johnsunter.com >> adventures - world >> south east asia >> pattaya 2
Pattaya, beautiful coastline, and an adult playground with Elephants, Guns and cross dressers (1/2).
Sarah and I go out for the evening.
Here Sarah sits in an appropriately named Baat Taxi.
You get one circuit of beach road and 2nd road, for 10 Baat (about 15 pence).
When I first met Sarah, she had just returned from a trip to see her dad in Pattaya.
She told me enthusiastically about an Irish bar called Shenanigans, and how much she enjoyed it there.
Here 3 years later, we sit together, in the same bar.
The Beef and Guinness Pie was superb.
We drove out of Pattaya, to visit the Elephant village.
They actually have a special tower with stairs, to enable you to climb onto the elephant more easily.
Sarah and I, on our elephant.
I had considered pony trekking instead, but I knew that we would get to sit together on an elephant.
The Elephant master normally sits on the Elephants neck.
Unfortunately, on this occasion, he had to answer a call of nature.
For 10 minutes, Frank was convoyed around the forest at the whim of the Elephant, as it searched the forest for food !.
Part of the trek, took us through deep water.
My favourite animals, after Elephants, are Larr Gibbons (I first saw them at the Welsh Mountain Zoo.)
They are so well balanced, that when they walk, they have to hold their arms above their shoulders.
Imagine my delight when we got to actually meet them in the forest.
As we were led on a trek through the jungle, by our guide, one of the Gibbons (which were really friendly) hitched a ride with Sarah.
Our guide showed us different types of plants, to cure upset stomachs and other ailments.
Especially interesting was "shy" grass, which closes, when its touched.
Me on a tropical rope bridge, as we trekked through the jungle.
It was here, that for no particular reason I learned how to tell real silk from imitation.
If you burn a small piece of it, nylon and the like will shrivel, where silk will turn to Ash.
Although this looks like a lakeside bar, its actually a raft, which we took across the lake.
We drank beer during the crossing and Sarah gave the Gibbons some Cherry aid.
Many people know of my interest in bushcraft.
Here we visit a large bamboo shelter.
When I say large, a hundred people could congregate in it, with ease.
Our guide shows us the construction of the shelter.
Flat pieces of bamboo are woven together to make the walls, which are amazingly robust.
We are driven back to the centre for lunch, in an ox cart.
25 mph doesn't sound like much, but in a vehicle with no suspension, and wooden wheels, it was exhilarating.
The night before we flew out to Saigon, the worst storm I had ever seen, was brewing.
The locals must be used to it, as Ray just laughed.
