01/02
Towards Chiang’s Mai wats, we decided to head,
But ended up in a fair few bars instead,
The papaya salad and laab had spice,
And the night market’s ‘kho soi’ tasted nice!
02/02
We learned to be an elephant owner for the day,
First we fed them, then made sure their health was OK-
This involved checking toenails, tearducts and poo,
Then we bathed them, rode them, and swam with them too!
03/02
Today, just relaxing in bars was nice,
An older English couple gave us some advice,
Chinatown’s night markets- a buzzing sea of red,
But we were tired, so soon went home to bed!
04/02
The bus station’s queue was a lot of fun- NOT!
Then the bus to Phayao was sticky and hot,
With an older couple, we shared a bottle of gin,
Passing BM Pub, we decided to go in!
Where Thai young people plied us with drink,
So I lost both m shoes and could no longer think!
05/02
Today we both woke up feeling like hell,
Neither of us could remember the night well,
We ventured out to have mushy fish laap for tea,
Met Gary and Lisa for drinks, but were very sleepy!
06/02
Feeling better, we went for lunch by the lake,
The lemon juices took a long time to make!
Via the White Temple, Gary drove us to Chiang Rai,
A few drinks at Peace Bar made the evening fly
(Poor Gary stayed up late and nearly saw a dog die!)
07/02
To watch the Superbowl, we were up early today,
Lisa’s masseuse bent and rubbed me every which way!
Beer and tasty eats at the night market was fun,
Coconut Bar, then drinking at our place ‘til 1!
08/02
Though the ‘northern style’ laab was a dear price,
The laundry was cheap, which was very nice!
Off to China on a whim, Gary bought us a round,
Feeling tipsy, by bus we were Bangkok bound!
09/02
Spent our last hours in Bangkok in the MBK,
A small wait for the train, then on our way,
Sunsets and a friendly Thai man to Aranaya Prathet,
Then ‘Tom Yam’ and Chang- Thai things I’ll never forget!
10/02
At the Cambodian crossing, many tricks were tried,
No pricey minibus for us, but a taxi from outside!
First Angkor beer, and amok was wonderful,
Then cheap beers, free popcorn and vodka red-bull!
11/02
Our driver Ang took us to Angkor Wat at sunrise,
‘Aspara’ carvings at Angkor Thom- nice surprise!
Hot afternoon, so we slept for an hour or two,
Then in the evening tried a Khmer barbeque!
12/02
By night we were tired- it had been a long day,
Many temples, and a landmine museum on the way,
After dinner and a few drinks, we were home-bound,
Then we met a cool couple- tequilas all round!
13/02
Floating villages were not worth the expensive price,
Hanging at Ang’s home with his friends, beer and chicken was nice,
When dancing in the club, Aree was keen,
As we drank and shouted ‘chow moi’ in between!
14/02
Off to Phnom Penh, a six-hour bus ride,
Saw a disturbing bike accident on the roadside,
The evening meal by the river was great,
Though cocktails were cheap, we didn’t stay late!
15/02
For lunch, we headed to a Chinese joint,
Wontons in duck soup, and dim sum did not disappoint!
Tuol Sleng museum was a tragic and ghostly sight,
Then street-stall fried noodles and a sausage at night.
16/02
The Killing Fields are now a peaceful place
But have a past of brutality and disgrace,
In one Irish pub, all the Strongbow cider was gone,
In another, Guinness steak pie, and hockey was on!
17/02
Today we left Phnpm Penh for Sihanoukville,
Buying lobster from a beach hawker was brill,
Dip in the warm sea, then fruit shakes with rum,
Then a seafood barbcue- yum yum YUM!
18/02
Early start for Skype, then dodgy noodle soup,
Manicures and pedicures from the hawker troop,
For dinner, the biggest papaya salad EVER,
Then an early night, despite my every endeavour!
19/02
Mango and baguette for breakfast, minus eggs,
Then Noa came to ‘cotton’ the hairs off my legs!
Hawker abuse, sunbathing, playing in the sea,
Using the internet for a drink or three!
20/02
Pat taught me how to stand on his shoulders in the sea,
Back to the recently opened café until 3,
We walked to discover this beach never ends,
In the evening, we made funny Finnish friends!
21/02
Two monks chanted while a lady prayed on her knees,
Then we got asked for a photo by some Japanese!
Down the beach’s other end, found a hut with a view,
In the evening, we had a fresh fish barbecue!
22/02
Poached eggs for breakfast that I had to teach,
Then in the afternoon, we explored the untouched beach,
Over beers, we heard about the owner’s life-
Vietnamese occupation, and other strife.
23/02
All day long bus to Vietnam today,
Moto to Sihanoukville, then we were on our way!
The slow border crossing was a pain and a pity,
But it wasn’t long ‘til we reached Ho Chi Minh City!
24/02
With our Finnish friends, we had beers and ‘pho’,
At night, we walked through the city’s neon glow,
Bar-hopping, the bad music made the boys want to cry,
Then pencil portraits of Paavo, Yussi and I!
25/02
Fancy post office- parcel home cost a bunch,
Went to the War Museum- closed for lunch!
Minibus to Vung Tao, pizza restaurant to eat,
Stalls lined the wide beach, hotels lined the street.
26/02
On Vung Tao beach, crab, beer, Vietnamese being merry,
Instead of a bus back to Saigon, we took a quick ferry,
A successful War Remnants Museum trip,
Lots of beer after chips with guacamole dip!
(I gave Patrick a bit of lip…)
27/02
We went to Ben Than Market in a cyclo
Where we had fruit shakes and delicious ‘pho’,
At 3pm, we headed to Mui Ne by bus,
And found the Finnish guys in front of us!
Beers at Joe’s, then a place by the sea,
Where a Russian belly dancer came to join the party!
28/02
Our morning search for poached eggs was not a success,
Then we told tales of Paavo’s drunkenness!
Sand-boarding down windy dunes until sunset,
Then dinner at Joe’s with friends we won’t forget.
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