Cambodia - The Ancient Temples of Angkor Wat
Foto: The floating market (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Thailand - With the two minibuses, we drive to the Floating Market. Along the way, I try to get some sleep, but the roads aren’t ideal for resting. Near the Floating Market, we transfer to a fast long-tail boat. With this boat, we speed through the canals toward the market. At the market, we transfer to a rowboat. A sturdy woman rows us along the stalls. The market is amusing but very touristy. The vendors approach the rowboats with long poles and pull the boats toward their stalls. They mostly sell souvenirs and, to a lesser extent, fruit. Geert buys a T-shirt. He negotiates a 50% discount, but it’s probably still too expensive. At some points, it’s so crowded that all the boats are jammed together. No one can move forward or backward. While shuffling, our boat hits a boat belonging to a lady selling soup. This leads to a heated argument between the two women. After I’ve disembarked, I watch the scene from the shore. It remains very touristy. Meanwhile, the minibuses have driven around, and we can step directly into the market.
Ayutthaya and Sukhothai
Thailand - At the bike rental, we each pick a suitable bike. On the bikes, we enter Sukhothai National Park. Sukhothai is the old capital of Thailand, and many ruins of chedis and temples are still intact. Our guide Toy is less skilled with her bike. At the first ...
The Golden Triangle
Thailand - Through Chiang Rai, we drive to the Golden Triangle, the tri-border area of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Here, the Mekong and Ruak rivers converge. The village of Sop Ruak is located right at the Golden Triangle. Here, we have lunch at a buffet. Afterwards, ...
The Grand Palace, Bangkok
Thailand - Today the Grand Palace is on the agenda. Strangely, we are the only interested travelers from the group. This means a private tour with guide Toy. We take a taxi from the hotel. Toy agrees on a price in an unintelligible way, and we depart for the Grand ...
Train over Maeklong Market
Thailand - Thailand is famous for its vibrant markets, ranging from floating shops to street markets. One of the most unique markets is the Dee Maeklong Market, located along a railway line. The market is crossed by a train eight times a day, running very close ...
Wat Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai
Thailand - The Wat Doi Suthep temple is located sixteen kilometers outside Chiang Mai on top of a hill. According to legend, a white elephant trumpeted here before it died. Today, Wat Doi Suthep is a large temple complex with many golden decorations. We reach the ...