Well...I've been ask to finish my report and so almost four months later, here it is. Sorry for the delay. I hope you all enjoy it. - Rasta

Let me catch you all up… When I last signed off in December 2002, I had offered to take Pueng to Pattaya. I reported that we spent time there at the Residence Garden and were off to Ayutthaya (Finally got the spelling right, McDijj J). Here is where the story picks up.

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Pueng and I took a shared van from the Ekami bus station to Ayutthaya for 90BHT each. We spent the first night in Ayutthaya at the River View Place. It is a pretty nice hotel by Ayutthaya standards, with a nice view of the river and the two Wats. We spent the evening with Pueng’s 18 yr old brother playing Snooker and kicking back at a bar. The bar had Opium bongs but we all avoided them. The table next to us had one going and it was interesting to watch them light the hard chunk and get it glowing like a coal for the patrons. We went back to our hotel about 1 am. I was really enjoying getting to know Pueng, and her brother was very nice and fun to hang out with.

The next day, we moved to the Ayutthaya Hotel because the River View Place was full. Pueng, her brother and I spent the day touring various Wats and other places of interest. We had a picnic in the park, and got blessed under the silk of the large reclining Buddha. We went to dinner at a very nice (and reasonable) restaurant, which was part of one of the hotels. It was actually a floating boat on the edge of the river. The food was excellent! The next day we had to leave for MaeHongSon.

We took off on Thai airways and flew to Chiang Mai, then made our connecting flight to MaeHongSon. When we arrived, my guide Chakraphan met us and drove us to our room at the Fern Resort (a government sponsored eco-tourist resort). It was beautiful and comfortable, and such a cool place to stay. It is located on the edge of the National Park in MaeHongSon and you can walk down their path right into the park. They have about 5 dogs at the resort that are very tame, clean and friendly. They are trained to accompany you when you go hiking. Also, every night I found one of the dogs (same one—‘Sing Dtoo’ which mean ‘lion’ in Thai) curled up asleep on the porch of our cottage.

The next day we went with Chakraphan on a Jeep trek into the hills. We toured 3 local hill tribe villages. It was great, but very bumpy! We arrived home late in the afternoon, showered, and then ate our dinner at the resort’s restaurant (which has great food for cheap). That night we packed and got a good night’s rest in preparation for our upcoming trek.

Chakraphan picked us up at about 8 in the morning. Pueng, Chakraphan, two porters, a driver and I drove off into the National Park. We passed military checkpoints and the truck dropped us off about 30 minutes up the road. What a viewpoint... The clouds of mist where in the valley below, just like the stories claim. It was very beautiful! MaeHongSon is known as “City of Three Mists”. From that spot you could see three valleys bathed in clouds. You saw the clouds from above like you would in an airplane. They were bathed in gold, red and purple from the sunrise and the view was spectacular.

We trekked through the jungle and my guide was awesome. He pointed out all kinds of interesting insects, animals, birds, trees, and plants. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge. He grew up in the hill tribe villages nearby and speaks a middle language called “Chang” that the hill tribes use to communicate. He also provides medicine to the hill tribes. We walked for about 4 hours, then stopped for a fresh made lunch of Spicy Thai Papaya Salad with pickings the porters made in the jungle along the way, fruit, chicken and sticky rice. It was great! Then we hiked about another 5 hours until we finally made it to our Karin hill tribe home for the night.

The family welcomed us and Pueng started helping Chakraphan cook some incredible dinner. I took a cold shower in their primitive style bathroom which was very refreshing; but I wouldn’t want one at home. We had Coconut-cream soup, sweat and sour fish, various noodle dishes and Chang beer. Then we watched the stars at the big fire outside while Chakraphan pointed out constellations. Man that guy is like the Rambo of the forest—he know everything!

The next morning, we got an early start and hiked in and out of a river for about 4 hours, then stopped for another lunch. I swam in the water (I ignored the warning of schistosomiasis (bilharziasis) from the CDC because Chakraphan told me he had been doing this for about 11 years and never heard of anyone being infected. We finally ended up at a different hill tribe village. It was great fun hiking through the river as the trail took us out of the National park. Then the porters took Pueng and me on motorbikes back to the Fern Resort. We stayed another night to relax and then had to head to Phuket (through BKK). The trekking was an incredible experience that I highly recommend to anyone that is interested. I can refer you to my guide, who I truly one-of-a-kind, and certainly the best in MaeHongSon.

