Elephant Kisses and Red-light Districts...
So Shoko and I did a tour today that went out to the old capital and several ruins and temples there, including some world heritage sites. I wish there were a way to upload my pictures now so I could show you as I tell you what it was like. Oh well. Since it`s better and easier to show pictures for those places, I`ll merely tell you they were breath-taking and wait for my pictures to explain more.
There was also an elephant portion of the tour. When we were looking at the pamphlet, it wasn`t clear we were actaully going to be riding the elephants. Although I enjoyed it, even the elephant kiss; (it feels like a ticklish wet vaccuum sucking at you) I can`t help but worry about the treatment of the animals. Sure there was an english sign up talking about how this helps the domestic elephants and their mahouts and families, but i wonder if that`s not just a sop to sensitive tourists. The mahout carried a stick with a metal point coming off the end, and when I asked what it was for, he mimed smacking the elephant`s head, to my horror. While I don`t know anything about normal elephant training practises, I think an e-mail to my Aunt Gayleen and Uncle Greg is in order.
We also travelled back to Bangkok by boat, which was quite refreshing! (Good thing I brought my book and Shoko her MD player since the scenery didn`t much change.) Though I did get quite a shock the first time I saw a cocconut bobbing in the wake...it looked unnervingly like somebody drowning. Other notable bits of garbage in the river incluse several shoes/sandals, a pen, and a toothbrush. I managed to get a bit of a sunburn, but that`s rather in keeping with my normal first-day-in-the-sun-after-winter history. Seeing as we leave tomorrow for Cha-am (beach!!)it should blend into the tan I`ll be working on. We`ll be back Friday.
Back in Bangkok, the last stop was a really big jewellry shop. We watched a short film about Thailand`s gem industry, got to walk through the workshop and see gems and jewellry being shaped and made before we could shop a bit. I should explain that Thailand is famous for it`s gems but there are several unsavoury places that charge big money for lower quality stones, so it was a relief to be able to shop in a reputable places with lifetime guarantees and surprisingly low prices. I ended up buying a ruby pendant that is an exact match for my ring (what are the chances of that?) for a mere $131 CND! (Mom: along with the spa booking, anything gem related on the credit card should be paid from my account.)
After we got back to the hotel where we finalized tomorrow`s trip, we met Shoko`s Dad and headed into the entertainment district, which has a lot of Japanese restaurants. We haggled our way through a bazzar/street vendor road before dinner, which was very fun before heading over two streets. While we were going through the bazzar, we saw some strip clubs etc, but the street we ate on was literally lined with girls in front of their various "clubs" calling in customers. Most were either wearing slinky dresses or tight pants/minis and tanks but the ones next to our restaurant specialized in the "naughty Schoolgirl" look. *shudders* I couldn`t look any of the western guys wandering around the street in the face. Yuck!
On that lovely note, we have to be up by 5:45 tomorrow morning in order to get the tour bus when it comes at 6:30, so I`m off to bed. See you Friday!
There was also an elephant portion of the tour. When we were looking at the pamphlet, it wasn`t clear we were actaully going to be riding the elephants. Although I enjoyed it, even the elephant kiss; (it feels like a ticklish wet vaccuum sucking at you) I can`t help but worry about the treatment of the animals. Sure there was an english sign up talking about how this helps the domestic elephants and their mahouts and families, but i wonder if that`s not just a sop to sensitive tourists. The mahout carried a stick with a metal point coming off the end, and when I asked what it was for, he mimed smacking the elephant`s head, to my horror. While I don`t know anything about normal elephant training practises, I think an e-mail to my Aunt Gayleen and Uncle Greg is in order.
We also travelled back to Bangkok by boat, which was quite refreshing! (Good thing I brought my book and Shoko her MD player since the scenery didn`t much change.) Though I did get quite a shock the first time I saw a cocconut bobbing in the wake...it looked unnervingly like somebody drowning. Other notable bits of garbage in the river incluse several shoes/sandals, a pen, and a toothbrush. I managed to get a bit of a sunburn, but that`s rather in keeping with my normal first-day-in-the-sun-after-winter history. Seeing as we leave tomorrow for Cha-am (beach!!)it should blend into the tan I`ll be working on. We`ll be back Friday.
Back in Bangkok, the last stop was a really big jewellry shop. We watched a short film about Thailand`s gem industry, got to walk through the workshop and see gems and jewellry being shaped and made before we could shop a bit. I should explain that Thailand is famous for it`s gems but there are several unsavoury places that charge big money for lower quality stones, so it was a relief to be able to shop in a reputable places with lifetime guarantees and surprisingly low prices. I ended up buying a ruby pendant that is an exact match for my ring (what are the chances of that?) for a mere $131 CND! (Mom: along with the spa booking, anything gem related on the credit card should be paid from my account.)
After we got back to the hotel where we finalized tomorrow`s trip, we met Shoko`s Dad and headed into the entertainment district, which has a lot of Japanese restaurants. We haggled our way through a bazzar/street vendor road before dinner, which was very fun before heading over two streets. While we were going through the bazzar, we saw some strip clubs etc, but the street we ate on was literally lined with girls in front of their various "clubs" calling in customers. Most were either wearing slinky dresses or tight pants/minis and tanks but the ones next to our restaurant specialized in the "naughty Schoolgirl" look. *shudders* I couldn`t look any of the western guys wandering around the street in the face. Yuck!
On that lovely note, we have to be up by 5:45 tomorrow morning in order to get the tour bus when it comes at 6:30, so I`m off to bed. See you Friday!