Thailand

May 28, 2015 by Robert Haddan

After two weeks of adventuring through India and Nepal, we were ready for a little rest and relaxation. We spent the next two weeks meandering about Thailand, including a week of hanging out on the amazing beaches on the island of Koh Samui. The story of our travels through Thailand are best told through photos, so please enjoy a snapshot of the beautiful Kingdom of Thailand.

Relaxing in a cove near Lamai Beach on the east coast of Koh Samui

Buddhist statues outside Wat Lamai. The temple is home to a folklore museum with artifacts from Samui's history. — Buddhist statues outside Wat Lamai. The temple is home to a folklore museum with artifacts from Samui’s history.

One of the waterfalls at Na Muang on the mountain in the center of Koh Samui

This rock is called the Hin Ta or Grandfather Rock. Can you guess why?! There's a Grandmother Rock equivalent. Tourists flock to take very inappropriate photos with this rock. Google it... — This rock is called the Hin Ta or Grandfather Rock. Can you guess why?! There’s a Grandmother Rock equivalent. Tourists flock to take very inappropriate photos with this rock. Google it…

Eating coconut ice cream made from actual coconut served in a coconut shell near Hin Ta on Lamai Beach

Authentic phat thai (noodles) and curry. Eating local food is one of our favorite things about traveling.

A produce stand selling durian. Durian is a popular fruit in Thailand. It smells and tastes like trash. Literally, like garbage.

Fisherman's Village in the Bo Phut area on the northern side of Koh Samui. Lots of hotels, food and souvenirs. — Fisherman’s Village in the Bo Phut area on the northern side of Koh Samui. Lots of hotels, food and souvenirs.

Finally some authentic street food! Egg roll and a fried rice ball in Fisherman's Village. — Finally some authentic street food! Egg roll and a fried rice ball in Fisherman’s Village.

A beach vendor selling bird wind chimes in Bo Phut

Looking out at the tour boat that took us out to Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park. The park is made up of 42 small islands.

Parts of the Leonardo Di Caprio movie "The Beach" were filmed in Ang Thong. Emerald Lake on Talay Nai played the role of "Blue Lagoon" in the movie. — Parts of the Leonardo Di Caprio movie “The Beach” were filmed in Ang Thong. Emerald Lake on Talay Nai played the role of “Blue Lagoon” in the movie.

Our home away from home for a couple nights. Ko Wua Talap on Ang Thong is packed with tourists during the day, but at night, there were just a handful of campers.

The trees around our campsite were full of langur monkeys. You could hear them swinging in the trees all day and night.

On the Thai mainland, we did a homestay in Khiriwong Village, a quiet village near Khao Luang National Park outside Nakhon Si Thammarat.

On our second day in Khiriwong Village, we hired a local guide to take us hiking in the mountains. We did a homestay at his home where he'd built a couple small huts for guests. — On our second day in Khiriwong Village, we hired a local guide to take us hiking in the mountains. We did a homestay at his home where he’d built a couple small huts for guests.

After lunch, our guide took an hour-long nap near the waterfall. It was a little awkward... — After lunch, our guide took an hour-long nap near the waterfall. It was a little awkward…

In Bangkok, we visited Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world's largest weekend markets. Dinner included fresh mango, phat thai, egg rolls and fried quail eggs. — In Bangkok, we visited Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world’s largest weekend markets. Dinner included fresh mango, phat thai, egg rolls and fried quail eggs.

Food vendors lined the road by the main gate of Chatuchak Weekend Market

At Wat Pho, we visited the giant reclining Buddha. It's 50 feet tall and 150 feet long. — At Wat Pho, we visited the giant reclining Buddha. It’s 50 feet tall and 150 feet long.

The full length view of the reclining Buddha

A statue garden in Wat Pho showed the various positions of Thai-style yoga. Each pose targets a specific ailment.

We did a food tour of Bangkok's Old City and saw some things off the beaten tourist track, including the fresh produce at Trok Mor Morning Market — We did a food tour of Bangkok’s Old City and saw some things off the beaten tourist track, including the fresh produce at Trok Mor Morning Market

Sao Ching Cha, or the Giant Swing, was used in religious cermonies from the 1700s to the early 1900s. Participants would swing and try to grab a bag of coins off a pillar. The swing itself was removed in 1935 after several fatalities.

Our guide Chin runs Chili Paste Tours. If you're in Bangkok, it's a great way to taste some real Thai food and get away from the other tourists for a bit. — Our guide Chin runs Chili Paste Tours. If you’re in Bangkok, it’s a great way to taste some real Thai food and get away from the other tourists for a bit.

