Aladdin's adventure in Cha-am, Thailand - July 2014



Friday 11th of July 2014 and I woke up to my fourth day of no smoking. I decided to give up the
Message=Hello Aladdin,

could you please tell me the title of the song under the Charisma Man comic strip? "You're the best thing to happen..."

I tried looking it up in google but to no avail so far...

The first time it played for me i had several other tabs opened and was listening to other music, took me a minute to figure out where the music was coming from, nice experience, thanks :)

And thank you very much for sharing your adventures, I really like to read your stories from all around the world!

greetings from Germany
Björn
stupid smoking, just a waste of health and money.

I went to the kitchen to make breakfast: 2 onions and fresh fruit. I have come up with an idea to have my daily onion without the tuna. I peel the onions and I cut them in half. 30 minutes in the oven 200°C with a wee bit of olive oil.

One onion per day, but as I don't want to waste too much energy firing up the oven I make 2 onions per day. I read my e-mail while waiting for Sido - Maske Xthe tea and onions to be ready. A guy from Germany asking about the Charisma Man tune.

And what a coincidence, he is from Germany and it is a tune by Sido - Maske XSido from Germany. I sent the information + the MP3 file to him in Germany. And why not, let's put it here for you to enjoy the tune in full as well. And of course, this tune has to be enjoyed in full. So hit the play button!

    Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st    

Björn! Have updated the TAXI CD on You Tube with the “Charisma Man” tune. Just click the LINK TAXI CD on You TubeOr if you're having a good time in a bar just search “aladdin.st taxi cd” and you will find it Bangkokon You Tube. Came in handy for me in Tokyo! PEACE! Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

Well, we finished the boxing and I went for a shower and to finish my last fruit before taking off to my friend's house and we're off to Chas-am as soon as his wife is back home from work.

I took a taxi and I arrived to my friend at 4 o'clock, much earlier than expected. It is a holiday and the traffic was light and we were hauling ass.

There were 2 other friends coming, the girl wanted to join us but her boyfriend didn't want to go. Well, they played with my friend's son until we left at 6 o'clock. We decided to eat in Cha-am and not on the way. But my Bangkokfriend's wife was hungry so we had to stop for a quick snack.

McDonalds and I was not too happy about McDonalds, when was the last time you had something good at McDonalds? Never! Well, a milkshake when suffering from a hangover a long time ago.

We had been discussed 7 Eleven several times and my friend know that I'm not shop at 7 Eleven anymore so when we passed a Family Mart my friend turned of the highway. There was a Chester's Grill so my friend's wife got a fish burger. I bought water and some chocolate at Family Mart before we continued towards Cha-am. We arrived to our hotel around 8 o'clock in the evening. We checked in and we went to check out the beach across the road.

Asia Cha-am Hotel
Arriving to the hotel

Asia Cha-am Hotel
In the room

Asia Cha-am Hotel
My friend's wife

Asia Cha-am Hotel
Our youngest friend is excited to be in Cha-am

We walked South on the beach for a bit and I saw a Cha-am Pizza sign and I was very hungry. We Cha-am Beachwent to check it out but it was closed. Seems like every thing is closed in Cha-am and it is only 21 thirty in the evening.

But after asking around we found the Aroy Restaurant and we went to have something to eat. The food was well, it was possible to eat but it was not any fine dining.

We walked back to the hotel and it took us 20 to 30 minutes. By now it was 11 and time to go to bed. My friend wanted to call me at 7 in the morning. I told him to call at 8 and we have the whole day for the beach.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 12th of July 2014
and my friend called quarter past 7.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
Well, can as well get out of bed. I went to bed early yesterday, I was dead tired, but it was impossible to fall asleep and I was tossin' and turnin' for a few hours.

My friend had woke me up and I tried to fall a sleep again, but I failed. I had a shower and I knocked on my friend’s door. No answer and I went for breakfast. Breakfast buffet and I was looking forward to the breakfast, I was soon to be disappointed. I was just leaving when my friend came to look for me.

We took the elevator to the swimming pool on the 17th floor to get a few pictures of Cha-am from the roof top. We can see Hua Hin far away in the South. Otherwise we can see that were pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Well, it will Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st hopefully stay like this for years to come.

Asia Cha-am Hotel
Cha-am beach from our hotel

Asia Cha-am Hotel
Cha-am beach from our hotel

Asia Cha-am Hotel
View from Asia Cha-am Hotel

Asia Cha-am Hotel
View from Asia Cha-am Hotel

Asia Cha-am Hotel
View from Asia Cha-am Hotel

Asia Cha-am Hotel
View from Asia Cha-am Hotel

We met a family on the way down, they were on the way to the restaurant for breakfast. I told them that it was a waste of money. But they left us at the restaurant on the second floor.

