Off we go!!! It is finally time, we have said our farewells, packed our bags (10 times!!) and finally combated Sophie’s fear of flying. Sunday night we leave our beloved London with BA and head for sunny Bangkok. We have a whirlwind of a tour this time and hopefully a few new places and faces along the way.

We are off to do a bit of research for our new furniture business, as well as exploring Northern Thailand by motorbike and then heading down South for a well earned rest and party. We are super excited to be joined by Oli, Robin, George, Elly and Tommy for New Years 2010 on Phi Phi island. Anyone else up for a massive New Years celebration come on and enjoy the fun!!!

If you want to come visit, send us an email or a facebook and we will let you know where we can meet up.

Our planned route is Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Pai – Mae Hong Song – Koh Phan Gnan (East Coast) – Koh Chang (mini one) – Ao Nang – Phi Phi – Koa Sok National Park – Haad Rin – Bangkok plus possibly Koh Lanta, Hat Yai and Koh Muk…

So check back for snippets of our adventures weekly,

all our love, see you soon!!

• Happy Thanksgiving
• Holiday time is stressful for teachers
• Teachers start to snap at each other under pressure
• Have you seen New Moon?
• Tom’s take on the book series
• I’ve always avoided things that are trendy
• Turkey day!
• American holidays abroad
• My first Thanksgiving experience in Thailand
• My only thanksgiving dinner in 9 years
• Would you like a little turkey with your salt?
• Thanksgivings past….
• Over the river and through the woods…
• The Macy’s Day parade
• Wishing for cold
• almost still smell and taste the food
• The feast and compulsory naps afterwards
• Things I’m thankful for…
• One of the worst things about living in Thailand
• An upcoming important Thai holiday
• Andrea’s comment on the last episode
• Things we know but don’t talk about
• It’s much to easy to have language based misunderstandings
• One thing Thais take Very seriously
• Facebook and new listeners
• Pattaya Passion website and message board
• SBA and a month of daily podcasts
• Tom on an upcoming Tiggercast?
• Juggling the time difference between Thailand and home
• Stop by the blog and say hello
• Closing remarks and ramblings

Email me at tominthai@gmail.com, please go Comment on my page or call my voice line at 1-206-426-2152 and leave me a voice comment for the show!

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Not sure wether or not the punk rock scene is really that big over here, but nevertheless The Buzzcocks are coming to Bangkok. They are playing at the Club Culture on Saturday. Entrance 800 THB at the door (including a drink).

I have honestly never heard of them, but  i must admit i am not a huge punk rock fan, but i do think the Sex Pistols were kinda cool.

Anyway, be there! (or hmmm, don´t be there.)

Next stop: Southeast Asia for some highlights of the public domain images available on the country pages in the CIA World Factbook.

The temple Wat Xieng Thong, Louangphrabang, Laos

The staircase of Phou Si is guarded by nagas (serpent deities), Louangphrabang, Laos.

That Dam stupa (“the black stupa”), Vientiane, Laos

The Burma Railway bridge spanning Khwae Yai River, Kanchanaburi, Thailand, the subject of “The Bridge Over the River Kwai”

Standing Buddha, Wat (Temple) Ubtgarawugan, Bangkok, Thailand                      at the Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok boats

Angkor Wat temple complex, Cambodia

Tree roots, Angkor Wat temple, Cambodia

Fishing the freshwater lake of  Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Vietnam

South China Sea coastline, Vinh Moc, Vietnam

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Sea Temple of Pura Luhur, Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia

Day 5’s shopping around the Siam Square district was pretty intense. All up I probably clocked about 10 kilometres of walking through MBK, the Siam Square laneways, Siam Center, and the awe-inspiring Siam Paragon.

My run-down of the centres?

MBK
Reminded me a lot of Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Markets. Seven floors of stalls selling cheap rip-offs, faux leather shoes and bargain electronics.
Good for: Cheap cameras, iphones and accessories. Gorgeous Laura Ashley kid’s clothes on the lowest floor.
Bad for: Quality clothing or footwear and those looking for fashion-forward looks. Stay away if you get anxious in jostling crowds (although if you do, what are you doing in Bangkok?).

Siam Square laneways
A maze of lanes with stalls ranging from cheap nasties to amazing young local designers. If you have the time to trawl through them you might just find yourself some handmade suede loafers or a Balenciaga inspired lace jacket.
Good for: Those with patience and tolerance for heat, looking for anything from bargains to higher priced up-and-coming designer garb.
Bad for: Name brands, those with little patience for aimless wandering and a bad sense of direction. Be prepared to get lost and to backtrack through identikit lanes numerous times.

