Monthly Archives: May 2009

Thailand Day 26: Chang Mai/Lampang Elephant Conservation Center

By Patrick Odenbeck | Published May 29, 2009
Featuring: Snapdragon

This morning we woke up pseudo-early because we had to do some errands and get to our tour for the Elephant Conservation Center.  I had to drop off the scooter and Loni had to get some snacks and water as well as book another night here at TK House.  All of this had to happen before 0800 and it did pretty much.  Our guide that we met from Pooh Eco-Tourism name was Naret.  He grew up in Lampang where the Elephant Conservation Center is located outside of.  We jumped in his personal Isuzu track and drove the 1.5 hours to Lampang.  We were not sure what to expect of the place at all- but it was amazing.

They have about 120 Asian Elephants divided into three groups (riding, show and white).  The show elephants are used to display how the elephants were used in the past to move timber and assist with logging.

The riding elephants for riding and the rare white elephants are partial albino elephants which only 11 of which exist are for the king.  Loni and I went on a short elephant ride through the forest- very cool.  The ride was a lot more topsy turvy than … READ MORE >

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Thailand Day 11: Tonsai Beach

By Patrick Odenbeck | Published May 29, 2009
Featuring: Big SkyG5000

We decided to move last night to Tonsai for a change of scenery.  Monica said that she was moving over here as well.  We wanted to get over here before the International Climbing Comp. which starts on the 14th so we packed our bags and got a refund for the night.  We made the short walk to  Railay West to catch a long-tail to Tonsai.

We did not want to pay the 100 BHT for two people so we waited about a half hour and two others showed up.  Making our trip 50 BHT for two less than 2 dollars.

Once arriving we had no idea where to go and the locals just pointed us up the hill.  So we blindly went and ran into the Dream Valley Resort where we got a bungalow for 500 BHT per night plus breakfast for both of us- a killer deal.

The views on the west side of the peninsula are far superior to the east.  Long-tails racing from Ao Nang outside the bay and Koh Po Da , Chicken and Happy Island all lined up like gems towering from the Adaman Sea.  After lunch we went to go check out The Nest … READ MORE >

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Thailand Day 6- Deep Water Soloing: Railay Beach

By Patrick Odenbeck | Published May 29, 2009

Today has by far been the best day here so far.  We rose at 7 AM, showered and had breakfast.  I tried the American breakfast today (2 boiled eggs, toast, juice, tea and something that was cut into the shape of a flower-although tasted like fried hot dog) the latter turned out to be breakfast sausage.  All in all, a great meal.  We met with a kid from Toronto (Kyle) and an Austrian girl (Monica) after breakfast.  Kyle was psyched to be joining us deep water soloing today.  We caught a long-tailed boat at about 10:30 with our guide Rom from King Climbers.  We then headed to Koh Po Da for our first climbing adventures of the day.  I did a fun and fairly easy traverse, while Patrick climbed to 18+ meters up to a stalactite.

Hard climbing from the kayak to the ladder and up the rock, but once we were on the wall the climbing was fairly easy.  I wasn’t sure how my ankle would do with hitting the water, so I was nervous to climb very high.  Hitting the water and jumping from the rock was exhilarating.  I do wish that my blasted ankle was more reliable, … READ MORE >

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Thailand-Preview

By Patrick Odenbeck | Published May 29, 2009

My wife Loni and I went for a month long trip to Thailand.  We kept a daily log of our adventures.  I have included three of the best days of the trip as separate posts.  Enjoy the photos and journal entries.… READ MORE >

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