Mekong Nomads – Day 4 – Monday 1st December

For the early readers, please accept my apologies for the typo’s, the grammar etc etc, on my blogs, I blame fat fingers, ineptitude, and a tiredness when I finish writing and a mininal edit while nodding off  to sleep. And tonight the possibilty that the gummy bear I’ve just eaten may dull my senses, but more about that later.

Today we fly to Chiang Mai. We booked a tranfer at the front desk for 700 baht ( $35au), a bit cheaper than the one we booked from the airport on the way in. We fly at 12.35

There’s a big crowd at breakfast, a tour group called World Face, from where I don’t know but its a southern European accent I hear, maybe Czech??? I enquire and they are actually Italian, so much for my language skills!

Bangkok Sum Up

Hotel is good, old part of town is well located for travelling around the city, the river, the klong boat. The underbelly of the city is fun and pretty safe to walk around, places like Talat Noi are wonderful and eclectic. Food is great but I’m looking forward to Chiang Mai, it’s more laid back, and calmer, I think. Time to move on.

The 700 baht car is on time, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Bangkok airport. Our driver is unwell, not sure what his affliction is but his breathing is laboured, it sounds like a cross cut saw, maybe it makes him a little aggressive because he changes lanes regularly for no apparent reason.

But, all that aside, we arrive, go to Bangkok Airways check-in ( manned by humans), watch our bags disappear and then we proceed into the bowels of Suvarnabhami Airport for a coffee.

As predicted earlier by moi, Telegram Sam has misplaced his new expensive sunglasses and has a furrowed brow and the look of a man who has just flushed $200 down the toilet. Which he possibly has. We can’t ring the hotel but decision is made to wait until Chiang Mai to check his main bag.

Gate A6 is relaxed, very few Asian faces are present, maybe a sign of the ex pat digital nomad population in the city.

The plane ride is good, a quick trip and the passengers give the pilot a round of applause for the soft landing. Our driver has us at the Elliebum Boutique Hotel in no time.

A bit of planning after checkin, a rest and then we head out our own ways exploring. Telegram Sam finds his sunglasses in his check on bag  and the furrowed brow smoothes out.

I find a weed shop and after a medical consultation with a nice young lady at the counter about my leg pain, I’m prescribed a batch of cannabis gummy bears for 300 baht. Not to be taken until bed time, which I agree to. I’m tempted by the more trippy cookies, but maybe later.

We end up way down east near where I stayed a few years ago with my nephew, but many stops at jewelly places and womens clothes shops gets to me and we get a tuk tuk (150 baht) back to the hotel for drinks with H and Telegram Sam. H is drinking a cocktail called something “bum”, it has a scorpions sting, and after a couple I’m not sure I’ll give her a gummy bear, it could tip her over the edge? I’ve decided to name her after the drink, from now she’ll be referred to as Hbum.

A young musician sets up near us in the hotel garden and plays some accoustic songs, he has a very pleasant voice.

A decision is made after I challenge the others to try an iconic northern Thai dish called Khao Soi, so I Google ” Michelin Star Khao Soi Chiang Mai” . Number one to come up is a restaurant ” Best Khao Soi Chiang Mai”, its 10 minutes  away, rated 4.6/5  and has  no bad reviews. Its a lovely walk ( Google Maps helps) through the back streets and we come out into what we think is Chiang Puek Gate Night Food Market. The place is a street food market, plastic stools, atmosphere a plenty, busy as anything, I order a crispy pork khao soi add a few things to the bowl and it is delicious. Best meal so far and will be hard to beat. Hbum and TS ( Telegram Sam) choose the same dish, but TS spices his up, he’s coughing, eyes are watering but he has a smile on his face ( but that could be as a result of hin finding his sunglasses – not sure?), and I think Hbum enjoyed her meal as well. Cost 70 baht each ($3.50), insanely cheap for such good food. We follow up with some Thai Coconut Pancakes at another street food place for 20 baht ($1). Dinner cost $4.50, and it was so bloody good!