Bangkok's Nuttaporn has been making fresh coconut milk ice cream the old fashioned way for more than 60 years. — Bangkok’s Nuttaporn has been making fresh coconut milk ice cream the old fashioned way for more than 60 years.

Outside the Bangkok's famous Pak Khlong Talat flower market, vendors load a took-tuk full of chili peppers — Outside the Bangkok’s famous Pak Khlong Talat flower market, vendors load a took-tuk full of chili peppers

... unfortunately, they loaded it a little too full and the bags all tumbled out. It drew quite a crowd of locals. — … unfortunately, they loaded it a little too full and the bags all tumbled out. It drew quite a crowd of locals.

May Kaidee makes authentic Thai food that is completely vegetarian and teaches cooking classes at her restaurant in the Khao San area of Bangkok

A statue of King Rama VI outside Lumpini Park, Bangkok's first public park established in the 1920s. — A statue of King Rama VI outside Lumpini Park, Bangkok’s first public park established in the 1920s.

A mirror selfie (melfie?) on the last day of our 33 day, three country adventure

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

April 7, 2015 by Robert Haddan

Over the course of a month of traveling, you’ll end up using a lot of different types of transportation. Obviously, there’s a bunch of taxis and buses, but southern Asians use a variety of different transportation methods as part of their daily lives. Here’s a sampling of how we got around India, Nepal and Thailand.

Metro Trains — Clockwise from left: Waiting for the **metro train** in Kawagoe; The Delhi Metro; Bangkok Metro (MRT)

Airplane — We had five **flights** on our trip: Tokyo to Delhi, Kathmandu to Bangkok, Bangkok to Koh Samui, Nakhon Si Thammarat to Bangkok and Bangkok to Tokyo

Pink Taxi — We took a **pink taxi** in Bangkok similar to this one (Photo by Ilya Plekhanov, Wikipedia Commons)

**Tuk-Tuks** or **auto-rickshaws** are a common way to get around in southern Asia. We used them frequently in India and Thailand.

Passenger Train — Business class seating in a **passenger train** from Agra to Jhansi in India. Pretty comfy and clean.

Electric Cart — Only **electric vehicles** are allowed near Taj Mahal as the pollution was beginning to turn Taj’s marble yellow. We rode a cart similar to this one to the gates (Photo from jotarofootsteps.blogspot.com)

Private Van — In India and Nepal, our tour group used **private buses and vans** to move shorter distances. Usually our luggage was tied to the top and usually someone climbed on top of the van to get it down.

Sleeper Train — Inside the horror show that was the **sleeper train** from Orchha to Allahabad in India. A group of men argued loudly all night in the bunk across from us. (Hey Farren!)

Sailboat on the Ganges River — On the Ganges River in Allahabad, we drifted in **sailboats** to a remote beach where we camped and played cricket.

Varanasi Boats — In Varanasi, India, we used **motor boats** to watch the sunrise opposite the city’s famous ghats.

Bicycle Rickshaw — Riding a **bicycle rickshaw** in the streets of Varanasi, India. We felt bad having another human being peddle us around, but it was better than having to walk back to our hotel.

Crossing the Border to Nepal — We rode a bus to the India/Nepal border, then crossed the border on **foot** before boarding another bus to our hotel in Lumbini, Nepal

Bicycles — In the Narayani Zone in Nepal, we toured the local village on **bicycles**. We both got a “Hero Queen” bike.

Canoe — Our group loaded into two **canoes** and paddled our way to Chitwan National Park in Nepal

Safari Jeep — In Chitwan National Park in Nepal, we saw one-horned rhinoceros and crocodiles from our **safari jeep**

Scooter — In Koh Samui, we rented a **scooter** for the day and poked around the east side of the island. Later, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, we rode on the back of **scooter-taxis** to our songthaew to Kiriwong Village.

Tour Boat — To reach Thailand’s Angthong National Marine Park, you have to catch a ride with a **tour boat**. We camped on Angthong’s main island for a couple nights and returned with another boat.

Kayak — Both days we were on Angthong, we rented a **kayak** and paddled out into the Gulf of Thailand

Long-tail Boat — **Long-tail boats** are widely used in Thailand by fishermen and tour companies

Ferry Boat — We finally pried ourselves off of Koh Samui and took a large **ferry boat** to the mainland. Dozens of cars sat below deck. Above deck, comfy seats, televisions, massage services and a convenience store were available for passengers.

