Another fast update (this period I've plenty of time to waste!):
two days ago I've went to the Golden Triangle by bicycle! Yes, after left Mae Sai and arrived to Chiang Saem (here in the north all the cities begin with "Chiang"), I've agreed with a guesthouse to pay 100B to rent a bike, storage my luggage and to have a shower when back (since the city wasn' interesting at all, I've decided to come back in Chiang Rai before evening...). Thus, I've visit this area famous in the past for a big opium production (now you can see a museum and a "park"), nothing interesting....perhaps I haven't seen the museum since in the middle of a huge hill I've broken the pedal of my bicycle so I've decided to come back in advance....and I was really lucky since 10 minutes after I came back the Monsoon season remind me of its presence!!! (1h with a strong storm!)
Thus, after the 40B to arrive in Chiang Saem, I've spent another 30B to come back to Chiang Rai: here I've found a good weather and a cheap accomodation, a little bit far from the centre! I think that day was the day of the bicycle: the resort offers a free rental bike and since it is located far from the main centre, for the second time in one day I've rent a bike!
Nothing interesting to do in Chiang Rai, so I've cutted my hair first (50B, 1 euro, crazy price!) and then I've had a 2hours body massage for another 200B, the cheapest place found in Thailand! After that I've visited the night bazaar but after Chiang Mai I'm not interested in market anymore...I've bought everything when I was there!!!
Yesterday instead it was a whole day trip! After a good meal and have collect my clothes from the laudry, I've moved again to Chiang Mai (another 4hours) and then I've catch at the last minute a train to Bangkok, leaved at 4.30 and arrived in Bangkok this morning at 6.25....yes, more than 14 hours!!! Unfortunately it was the only sure chance to arrive here early in the morning, forced to do it in order to arrive on time at the indian Embassy and take this visa for Bombay!
My plans now are to chill out around here (maybe I will buy an hamoock), waiting to visit this new and last country, India, before to come back in Europe!!!
See ya
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
A fast update!
Hi guys,
I'm arrived in the north, Chiang Mai, absolutely a boring place except for some interesting tour that could be done (like 3 days and 2 nights hiking, sleeping in the forest, with bamboo rafting and elephant riding...), only 3 similar and boring temple...the really good thing in this city is the market!
Everything is surprising cheap, I can't believe that can exist such objects at those cheap price...I don't want bargain anymore, what can you save from a bag which cost 10 baht??!! (20 cent of euro!)
If you travel around this area, don't miss the clothing night market at Chang Khlan road and, much more interesting, the weekend market at Wua lai road, pretty good for gift and present!
Just to remark how cheap things are here, I've rent a room for 100B, a foot massage for 120B (normal thai massage for 100!), of course 1 hour!
I've spent 2 days in this city just because I've met some cool guys from Israel (Doram, Sharon and Hiliam) so I've hang out with them....fucking clubs still ask to pay 300B for enter when Thai people enter for free...this really make me upset, angry! Shit!
Anyway, even in this really poor side of the country it seems to be very very safe, nobody try to steal or do strange things, I think it's because they really follow the religion!
Of course, even here there are tailors, famous in all Thailand: you can buy a whole suit for maybe 40 euro, crazy! Good quality, you choose the material and the style!
Today I traveled to Chiang Rai (4hours in the bus for 100B), then straight away to Mae Sai (1h and 30min for another 33B) and then from the bus station I've paid 8B for a tuk-tuk (taxi) to arrive at the Burma border!!! yes, I've finally got a new VISA, so hypothetically I can stay here another 30 days!!! I've just crossed a bridge and paid 500B to enter in Burma, stay over there for a couple of hours and then come back normally in Thailand, amazing! (You can also save those 500B, I've just spent them since I was thinking to spend one night in Burma but after few minutes people assault me trying to sell VIAGRA, porn DVD and other stuff that I've decided to come back (for those one interested, here you can buy 4 viagra pills for 100B = 2 euro. How much it cost in Europe?)
Now I'm at Chad Guesthouse, a really good place in Mae Sai where to stay (of course only one night, nothing to do here, it's almost 3h that I'm in front this PC, and maybe I'm going to spend 60-80B, nothing!), then tomorrow I will visit this famous oppius place, the Golden Triangle...yes, here there is one of the oldest plantation of "papaveri", used to made heroin!
I will keep you informed!
