Firespinning in Thailand

I had first witnessed fire spinning during our first trip to Thailand in 2000. I had never seen anything like it before and over the years I have watched it grow.   I had seen people in Toronto practicing twirling these baton like things on the streets, but I never really knew what they were doing.

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For years I thought that it originated in Thailand, but in actual fact, it is from New Zealand. Known as Poi, it comes from the Maori People. It is a rhythmic dance done with weighted balls that are attached to the end of cord and spun around the body.  The traditional Poi is not done with fire but over the years fire has been added melding Hawiian Fire Knife Dancing with Traditional Maori Ball Dancing.

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The fire spinning takes it one step further attaching metal balls to chains. Or they use an aluminum staff and twirl it like a baton. The balls are filled with Kevlar and dipped in kerosene. When the fire is lit, it creates patterns and shapes in the black night.

It is practiced throughout the world today, but I always associate it with our times in Thailand.

It is a nightly ritual in Thailand’s Southern Beaches. Professional fire spinners put on shows and wow the backpacker crowds each night. They bravely face the fire, shirts off and no protection from the heat.   They make sure to keep the crowd a safe distance back and as the music plays they spin their magic.

During the day you will see tourists practicing themselves with hopes of becoming experts themselves.  It is harder than it looks and there is an art form in finding the right weight and balance. There are also different gases for different venues and it is evolving each year as it becomes more popular.

Kho Lanta, Thailand

It is something that I definitely think that I could get into. Laying on the beach gets a little boring for us after a day or two, but maybe if we have the chance to take a poi lesson, we may just turn our sun and sand time into an adventure.

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Travel Movie Memories

I have read a lot of posts about movies that inspire travel.  I love movies and yes there is an endless list of movies that promote a country, inspire an adventure in us all and offer us a glimpse into life in another country.

While I love movies like that, I often think about movies that I have seen on the road in our travels. Many times in a conversation, someone will mention a movie and it will trigger a memory.  Just the other day we were talking about Rambo at work and I said “hey, I saw that in Botswana” It happens all of the time and I will remember where I saw it and then relive that time in a country in my brain. It brings a smile to my face.

We have seen a lot of movies during our travels.  Most of the time, it is exactly the same as being in Canada, but there are a few memories of movies that stand out and will be remembered for the rest of our lives.

Top 5 Travel Movie Memories

1- Starship Troopers.  We saw this movie on a loop on a bus from Chang Mai to Bangkok.  It played over and over dubbed in Thai.  We were both extremely hung over from running into Canadians that owned a bar the night before.  They kept our glass filled with Thai Wiskey all night long.  We managed to wake up in time for our 7:00 am departure, but it was not a happy ride.  The air-conditioning wasn’t working, the windows wouldn’t go down, I was dizzy and dehydrated and all I had to distract me for the next 12 hours was Denise Richards speaking in Thai.

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2 – Return of the King.  We were in Laos when the third installment of Lord of the Rings came out.  We were really looking forward to seeing it and a restaurant was playing a bootleg copy that evening. Of course we went to check it out.  The sound was terrible and it was cut to shreds.

There are bootleg copies of movies all over South East Asia, so this was nothing new. But the reason I remember this so well is that I tried to adjust the sound because they had the reverb on high and the volume on low. Nobody was around to ask to fix it, so I decided to give it a try.  Boy, was I told off for touching the knob.  I don’t know where she came from, but a lady came running out of the back with rage in her eyes and scolded me to the point where we decided that we had better leave.   I never have seen the entire Return of the King.

3 – Kill Bill. We love seeing movies in Bangkok.  The theatres are modern and state of the art. What we love the most though  is the montage of the King at the beginning of each movie. The King is revered in Thailand and before each movie, everyone stands to pay their respects as a slide show plays depicting his life. This was in 2004 that we were there, but I am sure that their respect and love has not subsided and I am sure that this slide show must still play.