Siam Center
Four floors of fashion, footwear and cosmetics for those fresh of face and medium depth of pocket. Airconditioned, clean and easy to navigate, this has some great local labels that you wouldn’t have heard of and is good for hipster-spotting.
Good for: Those after some local Thai fashion willing to spend only slightly less for something than they would back home.
Bad for: Bargain hunters and those who think brogues are only for men and all black is only for funerals.

Siam Paragon
This place is quite simply beautiful, but with labels such as Chloe, Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga gracing it’s marble halls, it’s not for the typical backpacking traveller. Although I did find a pair of Melissa shoes that I’ve been coveting for $25 less than what I’d've paid back home.
Good for: Those looking for high-end pieces at slightly cheaper prices all under the one, magnificent roof.
Bad for: Economy classers or people looking to come home with a suitcase full of shopping rather than a single shopping-bag full.

I’m not an expert on finding the best American style Thanksgiving dinner in Bangkok. But my friends mention two places consistently:

• Bourbon Street Restaurant in Washington Square, Sukhumvit Soi 22. They advertise a buffet for 899B “++”. I don’t like the Singapore-style ++ meaning plus tax (7% in Thailand), plus service (maybe 10% – it doesn’t say). Most places in Thailand quote prices inclusive of tax and service (tip) is optional. But as you go up the price / quality those extras appear – perhaps because foreign customers are familiar with them and they can get away with it.
• The Atrium Restaurant at the Landmark Hotel on Sukhumvit Road. Their web site doesn’t list a Thanksgiving special this year but I am sure they have something.

I expect the other American hotels like the Sheraton, Westin and JW Marriott all have offerings. I’ll write a post here if I end up going to any of them.

If you have a favourite in Bnagkok or elsewhere in Thailand please post a comment here.

More@www.myhotelvideo.com Location: This comfortable hotel is situated in the popular Khao San Road. Facilities: This city hotel is one of the finest in the region, with its unique colonial architecture and charm of old Siam. Facilities include a 24-hour reception, hotel safe, a bar, a restaurant and offers room service and laundry service. Rooms: Each room has a bathroom and a direct dial telephone, satellite / cable TV, a …

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCzfpAMTxwA&hl=en

STOPSHOP // New shop is already open!!!

Suanlum Night Bazaar
Loburi Soi 6
Bangkok Thailand
Open everyday 19.00-24.00
hope u guys like it and feel free to shopping.

enjoy.
N

Eastern & Oriental Express

When I visited Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station on Tuesday afternoon I was lucky to see the Eastern & Oriental Express preparing for departure.

This train was due to leave at 15:00 and travel overnight to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. The train looks absolutely splendid in its green, cream and gold colours. Such a contrast from the worn rolling stock the state-owned railway has to use.

I remembered Michael Willem’s advice here and under-exposed for the back light on the platform. It’s not as dramatic as his example, but I think it works photographically.

Each entrance was guarded by a uniformed security officer. I didn’t have the cheek to ask if I could take a look around the interior.

According to the E&O web site this is the last departure to Chiang Mai in 2009. The fares are eye-watering: US$1,400 for a “Pullman Superior / Single”, US$1,890 for a “State Cabin” and US$2,500 for the “Presidential Suite”. The site says that:

Prices are per person based on sharing accommodation and include: All table d’hôte meals on board, with complimentary tea and coffee in your compartment, and sightseeing tours.

Table d’hôte is a hi-so phrase for a fixed menu.

Since it is an overnight train passengers miss most of the scenery. The sun sets about 6:30pm at this time of the year. I don’t think the Bangkok Frugal Photographer will be taking this train any time soon.

According to the State Railway of Thailand web site here the regular train fares from Bangkok to Chiang Mai are: 593 Baht First Class, 281 Baht Second Class and 121 Baht Third Class. According to the online currency converter at Oanda.com thats US$17.91, 8.49 and 3.65 respectively. But you do have to bring your own food.

Note: there are supplements for sleeper accommodation in First and Second Class that I have not included here.

The SRT makes huge losses and safety is a challenge, but the difference is immense.

I wish I had waited to see how many passengers boarded the train.

