JINXED AYUTHAYA!

Thailand happens every year.

2010 twice

2011 twice

2012 once

2013 twice

In last four years, Thailand happened 7 times. I always wanted to go Ayuthaya ever since I saw one of my friend going there with his parents. In 2010 the stay it was twice I was in Bangkok but mostly it was a pit stop for going to another country.
In 2011 it was the same and in the end I could have still made it but then I had too much party.
In 2012 I was in Bangkok for quite some time. But I realized that I have so much more to explore in Bangkok that I should not go to another city. In 2013, my time in Thailand was short after very big tours and I was tired to go. In the end am always deprived of this beautiful historical city. 

This time I had one week in Thailand and I was more than sure that am going to Ayuthaya. But like every time before it always gets postponed. This time for my sickness. 

It never happens. I am so sick and yet want to go to this place. I think its the best way to start the new year. 

Ayuthaya is Jinxed for me. Why?

Picture Courtesy : The picture is from the brochure of a Tourism center.

"AM SICK" SYNDROME

The days in Bangkok has been very intense. The plan was to show around my friend little bit of Bangkok and go to Auyuthaya to escape the crazy Bangkok.

But here we are both sick. My friend came to bangkok after two nights in a tent in the desert of Jaiselmer. He picked up a cold. 

Later for all his coughing 24/7 am sick too. He is not so energetic either. We are stuck in Bangkok, postponing everyday our Ayuthaya tour. 

It feels like a star fish stuck down my throat and when I cough Its like some one cutting my neck with a sharp knife. 

Its a mix of headache, bloked nose, teary eyes, severe cold, fever, vomiting cough, stomach upset and some unknown symptoms like seeing stars and planets around my head.

Is it called "am sick" syndrome. 

EXCUSE ME DID I PEE IN THIS TOILET ?

Today was a surprise. A surprise which was uncovered bit by bit.
Between a regular day of work, gym etc etc, I came across some pictures shared by a friend, Goncalo. The boyfriend of the cousin of a dear friend. The friends I met long time ago, we kept in touch, wished for birthdays, New years and liked each others pictures all ways.

It was exactly like visiting a friend and having a house tour. It started with the bedroom and I was very impressed. I read a comment stating that, my friend Vera is trying to rent a second house and thanking a friend for her house in Av de Roma something...something. I could not follow everything as it was in Portuguese.  But I got it. At least I assumed I got it that Vera is promoting a house for rentals.

Since I was very very impressed, I decided to save the picture as tips for my house. Really it was that beautiful. Liked every detail. For example how the LCD TV is sitting on the sewing machine. The drapes very common in India but never looked so well presented before. Moving on was a toilet, very European. Then were many pictures of a Kitchen and I liked them all. Next stop was a Kids room with a baby's bed. Going further was a table accompanied by chairs which looked familiar.

 I was thinking again and again where did I see these chairs with engraved heart shapes on it. The chairs left me very curious and I decided to move on. I noticed lot of Buddhas from South-east Asia and believed that Buddha made his way to every corner of the world. Slowly slowly everything was known unknown. It was definitely the house of a well traveled person as for the Buddhas, the wooden African man standing with the usual bent spine, the Matrioskas from Russia, some wooden souvenir from India and the sheets with prints very Indian/Persian. I was admiring the house a lot and wishing if I could have something like this. It is beautiful and cozy.

The room after was a second sitting area. Guess who is sitting there. A cat.
A cat!! Is it the fugitive cat of Goncalo and Vera who is always running away. May be it was also there while they made these pictures for the promotion.

Oh! no, there was an instant curiosity. Instead of moving ahead with the pictures, I went back to the picture of the toilet. Did I pee in this toilet?
Yes, I did pee in this toilet!
 I remember the toilet as I was standing and laughing for the joke made by my friend.

When I visited Goncalo and Vera for the first and only time in Lisbon, I had an emergency to pee. I felt its not polite to visit someone and asking for rest room especially when you arrive at the door to wake them from a Sunday afternoon nap. Jorge brought me some water to top on that. He assumed I would be thirsty after Lunch. Seriously!! What about the Sumol(Mirinda or Maaza of Portugal) and water we drank at the Restaurant.

So was very sigh to ask as I was there for about 10 minutes and hardly spoken to them. I was quietly killing myself while sipping from that glass of water and after a very little conversation with Goncalo, I had to ask. Hence I got myself excused, I walked to the kitchen and asked my friend in presence of Vera who was feeding the little Ze Maria, if I could use the toilet. He translated that to her and she replied in Portuguese to which my friend told me in English, yes you can but they have a policy. You have to pay 1 euro each time you use it. Of course it was a joke and I could not laugh while they were laughing. I was crying out of the pressure and there was a voice of confirmation that something inside me would burst if I don't rush. I laughed my share towards the end of my game in the toilet and stood there to notice the windows and the Cupboard.