We continued to the ground floor and we were soon on the beach. Obviously low water because the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stwater was far away compared to yesterday evening. I put my snus, glasses and shirt in my friend’s wife's bag and I was off to the water. Our youngest friend was playing in the water with his Grandfather.

There was a guy swimming around with his daughter and he started to talk with me and we started to chat and suddenly we had killed one hour.

Our youngest friend was still busy playing with his Grandfather and when I got out of the water after 2 hours we started to look for my friend and his wife. We looked and looked and there were no sight of them. We were looking until we spotted them walking towards the beach from our hotel.

Cha-am Beach
Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach
Our hotel from Cha-am

Cha-am Beach
Cha-am beach
Cha-am Beach
Cha-am beach and I met a guy and his daughter

Our youngest friend, his mother and Grandfather returned to the hotel and me and my friend went to a coffee shop next to the hotel entrance. I asked for a pot of tea and as they didn't had a pot I asked for the menu. There was a beautiful picture of a plate of fresh fruit. Kiwi, Pineapple, Santorini Park in Cha-amPapaya and water melon.
- We only have the water melon
- OK, do you have smoothies?
- Yes

She started to tell me all of their smoothies and when she came to the Pineapple smoothie I stopped her.
- You said you were out of Pineapple
- Yes
- So how can you make a Pineapple smoothie
- We use ice and juice
- Then it is not a smoothie
Well, it ended with a bottle of water only and we enjoyed the water while looking at the people on the beach.

We took off to the Santorini Park when we were ready with our water at the coffee shop. Santorini park is some kind of family park/ amusement park. It is 50 Baht to enter, there are more expensive tickets, but I stuck with the 50 Baht option as I suspected that it would be a Santorini Park in Cha-amwaste of money to buy anything for the attractions

I was right, we came to one attraction and maximum 70 kilo. I could not help myself so I asked the girl if it would be any problem for me and Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stmy 60 kilos. And yes, the girl just gaped at me.

Well, anyway, we entered the park and I was very hungry and I stopped at a Crepe de Crepe place for a mango crepe. I asked the guy if Santorini Park in Cha-amit was a mango crepe
- Yes
- Are you sure?
- Yes
- I think it is a banana
But I didn't bother wasting any time as I was hungry, and yes, it was a banana crepe.

I sotted a hamburger place and I ordered a double cheese burger with French Fries, 200 Baht. Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stIf I added a Pepsi it was called a special or something.

Then it would be 189 Baht. Is this stupid or what? So I asked for the special and I got 11 Baht back in change. I told them to keep the Pepsi and I went around the corner to buy a bottle of water. The hamburger was not good, well, I had not expected it to Santorini Park in Cha-ambe good, but it was way better than expected. But not good as in fine dining but I was full when I had finished the burger.

My friend's wife had him to run around taking picture of Facebookher to post on her Facebook.

I don’t know if there is a limit for how many pictures you can upload to Facebook, but he took millions of pictures and he was feed up.

Well, at least until I had finished my burger and I sneaked up behind her flipping the bird and making faces behind her. My friend started to enjoy Santorini Park in Cha-amthe picture taking. And his wife is in for a surprise when it is time to upload the pictures on Facebook.

There were two tubes for sliding and our youngest friend went through the tube with his mother. He was crying and when he had passed the tube he ran by himself up to go again. Scary the first time and now we could net get him to leave the tubes.

But it was hot and our young friend was soon thirsty. He was running around enjoying himself Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stso he needed plenty water.

As soon as he had got some water he took off for new adventures and we had to chase him. Yeah, I wish I was a kid again. Everything was very fun and Santorini Park in Cha-amthe train towards the end station was very slow. Sometimes it felt like the train was at a complete stand still. Especially one week before Christmas and birthdays.

My fifth day without smoking and I do everything I can to slow down the train, but it is still supersonic speed towards สถานีหมดชีวิต. The fruit thing and the stop smoking might have slowed down the train, but just a wee notch.

We walked around the park and when we had covered most of the area we returned to our Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stcar. Time to get back to the hotel and the beach. And it was hot so I was looking forward to a swim.

Santorini Park in Cha-am
Where ever we're going the girls want pictures

Santorini Park in Cha-am
Where ever we're going the girls want pictures

We turned right instead of left when we reached the beach. Our hotel is 100 meters up the beach turning to the left. We decided to go explore South Cha-am and my friend was looking for sea Cha-am Beachfood. They sell seafood all along the beach road and they cook it for you while Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stwaiting.

We were back at the hotel at 3 thirty and we would met at 5 for a swim on the beach. I went to look for some Diet MAX but I came up with nothing. Well, the Diet MAX have been gone from the shelves in every convenient store since we left Bangkok behind. Well, we have avoided 7 Eleven, but all the Family Mart and “Mom & Pap” shops. But seriously, I think I'm way better off without the sodas.