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4 – Mona Lisa Smile - Kutching Sarawak, Borneo.  Borneo is not exactly a place that you would think to go and see a movie. It is a place for adventure, wildlife and trekking.  But we found ourselves relaxing in Kutching for a night and saw that a Julia Roberts movie was playing at the local theatre.

The movie was terrible, but what we remember is a cockroach climbing up Dave’s leg.  We watched the rest of the show cross legged. And we remember the delicious caramel corn.  No buttered popcorn, only caramel on the menu.

5 – Tracks of a Killer – Nobody has heard of this movie and even less have seen it.  But it was one of the first movies that Dave ever worked on.  It starred Lance Henrickson of Aliens Fame and Kelly LeBrock AKA Steven Segal’s ex wife.  It went straight to video, but we just so happened to see it while we were sitting in a small bar downtown Paris.  We thought that was pretty cool, and then a man walked in wearing a Panavision Jacket.

For some reason we were feeling pretty bold so we asked him if he worked in the film business. It turns out he did and then we told him that Dave worked on the movie that was playing on the T.V.  We were all best of friends instantly and we ended up drinking closing the bar.  We actually stayed until way passed closing time and the owner bought all of our rounds of drinks as we drank wine and beer until the wee hours of the morning.

The next day at Les Invalides was not a pleasant experience.

Honorable Mention

The Italian Job. It was 2004, we were traveling around South East Asia for several months and it never failed, every time we stepped onto a bus, The Italian Job was playing. We got to the point where we hated that movie.  We also got to the point where we knew every line and moment.

For some reason now though, I now really like The Italian Job.  I was even laughing the other day when we were talking about the timing of Toronto’s traffic lights and how because our city is amalgamated with other city’s, all of our traffic lights are on separate systems.  Dave said, “hey if they had the guy from the Italian Job that was the Real Napster inventor, he could fix all of our problems.”

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Thailands Songkran Festival, The Worlds Largest Waterfight

One of the coolest festivals (and I mean that in every sense) is Songkran Festival in Thailand.  We were lucky enough to find ourselves in Chang Mai during the holiday and took part in the World’s Largest Water Fight for 4 days!

Be Sure to check out our featured video on the right of the page in the side bar for a real sense of what Songkran is all about!

Trying to Get us!

Chang Mai is certainly the most exciting place to celebrate Songkran. A significant cultural city of the country filled with tradition, temples, the old city and even a beautiful moat.  There is no place I would rather be during the Water Festival.

We really need to change our New Years celebrations here in North America. South East Asia has the right idea. Celebrated in Burma, Laos and Vietnam also, the water festival rings in the Traditional Thai New Year which just happens to be the hottest time of the year.  It takes place from April 13-15, but while we were in Chang Mai, the festivities started on the 10th.

Water Water Everywhere

There is a ceremony and ritualistic side to Songkran, Buddha images are bathed, young people pay respect to their elders, people visit temples to pray and pour water in the hands of monks.  Traditionally the water has been scented with roses and it is also considered the time of year for spring cleaning.

Yes, there is a deep tradition to Songkran and people take that very seriously. However, our Songkran consisted of 4 days of solid cheer, goodwill and at times painfully cold douskings of water.

Very Cold Water

The most exciting place to experience Songkran in Chang Mai is to make your way to the moat. Thousands of people line the street next to the water waiting for people to drive by.  The first couple of days seem harmless enough, but as time goes on the water becomes colder and colder as blocks of ice are added to huge barrels of water.

The Moat is the Place to Be

If you find yourself in a Tuk Tuk, you are in big fun trouble.  Riding in the back seat of this open air mode of transportation, your driver will take you straight down to the moat and stop regularly for people to get you from all directions. There is no escape as you are trapped.  Traffic is stopped and everyone is going to hit you with everything they’ve got until you finally move on.

Stuck in a Tuk Tuk

The icy water will make you gasp for air between bouts of laughter.  It is completely exhilarating and festive.

Grown men, women and children ride in backs of trucks filled with giant barrels of water throwing it out at people as they pass by.  People have enormous squirt guns strapped to their backs and children are jumping out from behind hidden corners squirting the unsuspecting pedestrian.

