Maria Blogs

Spring! Oh spring where art thou! I’m sooooo over winter. No, not for the weather though crustini and I could use more warm weather so I can take him out to the breakwater more often. I’m over the feeling of isolation that befalls the lower Cape off-season. And I’m soooo over “interesting characters” who are hopelessly drunk during the middle of the day [not my family or anyone I know personally!] for lack of anything else to do during winter.

Anyway, if like me, you’re raring to escape and thinking of exotic places to visit, you might want to try Asia, start with visiting Thailand. Flights to Thailand are easily accesible through dialaflight.com for UK travellers.

Mind you, if I may suggest, do visit Chiang Mai up north. It’s the one and only place where I received a discount from a taxi driver because we happen to call him twice in a day! People are also very nice and the province is just amazing. I vacationed there with my friend. I still remember, I received my first bouquet of flowers from …. A SHOW ELEPHANT! We then took an elephant ride up and down a hill with baby elephant happily trudging along and splashing all of us while he plays in a puddle that we pass by. Mommy [our elephant] kept nudging baby to move along. Sooo adorable.

My friend was on high-intensity tourist mode while I was on the leisure-laid back vacationeer channel that we never quite agreed on how to go about things. LOL. I was left enjoying a margarita at the hotel while she racked up temple points =)

Anyway, Bangkok is an inevitable destination. I have a few important advice for would be travelers. Only ask directions from the tourist police and your tour guide. That and other groups of foreign travelers. No offense meant to locals but while I was there it felt like there were two scam artists for every one really nice Bangkok local. Take the river taxi or bum boats instead of the tuktuk, taxi or bus. Patpong has a lot of knock offs but be prepared for rude vendors [read: they take offense if you don't buy after asking a price. They curse you from head to toe. LOL]. The edge of Patpong is littered by “night clubs” [read: sex trade is legal here].

I liked Pattaya better than Phuket and Dusit Thani has its own private beach and nice views. It seems that the farther you get from Bangkok the nicer the people get. I’d stay away from KFC, unless they’ve upgraded their flavor, because it certainly tasted anything BUT.

Oh and remember, the Grand Palace in Bangkok DOESN’T CLOSE FOR LUNCH as a lot of scam artists will tell you so they can shepherd you instead to shops who give them commission for every tourist they can bring to buy anything.

LOL I had a safe, nice Thai travel. I chose Silom Village instead of Patpong for shopping. Guess who got scammed? Teehee.

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p.s. Pinoy readers don’t get offended. I’m reserving the best for last *wink* *wink* Nothing compares with our Palawan of course! =)