OUR PLANNED ITINERARY

The 2-week Thai taster tour that I've put together to introduce Alex to one of my favourite countries :-) has already been tweaked a little as a result of the deteriorating flood situation in the capital and the 26 affected provinces surrounding it.   The original Don Muang airport (which now only handles some of Thailand's domestic flights) has been closed, but then this is hardly surprising considering it was apparently built on a flood plain!  So, providing Thailand's main airport, Suvarnabhumi, remains open and flights continue to run as normal, we will be landing in Bangkok at 4pm on 01/11/2011. 

Bangkok - 2 nights

We're staying at The Wild Orchid Villa, which has become my favourite place to stay in Banglamphoo.  It's a stone's throw from the traveller's hub that is Khao San Road, but it's tucked down a quiet soi away from it all.  I have good memories of sharing plentiful drinks and stories with Todd (a cool American guy I met on my Hanoi-Bangkok flight 5 years ago) in their 24-hour bar, and enjoying large quantities of deliciously fresh papaya/mango/pineapple/melon for breakfast out on the veranda.  So, providing we can actually get further than the airport, this is where we'll spend the first two nights!

Having introduced Alex to the delights of Khao San Road, I was planning to take him on a little tour the following day, taking in The Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Chinatown.  However, now that the Chao Phraya Express (Bangkok's river taxi) has been closed (and apparently will be until at least 07.11.2011), I suspect that getting around busy Bangkok may be a little tricky, if possible at all.  The Thai government have announced a 5-day public holiday in all affected areas, from the 27th-31st of October.  We arrive on the 1st November....watch this space!

Kanchanaburi - 2 nights

This was one of my favourite places in Thailand when I last travelled there 5 years ago, and with all it's World War 2 history, I'm sure Alex will love it too.  The plan is to spend the first afternoon sightseeing around the town - Bridge over the River Kwai, Allied War Cemetery, Chinese Cemetery & the Jeath War Museum.  For our second (and only full day) I hope to book a tour (Apple's Guesthouse seem to be the most reliable company in Kanchanaburi) which will take in :

1. Erawan National Park & waterfall
2. Hellfire Pass & memorial
3. A ride on the death railway to Nam Tok

Kanchanaburi - Bangkok - Lampang

 The original plan was to transfer back to Bangkok on the 3rd day and get the overnight sleeper train up to Lampang, but the northern train line to Chiang Mai is no longer operating so we've had to book an internal flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai & we'll then get a bus down to Lampang.  Yes it is back-tracking a little but in light of the situation, we really had no other option - apart from missing out Lampang altogether, which I really didn't want to do.

Lampang 

Hoping to stay at the reputable (for their accommodation and restaurant) Riverside Guesthouse and taking in the following sights :

1. Wat Sri Chum
2. Wat Phra That Lampang Luang
3. Baan Sao Nak
4. Talad Kao Road (Sunday walking street - food, crafts silk & musicians)
5. Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao
6. Elephant Conservation Centre

Chiang Mai

Hoping to stay at Diva Guesthouse or CM Blue House, and partaking in the following activities :

1. Trip up to the hilltop temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
2. The endless wonder that is Chiang Mai's night market
3. A one-day cooking course with Gap's cooking school

Pai

Although there's not a lot to do in Pai itself, it does have a lovely laid back feel, and is THE place to go in Thailand for arts and live music.  Moreover it's set in a beautiful mountain valley and there are plenty of opportunities to take part in treks to nearby hill tribe villages (Karen/Lisu/Lahu), as well as bamboo rafting & elephant riding.  So we're going to hang out with the hippies here and see how much of the surrounding culture and countryside we can take in.

Soppong

Another beautiful part of Thailand but one I've not visited before.  Cave lodge run kayaking/rafting trips to nearby caves, namely Tham Lot, which is the most famous of over 200 caves in the area.  Not sure whether we'll stay here, as many of the treks from Pai head over in this direction, but Soppong is much less touristy and a good place to come to escape the crowds of Pai.  So we'll just have to see where the mood takes us.... :-)

On leaving Soppong, we plan to make our way back to Chiang Mai in time for our flight back to Bangkok on the evening of the 15th, and then it's homeward bound, sob sob....hopefully not without a plethora of new memories and experiences, and (knowing me) hundreds of photographs to accompany them!