If I can get my camera to work a few more pictures of Bangkok.

 Once the official tour of Bangkok started I moved to a "posher" hotel. Actually it just turned out to be moderately tall tower block, down a side street in the heart of modern Bangkok,  so luckily quite quiet but near to what feels like mayhem in the heat.  I decided to walk through a relatively local park to it from the nearest tube from my hotel and it almost killed me and the slight shabbiness of the park (despite being opened in honour of the previous Queen) and the slight shiftiness of the pubs and massage bars in the area,  did not fill me with joy.    In the old town there are quite a lot of street hawkers, but more people seemed to be living in the heat of the new town and there were more people roasting foods by the side of the road, despite the intense and roasting heat of the sun, so a complex mix or rich visitors and poorer Thais, criss crossing much like the fume filled streets.  The room was nice enough, but the place a little souless compared to the hotel and the hostel I had also stayed at in the Old Town and it was really anonymous, groups of loud men in the pool and just me, not an entirely nice feeling.  Anyway the one saving grace of being in that part of town - it was a sky train journey away from the Jim Thompson museum, which I had researched when it looked like continuous rain was on the cards for Bangkok and wanted an indoor activity to enjoy.  As it happened a lot of the museum is actually out of doors but in a lovely sheltered garden so it was a good activity for a hot morning. The sky train if like me you have a slight phobia of not so much heights but some structures is not great but it is doable and convenient, but I would not want to have to use it again.   

Saturday in my 9th floor hotel room, curtains closed to avoid the dizziness. 

Jim Thomson's story is interesting as he was in the war in the area, but stayed on and according to the museum helped resurrect the Thai silk industry. He was into the arts and apparently helped source silk for the film The King and I.  He also bought up the houses that form the heart of the museum and lots of antiquities, but then mysteriously disappeared whilst holidaying in Malaysia.   

Still having problems so cannot upload images I want to. 

Take it to the mountain and a chance to learn more about Thailand.

 I was very lucky, in Xian I had a wonderful trip to the Terracotta Warriors. It was an organised day trip from the youth hostel there and five of us went on it, a man from Australia who knew a lot about Chinese history and who could afford to travel to China regularly on his pension, two young female travellers, one from Sweden, and one from Thailand and of course me.  I did not keep in touch with any of them except for the woman in Thailand and because I did not really know her or expert to visit Thailand I did not follow up on the limited contact we had. Despite this when I let her know I was coming into Bangkok she kindly arranged to meet up with her and had a lovely late afternoon with her.  She said that since the pandemic she hasn't been anywhere - not even into the centre of Bangkok, so my visit had motivated her.  We mostly pottered but found the local temple had a food festival and film stars visiting, sat in the park and talked about the Monarchy - we stood when the time came for the National Anthem - and about the upcoming election and about her new work teaching Chinese online to Thais.  It was very kind of her to help me learn more about her country.   

The following day I took it easy, knowing that in the evening I would be heading for the mountain.  Bangkok is very very flat, expect for a mound with of course a temple on the top.  There was a ceremony made even more atmospheric by the wind whipping round the site and the chanting of the followers and on the way down the heavens opened. As I sheltered a kindly monk gave me a cheap coverall poncho which was also invaluable at the of the holiday.  Rain was often forecast and when it came it was very very heavy, but luckily it eased off and encased in pink plastic I made it back to the hotel. 

Wat Pho early morning. 

Buddhas of Bangkok.

 I have been very remise, as have not written anything, but the weather has been so glorious here in the UK that gardens have come first alongside some work. 

Bangkok glistens in the sun, everywhere there are temples dotted with mosaics and gold leaf, dazzling the eye.  My second morning I set out for the flower garden, but instead found myself at 8 am the first into Wat Pho, for the first hour I almost had the place to myself, but it is is such a big complex that it was towards the end that I found myself peering between two pillars at a huge face.  The reclining Buddha.  He turns out to be my Buddha as I was born on Tuesday, but I did not know that at the time.  