Great Vantage Point, Back of Truck

We had a nice moment when Dave came across three cute kids sitting in a barrel full of water. They were sitting ducks and Dave had a grand old time having an all out war. The kids were so adorable.  They didn’t seem to get the fact that Dave could have run away at any moment, they just kept on squirting him and laughing. It was a moment that I will never forget.

Dave at War

It’s party time and tourists are definitely a great target.  Everyone is fair game here at Songkran.  The nicer the suit, the wetter you get. Even trying to dodge your way through back streets late in the day will not bring relief. People are everywhere.

Water fill stations are even set up everywhere.  Lined like parking meters you throw in a few baht and voila…you will have a quick refill without having to interrupt your ongoing water fight.

Deb Getting in on the Action

Tip

Keep your money in a plastic bag and any electronics in a dry bag. Things will be drenched in no time.

Respect Thailand Customs and cover up. There is nothing more insulting than westerners wearing bikini’s and spaghetti straps.

Be careful when throwing water at motorcycles.  Many accidents happen every year and there are fatalities.

If you need a break from the festivities, head to the mall. It is a safe haven.

Be Careful When Throwing at Motorists

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Our Favorite Things to do in Thailand. Period.

In our previous post we added a list of the things that we love to do in Thailand that are a tad on the adventurous side. Rock Climbing, Elephant Trekking, Kayaking.  We love them all and enjoy trying new and exciting things.

While these activities aren’t considered adventure or extreme travel, we still find them exciting. Walking around the maze of a big city, trying new food or taking public transit in a place that you don’t know can all be adventures in their own right.

Here are some of our favorite things to do in Thailand, Period.

Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho

1. Visiting the Grand Palace and Wat Pho – A visit to Thailand would not be complete without a visit to These Great Temples. The former Royal Residence covers and area of 218,400 sq. metres; It is Grand indeed and houses the Emerald Buddha (which is really made out of Jade)

Wat Pho is home to the Reclining Buddha at 46 metres long and 15 metres high. This golden beauty is Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha in the oldest Wat in Bangkok.

Wat Arun from the Chao Praya River

2. Taking a boat ride on the Chao Praya River- Many of Bangkok’s major tourist attractions are along the river. Besides the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, there is China Town, Temple of the Dawn, (Wat Arun) the National Museum, The Gem Stone Market and 5 Star Hotels. You can hop on and hop off for the low price of 20 baht (less than 1 US dollar ) for the tourist boat or 8 baht for the local boat. You can even get a day pass to hop on and off as many times as you like for 100 baht.

You can take the boat right to the Taksin bridge where you can catch the sky train back to downtown. Bangkok puts Toronto’s transit system to shame.

Chang Mai Night Market

3. Shopping at Chang Mai’s Night Market-At night the streets of Chang Mai come alive with rows and rows of vendors. The prices seem to be higher here than anywhere else in Thailand, but once you know what to pay for things, you can get them down to the proper price. Half of the fun is the bargaining anyway. With everything to choose from, it is your one stop shopping for every souvinier and piece of clothing that you need.

Slow boat to Thailand

4. Taking the Slow Boat to Thailand - Ride along the Mekong River from Luang Prabang Laos, to Chang Rai – See the Mekong River and meet the local people that live along its shores. Share the slow boat with locals going home from the market and watch life unfold along the Rivers Banks for this two day ride. Bring your own food and drink with you though and a book or some entertainment because it is a bare bones way of traveling. You can take a high speed boat, but what would be the fun in  that?

Firespinner, Thailand

5. Relaxing on a beach in Kho Samui, Kho Lanta, Kho Lipe, Krabi… the list goes on and on. We have wasted away weeks relaxing on the beach, sleeping in our bungalow, playing frisbee in the warm water and then going to find a great restaurant for some fresh seafood at night while we are entertained by firespinners on the beach. Thailands beaches are the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen to this date. Unfortunately, we always compare other beaches to Thailand’s and other countries just don’t have a shot at matching Thailand’s beauty in our opinion.

