temples and ruins oh my!!

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Day 5 & 6

Goodbye lady boys...

Goodbye lady boys....HELLO temples. There is nothing quiet like attempting to sneak past your she/him stalker in the early morning hours to catch a taxi to the train station. Much like the first time you tried to steal cookies from the cookie jar...there was a lot of excitement and fear leading up to the moment...but in the end it was rife with disappointment when you got caught red handed. Regardless I snaked my way out of the guest house and made my way to the train station with minimal discomfort and 30 minutes to spare. It didn't take long to realize that even though I thought of myself as an experienced packer when it comes to extended traveling...my bag still managed to feel like I was carrying a piano and a refrigerator loaded with corona. Apparently when you carry around a loaded bag in mild 10-16 degrees Celsius weather (that's 50-60 degrees for you refusing to catch up with the rest of the world) it doesn't seem too bad...its a bit different when you do it in 22-28 degree weather. That plus the fact that there is NO reason to lug all your crap everywhere you go. This was fixed soon enough.

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Shortly after jumping on the train, which cost 20 baht (60 cents) I met Vladimir and Bailong from the Czech Republic and China respectively. Soon we came to an agreement to find a place in Ayutthaya and explore the city. Vlad had been here just a few weeks ago and was just looking to take a break from Bangkok for a day or two. After the two and a half hour train ride, that was supposed to be an hour and 15 minutes, we headed out into unfamiliar territory with Vladamir as our quasi guide. After checking out a few places we settled on BJ's guest house. It may not of had the amenities that most look for like AC, spacious rooms, or a toilet that flushed itself....but it was $2.25 a night and had a fan!!!...what more could a couple guys want? Vlad took a single room and me and Bailong split a double (which is amusing to call it that) and then headed out to check out a few temples. Vladimire talked of Vietnamese women...Bailong of his travels through  India and I took photos. We couldn't of been a more random bunch of guys walking through the previous capital of Thailand, but that is the beauty of traveling. Meeting random people by chance, sharing stories, splitting costs and just having a hell of a time. Those that think traveling solo means traveling alone is sorely mistaken.

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After a couple hours of building up a nice sized blister on my right foot....guess Billabong sandals don't have the support they used too ;).... we managed to find our way back to the guest house after getting a little lost. We soon found out the hard way that although Thai people are SUPER friendly and always have a smile on their face...map reading is not a skill that is tcommon knowledge. They are always willing to help if they can, but more times then not they have the accuracy of Shaq at the free throw line.

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After talking about how heavy my bag was and the joys of packing light (even though I thought I had....) Vladamire agreed to take some of my things back to Bangkok for me and store them the guest house he and Bailong had been staying in. I managed to pick up a well put together pack pack for 7 bucks (which

actually means the second I put a pack of gum in it the straps began to break). Yeah Yeah....I can already see the look on your faces as you all read this. After repacking my bag we headed out for some food which was kind of funny cause Bailong is always eating. The stereotype does hold true for this guy ...he can eat and eat a lot. Always willing to try new things, its kind of like Russian roulette with what he finds and brings back for us. After trying some noodles with duck (which is kinda funny since I have yet to see a duck anywhere) we made our way back to the guest house where we shortly "ran" into two girls from Slovenia. I say "ran" cause they were starring at us as we passed them on the street. That plus the fact that one of them was just a little too excited about my story. Don't get me wrong...I love my life and have done some pretty amazing things.....but she was a little too interested. Regardless after an hour of chit chat me and Bailong headed to bed in our large luxury accommodation that was not without a fan to help make the mesquitos atleast work for their meals.

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Day 6:

After enjoying a good sleep on a pillow that felt and smelled a little like concrete, Vladamir got us up around 8 too grab breakfast and find some cheap bicycles to rent. My board shorts and tank top didn't smell to bad so I through them on along with a bandanna and some shoes and took off for round two of noodles with duck. After my duck/dog/? feast we crossed the ferry (for 3 baht) and found some cheap bicycles. Now I don't know about you, but I found a bike that looked like it would of fit an 8 yr old girl complimented my look rather well. Adjusting the seat so my knees didn't hit the bars or my chin, we rode off to hit up all the places we hadn't had a chance to find the previous day. The Elephant Kraal was truly the highlight of the day. A large property where a non profit organization that helps protect as well as educate the public about native elephants. We got a chance to feed and watch these massive animals in action. I was however warned by a nice older lady that even though I was big...the large male with tusks I was attempting to take a picture right next too was just a little bigger...and probably a little pissed off that it was in chains at the time.

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Once back in town me and Bailong decided that a 350 baht over night bus ticket to Chiang Mai was much better then an overnight train that cost 800. Little did we know that the "a/c" and "reclining seats" were a much better idea on paper. Vlad had to head back to Bangkok for a few more days before his work started looking for a new employee,  so we said our goodbyes and he took off with my bag of my clothes in hand. Me and Bailong wasted the 4 hours we had left and relaxed before the bus showed up 30 minutes late and we climbed aboard for 11 hours of FUN. The seats only "reclined" if EVERYONE reclined and the "a/c" was more like an arctic freezer that chilled me to the bone even through they handed out 1 mm thick blankets.

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11 hours, a couple cramps, two eastern European girl fights later and we arrived in Chiang Mai around 7am this morning. With a much lighter bag we made our way through a waking city...found a place that was cheap that would work for the night and crashed.

p.s- I have already heard from Vlad and my back is safely in Bangkok intact. Oh yee of little faith in human nature ;)