The glittering Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn is just down river and it shines golden in the sunlight, especially at dawn and dusk. Its towering spire or prang is the first part visible from a distance as you near the entire complex.
The population of Thailand is predominantly Thai (80%) and Buddhist (95%). Thousands of Buddhist temples in varying sizes and architectural styles can be seen throughout the country. However, each demonstrates the same attention to detail in ornate embellishments, dazzling prayer halls and multicolored statues that we see in Thai handicrafts such as embroidery, jewelery and carvings.
The temple grounds provide an oasis of tranquility that contrasts with the intense traffic and noise outside on roadways and the river way. If you choose to climb the steep and narrow steps, you will be rewarded with an excellent view of the nearby Grand Palace which is our next stop on today’s city sightseeing schedule. Just be aware that the way back down is more precarious than the ascent.
I will discuss another famous temple, the Doi Suthep, in Chang Mai in more detail as a fine example of northern Lanna style temple architecture.
Turning 180 degrees, we get a panoramic view of the s-shaped Chao Phraya River that runs through the bustling city of Bangkok. There is activity at all times of the day and night on this aquatic artery: commuter ferries, commercial transport, tourist boats, dinner cruises.
A long tail boat whisks you up the river at high speed past the ancient and the modern juxtaposed in this sprawling metropolis. High rises exist next to temples. The ride is fast and noisy but fun. Be prepared – you may also get a little backsplash regardless of the protective tarp. We will slow down to enter the network of side canals or klongs where people carry on their daily lives.
spirit house
As you approach a building, you may notice an intricately carved miniature replica of a house or temple displayed on a pedestal. Typically, these are made of teak wood or stone. In the animist traditions of Thailand, this is placed within the compound as a residence for the protective spirits that watch over the home or business. This particular spirit house sits on the grounds of the Bangkok Shangri-la Hotel.
A doorman heralds us at the front entrance with an elaborate gong. The beautiful Shangri-la Hotel enjoys a riverfront location directly on the Chao Phraya. The two connecting wings are set within a jungle of lush tropical plants and flowers. Our upper floor balcony offers fantastic river views in both directions.
Let’s go down to the lounge and enjoy a drink while the butler unpacks our things. I’m thinking we should swing by the stylish Chi Spa. I know they specialize in ancient himalyan and chinese treatments. We should schedule appointments for a jet lag recovery massage, don’t you think?
Sawadee-ka, Greetings from Thailand. We have now traveled from the South Pacific to Southeast Asia to an alluringly exotic and user-friendly destination. The former Kingdom of Siam is approximately twice the size of our state of Wyoming and located between Myanmar (Burma) and Cambodia. Many people do not make the connection between ancient Siam in the film and the play The King & I and modern day Thailand.
The word thai means “free” so the name of the country literally translates as “land of the free” which makes us kindred spirits. Thailand greets hundreds of thousands of international visitors each year through its major Asian gateway, the (still relatively new) Bangkok airport (2006).
I think Land of Smiles is an appropriate appellation for a nation characterized by the warm hospitality of its people. The traditional greeting or wai is a pressing together of the palms in a prayer-like gesture. People generally do not shake hands or hug. Actually, public displays of affection are are frowned upon in this society.
The modern capital city of Bangkok is huge, crowded, noisy, cosmopolitan and very high energy. We will begin our virtual tour here in the central region before visiting Chang Mai in the north and then Khao Sok and the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui in the southern part of the country.
This brings the Australia Virtual Tour full circle to Day 1 / September 1 of the tour when I first greeted you from deep “Down Under” in one of those lava tubes. In future tours, we will visit other territories within this vast continent.
“Walkabout” is the aussie aboriginal term for ‘”travel”. Join me on a walkabout through parts of this fascinating country. My Aussie Adventure Getaway to Sydney and Cairns scheduled for February incorporates city, reef and rainforest activities and experiences discussed throughout the month. Individual extensions are available to other regions such as the Outback, Melbourne or Adelaide.
I will also be offering a New Zealand Discovery Cruisetour in March that begins and ends in Sydney. This itinerary visis both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Pre-cruise land extensions are available for Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef and Kuranda Rainforest areas or to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs in the heart of the Outback’s Red Center.
View details on my web site: www.IslandGetawaysTravel.com
Traveling in the opposite direction, south and inland from Cairns, we cross the Atherton Tablelands, past extinct volcanic craters and vast plains where you can see agricultural plains with cattle stations and tropical savannah woodlands with abundant wildlife. These highlands contain national parks, rainforests, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. You can enjoy bush walking, bird watching, fishing and even hot air ballooning over the area.
Once you arrive in Undara, you are in the Outback region of Queensland. Overnight stays can be arranged at the unusual Undara Lava Lodge where converted turn-of-the-century railway cars serve as your accommodations and dining cars.
A wildlife tour at sunset with an experienced savannah guide reveals local native animals: kangaroos, wallabies, lizards, birds and . . . bats. Later in the evening , our guide walks visitors over to the mouth of Barker’s Cave to await the nightly exodus of thousands of tiny, furry, microbats into the night sky. Also lying in wait are the brown tree snakes or “night tigers” who strike out and try to capture their small prey as they fly past. It’s quite the nightly drama during the summer months.
