| | Travel Journals Back to Journal Recent Comments Facebook Category 8. SouthEast Asia 2006-02-28 0:10 32 hours later and I am home!!! WOW,,, what a trip... my head is delerious from mega imput...and a long trip home. Bangkok, Thailand plane to Tokyo, Japan 7 hours Tokyo, Japan to Detroit, USA 13 hours Flight in Detroit CANCELLED... no flight crew '-) sleep in airport / 4 hour layover to catch 1.5 hour flight to Philadelphia. Overnight at Ed and Anita's. Up at 5AM drive home 1.5 hours. 6:45AM Tuesday,,, HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15 minutes to shower / and in office at 7:10 to open the office and start the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now Tuesday after work,,, digest it all... check mails... to many to respond for now,,, sorry,, all in time... My three week adventure in SouthEast Asia took me to Cambodia, Thailand, with brief visits in Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. Thailand is definately the "Land of Smiles" I have never seen anything like it... (When I got home I noticed how many shopkeepers and clerks here are so grumpy) GEEEEEE,,, I like it there,,, Will plan a trip to Vietman next year,,, maybe go solo unless I can talk my son into going with me... That would be great... Thankyou to those who have joined in and added so much fun to my little adventure... I read every comment and enjoyed each one... Thanks Gary 2006-02-26 1:57 Firtst of all... thanks to everyone that I see has left a note or message here, or in Guestbook or photo comments,,, That's really fun... It is impossible by now you know,,, to respond to those messages as time is always terribly short when traveling,,, but I do see and read everyones and appreciate your efforts... thanks so much... soooooooo... SouthEast Asia for about 3 weeks has been awesome... Most of the time was spent touring Thailand but the 3 day visit to Cambodia to see the Temple of Angkor Wat (full complex is 16 square miles) and other temples and sites there as well as one day trips to Myanmar (Burma) and Laos were stunning. We rode the local overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok last night (700 miles) arived at 6:30 to start our last day in Bangkok... The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand is mind boggling... pix later. Now it's time to wind down, do some postcards, get a massage (a one hour Thai massage can be got for between 4 and 8 dollars / and a 2 hour oil massage can be had for about 12 to 16 USD) have a dinner with the group and get about 2 hours sleep before getting up at 2AM to get started with the departure process. Plane leaves for Japan at 6AM... Full flight and layover time is about 30 hours... Some highlights were the Elephant trek, the home hosted dinner, the school visit, rafting, massages (so cheap - can do every day) PS,,, one hour foot massage is about 100 Baht or $2.50 USD) Touring factories and seeing the sweatshops for learning experiences, The bridge over the river Kwai,,, Hellfire Pass and Museum and of course all the people that I had the good fortune to pass by... Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,,, the river markets with all the local people seling foods, textiles and wares from their little boats was like out of a movie... Dozens of colorfull boats and people all jamming the waterway for your business... What a sight... Bye for now... going postcard shopping... Thanks for checking in... Gary 2006-02-25 0:33 Today we take a train back to Bangkok for a flight home early Monday morning... Chiang Mai,,, the temples, elephant camp, river rafting, visiting the Hilltribe people of Northern Thailand and enjoying all the Smiles has certainly been some highlights of the trip,,, But I am a little delerious from non-stop exploring... It's been a powerfull 3 weeks... and I certainly plan on a re-visit taking in Vietnam as well next time. For those of you that joined in and left comments,,, I just want to say that I really appreciate it... Talk to your soon,,, Thanks... Gary PS,,, It's Saturday at 2:30PM. I leave in 1 hour to catch the train back to Bangkok,,, it's a night train,,, will leave at 4:40 PM and arrive at 6 AM Sunday... one day in Bangkok then fly home Monday AM and get home same day 4:49 PM (about 27 hours in the air and with layovers) 2006-02-21 0:40 Dear Diary!!! Sa wa dee... The pace is excellerating,,, if that is possible... Two days ago we arrived in Chiang Rai (in Northern Thailand) by bus and am currently residing near the border of Myanmar (Burma) and