So coming back to the surprise I went back and forth with the pictures and found the terrace picture where I had spent most of my time while I was visiting them. But then is she selling her place? She was promoting another place to avoid double rent.

Sometimes we do not understand everything for the language barrier and still get over confident. I was laughing at my stupidity and enjoyed to discover a house virtually which I had been before.


The moral of the story is always use the restroom while you visit someone. Never feel shy to ask :P

Room Scouting in Bangkok #2

Following the old man I reached the high rise apartments which I had passed by 100 times called Station@Sathorn . I was loaded with luggage and he stood me to speak with a friend.

When we reached the apartment, I was very happy for the place which was very beautiful. A fully equipped studio with Kitchen and attached toilet. 

The old man who was in rush to explain me the details and return to his drinking buddies. He was very generous but I was so tired from all the stress that I decided to stay indoor. 

Soon I realized that my smile would not last long. While watching TV, there was a strong order from the sewer pipe. I decided to not care about it and buy some room spray from the 7eleven. I had no strength to fight. But soon the smell started spreading more and more. 

After all the stress, arrived my friend who was going to share the place with me. He arrived and immediately asked to shift to another place. It was 10:30 pm already. 

I had no strength but the order was too strong to survive there. 

I decided to call the old man if he could fix the situation. But he said its very late to call a plumber. My friend insisted to look for another option. He already call the girl in Canada to complain. 

She was very worried and forced her father to come for our rescue. The old man came with his son and insisted that he could fix it by next day. My friend was very adamant and then the son volunteered to drive us around in his car to find a new place. We went to atleast 6 places and no luck. Everything is full for the year end in Bangkok

Then suddenly says the old man, may be there is place in my friend hotel. I have a childhood friend who has a big hotel. Lets check there. Reaching there finally we found a place which was decent enough but had no kitchen. Even before my friend could say no to it, I said look its post midnight and we need some sleep. Not sure we can even cook now to eat. We would look for another place tomorrow.

10 mins after I passed out.

Room scouting in Bangkok #1

Hard days of an Indian Traveller is back again.

After all the dramas of the photo scam at the bangkok airport, I refused to make new pictures. They some how considered my case as I had a picture with white background.

But I did see some helpless travellers who were struggling for money as they had no thai bhats. Some did not have the money at all. They had assumed to withdraw cash at atm which was not possible as there are no ATMs before the immigration gates.

The next thing was to check into the pre booked hotel. Usually I go to Mango Lagoon in Khao San Road, which is an excellent recommendation by my fellow traveler friend, Jorge. They always have the rooms available. 

But this time my best friend, Vijay, an Indian by birth and Australian by citizenship is traveling with me. He believes in prebooked hotels and luxury. This is not my way of traveling but I agreed to him as thought its okay, I would enjoy some comforts. 

So I took a bus from the airport to the city and then a taxi to drop me at the service apartment booked from airbnb. The address in airbnb booking says Hip studio,street 56 in Sathorn. But which building in the street 56 of Sathorn. 

I went several rounds looking for a board or landmark stating Hip studio but hardly found anything. Then I decided to get down the taxi and look for it by walking in the street. Still so difficult and it has been 3 hours.

The website has a number to call but it is a canadian number. So to find the apartment in Bangkok one has to call Canada. I decided to look for the address online. So I decided to step into any next hotel on my way and ask for help. I was really frustrated with the situation. 

On top that there was language barrier. I came across a bunch of motorbike taxi guys. One of them decided to help me at a cost of 70 THB. 70 THB  to look for an address in a 100 mts street. Then he started to take me around the area and the very expensive hotels. I explained him that I do not need a hotel, I need to reach the hotel which I have already booked. Still no help. At some point I stepped into  a 4 star hotel. Explained the whole scenario and there was a little kid who decided to help me. While he was looking for the details of my accomodation, the biketaxi guy started to crib for more money. Now he was asking for 100 THB. I gave him the amount and did not even respond to his Khapun Kap(Thank you) for the fact that even he knows he scammed me. I took the telephone number from airbnb. I thanked the little kid who was like an angel to me and was back on the street scouting for my hotel. 

I tried the number from a public booth and it never connected. So I finally decided to take a Thai sim card. Even that was not so easy with the staff of 7eleven. Atleast one thing was easy at this moment that the telecom company do not ask for documents to buy a simcard. They barely understand my english that I needed data pack and credit limit in my account. I tried dragging words and bring thai accent in my english and still no luck. 

