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This is a collection of my blog entries related to short or long trips I went on.
I have some master pages for some specific locations/trips:

paris over many years | France over many years | UK over many years | Australia over many years | Canada over many years | Japan over multiple trips | Vegas over many years | Holland over many years | Belgium over many years | Belgium over many years | Mexico over many years | Italy in 2011 | France in 2013 | Indonesia in 2013 | Japan in 2013 | Japan in 2014 | Taiwan in 2014 | Indonesia in 2014 | New Zealand in 2015 | Japan in 2015 | Costa Rica in 2015 | Singapore in 2016 | South Korea in 2016 | Japan in 2016 | Germany in 2016 | Tasmania 2017 | Japan in winter 2017 | Great Britain in 2017 | Australia Flying Safari 2017 | Philippines 2018 | Spain in 2018 | Alaska in 2019 | England in 2021 | UAE in 2021 | Poland in 2023 | Portugal in 2023 | Thailand in 2023 | Japan Snow 2024 |

Table of Content for ntrips:

More pages: April 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 December 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 February 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 May 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 May 2010 January 2010 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 January 2009 December 2008 August 2008 February 2008 January 2008 October 2007 July 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 April 2005 December 2004 October 2004 July 2004 June 2004 January 2004 January 2003 January 2001 August 1997



2023/10/25 48H in Phuket
π 2023-10-25 01:01 in Ntrips, Thailand, Thailand2023
As part of my quick Thailand trip, to see combination of Transmission Bangkok Festival and Diving The West Coast of Thailand on the Phinisi, I ended up in PHuket for a couple of days before flying home.

lots of cool islands
lots of cool islands


Phuket is mostly a beach area with day tours to islands I had already seen from the dive boat, so it wasn't too obvious what to do during the time, but after enough research (most pointing to the same island tours that were not that interesting to me). I did some research and mostly found the same island tours taht were not that interesting to me, but eventually found enough fun things to fill the 48H and settled on a private driver to get me around and keep my luggage, which was convenient (it's cheap enough that it was worth it).

I started with 2 aquariums:

  • Aquaria Phuket
  • Phuket Aquarium
  • After going to the two aquariums, we went to Monkey Hill Viewpoint. The monkeys were reasonably well behaved :)2103*




    sex is both a greeting and a currency. Something for us to learn? :)
    sex is both a greeting and a currency. Something for us to learn? :)


    I first started walking up to the viewpoint, but in the end it was a long walk that would have burnt too much time (driving was not allowed), so I got this small view and went back down:


    Next, I went to Phuket Bird Park because birds can always be fun:



    cute little fellow
    cute little fellow

    my favorite, sulphur crested cockatoo
    my favorite, sulphur crested cockatoo



    not bird related, but rabbits!
    not bird related, but rabbits!



    bird race
    bird race

    pretend math
    pretend math

    I always have bird seeds when I travel abroad, and this is why :) they were a bit pissed because they were sellnig seeds and I had my own :)





    Next was Chaithararam Temple - Wat Chalong, one of the nicest temples in Phuket:









    From there, walked around Phuket Old Town:





    The driver then dropped me by my hotel and I had a bit of time for a walk outside to see the nightlife in Patong Beach:






    For Day #2, my driver helped me find the right elephant sanctuary where the elephants were rescued and abused elephants (which includes riding them, and that's quite bad for their back and neck):




    I then got help put mud on an elephant (they like it)
    I then got help put mud on an elephant (they like it)


    then got to wash it
    then got to wash it



    got a thank you ;)
    got a thank you ;)

    I'm normally wary of things where you can drive quads, because drivers and groups are always way too slow, but I asked them if they could give me a real tour that wouldn't suck, and they nicely obliged me. The guide did his best to lose me, including during very tight turns last second, and sure gave me a workout ;)



    Next door was a karting track. Normally I'm also warry of those as they often have speed limited shit tracks: [rigimg:1024:3289*|they actually had "maximum fast" karts, so that's what I took :)]

    eh, you can damage them and you know what to pay
    eh, you can damage them and you know what to pay