Laos... Yesterday I visited both,,, Burma by walking across the border in the morning and touring around for 1/2 day and then Laos in the PM by renting a small boat to cross the river... truely amazing... I bought one of those little birds in a basket for 20 Thai Baht (about 50 cents) and let it free with a wish... When I asked how they catch it again I found out that they fly back on their own only to be sold again '-) So cool,,, we need to do that with termites and fleas '-) Temp is cooler here in the North... Day temp is down to mid 80's and nights are 70's... really perfect... Sunny, no rain, no wind,,, and smiles,,, lots and lots of smiles... Today we load up and move on to Chiang Mai where we will visit an elephant camp among other things... Yes, I will get a pix of me on an elephant... Cheers from the "Land of Smiles" Gary 2006-02-19 12:09 Thankyou Erin, Peter, Susi, Steve (your comedy is unmatched-thanks for the humor) John, Cath, Irene, Myra, Viviane, Stein, Anita, Adriana, Peter W and others,,, I see your comments this Sunday night at midnight (thanks) as Geccos (little lizzards) run around this hotel lobby room ceiling eating mosquitoes and chirping every now and then,,, it's about 90 here at midnight and I love it!!! It's winter here now,,, summer gets to 114 F!!! With even more humidity... I am having a very difficult time with finding not only time for internet but internet that WORKS!!! Very frustrating... But here I am in the Middle of Phrae, Thailand working my way North towards Myanmar (Burma)... amazed at what wonderfull people I am having the good fortune to meet... and the sights, smells, tastes, and treasures that I am picking up along the way,,, like irreplaceable memories... The pace is FAST,,, wow,,, not a minute is wasted,,, I get up at 5:45 to 6 AM,,, go all day till about 1 or 2 in the morning,,, sleep like a log for 4 or 5 hours and go again!!! Thailand is AWESOME!!! Like Vid said "Land of Smiles" Thanks for checking in... Bye for now,,, Gary 2006-02-13 20:41 Hi!!! It's Tuesday 8:45 AM... WOW,,, my first full night sleep...after the flight 1 hour flight back to Bangkok. 7 FULL hours of unconsiousness... It was great!!! Cambodia for 3 days was awesome... very poor but it is amazing how cheerfull all the people seem to be from kids to adults. We could all learn a lesson from that. You will see for yourself when I get a chance to post some more photos,,, (but when- no time'-) We visited the "Killing Fields" location and the memorial... where the POL POT regime killed 3 million people in the last 20 years. Mostly educated people so as to reduce the threat to the regime... more on that later... Most kids families were wiped out... Unbelievable... If you give a kid 1 US dollar, its enough to eat for a couple of days. Just about everyone lives in shacks or wherever there is some shelter... Yet they survive and flourish... The human spirit is truely amazing... You will see. So now with that part of the adventure behind me in travels (but not forgotten) I will esplore this HUGE cith of Bangoko... Here for 3 days... Stay tuned!!! Thanks!!! Cheers!!! Gary 2006-02-12 19:42 Well, after all those flights to get here I got a few hours of hotel rest (about 6) and then it was time to get back to the Airport in Bangkok for my flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia for a few days. Cambodia is quite a place... People are really friendly, the food is great and things are pretty cheap. The ancient city of Angkor Wat is definately the big attraction and is really quite unbelievable but I also saw amazing sites at Angkor Bo (another Temple) our home hosted lunch with a Cambodian family, a Cultural Dinner Show with traditionl dance and music, local beer (Angkor - what else?) We even went to a dinner puppet show put on by local kids,,, quite amaxing, especially being able to go backstage and photograph them. Today there is a boat ride and we visit the "Killing Fields" before the 7:30 PM flight back to Bangkok. Cambodia is really awesome, and hot, but I like it hot!!! I would come back here in a heartbeat,,, Cheers, Gary 2006-02-10 20:00 Hello Everyone!!! Geeeeeeeee,,, 30 hours to get here!!! But I made it,,, and it's great, and HOT but that's what I wanted!!! Be carefull what you wish for '-) It's gonna be great I can tell... Thanks to Erin for taking care of things while I am gone and for making all this possible!!! You're the BEST!!! Thanks to Eddie and Anita for taking me to the Phila. airport at 6:45AM on Thursday!!! We got our traditional