Sunday, October 3, 2010

Sukhothai, Thailand

September 30th
Couldn't sleep last night, mosquito in the net Kerstin and I set up. We are leaving on the 6am train, 5a rolls around and we pack up to leave. Patrice is taking a little longer than all of us (becoming a standard thing) so Andrew and Kerstin take off for the train station to buy tickets. We are about 2 mins behind them.

Walk up and buy the tickets to Phitsanulok (50b) where we will take a bus transfer to Sukhothai. I walk over to buy some water and a man has something cooking in a steamer, I ask what it is, he tried to tell me and all I knew was one had pork. I will get the other one. Can't decide if I should buy two so just get the one. The others are already on the train. Sit down and eat it, sweet and savory. I want another one. Andrew asked me to get him two as well.

They were black bean or poi. Whatever it was I enjoyed every bite. The train takes off and the sun is just rising, beautiful view of Khoa Rom off in the distance. The marsh looking water are rice fields. Super hot on this train 3rd class, just fans. We find out we are now 65 mins delayed. Still have to make a transfer to the bus, walk from the station and go left. Think it was 2 blocks down. We had to walk back up once we saw the buses all the locals said Suhkothai, there. They all know that their city is just for a transfer.

We thought we were on our way but this bus only brought us to the main station. There was an hour wait there. I took a nap on the bus and we arrived an 1:20 mins later. Took a tuk tuk to Garden hostel, grabbed two bungalows and relaxed.

Just walked around new Sukhothai and it rained. Ran into a cafe while waiting for it to stop and enjoyed a beer. Then we started to get hungry and there was a restaurant called Poo. We had to go there, it acutally was Thai and Belgium influence. They and Belgium chocolate for dessert with vanilla ice cream. It was amazing. Went back to the guesthouse and hung out for an hour before getting ready for bed.

October 1st

Today we planned to wake up early to get a start on the day. Lots to see and do, the heat gets exhausting later on. Woke up at 6a, showered and packed my bag. Met the others for breakfast at 7a. Ordered an omlette with tomato and cheese comes with onion as well. It was pretty oily and only ate half. Kertsin and Andrew were both feeling ill instantly. Andrew threw up and 10 minutes later so did Kerstin. They took their malaria pill on an empty stomachs and got sick.

Everything was better on another 10min and we headed for the bus. It was only 200m down and the driver saw us walking and waved to us. They all really know. The park is 12km away and get let out by the bikes. Rent them for 30b and set out. Realize that the park is really easy to navigate and small. Could do the whole thing in a day no problem. We come to an enterance for Wat Si Chum and are told we have to pay 100b per zone. Things have changed from what they were in the books two years before used to be able to buy a 30 day pass for the whole park. We keep going and will decide later if we want to go.

Come to another wat here and there, rode to the center of the historic park. It was midday and the heat started to hit us. Felt like we were slowing down. Went to one more and decided we should go and get some food.

Ride over to Old City GH and eat in that area. I did not feel well at all. Was sick and weak, thought I was going to pass out. We finish up there and find a place to lay down and sleep.Go to sleep for two hours. Not sure how we are going to make it until 1a for that bus to Chiang Mai. Wake everyone up and go riding still have 2 hours with the bikes. Take a loop and we are at the bike rental. Really small area, go to Wat Prang Thong and then it started to rain. Return the bikes as we know the storms roll in rather quickly. Hop on the bus back to New Sukhothai and it is down pouring. Get off and no rain in NS, walk and see a sign for coffee and massages exactly what we were looking for. Walk into Pai Coffee and ask the prices for massages and ask if the 4 of us can get them.

While waiting they bring us some fresh cold lemon water. Then they are ready for us, we are pretty dirty from riding the whole day. They clean our feet and the place is so nice I have a good feeling about this.

The thai massage was better than the oil massage I had on the beach in Koh Phangan and cheaper. We all finish and are satisfied with getting them, kersten said hers was a little hard. It was the first professional massage for them. We sit drink a coffee and they bring us a free tea with it, then a moment later the guy brings us some mosquito repellent since they were all taking about our horrible bites.

Dinner at Rom Phos restaurant in the night market. Vegetarian dinner for Andrew tonight! I ordered the fried glass noodles with veggies. Refreshed we go back to the guesthouse for a few hours and decided to walk the 3k to the bus station. Once we arrive we find out that the bus was an hour late last night. Get a beer and sit on the curb chatting away until 2am. The bus was on time and we all are grateful. The attendant gives us the back seats and they fully recline. Actually get some sleep on the bus trip.

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