A trip around Chiang Mai

Because it was the start of Songkran, the guys decided to head out for a walking tour around the city. We got into the old part of the city and started walking along the sunday walking market when some little kids sprayed water over all of us. It was nice to cool my stuffing down.
We headed to Wat Chiang Man, the oldest wat in the city walls. it was built all the way back in 1926! Thats REALLY old (like Becky)! But it didn't look it though (nor does Becky). I don't understand how it can be so old but not look it? These things puzzle small bears like me you know!

We weaved along streets until we reached a statue. It was of three kings. I have no idea who they where though.

It was then onto another Wat. This one was really big it had loads of buildings in the ground, and there was a mini market selling food. There were loads of monks here too. This must be where they all hide. Wat Phara Singh is the main point for Songkran. Thankfully it was the day before Songkran started, so we didn't get wet there.

They did try and charge foreigners to go into the wat. But because Simon needed the loo again, Becky spotted a side enterance and we didnt have to pay! Inside was really amzing - there were loads of people inside watching the monks and it was full of gold Buddhas too. The monks didn't even blink! How amazing is that!

On the way back we stopped off at one last Wat. This one was wooden and was called Wat Phan Tao. It was here that for some reason the other two stood outside working out what days of the week they were born on. Strange people!

On the way back we got a bit wet again, but it was all good fun.

it's old, very very old!

Ayutthaya is the ancient capital city of Thailand! After the train and another tuk tuk driver who wanted too much money, we arrived at the guesthouse. It was very nice, right in the middle of all the 'island'. We are surrounded by a river.
After Becky had a snooze, we all headed out; at the end of the road was our first ruin to see. This one is called Wat Ratchaburana. The others have to pay 50b each to go in, but I dont have to as I hid in Beckys bag, haha!

It is very nice to see the ruins. There are all these statues without heads and all the buildings are falling apart. Apparently this was caused by a fire and some not very nice people. Once upon a time the tops used to be coated in gold. It must have looked amazing all those years ago. The guys went down these really steep stairs to see something, what ever it was they said it was amazing. I just about got a glimpse out of Beckys bag as she got her camera out. It was very dark down there, so didn't see much!

After the guys had a long look around and saw some elephants walking down the street we headed back to the guesthouse before dinner.

I get forgotton about and go hungry for the night but today is a new day and into the bag I go again!

The guys go across the road to another Wat (thats a temple to you and me). This one is even cooler than yesterdays. There is a head of one of the statues in some tree roots. No one is too sure how it got there though.

There is a really big pile of bricks in the middle. It was a Prang but it burnt down.

We then went off for a really long walk to the information center where the other two watched a video. It was really hot out there, so it was nice to be in the A/C. I would have liked to have seen the film too, but they didn't let me out the bag. It's not fair at times being me.

The guys then tried to find the Ancient Palace but with no luck. They did find the Wat Phra Si Sunphet. But because it was not the palace they walked off not wanting to pay for something they did not want to see. Around the corner they came across the side entrance to the Wat and they walked in, so got away with not paying! naughty people!  

We did not spend too long here because there were renovation works going on. So the guys were soon heading back to the guesthouse for lunch. It was so hot, it was nice to finally get out the bag. The guys had lunch and as soon as they had finished the clouds came in and there was thunder too. I didn't like it and I was soon back in my bag, safe and sound.

CARS!!!! It's Bangkok!

Our time in Bangkok has been two things! 1.Really hot (I never knew a bear could sweat!) and 2. really busy!
We got up to so much in such a short amount of time!

In the first evening we went out and we walked all around Khoa san road, where there were street markets selling all sorts of clothing and one guy offered us a sex show! Bad times! Anyways. after this scary incident we headed off to the road up where food stalls were lining the streets! The guys sat down on the corner stall and ordered. I sat there and had a nice cold beer which Simon gave me!

One day, because Simon wanted to see Chinatown, both me and becky were dragged along. Becky had to map read because Simon is so useless at it!

The roads are really busy! And one man asks about my new badges which I now get to wear! they look good!!

We also see this really really big Golden Buddha, it is in the huge temple!