**Songthaew**‘s are one of Thailand’s primary public transportation methods. The modified pickup trucks stop along fixed routes and have padded benches in the covered truck bed. People hop on and off along the route.

Back of Pickup — Twice we rode in the back of a **pickup truck**. In Kiriwong Village, Thailand, a Thai from Krabi helped us set up our homestay lodging and gave us a ride to the house.

Back of Pickup #2 — In Nakhon Si Thammarat, a woman named Joon helped us make change for our songthaew fare, then went out of her way to give us a ride to our hotel in the back of her **pickup truck**. Her mother was driving and stopped for a snack along the way while her two daughters enjoyed their 7-11 Slurpees.

Back of Motorcycle — In Kiriwong Village, we hired a local guide to take us hiking to the waterfalls in Khao Luang National Park. He picked us up on his **motorcycle**. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see my wife again when I snapped this picture! 🙂

Water Taxi — In the old part of Bangkok, **water taxis** run up and down the Chao Phraya River, dropping passengers at the big tourist spots. They’re crowded and the boat attendants do a lot of yelling and pushing.

What’s the craziest method of transportation you’ve ever taken in your travels? Leave a comment below!

Whirlwind: India, Nepal and Thailand

March 9, 2015 by Robert Haddan

The world is a big place. We’ve tried our best to take advantage of our current locale to visit parts of the world that previously seemed unreachable. In August 2014, we spent two weeks traversing Australia. Japan on its own could fill years of travels, but we’ve started chipping away with trips to Kyoto and Osaka, Fukuoka and Mt. Fuji among others. However, our latest adventure has been the most epic yet. Spanning 33 days, three countries and every transportation method imaginable, we’ve had a taste of southern Asia that’s left us hungry for more.

Travel Map — From Tokyo to Delhi, Kathmandu to Bangkok… our 2015 tour de Southeast Asia. Click on the image for a closer view.

Beginning in Delhi, India, we toured the northern part of the world’s seventh largest country before crossing into Nepal. From Kathmandu, we flew to Thailand, where we lounged on amazing white sand beaches, explored national parks, lived with the locals and wandered through one of the world’s greatest cities.

Helpful Couple — A couple on vacation from Krabi helped us get settled in Kiriwong

Along the way, we met amazing people with both heartbreaking and heartwarming stories. We experienced the “real” India, Nepal and Thailand, but could also see the impact that tourism is having on the identity of these cultures. We ate what the locals ate and what the tourists ate—spoiler alert: they’re not the same.

This trip was not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but also a perspective-altering one. The reality of seeing developing countries in different states of progress trumped anything I’ve ever read in Time or Newsweek. Our eyes and minds opened as we struggled to understand a way of life that flew in the face of what we know to be “right”—arranged marriages, extreme poverty, access to education and gender inequality.

Mud Hut — Our made-from-mud duplex in Nepal

It also brought new opportunities. I can now say that I’ve played cricket (on the banks of the Ganges River, no less) and I generally understand this sport that mostly remains a mystery to Americans (despite being the second-most popular sport in the world). We slept in overnight trains, mud huts and bungalows—the latter included a 5 a.m. wake-up call from both a crowing rooster and a flying chicken landing on our roof with a thud. We gained a better understanding of Hinduism as well as the role it played in shaping Indian society and many of the world’s religions. And we learned a thing or two about toilets around the world (“squatty potty” anybody?).

Enough with the teasers. Let’s dive right in with a look at some of the best food we’ve ever eaten… anywhere! Meet northern Indian cuisine!

100

February 22, 2015 by Robert Haddan

It seems fitting that our 100th post on Cascadian Abroad would lead into our latest series of adventures. The recent radio silence is due to spotty internet as we’ve traveled across India and Nepal before heading south to Thailand. When we’re all said and done, we’ll have been on the roads, rivers and skies for a total of 33 days, covering the entire month of February and a few days in March.

I’m excited about the posts to come. We’ll dive into both the majestic and the mayhem of India as well as the contrast of neighboring Nepal. We’re in the middle of our Thai travels, but expect some beautiful views of Thailand’s eastern islands and maybe some unexpected experiences in Bangkok before we wrap up our trip.

In the meantime, post #100 seems like a good time to revisit some of our more popular posts. And feel free to check out the archives too. Enjoy!

What’s In Japan?
Japanese New Year Traditions
Climbing Mt. Fuji
Walkabout
Craft Beer in Japan

More on our February 2015 Adventures