    The kart I got was indeed fast as hell, which was fine, but the scary part is the brakes were terrible, so I scared myself several times coming into a turn and not being able to shed my speed due to very weak brakes. That made things exciting though :)

    Next stop was the big buddha with good views from the top:





    Then it was time for dinner and a show at Phuket FantaSea, which I only fount out about at the last minute:










    For next time, I can go see the other show, carnival magic:



    The next morning, I only time for a very quick walk before going to the airport for flight home through Vietnam:





    medical care :)
    medical care :)


    And I finished with Phuket Up 2 You Cat Cafe


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    2023/10/24 Day Trip to Damnoen Floating Market and Maeklong Railway Market
    π 2023-10-24 01:01 in Ntrips, Thailand, Thailand2023

    Damnoen Floating Market is over 1H away from Bangkok, and an interesting tourist attraction. You get a private boat that takes you around the market, and pick things up as you float/motor along.


    interesting motors, they use car engines, this one even with a turbo
    interesting motors, they use car engines, this one even with a turbo




    it was hard to pick between the colors
    it was hard to pick between the colors

    I got suckered into getting that cute litte thing :)
    I got suckered into getting that cute litte thing :)

    poor little thing looked terrified
    poor little thing looked terrified



    Had a quick stop at another temple:




    After the market, my package included some shows:

    crocodile show :)
    crocodile show :)



    I would totally not do that :)
    I would totally not do that :)

    There was a fun garden :)


    Then the monkey show:



    Sadly, my package included an elephant ride I wasn't able to get out:




    And then got to visit a village of long neck people:




    After that, just across the street was tiger world. Apparently those tigers were not drugged and multiple handlers were there to keep them entertained away from trying to play with me :)







    After that, Maeklong was nearby and has an unusual railway market that is basically on the train tracks and collapses as the train comes, and rebuilds behind it. Both cool and spooky :)




    then the train comes :)
    then the train comes :)




    Here is the train coming by:

    After that, a long drive back to Bangkok:


    2023/10/23 Day Trip to Ayutthaya, Ancient Thailand Capital
    π 2023-10-23 01:01 in Ntrips, Thailand, Thailand2023
    Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam from 1350 to 1767 and was a prosperous international trading port. It was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767 and today, the ruins of the old city form the Ayutthaya Historical Park, which I went to visit as a day trip.

    We started with the palace:









    Then we went to all the temples, many they had:


























    After we were done with the main temples, we went to a lesser known one off the beaten path:






    And then I took my guide to a nice local restaurant before heading back to Bangkok:



    2023/10/19 A few Days in Bangkok
    π 2023-10-19 01:01 in Ntrips, Thailand, Thailand2023

    I had never been in Thailand, and a combination of Transmission Bangkok Festival and Diving The West Coast of Thailand on the Phinisi was enough an excuse to spend the many miles to fly to Thailand and do both

    Even though the flight from Singapore to Bangkok was short, it was a nice plane, even with food despite it being just 2H:


    Arrived in Nana area, didn't do much the first half day, way too tired.
    Arrived in Nana area, didn't do much the first half day, way too tired.

    Found out weed is legal though ;)
    Found out weed is legal though ;)

    Day 1: Downtown temples

    On Day1, I was supposed to go to the Royal Palace first, and found out that most taxis do not run the meter and quote you a set fee, which is not always in your favor, but the typical 200 Baht is just around $5, so who cares? :) Unfortuantely, being jetlagged and approached by a very skilful guy close to the royal temple, he managed to convince me that it was going to open 3H late that day and I should go on a boat tour in the meantime. Took me close to 1H to realize it was a scam, and the royal palace was opened as usual, but by then I was on that stupid boat tour instead. All in all it wasn't bad and went to a nice temple with a big golden buddha, but it messed up my sightseeing plans and order somewhat, and I was upset to have fallen for it.



