Italy - The Colosseum
Foto: The many gold decorations of Wat Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Thailand - The Wat Doi Suthep temple is located sixteen kilometers outside Chiang Mai on top of a hill. According to legend, a white elephant trumpeted here before it died. Today, Wat Doi Suthep is a large temple complex with many golden decorations. We reach the temple via a long winding road. At the temple, we ascend the beautiful stairway to the entrance. On either side, the image of the Naga serpent serves as a railing. I wander through the temple grounds, visit the temple, and enjoy the view over Chiang Mai, seven hundred meters below. At the base of the temple, we eat at a terrace. Back in the city, we visit a Thai massage place. Upon arrival, I recognize the location from four years ago. Again, we go upstairs to a dark and notably cold room. I change into a sort of pajama, after which the two-hour massage begins. I relax and try not to fall asleep. Wonderful! In the evening, we eat in the city center at the night bazaar. Walking around, we arrive at a small square with various restaurants. Afterwards, we stroll through the night market.
Ayutthaya and Sukhothai
Thailand - At the bike rental, we each pick a suitable bike. On the bikes, we enter Sukhothai National Park. Sukhothai is the old capital of Thailand, and many ruins of chedis and temples are still intact. Our guide Toy is less skilled with her bike. At the first ...
Floating Market of Thailand
Thailand - With the two minibuses, we drive to the Floating Market. Along the way, I try to get some sleep, but the roads aren’t ideal for resting. Near the Floating Market, we transfer to a fast long-tail boat. With this boat, we speed through the canals toward ...
The Golden Triangle
Thailand - Through Chiang Rai, we drive to the Golden Triangle, the tri-border area of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Here, the Mekong and Ruak rivers converge. The village of Sop Ruak is located right at the Golden Triangle. Here, we have lunch at a buffet. Afterwards, ...
The Grand Palace, Bangkok
Thailand - Today the Grand Palace is on the agenda. Strangely, we are the only interested travelers from the group. This means a private tour with guide Toy. We take a taxi from the hotel. Toy agrees on a price in an unintelligible way, and we depart for the Grand ...
Train over Maeklong Market
Thailand - Thailand is famous for its vibrant markets, ranging from floating shops to street markets. One of the most unique markets is the Dee Maeklong Market, located along a railway line. The market is crossed by a train eight times a day, running very close ...