One of the girls went out to call a street seller who has learnt a bit of english by speaking to tourists. So she managed to activate data pack and got my number recharged. I tried calling the canadian number only to loose all the credit from my phone.

So went on whatsapp to tell my friend about the situation who called the canadian girl to get the number of her father who could help. Upon that the father insisted that I should walk to the service apartment again to which I refused. I was waiting for him outside the 7eleven sitting next to my back pack. 

By then the entire 7eleven and shops around were sure that I am in big problem. There was a burmese girl with nepali origin who was counselling with her little Hindi. She told me I do not know your problem but do not worry. If anything goes wrong I would help you. I must have looked really helpless to her.

So the father who could be 75 year old came on a moped to guide me with directions. 

To be continued

Indian Travellers !!

How far does an Indian travel.?
How often?  Many Indians have not been out of their cities.

Its possible that many Indians donot travel. The excuses I get are; we do not have time, it costs too much, who would struggle with visas, its okay if we do not our children would, we believe in saving for a better future etc etc. I would not blame the thought process. We believe in those lines as the way we grow in our societies. My sisters have always these lines; my kids are growing up, their school hours, exams etc
However one thing I have realized from my travels that there is never time until you believe that this is the time. Yes, we have to make time for travel little by little as traveling changes the meaning of our life.

However I guess there is change to be noticed.

People are stepping out of their cities now. In Cusco, Peru I came across 58 doctors traveling together all over south America. 

My friend Akshay Shete who has been to Peru but did not go to Machu Pichu. I remember him telling me that its very expensive and he wants to save for his dream house. He also lived in Mexico but did not go to one of the seven wonders, Chichen Itza. The reason was same and it thought its expensive. He went to Nigeria and did not travel as he was afraid its too dangerous.

But no more, now he understood that there is no fun saving for next time. Currently he took his mother to show around Malaysia to end his year. I got an update that it was his best travel so far. Also that aunty thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.

I was in Siem Reap for Christmas and end my year beautifully between the ruins of Ankor. There was huge tourist influx for the end of the year and half of them were from India. In the queue, I saw many with Indian passports. I am very happy with this new trend as the more we travel, the more confidence we gain for visas. Its a thing for countries to decide that Indians travel and just not migrate illegally.

Earlier I would rarely see Indian travelers. When I do my friend Jorge would always make a joke, look there its your aunty from India. Go say hello to your cousins. 

The time is changing. Indians are stepping out of their cities. 55 countries and territories avail Indians visa on arrival.

Come let's pack our bags for another destination :)

SUNRISE!!

I have one word this morning for the Sunrise in the horizon of Angkor wat temple in Siem Reap.

Its Magical :))

PLANNED UNPLANNED

Here I am in a pool with the sun shining high on the horizon.

After the Myanmar, I was sure not traveling anymore for the year 2013. But my friend Jorge said come for Christmas. Two darling friends Aaron and Zilma checked on me more than thrice that if I am coming to South east Asia to celebrate Christmas with them.

Well guys, here I am. My flight landed earlier than yours. I have four hours to kill.

Shall I come to pick you guys from the airport? I cannot wait to see you all again.

MAFIA IN BANGKOK AIRPORT!

As mentioned before, Indians have Visa on Arrival in 52 countries and territories. Thailand is one of those countries which gives visa on arrival to Indian passort holder for stay of 14 days at a fee of 1000 thai Bhats.

Thats not all, one would still need some documents like return ticket to India, a photo, proof of accomodation. I have been to thailand many times as many as I lost the count now. 

However this time there is a new rule. The photo has to be 6"X 4" with white background only. This requirement is not mentioned in the Thai Embassy's requirements for visa on arrival. So everyone at the couter for VOA has to make pictures at one and only counter at the airport which charges 200 INR. The image which cost us 50 INR gets 4 times at the airport. 

The travellers have no choice but make new images. In addition to that they do not take dollars and receive only Thai Bhats. For which there is only one exchange counter. You have to purchase the bhats for whatever price they offer. 

The entire process is not less than 1 hour. Queues and scams and then you have the visa.

ITS NOT NORMAL # 1

We have seen Shiva in many forms. Even lord Vishu has many incarnations.

Its even normal to see the lord krishna from Blue to White in images. But how normal is it to see Lord Hanuman, infamously know as monkey god black. 

Today's its not normal is A black Hanuman. While walking around the Karol Bagh Market, I saw a black Hanuman on top of the temple. 

Really, have you seen it before?