Bo 'n' Louise

Ko Phi Phi, now with a sprinkle of Løvschall

When Bo did not managed to visit the family in Denmark, the family has to visit Bo. So while Louise was in Ecuador working, my sister Helle and nephew Benjamin came to Thailand for family reunion. Neither Benjamin nor Helle had been to Thailand before, so we considered it a challenge to find some places we all will think were cool. Helle (which by the way had manage to break her arm right before the trip) was armed with what must be the complete collection of guide books to Thailand. So with inspiration from a Danish guide called ”Michael’s secret guide” (aka MSG) we went to Khao Lak as the first itinerary on our family tour.

Tuk-tuk ride through the street of Bangkok.

What was described as a nice little paradise was empty and deserted… and the recommended hotel was closed for the entire low season. So Benjamin got his first travel lesson, how to walk around in a place you don’t know looking for a place to stay in 40 degrees. But as always, we managed to find something, even with a swimming pool.

Any Thai bus is great interior inspiration.

Next destination was Khao Sok National Park. Reality was again not quite up to level with the romantic wording in the guide books. So Benjamin got new lesson, how to sit in a restaurant and wait while Helle went and solved the problem. Again we got roof over our heads, this time in a treetop house… well, sort of anyway. During the night Helle and Benjamin socks got eaten and a pair of slacks disappeared halfway into the hole in the floor. Next day we ventured into the jungle. Benjamin got a new lesson, not all animals are cute. Agreed, liches are definitely not my favorite animal either.

This wouldn’t have happened in law abiding Denmark, sitting in the trunk of a pickup.

Our fine treetophut.

A bit further along the trail it really turned bad, and Helle was wondering why they let people use it at all…. oh dear!

But we a half success we got tempted once again by MSG. We ended up on some rafts on Chiaw Lan Lake… and what a beautiful and peaceful place. Benjamin got a lesson in kayak paddling (top grades to him) and how to find a pick-up truck when now buses exist.

There is nothing to see in Thailand!

Lucky it was the arm and not the foot that was broken… would have looked silly.

Then the next stop was a classic, Phuket. Here we divided us to have time for it all. Benjamin and Helle rode elephant and saw monkeys, while I rented the mandatory scooter and cruised the island (for Phuket is an island). Benjamin lesson this time was, how to ride an elephant… like the real way with his legs behind the animals ears.

Passing wisdom down from generation to generation, the YMCA dance (kid you not).

Another Thai classic was next, Ko Phi Phi. A stylish bungalow, sun, sand and sea were the attractions. Benjamin made took a DIY course in kitsch souvenir shopping (a super cool palm lamp made of coconut shells). Helle just bought a lot, while uncle Bo drank a beer in the proximity of the young backpackers.

Then Krabi town was next. Here Benjamin made a lesson in, how uncle Bo can be unreasonable when hungry (and I apologise for that). But at least we managed to add another transport to our long list, a motorcycle taxi with sidecar.

Last destination on the tour was of course Bangkok, once again. Benjamin was looking forward to do some shopping (a bit scary) and the fish massage. Funny how it is always the small things that kids get fascinated by… but hey, fish massage is actually funny.

What my poor sister had to listen to…

So now when I’m back in Bangkok on Khao San Rd. alone, I start to see the place with fresh eyes. I remindes how Benjamin in hours played Golden Retriever for a rubberband-helicopter street vendor (make mores sanse if you have been to Khao San Rd.) and I still wonder how he managed to convince us into getting one of those super annoying wooden frocks. But that is how travel life is, you do strange stuff together.

A joyful moment.

Travelling wiht uncle Bo is just so much fun…

If you really want to see some pictures of the places we were, click on to Globe Spots (you might even find Benjamin and Helle there).

I saw this guy selling the same hammocks in ’96 when I came to Bangkok for the first time… this is what happens if you don’t listen to your mum. So eat your vegetables, Benjamin.

A struck of good fortune or maybe negotiations gave the Thai capital a well deserved breather just the day before we headed here. I had seen numerous demonstrations and thousands of red-shirts in the city just one month earlier. But now a truce of some sort had set in and for some days at least it was peaceful.
Peaceful Bangkok
Bangkok fra floden

In Khao San Road the result of the situation was readily reflected by the number of tourists – or rather the lack. By far abandoned, but still very very quite for this hornets nest of backpackers. We spent a few days trying to catch up on anything from computerstuff to sushi intake and sleep.
We got a free “fish-massage” with our room.. fun stuff 😀
And we got new clothes..
Advertising the fantastic globespots.com

We also needed to get Bo’s camera to the shop and try to get 60 day visas for Indonesia. Bo managed to hand in his camera while I handed in my passport.

The gigantic weekendmarket

I even managed to get of at the wrong sky train station and walked straight down into the red-shirt camp. It looked mostly like an abandoned festival campground and most of the people there where merely trying to sell food and t-shirts to the few stoic democracy fighters still hanging out. Nobody seemed to notice or care that I was making my way trough the camp. Only on the way out a guy asked me if I understood what the rather lonely guy on the stage was saying through a thousand speakers to a lot less people throughout the vast area. I told him I didn’t, but that I too was for democracy, neglecting mentioning of their support of a convicted corrupt politician.

All that was left of the red shirt camp

However, come collection day of passport and camera the rioting had stirred up a bit. The taxi-driver I asked to take me to the embassy voluntarily handed me over to some motorcycle guys, explaining that they could get through the barricades. True enough, I was dumped on a completely deserted street right in front of the embassy which was luckily open. Bo did not have the same kind of luck with his quest and the camera is – hopefully – still in Bangkok… Luckily, we’re not.
I thought that was illegal??
A beer and a boy