6. Eating. Thailand has my favorite food in the world. My favorite is Green Curry Chicken. No matter how many times I have it, I still love it. I can eat it 5 days a week. Dave’s favorite is Pad Thai and he always seems to fall back on his regular staple as well.  But Thailand has a huge array of food to choose from.  Fresh seafood, Street Vendors, open markets, merchants selling fresh corn and fruit on the beach and fine dining. It has it all. We love just going to the market and grabbing fruit, getting some chicken takeaway from a vendor and chillin’ out in a quiet corner.

Favorite Thai food besides the ones listed above…Tom Yum Soup, Cashew Chicken, Green Mango’s with chilies and salt, meat satays, Coconut Soups. Mmm, I am getting hungry just writing about it.

Songkran Festival, water everywhere

7. Taking part in the World’s Largest Water Fight - We were lucky enough to be in Thailand on one of our trips during Songkran Festival. It is the hottest time of the year and what better way to cool down than to throw water on each other for days on end. It is a festive time ringing in the ancient New Year.

Longtail Boats in Thailands South

8.Taking a long tail boat out to an island. When people envision boats in Thailand, they think of the long tail boat. A long hull canopied boat.  The propeller juts out into the water creating a (you guessed it) long tail look at the back of the boat. It is one of the most photographed images of southern Thailand.

MBK Centre, Siam Square, Bangkok

9. Catch a flick at the MBK Centre. We can’t help it, we love movies and wherever we go, we always go to a movie. We have been to the cinema all over the world and many times when I think about a particular movie I have seen, I remember where I have seen it. I like how you have designated seating and stand before each movie while watching a montage of the King.

Mui Tai Kickboxers

10. Watch a Mui Tai Match – One day we would like to do some Mui Tai training, but for now, we have enjoyed watching matches. We were lucky enough to see an international match while we were in Thailand a couple of years ago. I am saddened to say that Belarus dominated over the Thai Kick Boxers, however…We felt that the ceremony at the beginning of the match was far better presented by the guys from Thailand.

Wow, two posts about our favorite things to do in Thailand and I feel that we could do a third.  The list is endless of amazing things to do in one of the most beautiful, unique and spiritual countries in the world.

Tell us what your favorite experiences were in Thailand. We would love to hear them!

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Funny Photo of the Day

I was in the middle of looking through my computer for photos for my blog post regarding food. And came across this cute photo of a cat making itself at home at a restaurant in Thailand. At first we thought it was dead, but after a very long time, it finally turned over for a more comfortable nap.

Just thought I would share it with you because it brought a smile to my face.

Sleeping Cat, Thailand

Yes, still sleeping

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Our Favorite Adventurous Things to do in Thailand

We love Thailand. It was our first real travel adventure and has a special place in our hearts. Sure we had taken vacations before, but Thailand was our first real step out of our comfort zone. It was our first travel that lasted over a month and it was the first time that we really experienced another culture and way of life.

I fondly remember landing at the airport in Bangkok and having no idea what to do next. A friend of ours had told us to go to Khao San Road, so we hopped in a taxi, paid way too much and were let off somewhere nearby. We ended up getting lost and walking for a couple of hours in the middle of the night downtown. We were nervous and very new to travel, but we were excited at the same time. We eventually ended up finding our way and it was the start of 10 years of glorious travel that sparked a love for adventure and exploring the unknown.

We have been back to Thailand a few times and we always find something new and exciting to do. Here are some of our favorite things that we have done in the land of smiles.

Climbing at Railay Beach

Rock Climbing in Railay – In the year 2000, we learned to climb in Railay and became hooked. We took up indoor rock climbing when we returned home to Canada and then became regulars at the crag on the Niagara Escarpment. We then returned to Thailand in 2003 and did our first multipitch climb. Both times that we climbed in Raleigh, we climbed with King Climbers. They are excellent, safe, friendly and reasonable.