I was unlucky to end up at a Pizzeria next to our hotel. I asked for a pot of tea and a pizza. I got a cup of tea.
- Can I have some milk please?
- We don't have milk
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st Is this a restaurant?
- We make the food somewhere else and we just heat it here

I could not believe my foocking ears. And the pizza, OK, it was done in an oven. I had been afraid Cha-am Beachthat they would make it in a micro. I have had many pizzas in my days, I even had some of these pizza Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stsandwiches you make in a micro.

This was the worst pizza I have ever had and I understood that I was the only customer. Yet another loser that have opened a restaurant in Thailand losing money. A fer foocks sake, if you make an investment expecting to make some money out of it you must make it for real.

Now they just lose money making it half assed. Maybe a sex tourist coming to Thailand, falling in love and the only way to stay in Thailand is to open a restaurant. Well, many of them have to leave not too long after the GRAND opening.

I left most of the pizza behind and I went to take on my swimming suit at the hotel. I picked up my friends and we took the 2 minutes’ walk down to the beach.

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach
First time, ever, our youngest friend is cold and they bring him back to the hotel

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach
They are back on the beach again

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

Cha-am Beach

It was 7 o'clock before we were back at the hotel. A shower and we decided to take the car to go down towards South Cha-Am to look for a restaurant. For sure, in our area there was nothing that even reminded about “fine dining” And yes, there was a pizzeria, and this place didn't pass the test. Actually, I did not even bother calling it a restaurant.

Steak Houses, yes, that sounds good. But as we have been in Thailand more than a few days we know exactly what kind of steak you get for 200 Baht. Not the kind of restaurant I want to spend time at. The restaurant yesterday was like that, steak 200 Baht. I never ordered the steak, but Spaghetti Carbonara. Served in a bowl with some sauce. We were hungry, very hungry so it was not Raya Restaurant on Cha-am Beachbad YESTERDAY. But we would never go back to that place again.

We drove down towards South Cha-am along the beach. We were pleasantly surprised, not too much traffic. It had been bumper to bumper from North Cha-am to South Cha-am, in both directions during the day.

We reached the end and I was disappointed, we could see some high risers not far away when we were swimming during the day and I had imagined it to be S&P Restauranthotels with nice restaurants. We had passed exactly nothing reminding of “fine dining” along the beach of Cha-am. We had passed an S&P Restaurant with AC, at least it looked to be indoors when we passed the place.

My friend's wife wanted to eat Japanese food and I could not help myself:
Raya Restaurant on Cha-am Beach- Yeah, good luck finding a Japanese Restaurant in Cha-am! I said
- Don't they have salmon fried rice at S&P? I asked
- I think so, my friend said
We took off to the S&P Restaurant. We parked the car and we crossed the street to S&P and I Raya Restaurant on Cha-am Beachdiscovered a restaurant next door. Raya Restaurant, a beautiful garden and there was also a option to eat inside. But my friend wanted the “ROMANTIC” option to eat in the beautiful garden and we got a table in the garden.

We got the menu and I think we have hit jack pot. Seems like we're at Cha-am's only place for “fine dining” And you could see that the place had some Raya Restaurant on Cha-am Beachkind of class just by looking at it. We ordered food and I ordered a pot of tea. The first time I have run in to a lace with a pot of tea since we left Bangkok. I good sign.

Our youngest friend was playing at the pond, and there was a band playing so he was also dancing. He was soon tired and we had to take him back to the hotel. Where is the foocking tea and food?
- We have been waiting for an hour, I said
- No, not so long my friend said.
I showed him the pictures I had been taking and we had Raya Restaurant on Cha-am Beachactually been here more than an hour according to my camera.

My friend's wife got her food, but she was at the hotel to put their son to bed and the Grandfather should do the bay sitting. Her food was on the table after more than an hour, still no sign of anything to drink or my tea.

I had ordered lamb chops without mushroom and with plenty rosemary. I started with a sausage platter and it was OK. I had ordered a baked potato, but they were out of baked potato. I was informed about the baked potato when they delivered the lamb chops, about 1 hour 20 minutes after our arrival to the restaurant.

Lamb chops were delivered to the table and I pointed at to me stuff on the plate. I asked what Rosemaryit was and I was told it was mushroom. I had asked for rosemary and the Waiter said that they would put “PLENTY” rosemary on my lamb chops. My friend, fluent in Thai, hell, he is Thai confirmed that I had asked for rosemary and NO mushroom and the Waiter had confirmed.

Well, the food was very good and if it wasn't for the at least to say poor service it was what I call “fine dining”. And they had pots with tea, even though it took more than one hour to get the tea. Drinks arriving after the food. I was not impressed even though it was the first time I saw a pot of tea since we left Bangkok.