Then after all this the guys put me in a bag the following day as we were off out again. This time I see loads of things. The first stop is to the Floating Markets. Every single Thai person I have seen has made me realise they are all crazy! I did not think we were going to make it at one point. Simon says its like the M25 on water, what ever the M25 is.

Then it was off to a bridge over a river (the river kwai). Appartenly it got bombed in WW2, but it looks ok to me. Becky and Simon even walked across it. so how could it have been? Bombed, my fluffy brown arse!

It was then on to the Tiger Temple, but Becky and Simon did not go in because they said it was really mean! So we sat outside until home time.

We've also been to this really big market. It was great fun, becky got a huge frozen banana dipped in chocolate! But on the way back we got our first tuk tuk. Our driver was very good, he did not break any rules and did not stop at any shops either! It was great fun!

Bangkok was great but it was always so so busy, I'm exhausted! Time for a long sleep now! Zzzzzzzzzzz

Day trip on a scooter

Up until now, the trip around Thailand has been good, but we haven’t really been up to much except a couple of days at the beach and a trip to James Bond island. Apparently no bears allowed! That was until today, our second on Koh Samui. After a nice relaxing day at the beach and yet another boat trip the day before that, the best thing EVER happened!

It was at 10.30, the guys had packed their bags and were set for a day out. I wasn’t sure where to, but they had the biggest map ever open  up on the bed with a few places circled. We went out the door and the second shop down, they stopped and walked in. ‘150’, the sign said. Simon did some paperwork and Becky went back to the room to get a passport. On Becky’s return, they picked out two Scooters!!! That is when I knew today was going to be a good, good day.

They found a petrol station, filled the tanks up with fuel, only 107bht. And then it was off to the Big Buddha, scooting along a few back roads and we arrive. The sun was out and it was really hot. People went round bashing all the bells surrounding the Buddha. As much as I tried to get out and run around to bash the bells myself, Simon stopped me. Bastard.

Next stop: Tesco’s! Lunch supplies brought and then we went to some really rude rocks (I was not allowed to see them, too rude for a little bear like me!). They were called the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks. I dont get it, they do not look anything like my grandparents!

After lunch I got to ride Simon’s scooter. It matched my colours really well. See...!

It was then off to a viewpoint at the highest point on the island. But with the mist, it wasn’t as great as what Simon and Becky were expecting I don't think. They did try and find the mummified monk, but with no luck. We did an entire loop of the island. Simon told Becky to drive like a BMW driver. Simon was a wild child on his bike. We all had big grins on our faces for the whole day!

It’s not a bird, it’s a plane!

Wednesday 21^st I leave Malaysia and go to Thailand! This will be my first flight ever! I was really excited about it too. We got to the airport with lots of time to spare. The man at security wasn’t that nice to Becky and he man-handled me! We sat and looked out the windows to see what was going on around the airport. There are lots of planes around.

At the gate Becky hands over my ticket and off we go. We walk onto the airstrip and the small plane has propellers! Does that mean its old? Or does that mean it’s too small for a normal engine? I don’t know, but I don’t like it and when I saw Simon’s face, I hid in Becky’s bag!

When we get to our seats Becky got the window one, I have my own seat, its seat: Pocket 4G! It seems spacious, although the elastic is a bit tight across my belly. Great view out the window, until I notice that we were right next to the propellers!

It was really loud during take-off. But it was a smooth flight and went really quickly.  I can’t wait to go on another plane. I’m told it will be soon!

Trouble making in Penang

Because it was hard to sleep on the train, Becky and Simon went straight to bed when we arrived at the hostel. So it was not until mid-afternoon that we headed out to look around the town. It is a really old place, a World Heritage City! We saw several Churches, a Mosque, Town hall and City Hall. There was a lot to see in such a small area. The sun is out and it is really hot, so we after a stop in the Info centre for air con before we go to Fort Cornwallis. I sneak in for free. It explains about the history of the fort being created by the British and the East India Company.

We have a good look around. Simon makes noises in the chapel to find out if it echo’s, but it doesn’t. They have several cannons here. The largest points out to sea, and it is really old. Legend has it, it rose from the sea due a curse was put on it. I got a really good picture with it. The sign told people not to sit or stand on it, but being Mr Ted, it didn’t stop me! 

