Skip to main content

Update for the past few months.

 


I have not posted a blog for a few months. A few reasons, busy with touring, but really my interest in blogging comes and goes. Anyway, it is a useful tool for me to keep track of what I am doing. So, here goes.


 


I have been to Pattaya, Surin, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Korat, and Ayutthaya in the past three months. I like cruising into a small town, one which rarely sees a farang, and settling down, even if only for a few days. Wander around, take pics, waymark, create or update the wikipedia entry, hang out. Find what is interesting or unique in the place.

 


Ayutthaya was the most interesting spot. I visited here in 2007, but only for a day—a trip on the river there and back. Ayutthaya is an 'ancient' capital of Thailand. For around three centuries (1351-1767) it was the capital of a Siamese kingdom. The city region itself is a large island, created by narrow rivers. It is also in the centre of a rich agricultural region, and the rivers brought in river trade. Needless to say it was very rich. This wealth is displayed by the abundant, large, ruins still extant in the former city. The city came to an end in 1767 when a Burmese army finally managed to enter the city. They then carried away everything of value and destroyed the rest. It is now a tourist destination and a UNESCO world heritage site.

 



Right now, I am back in Surin. Tomorrow heading into Cambodia to Siem Reap. I will be spending a week in SR, then PP, then elsewhere for a month or so in Cambo.

Best of luck to all.


* Check out the link to the Cultofless. A website which discusses the ethics, modalities, and thinking behind living with less, relying on the digital lifestyle to thrive and survive. Digital Nomads.


 


Thailand and politics! The Red Shirt menace is nearly officially over. A few provinces are still under martial law, but most of the ring leaders are under arrest and threatened with expensive and protracted legal action. However, all of that ignores the fundamental situation. There is still a large body of folk in Thailand who believe they are getting the short end of the stick (I agree). They want change, justice, fairness. And they will not get it the way things are going. There will be new elections in Thailand next year. It will be interesting to see who wins. I suspect the Reds, under a different name, with Mr T., the former PM, playing a lesser role. I also suspect that Thailand will be in for some rough times ahead.


New feature: Hotel Reviews
I thought that I might just add reviews of the hotels in which I stay. A resource, and so forth.

In Ayutthaya I stayed at the 'Lima Place'. I came across this hotel on the internet. I liked it because it was a little out of town, and had good internet. I wanted a little p&q after Pattaya. Overall, good. ~500b a night depending on the type of room you want. A little basic, but entirely adequate. A restaurant onsite, a small shop in reception, good staff, adequate English.

The one drawback, it is ~3kms from Ayutthaya island, a bit of a walk during the hot day, and at night stray dogs. The hotel charges 100b (~$3) for a ride into the town, fair price. There is also a local bus which runs past the hotel, so it is not really a big problem, but I urge not to walk at night, stray dogs and rabies no fun.

http://www.limaplace.com/


In Korat I stayed at 'The Chaophaya Inn'. A mid range, right in the centre of Korat. 500b a night for a standard room. A tad basic, but it is all there. Coffee shop, massage, an excellent value buffet dinner for 69b. Price includes wireless. Way to go. 

http://www.chaophayainn.com/


http://www.chaophayainn.com/

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pattani — the ‘deep’ south of Thailand

First, some advisories: A. ADVISORY: For the last few years and decades there has been an ongoing insurgency in the provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat (the 'deep south' of Thailand). An average of 600 people have been killed per year between 2004-9. The Australian government strongly urges its citizens not to visit these provinces: "do not travel". Having said this there is no blood on the streets, and life goes on normally for the vast majority of people. In comparison approximately 400 people die every year from traffic accidents in the same region. You have been advised. B. Getting there. There seems to be a scam carried out by the local tour operators to persuade travellers to take mini-buses on journeys between the towns in southern Thailand. These mini-buses cost several times as much as a normal bus. For example, I was quoted 1000 baht (~$35) between Trang and Pattani ~250kms, as compared to 200 baht for a VIP bus. A clear difference. Take the l
24 comments
Read more

The 4,000 Islands of southern Laos - October-November 2019

This cluster of numerous islands is found at the far southern border of Laos in the middle of the Mekong River. Cambo is just a hike away. At this point the Mekong River widens to over a kilometre and reveals many islands (four thousand? I don’t know) above the waterline. In the dry season many of these tiny and low islands are revealed. In the wet season many of these temporary islands disappear under the flooding waters while the main islands suffer from aquatic inundation. So—why go there? In short, relaxation. The 4,000 is the most laid back environment in Southeast Asia. Just what is it? There are two islands that bear the main brunt of tourism. These islands are named Don Det and Don Khon. Each is only a few square kilometres. Most of the land area is given over to rice and agriculture. On Don Det there is a road encircling the island with several roads criss-crossing the island. Next to the jetty is the tourist strip, 100m of small restaura
Post a Comment
Read more

Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers—A Critical Critique

The late science fiction author Robert Heinlein was noted for many things, and one of these is controversy. During his life he never shied away from contentious issues, rather he seems to have actively sought them out, both on and off the page. His writing was always provocative, and the most provocative example of this was his 1959 novel "Starship Troopers". The novel was written in a few weeks, prompted by left-wing lobbying for a ban on USA nuclear weapon testing. Heinlein, a strident conservative, vehemently disagreed with this proposal. While the meaning and import of the novel has been debated (it won the 1960 Hugo and is still in print), the story conveys the author's conservative anguish on the perceived flaws of contemporary political and social life. The novel depicts and praises a future government with a sharply limited voting franchise, lauds an authoritarian military, and strongly criticises popular democracy. Essentially, the novel endorses conservative,
1 comment
Read more