skills and she said not to worry. I hope his behaviour improves or he will probably not be able to return to her place in the future.
Nevertheless, life is good and I have absolutely no complaints! Take care my friends.

Location, Location, Location!

Our flight to Chiang Mai was great and we have had a great time here the last two days. The temperature today is suppose to go up to 39C and it is a mixture of sun and clouds. It sounds like the weather is very different at home! Hope Spring returns before we return home. As I write this post I am sitting in the "Lucky Cafe" finishing my second mango frappe while looking at the busy street outside! The shake is one of the best shakes I have ever drank in my life, hence I am just finishing my second one! Just sitting here waiting for my laundry to be finished at the laundromat next door. Thomas just left for a walk and will be back shortly. 
We are pleased with our hotel but wish that it was located elsewhere. Little did I know that the one I selected was directly beside the "Red Light District". Thomas told Nancy and I on the first day that he suspected it but we did not think much about the idea. When we returned home around 9:00 p.m. that evening, it was evident that he was correct. We had to walk by all the hookers and interested gentlemen who were looking for a happy ending to get to the one entrance of our hotel. That was definitely a new experience for me. Yesterday I heard a girl call out to Thomas as he walked by her! LOL!! Another great memory for us to take forward! I always research hotels before booking them and I never read anything about our hotel being so close to this busy, popular section of town! Also, the "Lucky Cafe" I am sitting in right now has nothing to do with prostitution!
It has been wonderful to have our good friend Nancy with us for the last few days. She is back at the hotel right now and is leaving early this afternoon for Bangkok as she is back at work tomorrow. Her birthday was yesterday and we had a great dinner and day at the Maetang Elephant Park to celebrate it. I absolutely loved my time with the elephants and you will love the photos that I will be posting. A few of the elephants could draw and even print their name. Some of the elephants at the park spent their earlier years in the logging industry while others came from the street where they were used for begging. Many were born at the park. The park we visited has a Zero Tolerance policy towards animal cruelty and the elephants we saw were healthy and happy! Here is a link about the park http://www.chiangmaielephants.asia/ I am sure that not all elephants are as lucky as the ones that we met!
Today is the last day of a two week school break in Thailand and I am sure that Chiang Mai will be a quieter place tomorrow. This afternoon will probably be a pool and spa day for us as there is a lovely pool at the hotel and a spa facility on the top floor. Guests can actually schedule two hour head, back and shoulder massages, cannot wait!
Next week we plan to visit some temples in the old city of Chiang Mai and Thomas has been looking into golf. Tours are easy to book at the last minute at our hotel and we plan to go on another tour to a beautiful temple up in the hills near Chiang Mai. The temple is suppose to have an incredible view of the city and there will lots of opportunities to walk which is great! I plan to post 2 photo albums later. The Internet did not work for me this morning so I am behind with everything. As soon as Thomas touched the computer it worked!! Technology and I do not always get along! Take care my friends! 

Back in Bangkok!

Our flights were uneventful but seemed like they lasted forever. Both Thomas and I found it a challenge to sit for the 15 hour flight. Our butts, knees and backs were numb and aching by the time we landed in Hong Kong. When we were younger we did not notice the aches and pains and did not feel like we would need a wheelchair when we got off the plane. The woes of aging!! Long distance travel is easier on a young body! We were fortunate that no one sat in the seat between us on the 15 hr flight. That extra space gave us some elbow and stretch room. Thomas and I do not usually sit beside each other when we fly. When possible he sits near the aisle for extra leg room and I sit by the window. We usually have a stranger sitting between us which can be a good or bad experience.

Cathay Pacific was a good carrier but we were not impressed at all with their food. Our expectations for food on a plane are never high but we have had better. The food that would have been loaded in Toronto was worse than the food we got in Hong Kong. The noodle soup was okay but that was so loaded with salt that all I tasted for the rest of the trip was salt. We did not eat much of what we were served and were both starving by the time we landed in Bangkok. It has been a challenge to find a reasonably priced cold beer for Thomas. At 7-Eleven they would not sell him any beer until after 5 pm. We paid $10.00 for a beer and water at our hotel just because we wanted something to drink.

We are pleased with our room and the weather here is hot and humid. Yesterday it was around 32C and today it is suppose to go up to 36C. It is really easy to get around Bangkok with their great subway system. Yesterday we did lots of walking and subwaying! Thomas's special GPS or "the force" was warming up and did not work that well and I helped to get us lost. At one point we were walking in the opposite direction of where we even wanted to go. However, we did reach all destination but just put on more miles than we planned to. We walked a total of 21337 steps or 14.55 km yesterday. Thomas's feet are sore and tired today and mine are just a little stiff. I wear a little computer called a Fitbit One which tracks my movements all the time and have tried to walk 10000 steps a day since Jan 1, 2013 so I am use to walking more than Thomas.
Since we arrived we have visited the Siam Mall, Lampini Park, Jim Thompson's House & Museum and explored the area around our hotel. I really enjoyed the Thompson house and recommend it, if you visit Bangkok. http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/  Today we plan to get feet massages and return to Thanon Sukhumvit where we know we can find cold beer if Thomas desires one and browse to our hearts content. Also, we had dinner at a fabulous restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms where the restaurant is decorated with statues made from coloured condoms. http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/ We took a few photos of the statues and will post later. When we spent 8 days in Bangkok on our last trip we saw the UNESCO sites and some of the many beautiful temples and palaces, so we do not have many photos to post of the incredible culture around us. You can view my old Bangkok photos at my Ultimate Journey blog http://thomasanddebbie.blogspot.ca/
Leave for Chiang Mai tomorrow and are staying at the Raming Lodge Hotel and Spa. http://www.raminglodge.com/ Our flight leaves Bangkok at 1:05 p.m. and arrives in Chiang Mai at 2:15 p.m. Easy on the bum and legs! Talk later!

Heaven's Newest Angel

Yesterday on April 13th we lost our cherished friend, Scott Legault. He fought a challenging battle against his cancer and is now in a better place where he is free of pain and suffering. He was taken from us before his time, loved by many and will be greatly missed by family and friends. 

I know that God has an incredible plan in place for his newest angel and Scott will be in our hearts forever. The photo I have posted of him was taken when we spent time with him and his wife, Melissa in Cinque Terre, Italy during our Ultimate Journey, September 2011. We will always cherish the memories from that experience and our friendship. 

Now that Scott has passed on to an even greater purpose we will pray for him, Melissa and their families and celebrate his life on April 19, the day of his funeral, at a temple in Chiang Mai. When we are flying it will be comforting to know that we will be as close to Heaven and Scott as we could ever be. 

The following poem by David Harkins says it all. We are very sad that we will not be at home to support Melissa and both families but we will be there for them when we return home in May.

  

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,

or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,

or you can open your eyes and see all that he's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him only that he is gone,

or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close you mind,

be empty and turn your back.

Or you can do what he'd want:

smile, open you eyes, love and go on."

Until we meet again my friend, love you forever!

Thomas, Debbie &Sebastian 
xoxo