Note that the SRT could not provide a posh engine for the journey. It was a regular 34 year old Alstholm ALS diesel locomotive.

Samak finds food and politics don't mix

Former Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej died yesterday. He succumbed to liver cancer in Bangkok’s Bumrungrad Hospital, aged 74.

Samak was PM when I moved to Thailand in April last year. He was quite a character and his presence – along with the movements of his rivals and his interactions with the press – could at times be quite comic, if not downright farcical. Before Thai politics turned sour with mob protests, airports seiges and coups, it could even be quite fun to read about Samak’s exploits.

He was the first of three PMs in my time here (three leaders in 19 months in itself is an indictment of the state of Thai politics) and by far the most memorable. He was nowhere near as photogenic as current PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, nor was he anything like as polite as his successor, Somchai Wongsawat, but that is precisely why he made his mark. He behaved aggressively, he was beligerent to the media, he sulked in public, he was unafraid to belittle people if he felt they deserved it, he was stoic in the face of political pressure – and his hardened appearance matched these, ahem, qualities.

In deeply-divided Thailand, he certainly had his critics and enemies. It was his very presence as PM – and the fact that he was an open supporter of Thaksin Shinawatra and his ideology – that sparked the “yellow shirt” protests of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who laid seige to the grounds of Government House for weeks while Samak was in charge, and which ultimately – under Somchai’s premiership – led to deaths and the one-week closure of Bangkok’s two airports, causing untold damage to the nation’s economy and reputation.

But I respected Samak’s single-mindedness in the face of such pressure, with not only the PAD but also significant political commentators calling for his head. Not for him the weak attempts to appease all of successor Somchai, whose two and a half months in office were among the more forgettable even in a country known for the transciency of its leaders. Nor for him the squeaky clean, ever-smiling PR profile of Abhisit, who was surely appointed (notice I didn’t say elected) more for his appearance and undoubted charisma than for any heavyweight political credentials.

No, Samak told it the way he saw it, and while that of course didn’t mean he was always right, it did at least show he had the courage of his convictions, and to express himself publicly without first needing a spin doctor to polish his words.

Now, as stated before, I’m not a political analyst. This is not my area of strength, although like most people I have my own political opinions. But the news of Samak’s passing gave me cause to remember some of his more colourful moments.

Cake-eating cat

First of all, before the squabbling erupted into violent demonstrations, there was the usual tit-for-tat name-calling in Government House, with one opposition politician (I forget her name) bringing Samak to task for his choice of cafeteria food. As a man in his seventies, she said it was inappropriate for him to choose a piece of cake for lunch, washed down with a glass of bright red soft drink. She suggested Samak seek psychological help, because Adolf Hitler was known to have similarly immature tastes.

Now, even within the realms of political cat-calling, which often amounts to no more than childish spats along the lines of “You smell!” “Yeah? Well, you smell worse!”, this was adorably convoluted. Never mind education, employment and crime – “Prime Minister, would you care to justify buying that cake? Because I’m rather worried it is a sign you may be a tyrant in the making, capable of ordering the slaughter of millions.”

Samak, as was his wont, barely dignified the comment, choosing instead to fix her with a customary silent staredown.

But Samak’s finest hour would not have looked out of place in an episode of Fawlty Towers, such was the level of high farce.

Pursued on motorbikes by a press pack from Government House to Chatuchak Market, Samak sought refuge in a public toilet. Not wishing to speak to the media, he remained in a cubicle, but unfortunately for him the journalists proved even more stubborn than he. More than an hour later, Samak could no longer stand the heat, moisture, smell and mosquitoes (I have been to the toilets at Chatuchak Market and they’re no place for a dignitary, let me tell you), and emerged, furious and doused with sweat.

He ignored the reporters’ questions (surely the fact he spent an hour inside a toilet cubicle would have told them he was in no mood to speak?), instead bearing down on them with a fuming glare of which Charles Bronson would have been proud. After staring them into silence, he set about berating them and their conduct, and labelling them “disgusting” no less than a dozen times.

Reaction to this incident depended, of course, on which side you were on – either Samak was rightly defending himself against media intrusion, or he showed an arrogant disrespect towards the free press, who were just doing their job in the public interest.

There’s a bit of truth to both sides, but the bigger picture for me at the time was the fun factor of living in a country where the PM is forced to flee halfway across a city as hungry hacks literally chase him into a stinking, mosquito-blown long-drop. Add to that the picture of the nation’s leader stewing there for over an hour, followed by his ultimate outburst, and clearly you can see Samak Sundaravej was not your average politican.

