Taking 2 days off from work to get a long weekend but ending up working on one of them doesn't really qualify as a describtion for a relaxing weekend-holiday. But at least I got to change the office to a more natural and beautiful environment - to sea and beaches.
I must confess here and now, that I already did what I hadn't planned to do at all. I went to Phuket. And the reason why I hadn't planned to go to Phuket at all is purely it being the Canary Islands of the 21st century. In other words, not my pick for a holiday destination.
To be fair, the reason at the first place to go to Phuket was that the flights were cheaper than to Krabi and that I wanted to go to Ko Phi Phi islands which are located only 2 hours boatdrive away from Phuket. And to be honest, it was only for me having to work that we stayed in Phuket for 2 nights.
Luckily there was still time to go to Phi phi. The island itself was rather a disappointment -beautiful for sure but far from the paradise island I had hoped to find. Just like anywhere else, the same souvenir stuff, sandals and beach-wear, banana pancakes and smoothies and western delicacies were on offer. No hiding from the globalization and masstourism. Surely the island is beautiful, nice beaches and clear seawater - but what's new about that in Thailand?
A day tour on a long tail boat saved it to be worth coming. The surroundings of the Phi phi islands still offer a slight feeling of what it has been like before the mass tourism. Such crystal clear waters that the fishes and corals can be enjoyed from aboard! Snorkeling just adding some extra fun to that - the fishbites one can only "enjoy" in the water.
To me the highlight was the remote island chosen for our lunch break. There I finally found what I had been looking for, even for a very short while. Peace and quiet. No people around. Just stunning beauty of a little island, not in the middle of nowhere but with good imagination the thoughts can wander away to that. Unfortunately the good imagination is still really needed, while although I was alone on one end of the island and could enjoy the moment without hearing no human voices, none of that was still faraway. And unfortunately, others had found the corner before me - the random trashes hadn't flushed to the beach just from the sea. I ended up having paradise-like pictures but knowing just too well how they didn't show all of the truth.
What bothers me the most are not the locals being ignorant to the protection of these sites but us, the visitors. Everywhere I go I see empty bottles, cans and wrappings, left laying on the ground. If one manages to carry the picnic stuff up the hill to the waterfalls how come it's too much to ask to collect the leftovers and wrappings afterwards and bring them down as well? The empty plastic bottle weights far less as when it was still full! And the chocolatebar-wrappings don't take much space in the backpack. I have never heard of anyone who is looking forward to on a national park-trekking / beach / snorkeling holiday to seeing other people's garbage rather than the naturally beautiful nature. Anyone?
Got to add to this, the worst behaviour I experienced was by the sunset on a little lagoon which could have been the perfect ending for a fun day - if it hadn't been for a bunch of british teenagers who had decided to begin the party by getting drunk and smoking in the shallow water. And yes, leaving the beer cans and cigarettes just there, in the water. As much as I had tried to ignore the rudeness and ignorance of people around these natural sights during the day, that group truly were up to destroying any chances left for that.
So instead of just writing how amazingly beautiful the sea and the islands are, how stunning the natural charm of the nature, at the end I have to face the reality and tell the truth. The sea is amazingly beautiful, the islands and the nature in general charming but for how long still, no one knows. Kilroy travel's advertisements "Go before its too late" come to my mind - soon we might just be seeing cardboard-rhinoceros on safaris, monkeys begging for work on streets and the last piece of antarctica smelting. And Arnold Schwarzeneggers face on Mount Rushmore.
Until then, we still have these half paradises to enjoy. By closing the eyes on the right moment its still imaginable what the earth has been like - and could be like. And with good will the half-paradise holidays can be well enjoyed and the remains of the stunning nature observed with awe. Beauty is on the eyes of the beholder.
perjantai 30. heinäkuuta 2010
torstai 1. heinäkuuta 2010
Even though
Bangkok is a fascinating city. To some extent it appears as a modern, big, chic-styled western look-a-like but that's only part of the truth. Even though it has its business centres and fancy shopping areas, it still doesn't give up its sympathetic charisma.
The crowded streets, wooden-floored old buses, tuktuks, sideways used for markets and tempels built in most (un)imaginable places make it an eternal wonder. I could spend my time just watching the traffic and observing the people. In Bangkok the life is on the streets.
Yet still every now and then one needs a break of the hectic city life. If having a relaxing massage, visiting a temple or enjoying some cocktails on a terrace by the river isn't sufficient anymore, there are beaches and other attractions near by offering a weekend get-a-way. I had a good excuse for trying out some things as I had a friend visiting me.
The best, most beautiful and most convenient place for a weekend chill-out must be the island Ko samet. Other beach options I don't bother naming for they don't deserve to be listed in the same chapter with Ko samet. Reachable by a very reasonably priced bus+boat combination in about 3 hours, the island offers relaxation, water sport- activities or beach party - something for every one.
The food is great, no surprise, but still not at all over-priced which one could suspect on a little island. There are beaches for the party animals, for the sportlers and for those who look for some peace and quiet. Breathing in the truly fresh air is cost-free and feels excellent. But other attractions are affordable as well. Boats can be hired to take one to various snorkeling places or the surroundings can be viewed on a kajak trip. The stunning sunset is most favourably enjoyed on a beach with a cocktail in one hand. And almost nothing compares to an early hour swim in the ocean. The price to be paid for this fun is some itchy mosquito bites - but its still worth it.
If beach life is not what you are looking for, no worries! A charming 2 hour train ride, sitting on wooden benches, enjoying the scenery through open windows and avot! Welcome to Kanchanaburi.