    this is when I found out that they use car engines on boats :)
    this is when I found out that they use car engines on boats :)

    Took way too long (1h wasted) but eventually got to the Golden Buddha:




    Very nice ceiling inside:




    Good view from there
    Good view from there


    Back to the boat, and I jumped out half way to get to Wat Arun, the next temple I wanted to see:







    Then the royal palace (follow link) was next:



    After that, Wat Phra has the big leaning Buddha:




    nice feet :)
    nice feet :)









    Down the street was Museum Siam, which talked about what it is to be Thai:




    From there, I tried the subway to chinatown, and found out they have metal detectors and security gates because of mulsim terrorists, sigh...



    Chinatown was scenic indeed:



    fun cabling :)
    fun cabling :)


    From there, I left a little bit too late for Golden Mount and missed sunset, but still got nice views:








    the night I spent at Space Plus Bangkok for Cosmic Gate, very nice club:


    Day 2: Aquarium and Madame Tussauds

    I only had a few hours in the morning before going to see Transmission Bangkok Festival

    So I went to check out the nearby Sea Life Aquarium



    nice mall
    nice mall

    ended up stopping for Wagiu Beef Shabu Shabu, yum!
    ended up stopping for Wagiu Beef Shabu Shabu, yum!


    And then Bangkok Mme Tussauds



    After that, was Transmission Bangkok Festival

    took the elevated train to Bitec Convention center for Transmission
    took the elevated train to Bitec Convention center for Transmission


    And Transmission Bangkok Afterparty at Amnesia


    Day 3: Bangkok National Museum

    Due to the very late night with Transmission and afterparty the previous night, only had a half day. That was fine, because it was enough to go visit the Bangkok National Museum (follow this link):





    On the way back, walked through Rocco Khao San which is supposed to be a tourist street:




    That night, I went to my last party, Transmission Bangkok Afterparty Portal



    Day 4: Ayutthaya Day Trip

    Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam from 1350 to 1767 and was a prosperous international trading port. It has lots of temples left over from that area, and was a very nice day trip (click link)

    Day 5: Damnoen Floating Market, Tiger World and Train Market

    For my last day, I did a day trip to Damnoen for Damnoen Floating Market, Tiger World and Train Market (follow link)

    Day 6: Half Day: Google Bangkok Visit and National Coin Museum


    Then I stopped by the bangkok google office, which was very nice:

    I was planning on seeing what google maps had as another National Museum, but it didn't actually exist, so I ended up going to the national coin museum, not expecting much, but it was actually surprisingly good.



    sea shells used to be money
    sea shells used to be money


















    I then had just a bit of extra time to stop by a last temple on the way out to the airport





    And that was it for Bangkok, nice place to visit. Farewell pictures:



    See more images for A few Days in Bangkok
    2023/10/17 A few hours in Singapore Changi Airport
    π 2023-10-17 01:01 in Ntrips
    On my way to Bangkok, I had a 5H layover, which was technically just enough to pop into town, but I had been already and didn't feel like entering the country and dealing with luggage and immigration, so I stayed within the 3 main terminals and went to see the attractions there. There are more, and I seem to have missed 2 like the swimming pool and movie theater :)

    long ass flight to Singapore :)
    long ass flight to Singapore :)

    never been a better time to start drinking :)
    never been a better time to start drinking :)


    After landing, one cool thing I saw were the self driving handicap karts that followed one another and the person in front:



    If you have enough of a layover, there is a hotel inside the airport, and they have city tours you can join:


    Taking the connecting trams is a good way to get around:




    I couldn't get into jewel without immigrating which I wasn't wanting to do, but you could see it from the tram:





    Fun attractions I had seen before and happy to see again:



















    The one very annoying thing in that airport is that the transit zone is not secure, so you have to go back through security before boarding your plane, and they take all your liquids, including the ones you bought in the transit zone. That is a terrible design and I can't believe they thought it was a good idea. On top of that the gate security was untrained and missed a lot of stuff I had (thankfully in my favor):



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