The day of traveling from MaeHongSon through BKK to Phuket was very tiring. But we finally made it and were grateful to check in at the Hotel Neptuna. Phuket is beautiful. And, being there with a beautiful girl was even better. (I did sneak out one time for a soapy massage and that was my first one ever. It was very cool.) We were supposed to spend 10 days in Phuket, but ended up spending 8 and going to Ayutthaya early so we could spend another 2 nights there. While in Phuket, I went ocean fishing on the Reel Hooker, with John Pearce, which I highly recommend. He is a first-rate Captain and his boat and crew are not to be matched. I caught my first sailfish and have the photos to prove it. It was great fun! And we took a snorkeling tour to Koh Phi Phi and some other islands. Be advised that the rates for tours vary widely based on how you negotiate and whom you purchase from. The same tour we took for 2800BHT for two, set another couple back 5600BHT because they didn’t know better and paid the price on the brochure! Also highly recommended is renting a motorbike and cruising the island near Kata Beach. That was a blast as well and the area is phenomenally beautiful.

We then flew to BKK and took a car to Ayutthaya where we spent some more time with Pueng’s family. I really got attached to her during the month we spent together. She is a very intelligent, funny and unique girl.

The trip was a never-to-be-forgotten experience and it would not have been nearly as incredible without Pueng. I went back to Thailand to see her again in February and I’m going back again to see her in April. She is a special person and I have a relationship going with her that hasn’t reached an end, even after I’ve been back home.

Well that’s the story. I hope you all enjoy it. If it wasn’t for Hombre and the guys on this board I think I might never have gone to Thailand and experienced all these things that have enriched my life. (And if it wasn’t for StrikeEagle’s long distance travel advice, I might not have been able to survive those flights well enough to travel back every couple months, so far.) Thanks guys—after being to Thailand, I’ve never been the same since; and every day I spend thinking how I can get back for a visit and eventually for good. I can’t wait for my next trip for the Thai Lunar New Year on April 13th. I’ll get to experience the “throwing of the water”. I’ll let you all know how that goes.

-Rasta

Hey Rasta Dude--
You gonna be in LOS for Songkran ?? If so let's hook up for a brew or two. I'll be there also . It's great to hear you got to enjoy more of Thailand than just the bars and soapies. Hooking up with one hottie long term is a different and in many ways more rewarding way to enjoy Thai culture !!

Admin: Here are a set a photos submitted by Rastaman

The last photo of Los Angeles wasn't meant to be included, but oh well...

Also, I'm still hoping Hombre will let me embed these images into the trip report so they are inline at the proper places with captions; but so far haven't heard if that will be OK or not.

-RASTA

Khun,

I sent you a message via your INBOX, let me know after you read it.

Rasta.

Rastaman, really nice photos. Looks like a Thailand promotion pamphlet. That catfish is huge!

(Did you use a zoom on the LA photo? It was a pic from a chopper? No lens flares or window reflections.)

BTW, which camera did you use?

D J(fellow photography enthusiast)

I used the Mavica CD300 that everyone on the board bagged on bigtime.

LOL, I never knew Mavica was good Maybe it's the photographer...

I don't know. Much as I'd like to take credit, everybody is always amazed at the quality of pictures this camera takes. All of my pictures taken with it look incredible. Maybe I have a certain touch...but I never had it before I bought this Mavica.

Come on guys !! It takes pictures I agree , but I don't see any pics of nekkid chicks !!! How can you really judge a camera until you see how it captures tits and pussy ???? Let's remember what site we are on. This is not a Tourism Authority of Thailand site !! LoL

LOL! You know what we need? We need some advise on how to get the girls to pose happily for PICS.

If I try to grab the camera, they tend to look like a deer in the headlights. Do you tell the girls when you agree to go with them that you want to take some candid pictures, or do you just grab the camera and tell them to say cheese? How do you get them to pose for the most revealing shots with a smile, instead of the terrified or annoyed looks you see in some of the photos? I've noticed a big difference between some of the photographers pics and others in this regard.

I do agree with you Khun, but this camera hasn't take many (maybe about 3) of those pictures like you want. Maybe this April when I'm back in Bangkok I can redeem myself.

Rasta
Unfortunately I think we are paying the price for technology. It used to be very easy to get the Thai girls to not only pose nude, but to do some pretty pornographic poses for FILM . The girls now are very internet savvy and know all too well where the pics will end up, especially when they see a digital camera. I ran into a pic of my former girlfriend posing in her bikini at Safari bar on a site called ThaiPussy and when I showed it to her she was in tears. It was taken by the manager of the bar and she was promised it would never be used outside the bar. You can see why they trust no one despite any promises made !! What I cannot understand is why the chicas from Rio seem so willing to pose nude ? Is the net that much less prevalent there ?? I think the days of easy nude pics are gone forever in LoS. Another pleasure gone alas.
BTW-- My ex-Thai girlfriend found my stash of nude pics and tore them up over a year ago . My heart was shattered ! All those memories gone forever !