And his eventual dismissal from office in September 2008, after just eight and a half months, was also unorthodox, if not comic for its irony. While the country’s leading industries of tourism, exports and foreign investment were taking near-death blows from the effects of the protracted demonstrations, and while the spectre of corruption hung over everything Thaksin and his allies did, it was none of these concerns which spelled the end for Samak. No, he was booted out because he had twice appeared on a TV cooking show. Innocent enough, except politicians are not allowed to accept money for working with private enterprises. Samak’s fee was nominal and his appearance of no bearing whatsoever to his political standing, but this was a conflict of interest. Not quite along the lines of Thaksin using his position to allow his then-wife Potjaman na Pombejra to purchase multi-million-baht swathes of land, but still, rules are rules…

Ultimately, it may have been a face-saving move. As pathetic a reason it may have seemed for removing a democratically elected PM, Thailand was at the time being virtually held hostage by protesters, with the international news coverage doing the country no favours. There were far bigger concerns than the PM’s appearance on a cookery show, but Samak was steadfast in his refusal to stand down or dissolve the cabinet, the two main demands of the PAD, despite the presence of 30,000 protesters camping out on the lawns of his workplace.

So while the cookery show controversy was of negligible importance, by following the law to the letter, the courts could remove him from office legitimately. And with that removal came a lull – as temporary was it was – in the tensions. The PAD had not been placated, as the Thaksin-backed People Power Party was still in charge, but tempers were nevertheless calmed, and at a critical time.

It also proved timely for Samak himself. Despite being disqualified from the premiership, he had the opportunity to return to power if voted back in, but instead he accepted the judgement and retreated from politics. It seemed strange for such a combative man to slip away from the spotlight so quickly and readily.

But then news came less than a month later that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and it all made sense. It’s unknown how long he’d been sick. Indeed, it’s likely he was running the country while ill. Considering how stressful a task that must have been in the late summer of 2008, that shows either remarkable devotion or unwavering stubborness. In Samak’s case, it was probably a bit of both.

He flew to the US for treatment in the new year, returning to Bangkok and continuing to be treated at Bumrungrad, one of the country’s best hospitals. After roughly a year battling the disease, he passed away at 8:48am yesterday morning.

Bangkok Subway Free on the King's Birthday

In honour of the birthday of HM the King the Bangkok Subway (MRT) will be free on December 5th, 2009.

I like free, but unfortunately I’ll be out-of-town.

I have a 30-day pass. I don’t think they extend the validity of the pass by a day to compensate. That’s a swizz as we used to say when I was a kid.

I took this picture outside Hua Lamphong Subway Station. I apologise for the pincushion distortion of the Nikon Coolpix P6000’s lens when it is set to wide-angle.

Bangkok has always been the favorite spot for tourists and people from all sectors to go to Bangkok to enjoy their holidays. This beautiful town has a fine blend of traditional values and modernization was. His unique and attractive culture has always been the attraction for the people. There are nice restaurants with quality food and there are street stalls that attract hundreds of customers.

To all these amazing things in the right way, youhave a right Bangkok accommodation. This is exactly the point, if you can consider the option of staying in Bangkok Serviced Apartments in the preamble. People who go to Bangkok instead for a long period rather stay in apartments in hotels. The reason

There are apartments in Bangkok, to feel all the facilities, the people at home have. There are world-class hotels in the capital of Thailand and these are also a center ofAttraction for many tourists. The Sukhumvit Hotel has a lot of recognition received from its customers and is used primarily for business people, their big deals in the Tai-Pan Hotel not as accommodated. It is also known as Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel known. The administration of Bangkok also has homes in the same region, so that tourists can be accommodated. It is this competition that you can find accommodation at a lower level. In fact,it is quite amazing that price of this hotel is $89 per night. Now this is easily affordable and with their excellent customer services, it is a good option to consider.

If you are one of those persons who like to stay near riverside then Bangkok will not disappoint you. The Royal Orchard hotel has been built near the riverside and it is one of the most famous hotels in Bangkok. The price of one room here is $108 per night and its venue distinct it from Other hotels. Although people think that this sentence is a bit on the higher side, but given the fact that there is no other accommodation in this area other than this hotel, it starts looking good, even at this rate.