And of course, food didn't arrive together so I had finished my food long Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stbefore my friend's and I ordered hot chocolate cake with ice cream. I asked for whipped cream on top of the ice cream and hot chocolate cake. And it was good.

Actually so good so I asked for a second plate and this time I asked them not to be afraid to put whipped cream on the plate. Raya restaurant in Cha-am get 3 stars out of 5. Food Raya Restaurant on Cha-am Beachwas almost making it to 5 stars, but the service. Damn, they should hire a manager. Someone to do the heavy thinking and planning

4 people preparing a table inside and one waiter outside and our bill was not correct. They had charged for the baked potato and some other stuff we had not had. But it was very good food in a very nice setting.

PLEASE!!! Bring mosquito repellent if you plan to go to Raya. And if you go to Cha-am this is most likely the place you will end up at if you're looking for good food.

The bill was 4 times the bill we had at Aroy Restaurant yesterday, but the food was 10 times better so it was cheaper than Aroy Restaurant.

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 13th of July 2014
and I woke up to my sixth day without smoking. I was close to buy cigarettes yesterday and I'm lucky not to be in Manila where I can by stick by stick. Then I would have bought a stick, but I didn't want a full pack. Well, anyway, we left the hotel around 11 o'clock Hua Hinand we drove to Hua Hin for breakfast. I have only been in Hua Hin one time, 10 years ago and I remember a German restaurant with good food. So off to the German restaurant.

I didn't recognised anything in Hua Hin and we never found any German restaurant. We parked the car and we ended up at a Swiss Restaurant, at least they had food from Switzerland, close to Germany and we expected some excellent breakfast food.

The menu had some very good items and we decided to stay even though the restaurant didn't look very nice. We were alone, but a few minutes later there were a few guests. Among them a couple from Malaysia at the table next to us.

Hua Hin
Our youngest friend eating ice cream

Hua Hin
Our youngest friend eating ice cream

Hua Hin
Our youngest friend eating ice cream

I got a Hua Hin styled pot of tea and after what seemed like an eternity they brought my home fried potato and the Swiss styled potato. No sign of my friend's food. I finished the potato still Bacon & egg in Hua Hinwaiting for the bacon & egg and my toast.

My friend's got their food and they were not impressed. I started to ask for my bacon & egg when they had finished their food. And what the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st do they think? I want my home fried potato 45 minutes before the egg & bacon?

My friend laughed and I had a quite loud conversation with the staff. The Malaysian couple next to us didn't understand the language but they understood what it was about. And they didn't look to happy about the service. The got a bread basket and they offered me the bread. I said no thanks.
- We understand, they said looking at the bread.

We left the place and the Malaysian couple left as well, never to come back again. Seriously, I don't know who owns the restaurant. But I think many of the restaurants are owned by people coming here as tourists. You come to Thailand, fall in love with a bar girl. You want to stay and you invest in a restaurant. You and your wife the former bar girl stays in the room drinking while the wife's uneducated sister, mother and brother/ local husband running the restaurant. No management doing the planning and thinking of the daily business. People are coming only once, or as the Malaysia couple, just left before the food came on the table.

Seriously, the only way quicker to lose your money would be to play casino. Of course, playing the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stcasino and you have a chance of getting rich.

My friend was laughing when I told him when we drove towards the Huay Mongkol Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statuetemple outside Hua Hin. He agreed with me, we have experienced some sad restaurants and service the last 3 days. After 3 days the only place we can recommend is Raya Restaurant in Cha-am.

We arrived to the Huay Mongkol Temple and there were plenty people at the temple. Most of the cars were from Bangkok and I think all the people spending the weekend in Cha-am and Hua Hin stops at the Huay Mongkol Temple.

I asked my friend what the Huay Mongkol Temple was famous for and he told me it was the biggest statue of Luang Phor Thuad in the world. We could see the Luang Phor Thuad statue when we approached the area. We parked the car and we walked towards the Luang Phor Thuad statue

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue

We walked up to the platform and the giant Luang Phor Thuad statue. There were plenty people Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statuebusy putting gold foil on statues. And before coming up on the stairs there were 2 elephants and people threw coins in to the mouths of the elephants.

Respect for all the religious stuff but no respect for Mother Nature. There were garbage all over the place and the stray dogs were playing with plastic garbage. I had a crazy idea, what if FOR ONE DAY ONLY! All the people coming here Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statueto pay respect to Luang Phor Thuad and to ask for things as favours, good luck, health, fortune and happiness and putting Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stgold on the statues and throwing coins could spend the time cleaning up the area respecting Mother Nature.

ONE DAY ONLY! Well, we will never see this happening. If we look on the left hand picture you can actually see all the rubber band laying on the ground. Just throw the garbage where you stand or sit, the same on the beaches. If you're in your car just open the window.

