THE ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE

Looks like my test video works :)

We arrived at the airport a few hours apart. My flight was 3 hours late, so I did not have to wait too long for Kirsten and Igor who traveled on another airline. [Cathay] We took the train and Grab [ an uber taxi] and checked in. Here was a view from my hotel room plus my room :) Then we headed out. Gorgeous sunset on the dinner cruise. The first day we headed down for a dinner/sunset cruise on the river. We actually found this to be the best mode of transportation to get aro

DAY TWO IN BANGKOK, THAILAND. YES!! we did a lot that for sure. We started out with the intention of walking from the hotel to the docks to take the river boat to the Temples. It was a LONG walk, and we landed up taking a Tuk Tuk the last mile or so. [see pic] We saw the Temples, Prasat Phra Temple and Wat Arun Ratchun. We stopped for lunch. Kirsten and Igor ate from a vendor outside and I chose to go into the Veganarie for a most DELICIOUS lunch. [see pics] We had bought an

Checking out by 11 am from Prince Hotel in Bangkok. Here is the pool area. I waited here till Kirsten and Igor joined me as I had slept while they decided to go out on the last night :) Here is where we split ways. They were flying to Phuket, and I was flying to Chiang Mai. Click on the video. And over Thailand we flew. All on time and I landed safely in Chiang Mai and took a taxi to my hotel. Probably one of the nicest hotels I stayed at. It was also vegan so everything I a

While I had been planning my trip to Thailand, I had created a group on FB 'over 50 years traveling' and a woman named Cliona contacted me. She would be in Chiang Mai during the dates I was, so we agreed to meet up. She suggested this AMAZING tea house on the street I posted yesterday :) And here it is along with her. Our orders. I highly recommend this Tea House if you are in Chiang Mai Thailand. NAME: Raming Tea House. Since Cliona had to be back at her rented home for 2

What a day today was. It started out well :) Seems that I am getting up VERY early and today I noted it was 8am [better than 6am LOL] I had packed lightly intentionally, so this morning I did hand laundry and hung it out to dry on my balcony. Then I headed out to the red trucks that sit by the old gate and take you places. I bargained with the guy and got this FORTY yes 40 minute WILD drive up the mountains to the temple, Doi Sohep for 300 Baht = $12.00 . Well after that WILD

I thought you would like to see some of the back alleys. This walk leads to the Temple that I decided to view. In Chiang Mai Temples are on every block. Since I am located in Old Town we see tons of them. Old architecture. Alleys are used just as streets are. Listen to my commentary. Arrived at the back door of the Temple grounds and went in. I KNOW!! lol I mention that these are the back alleys a LOT!!! But it still amazes me how all of the space is used so well without acci

This morning after breakfast I headed down to the massage place in the Temple area, but they were busy so I continued walking. Now not only are there massage places every two doors, there are also temples everywhere. But this video shows you the road, some traffic and the variety of businesses on that main road. My friend was coming to meet me, so I filled the time with going to the hairdresser. Note the intelligence of the bed that you lie in to get your hair washed. No mor

Off I went for my daily massage but because my shoulder was still quite sore and hopefully healing, I only took foot massages. My Thai girl was not very good at this. Her speciality was Thai massage. Then I decided to find this vegan pizza place I had read about online. BUT!! one must always video so here is the street and some of what is around. I posted on FB while I was in Thailand and one of the most difficult things was following the map on Google LOL. I kid you not. I h

And as this would be my last day in Chiang Mai my friend had said why not come over to her part of town and see the Wild Garden Tea House she goes to every Sunday. So, I did. I took a Grab and headed up the winding roads to another beautiful Tea House. Video ends rather abruptly but continues on the next one :) I do have to say Thailand is gorgeous. Sadly, though by this time I was starting to realize that I did not like solo traveling. The continuance of the Wild Garden Tea

Although this is the morning of Day 11, I posted it first as truly it is the start of my Day 10. The flight was on time and only 2 hours long. Sat by the window and watched the clouds. Grabbed a taxi at the airport and arrived at my hotel. Here is the room and view : That is why the bed is not made LOL. After greeting Kirsten and Igor, who were up at the pool, we headed down to the beach area with a Grab. We found an Indian restaurant that served vegan food. Just a pic of the

And our day started with eating on the boardwalk a lovely breakfast. I was able to get a vegan one :) Then we headed down to the beach area and hit the Monkey Trail. We had to take that to be able to get a boat to Railay beach. Railay Beach is NOT accesible by any form of road or plane. Only a boat. Here are the start of the monekeys :) Finished walking the Monkey Trail and are now waiting on the beach for our boat. Beautiful views. Made it up the metal stairs and into the bo

A BIG day today. So as we waited till the pick up van to arrive we hung around the hotel. I took a spa foot massage. AND!! not only was there the spa in the hotel but we also had one right across the street along with a place for oat milk coffee. We hit up that massage place twice :) As we waited for our 1.30 pm pick up I headed up to the pool area on the top floor [8th] to joun Kirsten and Igor. Here is the view of the pool and Ao Nang. And promptly at 1.30 pm we were picked

This would be one of my favorite days. Why? I climbed the 1260 stairs at Tiger Cave but :) because of the difficulty of that NO ONE was on their phone. Everyone chatted to each other, laughed at the puffing and panting, laughed at the monkeys, enjoyed the view. STOPPED and talked while resting. It reminded me of when I travled when we were young. EVERYONE talked to each they did not sit in silence glued to a phone. Since Kirsten and Igor chose to rent a scooter and go to a Na

Our LAST full day, so we chose to relax on a new beach they discovered while they had their scooter out this morning. Back at the hotel waiting to leave for supper at a place that you will LOVE :) Watching the last Thailand sunset. LAST video of the sunset and goodbye to Thailand and the beauty. From the hotel pool area :) Our LAST day. Our LAST supper in Thailand together. What GREAT memories I made with them. I hope they feel the same about me :)

And at Noon we called a Grab and drove to the airport. My flight was on time and Igor and Kirstens was delayed so I had the pleasure of sitting with them and then saying goodbye as I headed to my flight that was going to Bangkok and landing at the main airport. Kirsten and Igor took a different flight and landed at the other airport as they were staying in Bangkok for another two days. The clouds of this first flight as I headed towards home. I had already decided that instea