Its a relaxed walk back, TS takes responsibility for navigating us home. Not sure he enjoys this though.

Now, the first cannabis gummy bear has been savoured and I’m feeling quite relaxed. The leg pain is easing,  and I’m thinking there might be something in the medicinal properties of cannabis, other than the recreational use of the past. My cannabis consultant suggested start with one, then step it up if needed. Tomorrow I might try two and buy a cookie with the good stuff in it to have with a bedtime cup of tea.

Tomorrow is a chill day, not much planned. Go gummy bears!

Ciao from Chiang Mai

Pauolo

Mekong Nomads – Day 3 – Sunday 30th November

We walk to pier via a new track that I’d suggested. The weather is still pleasant but a bit warmer than the last few days. Theres a crowd at the ferry station, a bit of jostling for position and no Aussies that I could hear. The Navigator isn’t smiling, she’s not happy with me making her walk so far, but I’m assuming she’ll get over it, unless she’d like to try and find her own way around with Google maps.

The 150 baht Day Pass on the Chao Praya Tourist Ferry is good value,  basically a hop on hop off boat. There are huge barges on the river, we assume rice going one way with 4 tugs pulling and 2 trailing, then coming empty back up river with one tug pulling and one trailing.

One full lap on the ferry then we stop at Wat Arun, I rest in the shade, they walk. A good arrangenent for me, I’ve been here twice before.

Back to Ratchawong Pier and we explore China Town, find a nice restaurant for a late lunch. Its a busy area, and has its own vibe.

We walk 10 minutes to Talat Noi area, its an old fusion Chinese/ Portugese/ Vietnamese area, there are murals, colourful man hole covers  painted all colours. The river is right beside it.

We decide a tuk tuk ride home is the go and as we agree to do this a tuk tuk pulls up and disgorges his customers, we negotiate 300bahtto get us home. We probably needed him to pay us danger money, we drove on wrong side of the road, fast, disco lights and doof doof music blaring. But, we got home in one piece.

A walk to Khaosan Road, a massage and dinner finishes the day.

Dave has a new nickname ” Telegram Sam”, its a long story!

Tomorrow we move on to Chiang Mai

Ciao from Bangkok

Pauolo

Mekong Nomads – Day 2 – 29th November

Bangkok isn’t as hot as expected. The temp is really pleasant this morning. Breakfast downstairs is pretty good.

First thing, we wander up to Phanfa pier to catch the khlong boat up to Hua Chang pier, the one near MBK Centre.  These are more local transport than a tourist thing. 12 baht (50c) gets us there, its a wildish ride, a few stops like Bobae market, but its fun and cheap.

A short walk to MBK so Dave can buy some sunglasses and The Navigator can distact us by vereing off on other shopping tangents. Which she does, buying a mini fan and other nick nacks. She also guides H into buying some weird looking dress up things, presents I think? Dave buys a set of expensive sunglasses, which he’ll probably lose somewhere between here and Luang Prabang. I buy a cup of tea and a sit down.

Next stop is the Jim Thompson house and museum, but not before I lead us up a dry gully into National Stadium BTS Station. This is 250 baht per person but its well worth the time and effort. Architecture and art, silk design, all from a former WWII OSS officer (forerunner to the CIA) who then disappeared in Malaysia. Cue spooky music.

Dinner is next to a Michelin Star restaurant with a huge  queue , good food but next door is more popular. This 70 year old woman cooks great food every day and has people lined up every day.

Then its is back to The Golden Mount, 300 steps to the top.

A short rest at the hotel then off to Khaosan Road, and out the back lane for a foot massage, a good dinner and home by 10. A 12 hour day.

Caio from Bangkok

Pauolo

Mekong Nomads – Day 1 – 28th November  Sydney to Bangkok.

A $26 Uber picks us up at 7.15. A tip we learned from the front desk of the Quest – don’t book until you’re ready to go, last night to pre book was over $40.

Qantas checkin by machine at the airport still feels like a cluster f… to me, they need more human staff there to guide the clueless people like us through tagging, which side to put the bag etc. But, we get there. 2 x 13kg bags and 2 x 14 kg bags.