Well, anyway, when we were ready at the statue we went down to the elephants where we threw a few coins before returning to the car. About time to get back to Bangkok now as it is 2 o'clock.

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue
Putting gold on the statue

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue
Putting gold on the statue

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue
Putting gold on the statue

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue
Throwing coins in the elephants mouth

Huay Mongkol Temple - Luang Phor Thuad statue
Throwing coins in the elephants mouth

Huay Mongkol Temple
2 girls have a spiritual moment

Huay Mongkol Temple
2 girls have a spiritual moment

Huay Mongkol Temple
King Taksin the great on the horse and the Luang Phor Thuad statue

It was hot and I was happy when we started to walk towards the car and the AC. I got alarmed on Huay Mongkol Templethe way to the car, my friend asked his wife is she had the keys.
- No

He checked his pockets and no car keys. He had forgot the keys in the car. Are we going to have to walk back to Bangkok? This didn't look good and I had really been looking forward to get in to the car and Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stthe AC.

Our friend disappeared, he went to look for help and there was a Police/ guard across the street Huay Mongkol Templeand he was calling someone on the walkie talkie. Help was on the way.

I spotted 2 beautiful girls and I went to see where they were going, they disappeared in between some trees and there was a statue and they had a prayer or something in the shadow of the trees.

I saw a guy on a motorcycle coming down the road with a long metal ruler under his arm. As he had the at least 1 meter long metal ruler under his arm I knew it was the guy that would open our door to the car. He drove past us and we expected him to make a U-turn and come back on the other side. Well, he turned right and we never saw him again.

Our new friend with the walkie talkie had to call him again and we were soon having him on the right track with the help of the walkie talkie.

Huay Mongkol Temple
Arriving with the ruler

Huay Mongkol Temple
Our new friend with the ruler ready to kick ass with the ruler

Huay Mongkol Temple
Our new friend with the ruler starts by putting pens between the door and the window

Huay Mongkol Temple
Our new friend with the ruler starts by putting pens between the door and the window

Huay Mongkol Temple
The ruler comes in to use

Huay Mongkol Temple
The door is open - DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!!
We can also see the HELLO KITTY decoration in his car. He hates it, his wife and I love it

Finally, we're on the way to Bangkok. I was hungry, nothing to eat for the whole day. We never stayed in Cha-am for the hotel breakfast. Well, at least we never bothered to go to the restaurant. And by the way, I never told you that I met the Thai family from the elevator again.

I told them that the breakfast was a waste of money, of course, they never listened. I met them on the beach yesterday afternoon. Of course, I didn't recognised them. As no surprise they Huay Mongkol Templerecognised me, their children started to cry when they saw me and the wife told me that I was right, the breakfast was a waste of money. So it is not only me complaining, just to let you know.

They were standing along the road selling pineapple and we stopped to buy Pineapplepineapple, I bought 5 bags, all they had and we left for Bangkok. The area is obviously known for their pineapple and they were selling them everywhere. I was lucky, my friends took 2 bags and the pineapple was a wee bit sour. My pineapple were so sweet it was like eating candy but much healthier. We plunged down road #37 towards Cha-am where we would join road #4 to Bangkok. We stopped for gas and my friend Scenic Route from Cha-am to Samut Songkhramwas happy. We were running out of LPG and he was worried to run out and we didn't manage to find any LPG in the middle of nowhere.

We had finished the pineapple and the garbage was in a waste bin at the gas stop and the spirit was high. We reached Cha-am and we were soon to discover “bumper to bumper” traffic on road #4 to Bangkok. The traffic was almost at a complete stand still.

All lanes bumper to bumper and no traffic going to Cha-am. My friend did a U-turn just before we reached the Santorini Park and we drove back to Cha-am. We left road #4 and we were on road # 4028. Road #4028 is also called the Scenic Route following the coast from Cha-am to Samut Scenic Route from Cha-am to Samut SongkhramSongkhram. The road end at road #35 just before crossing Mae Klong. Then we will take road #35 until we reach Rama II in Bangkok.

Bumper to bumper to Bangkok and almost no traffic to Cha-am and as soon as we were on the scenic route we were almost alone on the road. We drove slowly to the North and we really enjoyed the trip. Scenic route and they had a view point every kilometre.

We didn't thought about it in the beginning. But after a while we saw these signs everywhere. 1 km, 500 meter and then at the view point and the view points, well, we didn't knew what it was all about. We had expected views over some beautiful beach or something like that.

Many of the viewpoints only over looked some trees and dry ground. My friend though they were built for the future.
- In 20 years the beach might be right up here at the road.

We passed a VIEW POINT sign at Puek Tian and we decided to take off the road and go check it Scenic Route from Cha-am to Samut Songkhramout. Puek Tian is about 19km north of Cha Am and the beach is known for its statues of characters from the Thai literary classic Phra Abhai Mani by poet Sunthorn Phu. This is a statue of Pisua Samudr the Giantess. At low tide you can walk to the statute and islands.

