Saturday 12th March:
Departure from Schiphol AirportTaking the Dutch railways to Schiphol airport were the plane of China Airlines will depart at 14:30h. Before boarding, duty free shopping at Schiphol Plaza. The airplane itself: a 747-400.Sunday 13th March: Bangkok
After ariving in the early morning at an empty airport in Bangkok, the tour guides await us in the arrival hal of the airport. Martin has the Belgium nationality and Jumbo the Thai one. The tourbus will bring us to the Tong Tara Hotel.In the midday we enjoy lunch on the Riverside Boat which lies in the Chao Phraya river which runs through Bangkok. After lunch we take a boat trip through the Thonburi. In Thonburi we come accross one of the summer recidences of the King which has totaly been made of teak wood. Also we see a lot of other cosy houses and small boats with huge car engines speeding the river up and down.
Monday 14th March: Bangkok
After having breakfast we visit the flower market Pak Klong Talad, the Wat Phra Keo, the Grand Palace and the Wat Po.
As it is Monday today the first thing which is noticed very clearly, is that it is much more crowded on the streets when compared with the day before.
The lunch we take at the Wan Fah which also lies down the riverside. After lunch we take a walk through the market of Bangkok China Town. From China Town we visit the Wat Tramit were a Budha of pure gold is located in the Temple.
In the evening (after being returned to the hotel first) we take the skytrain to the Asia Hotel in downtown Bangkok. Before boarding the BTS SkyTrain all people waiting are lining up in rows instead of forming a hughe block in front of the doors as we are used in Europ. At te Asia Hotel we take dinner before we'll visit the famous Calypso cabaret show.
Tuesday 15th March: Bangkok. (160km)
Today we'll leave Bangkok to visit the Phra Pathon Chedi in Nakhon Pathon (127m high). Also the famous Floating Market in Damnoen Saduak is on the program. Here we take one of the small paddle boats to have a different view of the market.From the Floating Market a longtail boat takes us to a Coconut plantation were we are having lunch after it has been demonstrated how coconut sugar is made.
Via the Saltfield Samut Sakhon we drive back to the Tong Tara Hotel. We are lucky to have the opportunity to see people actualy work in the saltfields.
After dinner we visit the famous Patpong night market. The night market offers famous brands (all fake) of clothing, whatches and illigal copies of dvds and cds. Around the Patpong night market the red light district with its bordells and go-go-bars are located.
Wednesday 16th March: Kanchanaburi. (150km)
In Ban Don Wai we take a boat trip through the fruit plantages. After this boat trip we visit the lokal fruit market. The tropical rain which sets in, allows a great cup of coffee at one of the small restaurants at the fruit market. After the rain has moved further we take a Rice boat over the Nakhon Chaisi river.After unboarding the rice boat, the tourbus brings us to the Bridge over River Kwai which has been build by prisoners of 2nd World War under Japanese .... We also visit the War Cemetetry and the Jeath Museum. (Jeath stands for Japan, England, Australia, Thailand and Holland). But before we leave the Bridge over river kwai I also visit the Japanese museum which is located near the bridge itself.
From the Jeath museum we take very fast boats to the Resort Baan Suan Fon. With these fast boats we actually go underneath the Bridge over River Kwai were we walked over a few hours ago.
In the evening we're having dinner on a raft which is pulled by one of those fast boats which brought us to the Resort.
Thuesday 17th March: Phitsanulok. (450km)
Today a visit to the ruine temple Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya, which is famous as many movie scenes are filmed here, is on the program.We also vist the sitting Budha at the Wat Mongkol Bophit and make a boat trip around Accient Ayutthaya.
Late midday we arive at the Hotel Topland in Phisanulok. In the evening we then use the bycicle taxis to get to the floating restaurant were we have dinner. After dinner the bycicle taxis take us to the Flying Vegetables. What that is I can't describe...you'll just have to see for yourself.
At the flying vegetables nice snacks are served. Fried insects, which actually didn't taste that bad but tasted a little bit to salty to me.
Friday 18th March: Chiang Rai. (540km)
In the Sukhotai Historical park we use bycicles to see the many ruines and the most beautiful Budha of Thailand: The Walking Budha, which is made of bronze.
In Lampang we use the horse car to get an impression of this town. After this we visit a pineapple plantage (no they don't grow from trees). Driving furhter we stop at the lake of Phayao and drink coffee which included a beautiful sunset above the mountains on the other side of the lake.
Arriving in Chiang Rai very late in the evening due to the bad wheater and due to a flat tire, which is professionally replaced by our busdriver and co in no time. In Chaing Rai we stay at the Rimkok Resort which lies a few km out of Chiang Rai. Here we stay two nights.