Borderforce checks done, time for food. H reacts to her malaria medication, diagnosis was by Drs Robson and Reid. She’s nautious, faint, hot, and GREEN. They sponge her forehead, and try to softly suggest helpful things to a stressed green face. I’m sure it helped.

I made it clear at the start I wasn’t taking them ( malaria tablets ) after they made me really crook a few years ago, and they aren’t really needed as Laos is malaria free.

Its a slow walk to Gate 58, however by then she’s a better colour. The trips still on!

Boarding is orderly by groups. The Finnish airline that code shares this leg for Qantas has tighter seat spacing than other long haul, are Fins short? I didn’t think so!

I read a Slow Horses book and listen to an AI blues playlist, good songs but voices and musicians that are computers. Songs like ” My Mumma Still Owes Gas Money” , ” She Left Me For A Man with Shoes” and ” The Dog Don’t Miss Her Either”, mainly blues and soul genre. Its a very clean sound,  tight rhythym section with a heavy back beat and screaming harmonicas and lead guitars. Eric Clapton, Peter Green and John Mayall eat your hearts out!

Other than a bloke up the back of us who makes 19 trips to the toilet, the flight is uneventful. Even the babies behave. Staff are good, food ok.

We come in over the paddy fields and aquaculture dams on the outskirts of Bangkok. Landing is good. I suppose anytime a plane lands is good.

It took a little while but we found our transfer company and after and hour of mind numbing traffic we’re at the  Sian Champs Elysee hotel in our rooms with an old style club foot bath. Not 100% practical but its water.

A quick freshen up then a guided tour of Khaosan Road, then through the back via Susie Walking Street for dinner, a few drinks, a walk to the Chao Praya river, a few drinks at the Sheep Shank Bar before struggling home for a midnight end to a 22 hour day.

Busy busy but we fitted a bit of stuff  in. The temperature is perfect, dry season , light breeze 27deg C in daytime, 20 at night.

Tomorrow we’re into it again.

Ciao from Bangkok

PAUOLO

The train is running late, yesterdays storms have created issues but now we’re underway.

1st class on the XPT is roomy, cool and quiet.

The train trip to Sydney is pleasant, uneventful but pleasant. We had oodles of snacks and a GF $13 Butter Chicken for dinner, but, not sure the bun was GF?????

The Navigator is planning things to do, and questioning why the train is still running late. Its a bit out of our control, bit we do end up at Central a fair but later tgan planned.

A taxi gets us to the Quest at Mascot for $23

An early start tomorrow.

Cheers

Pauolo

Day 0   27th Nov ’25

Note it is Day Zero. We haven’t left yet, but in a few hours we are. The Navigator has been packing for weeks, and trying to decide how little, how much, how hot, what coat do I need, do I need these tablets, and on and on and on. It’s draining.

Anyway, tomorrow us Day 1, tomorrow night we’ll be dining in Bangkok.

This trip is semi adventure.

The travellers are;

Pauolo – that’s me, aka Paul

The Navigator – thats Genelle

Al – that would Dave

H  – that’s Helen

I’ll try and come up with more disparaging creative names as true characters reveal themselves under pressure.

The Plan

1. Train to Sydney
2. Fly to Bangkok for short orientation of big SE Asian city  things
3. Fly to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand
4. Drive via Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong on the Mekong River
5. Cross into Laos and 2 Days on a slow boat on the Mekong via Pak Beng to Luang Prabang.
6. 9 Days chilling in Luang Prabang
7. Fly home via Bangkok

Ciao from Sydney

Ok, 9 days to go until we leave.

Rough Plan

Thailand, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Khong, Laos, Mekong for 2 days via Pak Beng and finishing at Luang Prabang.

More details later

Ciao

Pauolo

Perth to Dubbo

The trip is coming to an end, tonight we’ll be home in our own bed. 7.30am we set Google Maps to T4 Perth airport, drop The Navigator and Wally, then Don & I return the Prado to the car hire return.