It is a must for any tourist who wants to see the true beauty of Bangkok Square. However, if you look like a trendy place in Bangkok, then you have to have a stay in Baiyoke Boutique Hotel. The hotel is well-known known for its excellent decoration,unique style and excellent facilities of the customer. The hotel has simple furniture, but also offers excellent facilities with foolproof security.

The hotel is located in the heart of Pratunam shopping district and very close to the Baiyoke Sky Hotel in the vicinity. All this enhances the quality of the hotel and offer a perfect accommodation. In brief, it is enough to say that Bangkok apartment in a place that she loved the most. Facilitiesare excellent and will be serviced fabulous. But you can only understand it if this fascinating city.

This place is SOOOOOOOO relaxing!  John and Karina have done an unbelievable job building this sanctuary for the soul. You have got to stay at Kamalaya at some point in your life!I’ve traveled a lot and have never stayed at a place that has so many things to boast.  The wellness center has a variety and quality of personal pampering services that I’ve never seen matched.  The food is outstanding, and if you are a vegitarian it is the best I’ve every encountered.  The rooms are absolutely first rate with one of the coolest outdoor bathrooms I’ve ever seen.  It has this amazing, curved, hand-made brick wall that wraps around the corner of the building with a really nice high-end shower set mountd to it for a walk-up shower.  Everything man made in this place was constructed in a way to nest down within the natural ravine that is home to the complex.  Our wooden deck embraces this huge bolder, with all boards tightly cut to uniformly fit within 1/4″ of the rock.  All the concrete stairs that butt into any natural rock were crafted so as not to splash concrete up the rock.  There wonderful Asian art pieces everywhere you look.  There are custom made pieces everywhere ranging from unique air-fern shaded lights over the walkways, to inverted, hallowed and polished tree trunk vases.  The vases are really cool!  They look like a flower made of wood with the stamin being an arrangement of flowers.  They even have a natural stone cave on the property that was once used by a monk for meditation.  At night the place is so dramatically lit it is a blast to shoot night photos.  The multi-level pool has a zero edge wall and on the outside of that wall is a koi pond.  They even integrated huge bolders into the pool.  But the best part isn’t even the amazing architecture, art, food or quality craftmanship.  The service is absolutely perfect.  I’ve never encountered such polite, happy, non-invasive staff.  They are attentive to every need but seem to just vanish when you are focusing on your company.  But when ever you need them, they are always right there with the most respectful and beautiful “Sawswadee Ka” hello you can imagine.  Kamalaya has very much earned its awards.  If you are ever considering a trip to somewhere like Sadona to a swanky expensive resort, don’t do it!  You can get a business class ticket (called Elite Class) on Eva Air for about $900, fly into Bangkok, catch a short hop to Koh Samui and stay at this world class place in the tropics for less.  If you are looking for a place to simply vanish and veg, you can easily stay here a month pampering yourself and enjoying variety of meals and services without ever leaving the grounds.

Det må være rart å feire jul i Thailand, tenker jeg, når jeg går rundt på det store torget utenfor et enda større kjøpesenter her i Bangkok. De har pyntet så fint på dette torget, her er det juletre med stjerne i toppen, det er bjeller i gull, julekuler i rødt, fullvoksne legomenn er utplasert som vakter, det er glitter og stas, i slutten av november.

Og jeg syns det er rart.

For hvor er snøen? For meg er jul synonymt med snø. I hvert fall med kulde, med rim på ruten, med fyr i peisen, med varm gløgg og sprøe pepperkaker. Det kan vel ikke bli jul uten, tenker jeg, jeg ser meg om på torget, på de lettkledde turistene som småløper fra reinsdyret til juletreet til den store bjella til legomennene, de er lettkledde når de foreviger det de ser, julen i Bangkok. 

For det blir jul her og. Til tross for at den store majoriteten av befolkningen er buddister.

De bryr seg ikke om stallen i Betlehem, om engelen Gabriel eller om de tre vise menn, men det gjør jo ikke jeg heller, for så vidt, så der stiller vi likt, det er bare det at hjemme hører liksom alt det der til, det faller naturlig, her er det så unaturlig, det er underlig å se hvordan kristne tradisjoner har spredd seg også hit, de kristne tradisjonene i takt med globaliseringen og kommersialliseringen, for er det kanskje det det handler om, en tid for gaver, for økt omsetning, pluss i boka?

Ikke vet jeg. 