farewell pictures!!! And thanks to all my Family and Friend for your support, interest and enthusiam. Phila to Detroit 2 hours planeride 3 hour layover. Detroit to Tokyo 13 hours planeride 2 hour layover. Toyko to Bangkog 7 hours planeride 2 hours in customs!!! Time difference is 12 hours later than Eastern Standard Time (6 hours difference than Europe) 30 hours is a LONG TIME!!! Anyway,,, All went smooth and got to the Bangkok airport at Saturday at 12:30 midnight... Customs was 2 hours so I finally got to the hotel at 2:30 AM,,, and met some of the group in the courtesy shuttle... The bus driver and the tour guide had to push the bus to jump start it!!! But that's another story!!! WOW,,, that shower at 3 AM felt great!!! Got up at 6:15 for breadfast and to be the first at 7:30 on this hotel internet computer. Now we leave at 9AM for a 1 hour flight to Cambodia where our TOUR BEGINS!!! So with all of that out of the way,,, it's time to explore!!! Next stop "Angkor Wat" Cambodia... Thanks for checking in!!! I will see your comments (and love them) but I may not be able to respond very well,,, sorry!!! Bye Bye for now!!! Gotta go see Monkeys and Temples!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gary 2006-02-09 6:42 Well,,, it's Thur Feb 9th already!!! 6:40 AM Time to leave for the Philadelphia Airport... I fly to Detroit,,, wait 2 hours,,, fly to Narita airport in Tokyo, Japan and then fly to Bangkok, Thailand. Arrive SATURDAY at noon... More later... thanks for checking in!!! Cheers!!! Gary 2006-02-05 0:55 Dear Family and Friends!!! Adventure keeps calling me... (Mr. Can't sit still '-) I leave for Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) for three weeks starting on Feb. 9th, 2006. (All thumbnails are active links / use your back button to return) I was very happy with, and will be using the same adventure travel company that I used for <a href=" http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/travel_albums/costa_rica_dec_2004/">Costa Rica </a>last Dec/Jan 2005-6, which was <a href=" http://oattravel.com/">Overseas Adventure Travel</a> My Folders and Starter Albums are all ready set up<a href=" http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/travel_albums/southeast_asia/"> Here</a> I will add "Road Pix" from internet cafe's whenever I can. As Always '-) I look forward to your comments and support (that's always a highlight- seeing your comments!!!) PS,,, here is a glance of the <a href=" http://www.oattravel.com/gcc/general/default.aspx?oid=118206">TRIP</a>I will be doing the pre-tour Cambodia gig but not the Vietnam post-tour so it totals out to 19 days. PS2,,, If you ever want to use this company I have <a href=" http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/travel_albums/southeast_asia/preparations_for_a-1/overseas_adventure/overseas_adventure-17.html">Discount Travel Referral Coupons</a> '-) Diaw joe kan na' (See you soon in Thai) !!! '-)Gary 2006-02-03 11:35 Thai language uses long & short tones, high tones & low tones to describe a word, a word such as (Ma) has more than 3 meanings, depending on the tone its spoken with. eg: Ma = Horse, Dog & Come Most Thai language books I have read are very confusing and the correct pronunciation of simple words can still be quite a challenge. eg: The word "thank you" is spelt "Khurp" in most language books. For an English speaking person, this word sounds the same as "Cup" . The words I have listed below have been written as you would pronounce it in English, I have not used any variations of tones as this will only confuse you. Just say the word as if it was English language & you will be understood by most of the Thai locals. Basic Words & Greetings in Thai language Hello = Sawa dee Thank you = Spoken by males = cup / Females = Ka Thank you very much = Ka poon cup/ ka poon Ka (Thank you) Cup / Ka, can be said at the end of any sentiance, it is a sign of respect to whom you are speaking with and is regarded as being polite. How are you? = Coon Sabbi dee may I am fine thanks = Pom Sabbi dee cup / Ka I am good thanks how are you ? = Pom Sabbi dee cup, coon sabbi dee may Your Welcome = Yin dee cu / ka Wait = Cooy Waiting long time = Cooy nun lowel The wordLowal= past tense - it has happened already. The word is used at the end of the sentance to say "past tense". Come = Ma Come from = Ma Ja I have come from Australia = Pom Ma Ja Australia Has come/ Arrived = Ma Lowel Go = Pie Gone already = Pie Lowel Go Where = Pie Nay Go soon = Pie Dell Nee Eat = Gin Drink = Durn Food = Aharn Snack food = Ka Nom Have eaten already = Gin Lowel Rice = cow I am Hungry = Pom Hue Are you Hungry = Coon hue may Tasty = Aroy I have eaten already thanks = gin lowel cup / ka I am full thank you = Imm lowel cup Understand = Cow J Don't Understand = May Cow J I dont Know = May Roo Want = Owl Don't Want = May Owl Now = Don nee Today = Wan nee To night = Coon nee This morning = Chow nee Tomorrow = Prong nee Yesterday = More wan What is the time = Gee mong lowal Water = Nam Ice = Nam kang Hot Water = Nam Ron Cold Water = Nam Yen Water Fall = Nam dock Rain = Fon Raining = Fon dock Water Fall = Nam Dock Shower = Up Narm May be / Perhaps = Bung T Play = Len Speak = Port Funny = Snook I know = Pom roo I don't know = Pom may roo Every thing = Took Sing Large = Yaa Small = leck Fast = Rewel Slow= cha Crazy = Baa You are Crazy = Coon Baa lowel You are Very Crazy = Coon Baa Mark Stupid = Ting Tong You are stupid = Coon Ting Tong lowel Have = Me I have = Pom me I Don't have = Pom may me You have = Coon me You don't have = Coon may me Can not hear you= May dar yin Coon I can hear you = Pom dar yin coon Work = Tam yarn I want = Pom Don gun I Think = Pom Kitt waar Why = Tum mi I am sick = Pom mezza bi Happy = Quarm sook or Sabbi dee I am Happy = Pom me quarm sook or Pom me sabbi I am not Happy = Pom me may sabbi I am Sad = Pom me Sour J I am Sorry = Pom me Sair J I am Confused = Pom me Sap som Never mind = May pen rye A lot / Very = Mark Hurt / Pain = Jep I am full = Imm lowals I forget = Pom leum lowel Where is = U T Nay Over their = T non Here = T nee When = Mar rye Friend = Pern Problem = Parn ha I have a problem = Pom me parn ha Afraid = Glue A Frightend / Scare = Jock J Smells bad= Men (Hmmm.. . I think the Thai language was written by a female) Good = Dee Very Good = Dee mark Bad = Leeoo or May Dee Hot Day = Dad lon Cold wind = Lom yen Strong wind = Lom lang Bathroom / Toilet = Hung Nam Shower = Up nam Look = Doo See = Hen Again = Eek Tell a Lie = Port Go Hok Talking Shit/ lies alot = Port Key Mong Promise= Sanya Sorry = Car Tort Boxing = Muay Thai Boxer = Nuck Muay Warrior = Nuk Soo Pratice Muaythai = Som Muay Elbow = Fun Sock Punch = Chalk Kick = Dek Left Punch = Chalk Sigh Right Kick= Dek Quar Front Kick = Tep Grapple= Grum Win = Chana Win Victorious = Me Chi Good Luck = Chalk dee A Few Simple Tips: When you use the word May @ the end of a sentence, it means you are asking a question. eg: Are you hungry ? = Coon Hue may Are you happy ? = Coon sabbi dee may Do you have a boy friend ? = Coon me fan may To use the word May in front of a word means = no / don't. eg: I don't understand = May Cow J No thanks = May cup I don't know = May roo I don't like it = Pom may chop Handy Thai Phrases When Flirting Eyes = Dar Pretty = Null ark Beautiful = Sway Hansome = Law Breasts = Nom Kiss = Joop Like = Chop You are very beautiful = Coon sway mark You are very pretty = Coon null ark mark What is your name ? = Coon chew alie You have a beautiful smile = Coon me yim sway Happy to meet you = Quam sook T die pop coon See you again = Pop Gun Do you have a boy friend ? = Coon me fan may I like you = Pom chop coon You have big breasts = Coon me nom yaa You have small breasts = Coon me nom leck What are you thinking ? = Coon Kitt alie I am Shy = Pom key eye You look good = Coon doo dee I love you long time = Pom Rak coon nun lowel Numbers Currency: (THB) Thai baht (1) = Nin (2) = Song (3)= Sam (4) = See (5) = Ha (6)= Hok (7) = Jet (8) = Pad (9) = Cow (10) = Sip (11) = Sip ett (12) = Sip song (13) = Sip sam (14) = Sip see (15) = Sip ha (20) = Yee sip (21) = Yee sip ett (22) = Yee sip song (23) = Yee sip sam (24) = Yee sip see (25) = Yee sip ha (30) = Sam sip (40) = See sip (50) = Hok sip (60) = Jet sip (100) = Nin roy (150) = Nin roy ha sip (500) = Ha roy ( 1000) = Nin pun ( 1500) = Nin pun ha roy (2000) = See pun (5000) = Ha pun Time in Thai Language 2 am = D song 3 am = D sam 4 am = D see 5 am = D ha 6 am = Hok mong chow 7 am = Jet mong chow 8 am = Pad mong chow 9 am = Cow mong chow 10 am = Sep mong chow 11 am = Sip ett mong Mid day = Thung 1 pm = Bi nin 2 pm = Bi song 3 pm = Bi Sam 4 pm = See mong yen 5 pm = Ha mong ye 6 pm = Hok mong yen 7 pm = Nin toom 8 pm = Song toom 9 pm = Sam toom 10 pm = See toom 11 pm = Ha toom Mid night = Thung coon Thanks to this very resourcefull website ---> <a href=" www.rawaimuaythai.com</a>" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.rawaimuaythai.com/"> www.rawaimuaythai.com</a> | | |
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