Day 6 - Thailand 2 - Nov 30th

Laem Chabang

Having been to Bangkok before, we had opted for a shorter tour than the whole day tour to that major city.  Several people from the “Diamond Cats” were just getting  a coach to Pattaya beach and we weren’t sure when we got up (at 6am) whether or not we’d be joining them.  After a quick snack, we managed to buttonhole the tour staff and they cheerfully checked that there was space on the tour we wanted and simply altered our incorrect tickets.  Phew!  We are so glad they did as Paula had done us proud and selected a tour that is probably going to be one of the trip highlights.

We set off promptly at about 7:45am with our guide “Moo” and we passed through Pattaya and hooked a left, straight into the Nongnooch Gardens, a 500 acre privately owned resort site that is obviously very popular and also well organised. We arrived early and had 20 minutes to wander around an area that was totally dominated by various sculptures made out of small terra-cotta plant-pots. Then it came alive... For 50 Baht (about $US) you could have your photo taken with a monkey, bottle feeding a baby tiger, sitting on a pair of elephant’s trunks, with a macaw or three and so on.  Some great photo opportunities if you weren’t paying either. This was just in a tiny compact  area of the 500 acre site and even though we weren’t hungry, we would have liked to have wandered around the food area just across the way.

Back on the coach for a two minute drive through to the next area which was a mass of stalls but we didn’t get much time before we were ushered into the large tin shed with tiered seating and fans blowing a cool mist.  This was for the cultural show.

Over the years we have obviously seen a few cultural shows but this has to be one of the very best.  With local dancing and movement with a cast of over 30, this was no tin pot little tableau.  The back-drop changed at least 5 times with different aspects of Thai culture with references to Hindu as well as local traditions.

The front stage then was suddenly taken over by a small gang of workers who quickly erected a boxing ring and we were treated to a demonstration of kick boxing of two rounds.  This was not without humour as one of the ringside worker/supporters got whacked at the end of round one and the referee at the end of round 2.  An exhibition of sword fighting, then stick dancing then a display of fighting whilst sitting on decorated elephants followed by smaller elephants effectively dancing, made this a fast moving show and it was over all too quickly.

We were then shepherded through to the outdoor arena for the elephant display.  The Princess tours had VIP seating at the head of the arena and we were encouraged to buy small bunches of bananas to feed the elephants.

The display was just wonderful, with elephants doing everything from throwing darts at balloon targets, kicking large soccer balls, riding tricycles, playing basket ball, to a very impressive display of tee shirt painting! One managed to draw a picture of a tree, another a bunch of flowers. 

Several members of the audience were invited to participate by lying on mats, and the elephants walked up and stepped over them.  Two audience members then laid down on their backs, the elephants tapping them on their stomachs with trunks, then with a front foot!!!

We just loved the display.  Paula held out two bananas from the bunch.  An elephant took the offered bananas and before Paula could reach to the floor to peel off another couple, the elephant beat her to it and took the whole bunch!

Just five minutes to check out the stalls and back onto the coach to Pattaya and the “factory shop” stop.

This turned out to be a jewellery factory.  Oh dear.  Forty five minutes here in a large modern air-conditioned building with dozens of ‘helpers’ always means the same thing. They want you to buy their expensive jewellery.  At this point, all the guys went off the idea as did most of the women.  If it had been a local market or even 45 minutes to wander up and down a street, no problem.

Princess, their tour companies, coach operators, taxi drivers etc  tend to spoil a lot of these trips by taking you to places like this.  I have never yet met a man who enjoyed them and the 45 mins would have been far better spent back at the gardens where there was much to see.

Nevertheless, the factory selling aside, this was a great trip. The journey through the area was fascinating as the towns seem to spread for ages with hundreds of small businesses lining the roadside.

I love the Thai people.  They seem kind, somewhat relaxed and smile a lot. They encompass various religions quite happily and when the name was changed from Siam to Thailand, the word means “Free Land” and this could just as easily be “Peaceful Land”.

There was a little bit of shopping at the terminal and I bought a belt – with an MG buckle!

Dinner was a full table but so far, we feel that maybe the food on the Dawn was a little better.  After, we went to the full Bobby Borgia magic show and enjoyed it, but an excess of ice cold water at dinner probably didn’t agree with Paula’s internals...

Another day at sea ahead before Vietnam, so after an early start to the day, fairly early to bed.