Railay is changing rapidly and tourists are starting to flock there. When we first visited you could camp at Railay and it was cheap, cheap cheap. Now bungalows and swimming pools have popped up. But the beauty is still undeniable and climbing is fantastic.

First elephant trek at Khao Sok

Elephant Trek in Khao Sok – A beautiful National Park. We liked riding elephants here because we were on our own private trek with only one other pair of travelers. It was fantastic scenery, the elephants seemed to be treated fairly and looked healthy. I remember the mist coming up in the morning as an elephant walked by while I stood on the road, it was magical. I haven’t done an elephant trek in Chang Mai, but from what I have heard and seen in pamphlets, Khao Sok’s Elephant Trek doesn’t seem like quite the circus as it is up in Chang Mai.

The Chang Mai Gate

Meditation Course in Chang Mai – So, if you are in Chang Mai, why not try something different rather than trekking to see Hill Tribes or taking a cooking course. We took a multi-day meditation course together. We were the only two people in the course, We worked on several different types of meditations and tai chi. We cooked vegetarian food and really bonded during that time. Highly recommended. There are many courses all over the Chang Mai area.

Kayaking into Caves

Cave Kayaking in Krabi – Sea kayaking is very popular, but to go inland to kayak on the river system through a mangrove forest.  The relaxing day of paddling offers up beautiful scenery and entering caves is exhilarating.  Approaching a limestone cliff a dark sliver shows between the rock and the water and you would ask yourself, Are we going in there? Lying down to make it through at some points, you enter the cave paddling under stalactites and it is a thrill. Check out some hieroglyphics and then to come out in a lagoon surrounded by high cliffs. It is absolute heaven. We Kayaked with Sea Kayak Krabi and they were excellent. Our guide was informative and it was a beautiful day.

No handrails

Walking along the Bridge on the River Kwai – You wouldn’t think of it as being a thrill, but I felt a rush as I walked between railroad ties. One false move and you could fall into the river. We joked that if this were in Canada, there would be cages and wires to make sure everyone stayed safe. In Thailand, you just walked along the planks and made room for others as they passed. It doesn’t look very high in the photo, but trust me, it is a long drop into the water.

To walk on such a famous piece of history was amazing. I had just watched the movie before leaving for my first trip to Thailand, so it was very fresh in my mind and I whistled the tune as I strolled along.  Visiting the war museum and graveyard is a reminder of the atrocities and hardships that went into the ill fated bridge.

Tuk Tuks are Everywhere

Taking a Tuk Tuk downtown Bangkok – No visit to Thailand would be complete without a ride in a Tuk Tuk. these 3 wheelin’ bikes zip in and out of traffic in a frenzy. Hold on and hope that you don’t tip. They are cheap and easy to get around in. But be prepared for a loud ride and to breathe in a lot of fumes. Negotiate hard though and don’ t fall for the scam of being taken to gem markets for the cheap price of 10 baht.

Swimming in Kho Samui

Go to a waterfall. Thailand is full of them, but we loved the one in Kho Samui. Swimming in the pool below the falls and letting the water run over your head cools you off during a long hot day. Find your favorite waterfall in the country and spend the day suntanning on rocks and cooling off in the fresh water.

Thailand is full of interesting and adventurous things to do. We have only scratched the surface of all that there is to see, but we look forward to going back time and again to check more off of the list.

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10 Least Romantic Situations Traveling Together

When most people think of a vacation together, they envision tropical islands and places for romance relaxing in paradise.  Tahiti, the Bahama’s, Hawaii that is where most sane couples go to rejuvenate and bring that spark back to their relationship.

Well, Dave and I aren’t most people and when we go away, we always seem to wind up doing trips that are the exact opposite of romance.  Sure, we have been to resorts and 5 star hotels, but it is always the suffering that stands out in our minds when we reminisce. When we truly test our relationship and survive the insane and ridiculous, that is when we know that we are meant to be together forever.

Here is a list of some of our least romantic situations we have encountered during our travels of the world so far.