There are one island with something looking like a turtle and a island with some other character. We came down to the parking lot and we saw the Giant and the 3 islands with different characters.

Scenic Route - Puek Tian
Puek Tian Beach

Scenic Route - Puek Tian
Puek Tian Beach

Going through all this trouble building nice stuff on the beach and then people just throw garbage all over the place. It reminded me of a garbage dump and the looked at me like crazy when I asked for a waste bin for my empty water bottle. My friend's wife bought an ice cream and we took off again. We were driving through a landscape filled with salt farms.

We were driving slowly through the Ban Laem district (Amphoe) in the northeastern part of Phetchaburi Province. The landscape is almost only salt farms for as long as we can see. Doesn't sound very exciting, but it was a nice view. And there were plenty salt laying around along the road and in sheds along the road.

And we were surprised about the traffic, we moved along with no traffic. A few cars and a motorcycle club passing us 3 TIMES while we were driving towards Bangkok.

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Salt along the road

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Scenic Route - Salt farm in Ban Laem district, Phetchaburi Province
Passing salt farms in the Ban Laem district

Monkeys in Ban Laem
Monkeys in Ban Laem

Monkeys in Ban Laem
Monkeys in Ban Laem

We passed through, Ban Laem, a small town on our way. And we had to cross a small river and we were surprised when we came over the bridge. We found our self in a middle of a traffic jam. And when we stood there we discovered monkey in the trees next to us. Well, the traffic jam turned Thailand highway shoppingout to be a red light and we were soon on our way again.

we were soon on highway # 35 towards Bangkok and the traffic got heavy as soon as we were up on the highway again We stopped at Big C and I bought cabbage and pineapple for the upcoming week.

I will have to get serious with my
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
Before
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
After
diet again. Las Vegas and Tokyo and now a weekend in Cha-am. Well, from now on I will stay home until I'm down to 100kg. So that means, most likely, the rest of my life. So from now on it is back to the fruit and smoked salmon diet. I have plans to have a Thailand highway shoppingcabbage with 2 onions per day as well, well, not on top of everything. I will have to remove one serving of fruit.

We left Big C and my friend stopped at one of the many road side stalls to buy fish.

He bought a big bag and is, well, didn't smell all that good in the car. I thought we were going to take off. But my friend just followed the lady to the next stall.

Now he bought 25 other fishes, a whole box full and I won't tell you what these additional fishes smelled like when we got the box in to the car.
Thailand highway shopping- Fer foocks sake!
- This is very tasty!
Well, he didn't manage to convince me. I don't know if I got used to the smell or if it disappeared. But I wasn't bothered after a few minutes.

We were hauling ass and we were soon on Param II and we crossed Chai Phraya River and we were on Param III.

I don't know what happened, but we missed Param IV and we had to get off the highway on Phetchaburi and we reached my home via Asoke Road. I got out of the car and I said thanks for a very nice weekend. We will do it again, Cha-am in another 2 or 3 years. My friend said that he wanted to do it again in 2 to 3 months. Cha-am was fun, but not THAT NICE so in another 2 to 3 years will be fine by me. In the meantime there are other places to explore.

Highway shopping in Thailand
Highway shopping in Thailand

Highway shopping in Thailand
Highway shopping in Thailand

I went up to my condo and I got my shopping bag and I was off to Tops to buy groceries. It was Rain in Bangkokraining so I took a taxi. I can walk back home but the weather left a wee bit to wish for so it was taxi back home as well. It was dark Family Martand we turned right at the Italian restaurant on Soi 23 to get to my condo. There was a lot of light from across the street.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st is that? A Family Mart!?

Yes, they had opened a Family Mart in the furniture shop that had been there for at least 30 years. 30 years and always 50% off and export quality on banners outside the shop. Yes, I have bought quite a few pieces of furniture’s there. The last furniture I bought was a 12,000 Baht leather chair for my desk. Leather, after a few months the leather starting to fall of like dandruff and it was nothing but plastic. The changed the plastic for leather but I have not bought anything more at the shop. But now it is a Family Mart.

I had posted my letter to 7 Eleven on the Thaivisa forum and one poster was hoping that there was a Family Mart close to my condo. Yeah, fat chance I thought, there will never be any Family Mart around here. But here it was, must have opened while we were in Cha-am.

Thaivisa
My first ever post at Thaivisa and there is a reply

Thaivisa
And there is a reply to the reply

There was also a poster suggesting that Khun Aladdin isn't quite aware of what a CP boycott might do to his lifestyle. Well, CP Food are the owner of 7 Eleven and True. So I will change my internet to TOT and I don't need 7 Eleven. Millions of 7 Eleven in Cha-am but I did my shopping elsewhere.