Jul blir det uansett, tenker jeg, når jeg går forbi torget utenfor kjøpesenteret, om det så er 35 grader og tordenvær blir det jul. Og kanskje er det fint, det og?

————————————————-

For me, christmas is all about snow, about snow, icy windows and a great fire in the fireplace. Now, I’m wondering how there can be christmas without these things, here in Bangkok, in 35 degrees and thunderstorms.

What’s christmas like here, i wonder, when i walk around outside the shopping mall Central World, looking at the christmas tree, the reindeer, the bells, it’s so nice, at the same time so strange. Strange that the traditions of christianity have come all the way here, together with the globalization and the commercialisation, maybe that’s what it’s all about?

I don’t know. Do you?

Having thought that getting to the start line on time on Sunday morning would be a nightmare from outside of town I decided to stay in town the night before the run.  Figuring that the cheapest accommodation near the Grand Palace would be around Kho San road, that’s where I headed……..I was a little dubious about how much sleep I might manage though!  The place I stayed in, on the road adjacent to Kho San, was quiet enough, if fact when I woke up not long after midnight there wasn’t a sound to be heard – what a pleasant surprise!

At 6am Sunday morning I walked through the drunk people on their way back to hotels, beer in hand and staggering, or slurring very loudly at tuk tuk drivers where they wanted to go.  A very different scene awaited 10 minutes walk away as I approached the Grand Palace; people all decked out in the latest sports wear running up and down the street, legs on railings getting the pre-run warm-ups in.

What a scene it was, the sun lighting up the clouds in a beautiful array of colours as it rose; and the clouds in turn making the gold of the Grand Palace sparkle.  The Palace looked so much more spectacular in that early morning glow than I had seen it before.

There was a pre-race warm up routine going on when I arrived, a mass aerobics class led by a couple of girls on stage.

There was also a guy doing his own little session!

It was followed by Bangkok Universities Cheer Leading group, from what I saw they were pretty phenomenal!  They were performing at ground level so I couldn’t see anything until they started throwing the girls into the air, one girl did a full summersault 12, maybe 15, feet in the air – its got to take a lot of practice and a hell of a lot of bottle!

The cheer leaders finished, the horns blew, and we were off!  The sheer amount of people meant it was the slowest start to a race I’d done but for the first few hundred meters I didn’t really mind.  I did start to get a little running rage when I found myself having to skip around people who were walking about a mile in…..seriously, if you know you’re going to walk at some point why try to be in the first few thousand people to pass the start line, whatever happened to the race etiquette that says you put yourself where you wont get in other peoples way!

The crowds thinned out though and the race was awesome.  It took us from the Grand Palace, around and over the Rama VIII bridge – a really impressive structure, especially with the sun starting to come through the clouds behind it. (For more race day pictures click onto my Flickr page)

It then took us around parts of town that I’d either not seen before, or I’d seen but was completely lost when I was in them and had no idea where they were in relation to anywhere else!  (I think to find my way back to somewhere I knew I’d needed to get a taxi).  The final few kilometers of the race looped around past the Amulet Market, along the back of the Grand Palace and along the side of Wat Bo where the view was of the giant reclining Buddha. 

The race ended where it started, one hour and seven minutes later for me – I would have liked to have been under one hour but blame the time on the slow start and stopping to take the odd picture along the way.

At the end of the race I picked up my medal and smothered my legs in the wonder cream they had, it’s a bit like deep heat – same, same but different!

I decided against the post race snack that was provided by the sponsor – McDonalds!!!  I could think of nothing more unappealing.  The only time, in my book, that its ok to eat McDs at 7.30am is when you haven’t gone to bed yet or you’re really hungover!  Instead I headed back to my hostel for a shower and the out for a breakfast of sour coconut and chicken soup with rice, it’s never too early for that, I think I’m slightly addicted to it!

Breakfast was followed by a foot massage……it’s a hard life I lead!  It wasn’t quite so pleasurable as ones I’ve had in the past.  I’m sure the lady took pleasure in causing me pain.  Probably did me the world of good though as she found all of the points on my legs that I know normally cause me pain the day after a run and dug into them, it made me squeak a bit but I could walk normally the next day.

Feeling excited now about the Anchor Wat half marathon in a couple of weeks, and picked up loads of info after the run for upcoming events.  I may even do the Chiang Mai half marathon the day after boxing day, watch this space…….