Beyond Rose

Nine Chapters

This will be the last section, covering parts eight and nine

1. Hat Yai
2. Koh Lipe
3. Bangkok (+ Tara & Michelle)
4. Chiang Mai (+ Tara & Michelle)
5. Khao Sok National Park (+ Tara & Michelle)
6. Krabi – Rai Ley Beach (+ Tara & Michelle)
7. Phuket – Patong (+ Tara & Michelle)
8. Ayutthaya
9. Chiang Rai

For Tim and I to get to Ayutthaya.. we took a train that took eleven hours. It got so cold at night, we had to layer up and then layer down. The bathroom’s toilet was a hole in the floor. It’s not the first time I’ve experienced that (since I would visit the Philippines as a child). With the amount of times I had to squat, it does not change how difficult it is for a women to budget transport..

Yes, I’m sure there was a better tier but this is the budget travel that I can surprisingly be flexible with and make the trip last longer!

8. Ayutthaya

Quiet town, old structure that can’t be compared to anything I’ve seen. From passing maybe 4-5 blocks you could feel that it is rich in history and ancient culture. Please check out photo posted below to see what I mean by beautifully historic..

“founded in 1350, was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom. It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Ayutthaya was strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers connecting the city to the sea.”

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/576/

• Things we ate: first was soup, duck, crab ragoon, Tom Leud Moo – Thai style pork blood pudding soup, Guay Job – chinese roll noodle soup with crispy pork, tofu and boiled egg, 4 Chaixi wonton noodle soup – hawker stall style
• Small market nearby
• Back to local priced Thai iced tea
• After visiting a temple, stumbled upon a big market event. There was someone interviewing each stand. Tim and I predicted maybe each stall had a larger store posted within the city. There was also live music. (Here we tried Pad Thai in a thin crepe type wrapping/cut through the middle and the Pad Thai would be steaming out, egg omelette, pork)
• Saw a giant lilypond!
• In other cities, elephant riding was frowned upon. And we visited an elephant sanctuary. In this city, we came across elephants in huge gowns, more gold and red like royalty with people/tourists riding them.

9. Chiang Rai

Accommodation: Grace Hostel. This was the first hostel to accept Visa in a long time of going with cash. The owner had such a sweet bird pet. She offered scooter rental service and laundry service.

• Singha statue – mythical golden lion,
• Wat Huay Pla Kang: Goddess of Mercy Chiang Rai – 9-floor pagoda with 12 surrounding structures & a giant Buddha, began as a small monk office
• Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple)
• Night market Bazaar
• Wat Phraphutthabat Sutthawart (Wat Chalermprakiat) floating pagodas
• Last khao soi to enjoy
• Last massage (feet, shoulders) in Thailand / no full body for me because last time my shoulder was bruised, more sore and in pain ☹️