Brian and Pauline's Thailand Trip

Saturday May 26th We were up bright and early because Pauline was going back to school today. She was to be picked up at 08.55 to go to the Thai cookery school. It sounds like she had a wonderful time. Pictures to follow! First she went shopping in the main Hua Hin market which opens each day at 03.00. There she got a lesson on Thai ingredients which were purchased for the meal to follow. She was signed up for menu #1 which was Pad Thai, Green curry soup, four flavour soup with shrimp and a desert with coconut milk. She came back raving about how professionally done the whole day had been. I lunched on the left overs which were "aroy mac" - delicious. Whilst the cat was away the mouse went for a Thai "full body" massage across the road from our hotel. For £7 approx I was carried off to a land far away of complete relaxation. I wasn't totally relaxed at first when I was asked to take off my shirt and drop my shorts but I quickly got into it. Suffice to say ...

Friday May 25th Today was a chill day. We walked along the beach to the "harbour" and back again. We were in and out of the pool. We went to the night market for 5 mins and 9 seconds and then wet to eat at Hua Hin Koti which was described in the Lonely Planet Guide as "this Thai Chinese restaurant is a national culinary luminary" It is right on a bust corner opposite the night market but the food was EXCELLENT.

Thursday May 24th Today has been a quiet day by comparison with those that came before. We had a very leisurely breakfast from the excellent selection of western and Thai dishes that were temptingly displayed. At about 11.00 we decided to have a look at the beach which is 200 m from the hotel (although you have to cross a very busy main road to get there. It was very dull so we hadn't taken any hats or sun cream because we were just going for a look. Six or seven miles later we had walked the length of the beach to a ...... yes you have guessed ..... a temple. As we approached the temple a group of monkeys was running on the beach having stolen something to eat from a street vendor who was throwing stones at them. Why do you never have a camera at these moments - we were just going to see where the beach was. huge pool On the way back the sun came out in earnest and I had to use my t shirt as a hat - Pauline tied a sort of turban for me - just as well there was no camera...

Wednesday May 23rd We are on our own and it feels strange BUT Chiang Mai driver had ordered a taxi to take us to the airport which arrived punctually at 08.30. The check in procedure was different but smooth and easily done. We had booked a 20kg luggage allowance. When I put our big suitcase on the scales it weighed 22.6 kgs. The check in girl didn't bat an eyelid. The Air Asia flight to DonMeuang airport was comfortable and well worth or £13 each! We had hoped to take the shuttle bus between the two Bangkok airports because all of the air conditioned transport went from the International airport however it was only available to those whose flight was transferring and we had to take a taxi. The air conditioned bus to Hua Hin was spacious and comfortable and the three hour journey passed quickly. looks inviting We are now getting settled into the G Hua Hin Resort and Mall which appears to be fabulous. We were greeted at the door like visiting royalty and we were checked ...

Tuesday May 22nd Today was to be the last day of our eight day whirlstop tour of Thailand with Chiang Mai Driver as our guide. We have mixed feelings this morning because it has been a wonderful tour full of excellent sights and sites but it has been very "full on" and a slower pace won't hurt us for the rest of our "holiday" I suspect we will need a holiday when we get home but that will not be a hardship. It had been a huge tropical storm during the night the full nine yards of lightning flshes rumbling thunder and lashing rain. Sart, our guide, told us that he had seen on TV that there were many building damaged and roofs off in other parts of Thailand. On the whole we have been fortunate with the weather considering we are in the rainy season. It is not made of icing sugar However it was raining as we arrived at Wat Rong Khun (the white temple) having cancelled our scheduled Mekong river cruise because of the weather forecast. Nothing could dampen ...

Monday 21st May Sart arrived bright and early as usual. He appears to consider half an hour early to be the minimum to be considered on time. We set off from Thatong in bright sunshine reflecting that the Lonely Planet guide had been right in suggesting that out of high season (December to February) any Westerner is likely to be the only one in town. We were heading for the hill top village of Mae Salong where there is a group of Chinese immigrants with an interesting back story. It was billed as "a taste of China without crossing any borders" Mae Salong was originally settled by soldiers who had escaped to Burma from communist rule in 1949. The Burmese moved them on in 1961. Crossing into Northern Thailand in their pony caravans the ex soldiers settled in the mountain villages and re created a society like the one they had left behind. They also brought tea and the know how to grow it with them. There are now many tea plantations growing premium teas. We were surprised b...

Sunday 20th May Today was our first day without Sutthi who has left us to deal with other clients. Sart is perfectly capable and we are happy with the situation. Today was supposed to begin with a trip to the Maesa elephant camp to see "the most fantastic elephant show in Chiang Mai" but we declined, and instead we went to visit an orchid and butterfly farm which was set in some fantastic  but "sanitised jungle" orchid farm We were at the orchids by 09.00 but still we were beaten by he first of the Chinese tour buses. At this point China is only 250 kms from Thailand. Judging by the size of the car park we were very lucky only to encounter one tour bus. The Chinese women are noisy and enthusiastic but they push you out of the way if you encroach on their interminable selfies. Sart is funny. He has a running joke of how lucky the number 9 is. He is the youngest of nine children. He told us that we would be at the next stop in 20 mins and nine seconds. Very...