I'm arrived in the north, Chiang Mai, absolutely a boring place except for some interesting tour that could be done (like 3 days and 2 nights hiking, sleeping in the forest, with bamboo rafting and elephant riding...), only 3 similar and boring temple...the really good thing in this city is the market!
Everything is surprising cheap, I can't believe that can exist such objects at those cheap price...I don't want bargain anymore, what can you save from a bag which cost 10 baht??!! (20 cent of euro!)
If you travel around this area, don't miss the clothing night market at Chang Khlan road and, much more interesting, the weekend market at Wua lai road, pretty good for gift and present!
Just to remark how cheap things are here, I've rent a room for 100B, a foot massage for 120B (normal thai massage for 100!), of course 1 hour!
I've spent 2 days in this city just because I've met some cool guys from Israel (Doram, Sharon and Hiliam) so I've hang out with them....fucking clubs still ask to pay 300B for enter when Thai people enter for free...this really make me upset, angry! Shit!
Anyway, even in this really poor side of the country it seems to be very very safe, nobody try to steal or do strange things, I think it's because they really follow the religion!
Of course, even here there are tailors, famous in all Thailand: you can buy a whole suit for maybe 40 euro, crazy! Good quality, you choose the material and the style!
Today I traveled to Chiang Rai (4hours in the bus for 100B), then straight away to Mae Sai (1h and 30min for another 33B) and then from the bus station I've paid 8B for a tuk-tuk (taxi) to arrive at the Burma border!!! yes, I've finally got a new VISA, so hypothetically I can stay here another 30 days!!! I've just crossed a bridge and paid 500B to enter in Burma, stay over there for a couple of hours and then come back normally in Thailand, amazing! (You can also save those 500B, I've just spent them since I was thinking to spend one night in Burma but after few minutes people assault me trying to sell VIAGRA, porn DVD and other stuff that I've decided to come back (for those one interested, here you can buy 4 viagra pills for 100B = 2 euro. How much it cost in Europe?)
Now I'm at Chad Guesthouse, a really good place in Mae Sai where to stay (of course only one night, nothing to do here, it's almost 3h that I'm in front this PC, and maybe I'm going to spend 60-80B, nothing!), then tomorrow I will visit this famous oppius place, the Golden Triangle...yes, here there is one of the oldest plantation of "papaveri", used to made heroin!
I will keep you informed!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Koh Phi Phi & Co.
Finally I've got some spare time to update you about my amazing thai travel!
After have visited the great Koh Pha Ngan, me and Channa moved to Koh Samui, a not really exciting island but still good to stay for a couple of days! Here we visited a cool monkeys show in a private farmer, then we went with a motorbike in some great waterfalls (Namuang waterfall), amazing sicne it was possible to swim and dive on it, really great experience! Perhaps Davina and Pamela have had a 30min of Elephant trekking to the waterfall, but I haven't done it since I think in India it will be much more interesting!
The nightlife in Chaweng, teh main town in Koh Samui, it can be considered nice, but nothing if compared to Koh Pha Ngan, where you can dance every night on the beach, fuck, I really miss that place!
Anyway, if you're around this area let's start the night from "The great mambo", then after 2am follow the crowd to anotehr huge place 5 min walk!
Except for Chaweng, the only other interesting beach is in Lamai, but at the end is not a real place to visit...still, if you visit first Koh Pha Ngan everything looks bad, it's hard to find again such nice boungalow next to the beach and such great atmosphere!
The last night in Koh Samui was pretty cool: we started drinking at home, then we went to the first club, then to teh second one, of course all the time drinking those famous "buckets", a mix of rum or vodka, red bull and coke! Plans where to stay up till 6am, then take the motorbike (rent till 10am from the previous day) to visit another waterfall, for then finally come back at 9.30, time when my trip should start to leave to Koh Phi Phi.....and instead, at 6am Chanan was too drunk to keep a conversation, Davina throw up two/three times (one on my feet!) and Pamela was already passed out hours ago!
Thus, I've decided to sleep for 4 hours instead of 3.30: I mean, I didn't wake up on time and I've lost the local bus to arrive to the ferry! The only option was to call a taxi and try to arrive at the ferry before 11am! I was very lucky since I'm arrived on time but shit, I've spent another 500B for the taxi! Also, this was a real unlucky day sicne my plan was to arrive in Koh Phi Phi in the evening and instead I was forced to stay in Krabi, since the bus arrived too late to catch the last ferry! This town is nothign special, but everything is cheap and the people here are a sample of real Thai people (go to Crazy Pub and you won't see a tourist!)