1. Slathering butt butter, Chamois Cream, Bag Balm…whatever you want to call it on our bums every morning for the first 2 months of cycling Africa. In our little 2 man North Face Tent, we would lay in the dark and cool mornings dressing and getting ready for a 100+ km day of riding. It wasn’t a good morning, or a lets snuggle and keep warm kind of morning. It was lets get up, lather up and pack up our tent and see you in a few hours at the next camp. (you don’t get a picture of that sorry, only us sitting at our tent:)

Now that's romantic

2. Relieving ourselves in tandem on both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kinabalu. I don’t know what it is, but Dave and I always seem to be in sync with our bowel movements when we are at altitude.  We both walk side by side for hours on end, and then we both have the need to go to the bathroom at the same time.  Thank God we always summit in the dark, I couldn’t imagine trying to squat on a sheer face in broad day light.

You try finding some privacy here!

3. Having roaches crawl all over us during a trek to the pinnacles.  We thought that we were staying in pretty good digs when we saw our vynal matts lined up along a raised wooden platform.  We settled in for the night with 7 other people and thought that we would be well rested for our climb the next day. That is until the creepy crawlies came out.  I didn’t turn on my flashlight to see what it was, I thought it better that I don’t know.  But in the morning everyone was talking about the cockroaches crawling all over.  I thought, well, it could have been worse, it could have been something poisonous.

3b Being eaten alive by bed bugs on more than one occasion.

4. Getting in a motorcycle accident together in Ko Samui and laying side by side in the hospital as they cleaned our wounds.  Dave’s was worse than mine and he had it scraped with a razor blade as he bit on a towel. We then spent the next 4 days in Paradise limping around and getting our dressings changed daily.

First time renting a motorbike, not a good idea

4. Sharing a single bed in a room with another couple that was in the other single bed. In Kuala Lumpur, we were too cheap and tired to find a place in our budget after returning from the Cameron Highlands.  We had to leave early for  Borneo the next morning anyway, so 4 of us crammed into a tiny room with 2 single beds and set our alarms for 5 am. We didn’t get a lot of sleep that night.

5. Anytime we stayed in a dorm room.  As a couple, we don’t often stay in dorms or hostels. But every once in a while be it during a trek, a climb or an excursion, that is the only option that there is.  I snore by the way, luckily Dave sleeps like a log, I feel bad for anyone else that is stuck in a room with me.

There is a pattern here that always has to do with sleeping arrangements.

Sleeping anywhere we can

6. Staying in a bungalow in Kao Sok National Park. It was a pristine setting with and pretty little huts. Unfortunately, every night just as we were about to turn in, the cock fights began and we had to listen to the screaming and wailing chickens all night long. My heart broke.

7. Rubbing the bottom raw during a horse back ride in the Dominican does not make for the most romantic moments. It was 1997 and Dave and I were on our honeymoon.  We decided to ride horses on the beach in sweat pants might I add.  Dave did not have a good time, and for the next 2 days he could not sit down or get in the water to get relief from the warm Caribbean air. We have both since learned how to ride.

Look at that Hair, it was 1997

8. Our time in Mui Ne Vietnam should have been the most romantic part of our trip.  A cabana on the beach, beautiful scenery and perfect weather.  Well, I had terrible ulcers in my mouth and throat from my Doxycylin (malaria medication) and Dave had enjoyed too many Vietnamese Iced Teas in Saigon. On our way out of the city, we saw a man dragging a giant blog of ice on a burlap sack down the road, and right then, we knew that Dave was going to be in trouble.  Sure enough, we was sick for 3 days. Neither of us could eat. Dave couldn’t keep anything down, and I was way too sore to swallow. So we layed in our bed under the ceiling fan and prayed for relief to finally come.

Waiting to go to the airport, not well

10. Our Last 2 Days in Lima before flying out. We splurged on a nice hotel and even ate at Tony Roma’s overlooking the water for lunch. After lunch I didn’t even make it back to the hotel before I started vomiting. Diarreah followed and we missed our last day of sightseeing as I puked and crapped all day and night. I can’t even look at Tony Roma’s ever again.

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