7 Eleven card
7 Eleven card
My 7 Eleven card
I got my 7 Eleven card a long time ago for my hangover kit. Waking up with no cash and a 7 Eleven card can come in handy when suffering from a hangover. I have millions of points, but I have only been offered a hot dog or a plastic bucket, something I can live without

My lifestyle doesn’t involve CP Food products as I don't like their meat products and I think I have Family Martcut out everything CP by now. OK, True is on until the 9th of August. TOT will hopefully start to work on Friday. I buy my groceries at Villa Market and Tops. But a Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23 is more than welcome.

I went to check out the place first thing Monday after the boxing. They had been open for 1 month! How can I have missed this? Well, I bought a bottle of milk and I went back home.

Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23
A beacon of guilt free shopping on Sukhumvit Soi 23
For how long?


Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23

Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23

Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23

Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23

Bangkok Post

Bangkok Post

Well, Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23 and I was happy about it. And just a few minutes’ walk from 7 Eleven so it is almost the same. And the Family Mart is bigger. There have been some writing in Family Mart on Sukhumvit Soi 23Bangkok Post about Journalist getting paid to write only the good thing about some companies. Click HERE and HERE to read all about that excitements.

Well, I have changed my internet provider from True to TOT. I have been at Marriott and I have been at Tony Roma's and they want me to fly to Dar es Salaam to join Roy Maersk next week.

I sent an e-mail and asked if they could book me for Saturday night. I will arrive to Dar es Healthy living in BangkokSalaam, Tanzania on Sunday afternoon and I have a few days of holiday. I really want to go for a safari and I had sent some enquiries to some Safari companies in Dar es Salaam.

Maersk replied that they will try to get me on a flight Saturday evening and I'm out of here again! I had been waiting for my snus and I got 60 cans today. I decided to give up snus when I'm running out of snus this time. Now I have 150 cans and I had planned to order 90 more before leaving for Roy Maersk.

But then I will miss Tanzania and safari so I decided to give up. And we're talking saving money Safari in Tanzaniahere. I guess I can stay home one extra month per year just by giving up snus. And I'm also thinking Safari in Tanzaniaabout how much easier my bags will be when traveling.

Well, anyway, I'm looking forward to a safari in Tanzania, day trip only. They have suggested a 2 day trip. But I like the one day trips. If I spend 5 hours is enough for me, I will most likely be bored after 2. And I can see more things, I would not mind see Mount Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. But we will see what Africa has to offer and what I have the time for. Latest news from Maersk is that i will have to take a ECDIS course before joining, but I will do this from home. Well, just stay tuned and we will soon find out about the next adventure.

From my friend's wife's Facebook
Santorini Park in Cha-am Saturday afternoon

I'm going to meet my friend, he told me he had not been at Tesco Lotus and 7 Eleven since the slavery news. I told him that I had not been using their service as well and I also told him that I had changed internet provider. He could not change as the internet was provided by the apartment. He was amazed about people’s lack of respect for poor people and I told him as I had said for many years. Stealing and do whatever you want as long as you're rich and people admiring you. If you work hard for a living people treat you like shit and you are worth as much as a turd on the street.

Well, never mind, they will soon have brought back the happiness to Thailand and everything will be “happy happy” again very soon. So don't worry!


Goodness will return soon

Thai coup 2014 - A message to the world


The Nation


Safari in Tanzania
Safari, yes, I have been in a, well, not bad, OK, bad mood. I was supposed to join Roy Maersk in Dar es Salaam on the 24th of July. I was looking forward to safari and adventure in Tanzania. But Manilanow they came up with that I had to do an ECDIS course online or take a 2 day course in Manila 21 to 22nd of July. And I would miss the safari.

Manila, never in my life. I never want to set foot in that city again. I used to have a good time there, but they have nothing but poverty and dirt to offer and as I'm not going back to Norwegian Training Center again. After last time they can as well change it to Scooby Doo Training Center.

So I have been desperately working with the online course with the bad internet for 2 days. And finally Friday night I managed to finish the course. 2 wasted days and now Roy Maersk is delayed Authentic Tanzania Safarisuntil the 27th. So if I can leave on Monday or Tuesday I will have time for the 2 days safari and maybe Kilimanjaro. Victoria falls looks like a NO GO.

There is the Victoria Falls Airport. But I don't know if it is an international airport and Victoria Falls are in Zambia. I have been in contact with a tour group for the last few days. Authentic Tanzania SafarisAuthentic Tanzania Safaris and they have set up a 2 day safari in the Mikumi National Park. One night at Tanswiss Lodge, a Bed & Breakfast just outside of the Mikumi National Park.