Anyway, in Krabi I've found a new cool friend, Jamie from Australia, and a cool town where to stay at really cheap price, so I've decided to spend more days here and then go to Koh Phi Phi! The day after I went with Jamie to the "4 islands", which are 4 small islands around Krabi but all of them really interesting to visit: here I've took some of my best photos on the beach, if it is a sunny day you absolutely have to do it (and it cost only 300B for all day). You can first walk on the sea between two islands (but only in the morning, in the afternoon the sea level is too high to walk!), then you can snorkkeling (but be careful, I've smashed my right ancle to a rock and for all the next day I could't walk at all!) and visit a really "stupid" cave, but still good backgrounds!
Anyway, me and Jamie waited here in Krabi for Pamela and Davina (they always joined me one or two days later, in Bangkok, in Ko Samui and now here!), then all together went to Koh Phi Phi, and here we met again Channa in the evening (he decided to go back in Koh Pha Ngan for the half moon carnival, then I took a trip from there to Koh Phi Phi to spend some other days with us!)
Anyway, we finally arrived to KOH PHI PHI, considered to be one of teh best Asian attraction! We rent a room at "Phi Phi Don Chukit", but don't forget to call one day before to book a room, otehrwise you will pay 1000B instead of 500B! The numebr is (66) 75618126, but there are also cheaper accomodation, like Gypsi Guesthouse, for 350B, but more far from the centre!
I've spent only two nights in this island but I'm still regretting to haven't spent here more time...Pam and Davina forced us to see Railay, so we left the 3rd day but then they recognized that Phi Phi was much better and they came back the day after...and for me there was no more time to come back :-(
Anyway, the two days spent here were absolutely crazy! During the day maybe you can get bored after a couple of days, but the nightlife is jsut the same as Koh Pha Ngan, I still don't know which island is the best! Everynight drinking and dancing, meeting people (most of them from Ireland), but also some funny italian girls (one of them famous for me and Jamie since she was always singing "Shakira-Shakira"...) and stay up till late....one of those night I also get really scared watching two thai guy fighting with a gun! It was like a movie, all the people watching the scene from 50 meters, the police guys watching the stars or us instead on doing his job, and in the other side this thai guy pointing the gun on the other thai guy's head, really close to shoot him.....what a night! Anyway, at the end a third thai guy came and make the movie ending, since he convinced the guy with the gun to forget about it!
More, in those two nights we met many people: Jess from Ireland (really nice girl, she was explaing us how the island was before the Tsunami on 2004, sicne she was there!), Marie from Ireland as well (I've found her completely drunk on teh way, after we met before in the club, adn she was so drunk to don't remember where to sleep...so I've bring her in my room, sharing our bed with Jamie and Channa, all together) and Susy, the girl working for the guesthouse, an amazing example of thai beauty! Too much fun when the day after Marie woke up without remember anything, and still thinking why Jamie was sleeping next to her instead of me!!! (When I bring her home, she was too drunk so we left her sleeping and me, Channa and Jamie continued the party for another couple of hours, then when we came back Jamie felt down next to her and it was impossible to wake him up, so I left them sleeping together!).
If you're around this island, don't forget to visit Hippies Bar, but before there is another great pub easily to recognize since it has different level of dance floor (all openen).
Anyway, most of the fun is thanks to those amazing friends met during my world trip, so thanks to Pamela, Davina, Channa and Jamie! (But also don't forget the extraordinary power of the buckets...)
During the day I've passed another on my best moment of this world trip: we were in 5 so we booked for a whole day a long tail boat adn we started exploring the two islands of Phi Phi, deciding each time where to go and where to stop adn for how long...everything for only 400B (8 euro!), much better than buy a stardard tour trip! Anyway, during the day we went first to the National Park, where there is first an amazing bay where to stop for snorkelling and to dive from the boat, then we went in another side of the island, left the boat and we walked inside the island directed to the otehr side, where there was the amazing Ao maya beach, the same beach where Di Caprio mades the movie "The Beach"!!!! This beach was great, I've neved seen such white sands, really really cool! But also the path to arrive there was interesting and great, I think to have took 30min. only filming this part of the island! Then we continued the trip visiting other places and we did more snorkelling, but that beach will be impressed on my mind for long time!