By the time, I had stopped being gobsmacked,  it was time to finally fall out the calm of the Wat back into the heat of Bangkok and grab a breakfast. I did not care that I was in the most touristy part of time I was just hungry to tuck into a breakfast British/American rather than Thai.  After I tried to follow the river to the flower market, but lots of buildings were getting in the way, which is when I got seduced instead by the idea of a boat trip.  I know I paid way to much for the trip, especially as it did not take me to the floating market, which it promised to take me to, but in that heat it was a great way to see Thonaburi and a few more mega Buddhas.   If I had not watched Michael Portillo on his train journeys, I would have never known about this alternative former capital and the water ways of Bangkok, so whilst it was a stupid price it was worth doing.  And I gained merit by feeding the fish. :)

Welcome to Bustling Bangkok.

 I emerged from the 12 hour flight (two long films, two meals, and a couple of hours sleep) at 6.15. By the time I had navigated my way to the end of the first underground line, it was very hot.  The heat hit and the huge buildings engulfed me, it would have been very easy to be overwhelmed, but luckily a Thai woman, about my age, spotted me trying to navigate using my phone and poor Booking.com map, and encouraged me in a certain direction.  No sooner than she had left me a man about my age, but with less English than the first person, also checked I was okay.  Luckily they had sent me in the right direction and when I came across a bus stop and really clear information about which bus to catch to my hotel, I was doing fine.    The 20 minute wait went easily whilst chatting to a South American German, on his second trip to Thailand and he was also able to reassure me that I could pay for the bus once on board. I often walk rather than try and use public transport so in this heat that was very helpful and it was nice to find a conductor on board who ensured that I got of at the right point near to democracy square.   Initially I could not find my hotel and I was worried that things had gone wrong again, but another Thai helped me and even though I did not expect to be able to check in nice and early, I was in my room and resting very quickly. But sleep would not come so I went exploring. It was so hot that I kept to green areas, but this way I got to see Sanan Luang, near the Royal Palace, then Saranrom Park and finally Rommaninat Park, which eventually became my favourite as I could head down there after the heat of the day and enjoy watching the locals doing exercises.    And in the evening I walked down to Mahakan Fort, the relatively new Wat Ratchanatdaram and another park.    I even found a nice little place, by one of the little canalways that crisscross bits of the Old Town to have coffee. It was very modern. As well as coffee and cake it supplied Thai Wedding Costumes.  

Bodhi tree in the park

It was very hot. 

Electioneering. 

Trip to Thailand, underpinning concerns.

 The other night I dreamed I was talking to Joy, my late father's late wife.  I put my arm around her shoulder, something I never did in real life and explained to her why I had just been to Thailand.   Joy's death at 90 was unexpected, despite her good age. Only about 5 years ago she went on a massive trip through Thailand and Cambodia and Laos.  She did find it tiring, but did it.  And when she was about my age, she went to Australia, but ordinarily I do not think I would think of her as a traveller. Although I travel a lot I too am not a traveller.  Usually I am "funny" the first night,  feeling very dubious of where I have fetched up as if determined not to like it, but this does not always happen and it always dispels the minute I actually start properly holidaying. The fun and excitement just overrides it.   But my trip to Thailand went against this normal situation, I do not know if it was guilt about Joy (whose unexpected gift of the money paid for this and the trip to Norway)  or my father or what but  almost every evening I was odd, like I just could not settle and relax into being away.  I felt scared at times by my mental state.   Luckily I actually really enjoyed my days in Thailand, but this battle over my mental state, did detract from the trip, so much so that by the time I got onto the formal tour bit of it ( I went out a couple of days early) I was really keen to join in with the other people on the tour.  So when I met my guide and was told I was the only person on the tour I was near to tears.  That was not what I wanted.   I wrote to the company I had booked with to express my dissatisfaction and they told me I was on an individual tour -something I had completely missed in my excitement at booking.   It is not their fault I misunderstood what I had bought, but I am disappointed that they did not thank me for the feedback and think about it.  Almost everything else that the tour covered was done really well.  But their lack of politeness at the end, is a disappointment.  

