We are staying on Sentosa Island in Singapore to make it easier for us to visit the two main theme parks here. Both are within walking distance of our hotel. We went to a waterpark called Adventure Cove first. Singapore has the ideal weather for a waterpark - the warmth and sunshine makes it a fantastic day out. You just have to make sure you have lots of suncream on. David went on his first proper roller coaster ride today. It was an indoor ride with scary Egyptian scenes which meant ...
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Great to have a Thai cousin
We had a lovely day spent with my cousin Chitra. We spent the morning at the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, south of Bangkok. In spite of its name the place actaully has a great variety of other animal attractions. Piggy race, a crocodile show, tigers and talented elephants. We fed the camels with long beans. Feeding the tigers was done by shooting at the small cages on an overhead rope holding the meat. The meat drops down to the waiting tigers below if you hit the target on the cage. The boys were ...
Do not trust Google Maps in Chiangmai!
"Hey, the hotel is only 5 mins walk away," Alex said as we drew up to Chiangmai Railway Station after a delay of 3 hours. "Look, if we follow Google maps, this should be really easy." Ah, why not. This will save me some money to spend elsewhere, like a nice massage or some delicious food, especially hot and spicy ones. So we waved away the multitude of taxi drivers offering to take us to our hotel at a "very good price". Off we trot with our 2 small rollie bags. Typically in Asia, ...
Mosquitoes in Bangkok
Why do mosquitoes like me so much? After the bed bugs from Padang Besar, I have now been attacked by mosquitos lots on my legs. John and David are not bitten as much, but poor John is reacting badly to a bite on his arm. He is now on antibiotics after the surrounding area became red and hot. I counted all my itchy spots and they total 26 bites. Alex on the other hand has only 1 red bite. I have a theory why he has only one. He has such hairy arms and legs, the mosquitoes could not even ...
Sociable second class travel on the train
More trains - second class berth this time to Chiangmai. Second class travel makes it a very sociable event. You meet and talk to your neighbours. In Asia, it is very hot outside but indoors, it can be so frigidly cold!!! Asians can be overly enthusiastic with the air-conditioning. Here we are in the train cocooned in our sweaters and jumpers. If you do travel to Asia, don't forget to pack your jumper too! Seats converted to beds - the lower bunk is almost as wide as a single bed. Hmm ...
Our Queen should allow tuk tuks in England
"Our Queen should allow tuk tuks in England," David declares. Tuk tuks are the only vehicle that can beat the infamous Bangkok traffic jams. They weave between stationary cars, squeeze past enormous trucks, drive through shopping mall car parks and, most hair-raising of all, drive contra to traffic flow! At times, being in a tuk tuk will replicate the adrenaline flow your body gets on a roller coaster ride. We LOVE it! So why the reference to our Queen? Over here in Thailand, the King is ...
Finally arrived in Bangkok
We finally arrived in Bangkok after a delay of one day due to the immigration mishap at the Thai/Malaysian border. The Thai train was due to arrive at 7am but was delayed till 1pm. The traffic in Bangkok was really bad. It turns out the distance between the railway station and the hotel was really small, however due to the traffic jams it took a long time for us to get there. So I arrived at the hotel feeling a bit grumpy. But all the grumpiness dissipated then Hotel Vie upgraded our 2 ...
