Thailand 2004
THAI DISCOVERY

20 August
By train to Milan, then the flight to Amsterdam, where I met all the people of my group (Thai Discovery) and from there the long fly (11 hours) to Bangkok.

21 August
Change time zone and it is already afternoon, accomodation in the hotel (Krung Kasem Srikrung Hotel) and a first city-sighting, to a street market, then by tuk-tuk to the Siam Centre, dinner on the street, the rain and then massages in a dept store.

22 August
We cross China Town and we go in the isle of Rattanakosin to visit the Wat Pho with the statue of the Reclining Buddha.

Wat Pho

Then a ride by boat in the canals of the city, watching the houses and barracks facing the water...

Boat riding    Local food

Now is time to go to see the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha.

Grand Palace

In the evening we take the night train to Chiang Mai.

23 August
We arrive in the morning in Chiang Mai, just the time to leave the luggage in the hotel (Royal Guest House) and then Albertino and I go for a city-sighting. We hire a tuk-tuk and we ask the driver to show us the most important monument of the city. We visit the Tha Phae gate and several temples, like the Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang, and the Three Kings monument.

Inside a Buddha temple     Wat Chedi Luang

In the afternoon, with the group we go to visit the holy temple of Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, 15km far from Chiang Mai. In the evening we go to do shopping in the night bazar near our hotel.

24 August
We leave our hotel in the morning and by jeep we drive northbound. We stop to see an amazing waterfall and we also have a bath inside.Then after the lunch we start the trekking in the jungle.

In the waterfall     With Pol, our trekking group leader

In the evening we reach the village Me Teng of the tribe Karen in the middle of the forest and we spend the night there. There isn't electric light nor running water, but there is a warm atmosphere and is nice playing guitar and singing all together in the dark.

25 August
In the morning we leave the village and we continue our trekking, we walk few hours. In the afternoon we have a ride with the elephants and in the evening we reach another village, Paholam.

In the bamboo forest    On the elephant

26 August
It's time to do bamboo rafting. So we sail down the river, four people each raft.

 Bamboo rafting

Then after lunch we have the transfer by jeep near Chiang Rai. We pass the night there in a block of bungalow.

27 August
In the morning we go to visit a village of the longneck tribe. Then we go again by car to the small city of Mae Sai,that is the northern point of Thailand. We also have time for a little trip in Myanmar (Burma), before going back to Chiang Mai.

Longneck woman    Northern point of Thailand

28 August
In the morning we take the plane and we fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, then again from Bangkok to Surat Thani, then the bus and finally the ferry to the isle of Ko Samui. We decide to stop in the town of Chaweng, where we rent some bungalows. In the evening we enjoy right away the night life of Chaweng.

29 August
We spent the whole day relaxing on the beach, in the pool, and in the evening downtown.

 Chaweng beach

30 August
We have a nice excursion by fastboat to the Angthong Marine National Park. There we do snorkeling, we see beautiful fishes, corals, rocks and sea urchin. We visit uncontaminated sandy beaches and we also do kayaking. We come back in the afternoon and in the night we go to the Full Moon Party, a mega party in the near isle of Ko Phangan. I come back at six in the morning.

 Full Moon Party

31 August
I spent the whole day sleeping and relaxing, just I go out in the evening.

 <Wanna    Ryam > 

1 September
Albertino and I rent a motor bicycle and we make a ride around the isle. We find some nice beaches and the Grandfather's and Grandmother's Rocks.

  Grandfather's rock

Then First we go to see the "spider"waterfalls in the hinterland, and we drive in the countryside. Then as usual the nightlife in Chaweng.

2 September
I spend my last day on the isle relaxing on the beach and in the night I go out to celebrate, coming back very late.

3 September
I pack the luggage, then the last bath in the sea and in the afternoon with Luca and Stefano I take the plane to Bangkok, since we are going to see a bit more about the city. We arrive in Bangkok in the evening, we take a rest in the hotel and we go out. We visit the Nana area (Sukhumvit), and then we go to Khao San Road, the favorite area of the backpackers.

4 September
I go with Luca to see the Golden Buddha, then by walk we cross China Town and we go to visit the Golden Mount, the Democracy Monument and Rama VIII Bridge.

Thai flag!!    Golden Mount

Then we go to Chatuchak market to buy some souvenirs and gifts. Finally we have only to come back to the hotel to pick up our stuff and we take a taxi to the airport. At 11pm we take off from Thailand.

5 September
We land the Amsterdam airport, just the time for a picture all together, we leave the group flying to Roma, and so I fly to Milan. There I greet the rest of the group, Albertino parents give me a lift to Mestre, from there by train and at 4pm I am again at home.