Anyway luckily for them the Thai guides and drivers did a very good job and because I went on a tour I saw much more and learned much more than if I had gone on my own and in fact it was so hot whilst I was out there I think I would have really struggled on my own. So I know I should be raving about the holiday but I am not, however, I do know that I am very fortunate to have been there and to have seen all I have seen.  From the old town of Bangkok,  to the horrors on the beautiful River Kwai, to the former capital at Ayutthaya, up to Chang Mai, the Lanna capital and finally onto Phuket, I really I got the chance to know the country physically and historically very well.    So thank you Joy for both the inspiration and the finances. 

                                                     The flat landscape near to Bangkok. 

Coming into Phuket. 

Flam and the Briksdal Glacier.

 The Flam railway was everything it should be and more, even though the famed waterfall was mostly still frozen over it was just lovely being in the old vehicle and going up through the mountains to where the snow still had a thick covering over the land.  

The actual town of Flam is very small as are all these Fjord towns, though the numbers must swell considerably when the tourists are in town.  However, it is still more convenient a stopping off point than Olden which felt cold and distant when we arrived so I was really glad that I had booked a formal tour on this final day, which was a coach trip up to Briksdal and then the "Troll Car" - a rather terrifying twisty route up and back which deposited one nearish to the glacier followed by quite a steep walk if you wanted to get closer, which I did.  All of us on table 80 found it absolutely mesmerising and loved being out in the snow and in nature despite the presence of so many others. Once back down the mountain tea and cake awaited us so what more could one want.  

Standing stone near Flam. 

Back on board, there was food, dancing, more shows and so on. I absolutely loved being in the spa and watching the ship sail majestically up the fjords, I was also very impressed with the staff and wished I had had the inspiration to go to see to either put on shows or be a chamber maid and travel at the same time. However, there were aspects that did feel a little uncomfortable for example I would not have got work as a chamber maid as I am not Filipino and whilst a number of the musicians around the ship were they did not feature in the shows, which were all British, so whilst the ship was very international, some of the roles did not seem as mixed as they could be.   I have checked my finances and I am not sure I can justify splashing out again, but in many ways it is a very nice and comfortable way to travel so I can see why so many older people go for it, but how on earth some do several trips a year heaven knows.  Anyway I am glad I know what a little cruise on a little ship feels like.  

The Most Unbelievable Amazing News and Beautiful Bergen.

 I know I still have not finished writing up about Norway, but this news is too important and amazing, so have to share it.  The neighbouring Green Party has swept away the local Conservatives.  They have gone from having two councillors to having seventeen. It is an astonishing achievement.  I know many of the people who have just become Cllrs, I am aware how hard everyone has worked in the area and am absolutely delighted for them.  Well done. 

The political make-up of the council is now:

•    19 Green  
•    16 Conservative
•    10 Liberal Democrat
•    5 Labour

I did not stand this year, partly because of my travelling but it was nice to do some Telling yesterday and to be at the Count to see all the postal votes being opened, so well done to the Broxbourne Green Party for a solid consolidation of the vote in the target ward.  What has happened in East Herts shows that with enough people and an open population that change really can happen.  

Norway's history shows it is a very interesting and open place and on  my second day there in Bergen I did learn more about the country at the Hanseatic League museum and again later in the day at the Resistance Museum tucked away near the castle grounds.  

I had really been looking forward to Bergen, and it was a nice day and interesting, but one I was very tired and two many of the key museums (e.g. Grieg's House) were shut but I think it is because the first day had been so wonderful that Bergen had a lot to live up to and in the end it was probably a slight disappointment compared with everything else.  But it is still beautiful, just love those wooden houses, so beautiful. 

One of the lovely things about being able to dock so near to the centre of town, I managed to rush out and get to the Tourist Office at 9 and check out what was open and so on get a map and then nip back to the boat for breakfast and then head out to the town for the whole day. Despite having just had breakfast I stuffed my face with coffee and the best carrot cake ever but then determindly kept going as long as possible to see as much as possible in the town before heading back to the ship for a well earned fish and chips supper!.  Life on board. that being Saturday night I then went and did my laundry and then popped back up to see my fellow dinners on the second shift of food and had a very naughty plate of cheese and biscuits with which to end the day. 

:) :)