Maybe a day trip to Zanzibar, well, the Authentic Tanzania Safaris seems to be helpful. Of course, they want to make money! Well, now I just wait for the flight confirmation so I can book a hotel. And I'm really looking forward to some safari adventure.

Authentic Tanzania Safaris and they have set up a 2 day safari in the Mikumi National Park. One night at Tanswiss Lodge, a Bed & Breakfast just outside of the Mikumi National Park.

Authentic Tanzania Safaris


Well, this can turn out to have been a very good holiday
• Las Vegas

• Tokyo

• A weekend in Cha-am
• Buddhist Monk ordination at Wat Kamphaeng, วัดกำแพง in Bang Pa In Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

• Painted the ceiling in my condo

• New wallpapers in my kitchen

• And to crown it all, a visit to Skåne Skåne with beautiful May weather!!! Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st
®
So now imagine if I can put a safari on this list before I join Roy Maersk in Dar es Salaam! That Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stwould be a perfect final on my holiday. Of course, I will have to bring all my stuff to Tanzania so it will not be like my normal holidays with a “weekend bag” only.
About Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park abuts the northern border of Africa's biggest game reserve - the Selous, and is transected by the surfaced road between Dar Es Salaam and Iringa. It is thus the most accessible part of a 75,000 square kilometer track of wilderness that stretches east almost as far as the Indian ocean. The size of Mikumi National Park is 3,230 sq km and it is the fourth largest park in Tanzania. It is 283 km west of Dar Es Salaam.

Activities in this closest National Park from Dar es Salaam and Morogoro town involves wildlife viewing. In Mikumi National Park expect to see animals such as Lions, Buffalos, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebras, Impalas, Warthogs, elephants, hippos, more than 300 bird species and various plant species.

Masken, inga tigrar??!!!
Never mind, my plan is to have a hotel room in Dar es Salaam for the whole stay. And I will bring a small bag for my trip to the Mikumi National Park and where ever I will have the time to go.

I booked 6 nights at Holiday Inn so this is ready. I sent an e-mail to Authentic Tanzania Safaris that I will most likely arrive Monday afternoon and that I would like to take off for the Mikumi safari Tuesday morning. So let the adventure begin!

I'm actually more excited over this trip than any other trips I have been to. OK, since I gave up Authentic Tanzania Safarispartying, I have been looking forwards to some “party” tours. And when I was young I Authentic Tanzania Safariswas pretty much excited before every trip. But this is my second trip since I gave up to party and I want to see some African wild life

Well, bad news as well, I will have to fly with Qatar Airways. DARN! I wanted to fly with Thai Airways. Well, flying with Qatar and I will arrive early afternoon so that is good.
QR 837 21JUL Bangkok(Suvarnabhumi Intl) - Doha(Hamad International) 0240 0530 Confirmed
QR 1347 21JUL Doha(Hamad International) - Dar Es Salaam(Julius Nyerere Intl) 0735 1320 Confirmed


I took a taxi to Robin Hood, a British pub on Sukhumvit. 3 of my friends were drinking beer there. San Miguel Light with Charisma Man at Robin Hood on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1I was with them 2 times last week, they were drinking beer and I was drinking tea. And drinking tea is not what to do if you want to save money. Tea is more expensive than the beer

I took a seat and when the Waitress came I San Miguel Light with Charisma Man at Robin Hood on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1changed my mind and I had a San Miguel Light

And the first bottle was empty in a jiff and I was soon asking for a second bottle. After an hour one friend ordered a cup of coffee and one friend was going home. He had a kayak in his living room and he needed to get home to repair the rudder. He also had to prepare his studio flashes for some photo job he had tomorrow. The oldest of us had to go home because he San Miguel Light with Charisma Man at Robin Hood on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1was going up early tomorrow.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st 7 o'clock a Saturday night!!??

I don't know what happened, we ended up quite drunk and no one was talking about going home and the coffee was sent back to the kitchen.

It was maybe around 10 or something like that when we left for another place. It was a place with music from the internet and we were soon having the TAXI CD on full blast.

Not for long, our Photographer and I were soon fighting over the internet.

San Miguel Light with Charisma Man at Robin Hood on Sukhumvit Soi 33/1

San Miguel Light with Charisma Man
No more talk about going home

San Miguel Light with Charisma Man
No more talk about going home

San Miguel Light with Charisma Man
No more talk about going home
We can see that our hero is wearing STURDY “safari” boats

San Miguel Light with Charisma Man
His belt brakes for the 25th time
- It was very cheap, buy one get 2
- 2 by 0 is still 0

We're doing what we can to bring back the happiness to Thailand, but I had to give up around 1 or 1 thirty. I'm leaving for Suvarnabhumi and Safari tomorrow night. And hang on, this might turn out to be fun. So you just have to click HERE to be in the middle of that adventure!



       
                  

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? NJET PROBLEMA! Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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