Heading North - the old Capitals of Siam <2009.9.4>

After a week we had everything together and are prepared to start our trip up north.
On our way up to Chiang Mai we planed to make several stops at the old capitals of Thailand.



The way of travelling is quiet easy - you choose between Train or Bus, cheap or really cheap (no aircon) price and jump on to the next who arrives. The public transportation system is really good and everyone very helpful to show you how to get along.

Our first stop is Ayuthaya - just 80km north of Bangkok.
This was the place I worked here when I came to Thailand for the first time - but never made it to the old city to see the temples.



Once arrived we checked in at our guesthouse, hired two bikes and explored everyone of the remaining ruins ... and there where many!




A nice way to explore is by boat - so we hired one for 2 hours and went to all temples located at the riverbanks of the old City.







More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/ExtremWatIngInAyuthaya#


On the next morning we took the local train to Lob Puri - 50km ride for 30cent!
What do you get for such little money?
A LOT! Actually too much! Too many people, too many sellers and actually no space! But an adventure itself!



Lob Buri is famous for the gibbons (monkeys) who captivated the main temple of the city.







Unbelieveable how many live here and how the locals take care that they will stay as well. Some of them already spread out in the next streets and start intruding further to the city, so be prepared for the new episode of "Planet of the Apes"!




More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/FightTheMonkeysInLobPuri#


After we escaped the monkeys we took the next (better)train to Phitsanulok where I initaly planed my meditation retreat. Unfortunately they locked themselves up due to swine flew which gave us more time to explore the city instead.

It seems the tourism is not existing yet, as we where more or less the only foreigners here. People are open and curious to you and the tourist office even can`t speak really English!
But it was worthwhile stopping here as the temples here are full of life and are part of daily life!








More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/LivingTemplesInPhitsanulok#

Finally we reached Sukhothai - the first capital of Thailand and a UNESCO world heritage site. As it features so many temples and ruins from the 12th century we planed to stay here for at least 2 days.

We stayed in nice bungalow guesthouse in the new city and took the old pick ups to the ancient city 12ks to the east.





Here again we rent bikes as you can`t make the entire area of 10km2.

It`s a real magical place - even you need a lot of fantasy for some ruins to put the pieces together and make a picture out of it.










Even though we didn`t walk we got grilled instead on our bikes! The last days we had always above 35 in the shadow, but there where too little shadows for both of us x-)



So packed ourselves with water where possible and kept drinking and drinking and drinking...




... but be careful in Asia - only drink things which are still sealed and in the orignal bottle!!!




Arrrrgggghhhhhh

More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/TheLostKingdomRuinsOfSukhothai#

Bangkok - Hub to Asia <2009.08.25>

Here we are in Bangkok - our gateway to Asia - at 38 degrees and with 20k`s on our backs ... the start to our new adventure couldn`t be more different to what we where used before.



We plan to stay here for a week to get organized, get all necessary visa & to check out Bangkoks famous tourist spots.

So this is the start of the endless TEMPLE-TOUR infront of us. With the motto "too much is never enough" we jumped into it and packed a full day with the highlights of Bangkok:

The Teak Palace Vimenmek & the Marble Temple








Starving for food ...



... we checked out the next food stalls which you can find everywhere




Of course we can`t miss the Wat Pra Keo with Thailands most important Budda statue - the Emerald Buddha & the Royal Palace!















Don`t listen to anyone who tells you that these temple are closed - they are always open - its a scam ... just ignore them and walk on ;-)

Just around the corner is the huge reclining Buddha - Wat Po - where we set back for an hour and enjoyed the traditional thai foot massage at one of the most famous schools just in the back of the temple!







Bangkok once consist of many waterways, where it gets its name ... Venice of the east. You can still find some and it is the fastest way to travel in this always traffic jamed city!







Once of the boat you have to walk - still faster than a Taxi! With burning feet we made it to Chinatown - the Mekka for seafood lovers...





The food here is really delicious and the best reward to ourselves after this trip!



Finally the weather cooled down a bit as the daily evening thunderstorm sets in...



ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK ...

More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/BangkokHubToAsia#

Goodbye Australia <2009.8.22>

It`s sad but there is always an end of a trip infront of you.
And so our has come to say goodbye to Oz!



Unbelieveable how fast the time went by...

Carmen is opening me the last gate on our journey - the beauty farm of Jaqueline - my oncle Jan`s home.



You remember our beloved car Jaqueline - our beauty queen?!
How does she look after - I can`t believe it - 4,5 months and 23.583 km on the road?

Just like this:



Ups - sorry dad, this was before the cleaning...

Here she is - Voilá:



As on her first day - ready for the next thousand Ks.

Farewell to our home for a while

So here we spend our last days together with our beloved family Rita, Jani & Wusel in the relaxing backyard of Oberon city.











Even all Kangaroohs we saw during this trip came by to say goodbye to us!



Enough tears shed - let`s look into the future!
New adventure awaits us as we give up our campervan live and change into BACKPACKERS to explore South-East Asia over the next 3 months!



Let`s Walkabout

More on:
http://picasaweb.google.at/marco.schoeggl/GoodbyeAustralia#