The GX Prado has been excellent, averaging under 10 ltr per 100km. Plenty of space, maybe not as much in the back seat as a Kluger but close. Tax invoice says we did 2104 km, no dings detected, which is correct.

The women have the bags tagged when we return, then We get taken as visitors to the Qantas Club for breakfast. It’s been 17 years since I’ve been in  Qantas Club when it was paid for as part of my job. It’s too expensive now for the amount I travel, I think?

We’re told earlier we don’t have the seat between us empty, would have been $70 well invested if it came off. However, the plane is full, not a seat spare, and a lot bring huge carry on cases, don’t get me started on that!

It’s raining and cold in Sydney when we arrive 4 hours later, a few whiskeys in Qantas Club (compliments of the Anderson) fixes that.

Dubbo is freezing,  The Mechanic delivers us home to unpack, for the final time on this trip.

Ciao from Dubbo

Pauolo

Jurien Bay to Perth

A drive around Jurien Bay, fly the drone briefly, then a coffee and a drive around Cervantes before heading back to Perth. We like Jurien Bay, its clear waters, and its easy relaxed vibe. And Cervantes looks a but bigger and s fair bit older.

We decided to come to Kings Park in Perth for a walk around before going to our hotel near the airport.

The Botanical Gardens are excellent, the walks wind around different botantic areas of WA,  there are lots of varieties of native plants by region. It’s Sunday, so there are lots of people in the park, Sunday loungers, hipsters, fathers with sons (on scooters), bikers on their Triumphs and Harleys trying to look cool in jeans and leather. The view over the city is terrific.

Only a week ago, The Don crashed on to a Hop On Hop Off bus floor in the rain at Kings Park. He’s recovering now, but the scene of the crime must bring back the memory of an event that he has no memory of.

Dinner at the motel is interesting, the Sanno Maracoonda is a base for fly in fly out operators, so it feels a bit like a mine canteen (I don’t know what one looks like, so it’s in my imagination)

Tomorrow we fly home. We left Dubbo 3 weeks and one day ago, it seems longer. The trip has been terrific, great company on both legs of the trip and we’ve seen a lot of places we’ve never seen before.

Ciao from Perth

Pauolo

Mandurah to The Pinnacles to Jurien Bay WA

A relaxed start to the day, a cup of tea then The Navigator and Wally go power walking around the water. The area we are staying is pretty ritzy, and all the pretty young things walk in their skin tight tights, leading fluffy dogs, men with manscaped five o’clock shadows at 8am and the odd pensioner in baggy shorts and a sloppy Joe with holes in it. The boats are heading out fishing on the change of tide, dodging the kayakers.

We get under way dead on ten am, Pauolo has the reins of the stagecoach today. It’s not a long way to Perth, we refuel, then head into the banked up traffic on Highway 2 only for Pauolo to take an unplanned detour into an industrial area.  Corrections made we’re back into the traffic heading north. This is a reflection of Pauolos card playing later that night.

Woodbridge and the Verge 301 Cafe sign catch our attention but The Don navigates past it requiring an about turn. Two highway patrol coppers in a pretty car arrive for coffee, a young blonde and a solid older bloke,arrest any of Nomad 2 crew and instead look at their phones and chat. Clearly unaware of my future crimes against the card game of ” Kings”

The Pinnacles is busy busy busy, bus loads of tourists from Asia mainly, everywhere taking selfies, flying a drone (illegal in the park), digging holes. But away from the tourists it’s spectacular. They are quite dramatic.

We move on to Jurien Bay where we’re booked tonight. Nice place, I imagine it was a fishing shack village once upon a time, but not now.

Dinner is at a Cafe at the beach near the jetty. Fish and chips is great, fresh Spanish Mackerel, and nice green salad.

Cards tonight is all Don, Pauolo f…d up and kept a Joker and threw a King so a record maximum score sees Pauolo finish last by a mile. The Navigator comes in second, Wally a close third.

Ciao from Jurien Bay

Pauolo