THAILAND - Trang

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After a long journey ,I'm  here in The Land of Smiles , to quote the tourist blurb.

I wasn't sure I was going to make it. After the first mini bus I had to get a connection. And I had to get it via the back of a motorbike. Whilst wearing my backpack. And no helmet.

I arrived at the hotel ( thankfully) recommended by the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide.Admittedly both my books are several years old which may be why there'.s no sign of the roof top bar they mention, or the TV lounge. downstairs. You can , however,  get a massage.

I think these are Fortune Cookies
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There's a great Night market here.I'm always keen to try the food but actually recognized less than 10% of what was on offer and that includes the fruit. No signs in English and the stallholders I spoke to didn't speak it either , so a bit of a challenge. Not that I was going let a little thing like that stand in the way of a full stomach.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in grand style with the main street sealed off for all the entertainment. I was lucky to catch it on my last day there.Acrobats, a neon lit dragon and some very loud fireworks.The street was lined with stalls selling all kinds of food and drink - not that i knew what most of them were of course. I did get a very good chicken and  rice and a drink for about 60p.

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There was a parade with floats , dragon and a marching band playing James Bond themes! Not sure what the connection to the  New Year is there , but never mind.

Loads of fireworks and good party atmosphere but not a lot else in Trang so shall be moving on very soon.