We return the next morning, this time in broad daylight, to descend down into the fascinating geological phenomenon of the Undara lava tubes for a closer inspection. This requires a moderate level of fitness due to the uneven terrain and the climbing down and up over rocks at either end. And the bats have returned to their home on the cave ceiling after feeding on insects last night. Don’t worry, they’re not the least bit interested in you.
The place where the rainforest and reef meet in North Queensland is the expanse of idyllic of coastal beaches.
The Coconut Beach Rainforest Lodge enjoys a unique location. It straddles the single road with one half stretching back into the rainforest and the other half reaching forward to the uncrowded beach. The units are individual bungalows nestled within the rainforest with screened windows (no glass) so that you are barely separated from Nature outside.
Palm Cove is a small, charming, coastal village built along a quiet beach lined with majestic palms. Offering luxury beachfront resorts and fine dining, it is also fast developing as the spa capital of Australia. And you just have to step across the narrow front lane to laze away the day in warm tropical waters & silky sand.
The equally quaint but more sophisticated and slightly more crowded town of Port Douglas has become a hotspot with its famous Four Mile Beach, al fresco restaurants , chic boutiques and international clientele. You can enjoy a day of sunbathing, take a day trip into Mossman Gorge or the Coral Sea, and then return in the evening to dine under star-filled velvet skies.
The one drawback to these shores is the seasonal prevalence of the venonous box jellyfish during the months of November to March. Also called marine stingers or sea wasps, they are transparent with a cube shaped body and up to 15 tentacles each up to 3 yards in length housing thousands of stinging cells. However, lifeguards post daily signs regarding the water conditions and their recommendations. It’s important to heed them.
Yesterday, I talked about animal life in the region. Before we leave Cape Tribulation, I want to also discuss some unusual plant life. Notice that I’m standing in the photo to give a sense of relative size. The roots on this long-time local resident are even taller than I am. The Blue Quandon towers up to 35 yards high with a prominently buttressed base and distinctive blue fruit like large suspended figs.
Meanwhile the Stinging Tree is strictly a look-but-don’t-touch type of flora. The heart-shaped leaves have jagged edges but the real danger is the thousands of microscopic needles that embed themselves in the skin if touched. Heaven help the person who uses these leaves as a substitute for toilet paper. Unfortunately, it has been known to happen in rare instances and requires treatment at a hospital. My advise: wait and use the facilities at the next rest stop.
Speaking of which, at a rest area, I came upon a rather large lizard, sunning himself, on the sidewalk. I didn’t approach and attempt to stand next to him for a size comparison. He was well over 3 feet long from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. I didn’t want him to scurry off but he seemed completely unperturbed by the presence of people. I believe he owned the place and apparently, so did he.
Also, when walking through the rainforest, be wary of the wait-a-while vines hanging down from trees to the ground or gathered in clumps around the base of a tree. These are covered with small spikes that grab at clothing and can tear skin. It’s best to stay with your guide or use areas that have boardwalks built into the area for visitors.
If you are an avid gardener, the Cairns Botanical Gardens may be just the kind of relaxed, cultivated and safe place to visit at your leisure after you return from this wildnerness. But it might all seem quite tame after our recent adventures.
Traveling farther north of Cairns, you approach the Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, the oldest rainforest in the world, containing the most species of plants and animals in Australia. This is a lush, tropical but wild world best experienced with an expert guide. This is an unpredictable environment, not a petting zoo or a place to wander off and explore alone.
The indigenous cassowary, somewhat resembling an ostrich in size and appearance, is listed as an endangered species and is quite rare and elusive. Standing between 5 and 6 feet in height, it has a black body and bright blue head with 2 swinging wattles at the front of its neck and an orange patch at the back. This flightless bird has one very long, sharp spike on each foot. If it feels threatened, it has been known to charge straight ahead, lashing out violently with those claws and slashing the target to ribbons.
If you take a cruise on the Daintree River, you may spy an estuarine crocodile lazing on the riverbank. It’s the ones you don’t see lurking underneath the water that are truly dangerous. In one rapid movement, they will pounce with sudden fury on unsuspecting prey, wrestling with them before dragging them below the water line. This is as close as you want to get. Definitely no swimming here.
We will return to our 4WD vehicle and take the cable ferry across the Daintree River to continue our journey through the Cape Tribulation wilderness area. Later, we will visit the coast for an invigorating walk on Coconut Beach and some afternoon tea before heading back to “civilization”.
Australia is one of the most eco-diverse countries on the planet with species of flora and fauna unique to this continent.
Just north of Cairns is the Palm Cove, home to the unique Cairns Tropical Zoo. Their Night Zoo nocturnal interactive tour begins with an aussie BBQ as the sun goes down and continues with a guided walk through the grounds by flashlight, meeting the creatures of the night.
See crocodile eyes glow in the darkness. Pat a koala, touch a possum. Be kissed by a wombat – squarely on the lips. Aha, that’s right, this one performs this amazing little surprize as you’re holding it, unsuspecting, standing still for the photo, prompted by the Aussie bloke in the hat. Hand feed kangaroos as you sit around the campfire having billy tea and damper made by the resident Swaggie.
There’s even some good old-fashioned singalong and dancing with audience participation encouraged. If you’re shy, just exit stage left for the restroom at this time. By the time you come back, they’ll have moved on to another activity. Or just relax, play along and have some fun. Aussie beer is provided.
On a clear night, your guide will even do a little star gazing. Remember, this is the Southern Hemisphere. There are different constellations visible from Down under. No North Star, but certainly the Southern Cross.