There was also another cannon and I thought I would try being a ‘human’ cannon ball. Simon helped me in, but he was told off and I was quickly removed before trying it out! It would have been fun. Next time!

My last day in Kuala Lumpur

Today was my last day in KL (Kuala Lumpur). I’m really excited to leave. We have a nice relaxing day. Late afternoon I was put into the small bag again, with my head out seeing where we were heading too. Becky and Simon stopped in Central Market for a pancake each, before heading towards the clock tower we saw the other night. When we arrived there were loads of people around. In the park, Nestle were celebrating 100 years in Malaysia. There was so much free food! The guys had KitKats, Milo, rice, noodles, ice creams and the best bit was… it was FREEEEE! I tried the noodles; they were hot, hot, hot! So much so, Becky got hic ups and Simon went rather red in the face! People had goody bags from doing a walk, but we decided to go back for second on the KitKats.

Just before 10, the guys picked up all their bags and off we went. We did a short trip on the light railway to Sentral Station. Once there, we found ourselves a corner to sit and wait near platform A. Simon went off with money and came back with ice-creams for us all! They were from McDonalds, and they then submerge it in chocolate. It was really nice!!!

The train is really long! However, our carriage is the second one along from the stairs. I’m worried that there won’t be enough space for me. I think Becky and Simon were surprised, (and me too) about how good it was. The beds are big and you get a pillow and a sheet. There are curtains too to stop the light coming in. I’m in with Becky as the bottom bunk bed is bigger. Simon gets the top bunk. Not 5 minutes after getting on the train, it was on the move. They do not wait around! There are lots of people on the train tonight. And one of them was talking really loudly on the phone. Two men then walked along the train asking for tickets and shortly after, everyone quietened down for a nights sleep. It was hard trying to fall asleep, the light going past and the noise of the tracks, click -a -de –click! Our next stop: Butterworth.

Petronas Twin Towers

I get woken up early this morning to go to the Petronas Twin Towers. They are the tallest twin towers in the WORLD! I wasn't left behind either, I was stuffed into Simon's bag along with a really cold bottle of water, a camera and a few other things and off we went. It was dark in the bag, but they took me out at the station so I could see where I was.

Back into the bag I went and the next thing I know, I'm going under a scan at security. I share Becky's pass in the tower and then she gives it to me for my pictures! We were all squished into a lift, and up we went at 5m per second - that's really fast! Our first stop was at the Skybridge, levels 41 and 42. It's 170m above the roads and you can see really far. I tried to get closer to the window to get a better view but, being the wrong side of the barrier,  I was soon spotted and picked up.

We all got photos taken and then it was back into the really fast lift up to level 86. Nearly 450m up from the road now. Here you can see the top of the second tower. There are loads of models and there is a small scale replica of the city. Naughty of me I know, I got really close to it over the barrier! I was placed into Becky's bag, with my head popping out the corner so I could see where we were. Back into the lift and we went all the way back down to the ground floor. It's a bit bumpy in her bag, but at least I can see!

Later in the evening Becky and Simon headed out for dinner. I tagged along too.  They had a really nice Chinese meal; prawn crackers, noodles, veg and sweet and sour pork, it all looked really yummy! A Ted like me was happy with my Coke.

We then headed out to explore some of Little India. There was the Masjid Jamek Mosque and a few other colourful buildings. I have had such an exciting day.

A Bad Day Turned Good

There I was, hanging on a hook in Kuala Lumpurs night market in Chinatown watching all these people come and go. No one looked at me. Those who did, pointed and laughed and carried on walking. For every time someone did stop my heart starting beating and I thought "This is it! This is the moment I find a new home - a better life!" But no.

And then along came Simon and Becky. They came up and prodded me, squeezed me and asked how much I was. "Special price, 20 Ringgits." And they walked off. Just like the rest of them. My heart sank. My Master shouted for less and less for me "15, 13, 10" as they walk away. Holding back a tear, I look the other way.

Next minute I'm being unhooked once again and to my delight Simon and Becky are back! They give my master 10 Ringgit and I'm forever released from the grips of The Master. I'm free!

My first night of freedom and I've found a nice comfy bed. I've been told we are off to explore Asia - this should be exciting!