The “the” attraction in Kanchanaburi is the river Kwae – or rather the bridge crossing it. The cruelties against the POWs building the bridge and “death railway” during the WWII put the place on map. Although the bridge isn’t the original one anymore and only a short part of the original railway has remained it still remains an attraction. Standing on the railway, facing the stunning beauty of the surrounding nature makes the moment surreal, as one would like to enjoy the sight but because of the horrible history, laughter and joy just don’t seem appropriate. Interestingly, for our visit the nature offered a melancholy atmosphere as we got the weekend’s only rain shower when standing on the original part of the railway.
A trip to Kanchanaburi doesn’t only need to be filled with melancholy and sad feelings over the devastating history of human beings. Kanchanaburi has a lot of beautiful sights and fun to offer which one can enjoy to the fullest. In the Erawan national park trekking up the great waterfall and swimming in seven different parts of it along the way is major fun: sporty and relaxing. And since in Thailand, elephant riding can’t be overseen either! Afterwards bamboorafting along the river gives a moment of peace and quiet. During and right after the monsoon season there are also some other waterfalls nearby that can be visited too.
Some more war history, but less well-known in the western world, can be sighted in the former capital Ayutthaya. A small city that once gloomed and glanced but is literally in ruins now. And the ruins are the fascinating and interesting part of the city that can be visited on a one day trip from Bangkok. If you don't mind being in sun all day, lacking the possibility of cooling down in the sea, then Ayutthaya is the place to be. Walking can't be avoided, although parts of the area can be explored on a tuk-tuk (or on an elephant).
Ayutthaya was torn and burnt down by the Burmese on one of the several wars against the Siamese. Several interesting stories can be read over lost, stolen and finally-found-in-a-strange-place-treasures. The funniest attraction is surely the head of one buddha statue which is covered with the roots of a tree.
I enjoy any chance in visiting places outside Bangkok but am always happy to be back. After a short holiday the continuous "madam madam I make you a dress" and "tuk tuk madaaaam, where you go madaam" yells irritate me less than before, the familiar streets and restaurants seem so cozy and a smile from the pineapple man makes me feel welcomed back home.
The crowded streets, wooden-floored old buses, tuktuks, sideways used for markets and tempels built in most (un)imaginable places make it an eternal wonder. I could spend my time just watching the traffic and observing the people. In Bangkok the life is on the streets.
Yet still every now and then one needs a break of the hectic city life. If having a relaxing massage, visiting a temple or enjoying some cocktails on a terrace by the river isn't sufficient anymore, there are beaches and other attractions near by offering a weekend get-a-way. I had a good excuse for trying out some things as I had a friend visiting me.
The best, most beautiful and most convenient place for a weekend chill-out must be the island Ko samet. Other beach options I don't bother naming for they don't deserve to be listed in the same chapter with Ko samet. Reachable by a very reasonably priced bus+boat combination in about 3 hours, the island offers relaxation, water sport- activities or beach party - something for every one.
The food is great, no surprise, but still not at all over-priced which one could suspect on a little island. There are beaches for the party animals, for the sportlers and for those who look for some peace and quiet. Breathing in the truly fresh air is cost-free and feels excellent. But other attractions are affordable as well. Boats can be hired to take one to various snorkeling places or the surroundings can be viewed on a kajak trip. The stunning sunset is most favourably enjoyed on a beach with a cocktail in one hand. And almost nothing compares to an early hour swim in the ocean. The price to be paid for this fun is some itchy mosquito bites - but its still worth it.
If beach life is not what you are looking for, no worries! A charming 2 hour train ride, sitting on wooden benches, enjoying the scenery through open windows and avot! Welcome to Kanchanaburi.
The “the” attraction in Kanchanaburi is the river Kwae – or rather the bridge crossing it. The cruelties against the POWs building the bridge and “death railway” during the WWII put the place on map. Although the bridge isn’t the original one anymore and only a short part of the original railway has remained it still remains an attraction. Standing on the railway, facing the stunning beauty of the surrounding nature makes the moment surreal, as one would like to enjoy the sight but because of the horrible history, laughter and joy just don’t seem appropriate. Interestingly, for our visit the nature offered a melancholy atmosphere as we got the weekend’s only rain shower when standing on the original part of the railway.
A trip to Kanchanaburi doesn’t only need to be filled with melancholy and sad feelings over the devastating history of human beings. Kanchanaburi has a lot of beautiful sights and fun to offer which one can enjoy to the fullest. In the Erawan national park trekking up the great waterfall and swimming in seven different parts of it along the way is major fun: sporty and relaxing. And since in Thailand, elephant riding can’t be overseen either! Afterwards bamboorafting along the river gives a moment of peace and quiet. During and right after the monsoon season there are also some other waterfalls nearby that can be visited too.
Some more war history, but less well-known in the western world, can be sighted in the former capital Ayutthaya. A small city that once gloomed and glanced but is literally in ruins now. And the ruins are the fascinating and interesting part of the city that can be visited on a one day trip from Bangkok. If you don't mind being in sun all day, lacking the possibility of cooling down in the sea, then Ayutthaya is the place to be. Walking can't be avoided, although parts of the area can be explored on a tuk-tuk (or on an elephant).
Ayutthaya was torn and burnt down by the Burmese on one of the several wars against the Siamese. Several interesting stories can be read over lost, stolen and finally-found-in-a-strange-place-treasures. The funniest attraction is surely the head of one buddha statue which is covered with the roots of a tree.
I enjoy any chance in visiting places outside Bangkok but am always happy to be back. After a short holiday the continuous "madam madam I make you a dress" and "tuk tuk madaaaam, where you go madaam" yells irritate me less than before, the familiar streets and restaurants seem so cozy and a smile from the pineapple man makes me feel welcomed back home.
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