Anyway, don't forget that 2 years ago the Tsunami passed here, and still now you can see how much damages it creates! Interesting to see but also very sad!
Anyway, without have slept too much, next day we have had our classic "sand-wiches" for 50B and then left to Railay, considered another good place to visit and explore! Unfortunately for me, I've been here for less than a day, thus I couldn't see at all the area, considered really interesting. But, it was good anyway to have spent the night here: we took a cheap accomodation on Ao Railay (east), at "Ya Ya resort" good place to stay if you don't want to take a dangerous path to Ao Ton Sai, where there are cheaper boungalow! (we tried to go there but after 10min walking on the ebach with my suitcase we changed idea!). Anyway, we went to Ao Ton Sai in the evening, with a free ride on a long tail boat, completely dark on teh boat by night, another cool experience! The boat left us in front of the party (of course on teh beach!), where there was latin music (I've danced salsa with Pamela on the beach), few but cool people (I've also played bonghi with the local band, I've got some photos!). We found a ball somewhere so we played on the ebach for a while, then we get bored and we came back, at 4am, completely dark, passing throw a rocky path on teh sea (+ a small cave), everything really cool but extremely dangerous (in 5 with only one torch)...my flip-flop of course where to trash after this path!
This was our last night all together since the day after Pamela and Davina left for Phi Phi, and me and the guys came back to Bangkok, after another long journey! Here I've spent again 2 days, believing to leave for India and instead now I'm in north Thailand for another week, waiting for an indian VISA! Last night I've took a bus to arrive here but after 2 hours we saw a huge cloud from the back of teh bus....engine overheaten!! We spent 1-2h helping the driver to top up water in the engine (our water!) before to leave again!
Ok, that's it, now in the next few days I'm going to cross the border with Burma or Laos in order to extend my VISA fo Thailand, I hope to be back safe!
See ya
After have visited the great Koh Pha Ngan, me and Channa moved to Koh Samui, a not really exciting island but still good to stay for a couple of days! Here we visited a cool monkeys show in a private farmer, then we went with a motorbike in some great waterfalls (Namuang waterfall), amazing sicne it was possible to swim and dive on it, really great experience! Perhaps Davina and Pamela have had a 30min of Elephant trekking to the waterfall, but I haven't done it since I think in India it will be much more interesting!
The nightlife in Chaweng, teh main town in Koh Samui, it can be considered nice, but nothing if compared to Koh Pha Ngan, where you can dance every night on the beach, fuck, I really miss that place!
Anyway, if you're around this area let's start the night from "The great mambo", then after 2am follow the crowd to anotehr huge place 5 min walk!
Except for Chaweng, the only other interesting beach is in Lamai, but at the end is not a real place to visit...still, if you visit first Koh Pha Ngan everything looks bad, it's hard to find again such nice boungalow next to the beach and such great atmosphere!
The last night in Koh Samui was pretty cool: we started drinking at home, then we went to the first club, then to teh second one, of course all the time drinking those famous "buckets", a mix of rum or vodka, red bull and coke! Plans where to stay up till 6am, then take the motorbike (rent till 10am from the previous day) to visit another waterfall, for then finally come back at 9.30, time when my trip should start to leave to Koh Phi Phi.....and instead, at 6am Chanan was too drunk to keep a conversation, Davina throw up two/three times (one on my feet!) and Pamela was already passed out hours ago!
Thus, I've decided to sleep for 4 hours instead of 3.30: I mean, I didn't wake up on time and I've lost the local bus to arrive to the ferry! The only option was to call a taxi and try to arrive at the ferry before 11am! I was very lucky since I'm arrived on time but shit, I've spent another 500B for the taxi! Also, this was a real unlucky day sicne my plan was to arrive in Koh Phi Phi in the evening and instead I was forced to stay in Krabi, since the bus arrived too late to catch the last ferry! This town is nothign special, but everything is cheap and the people here are a sample of real Thai people (go to Crazy Pub and you won't see a tourist!)
Anyway, in Krabi I've found a new cool friend, Jamie from Australia, and a cool town where to stay at really cheap price, so I've decided to spend more days here and then go to Koh Phi Phi! The day after I went with Jamie to the "4 islands", which are 4 small islands around Krabi but all of them really interesting to visit: here I've took some of my best photos on the beach, if it is a sunny day you absolutely have to do it (and it cost only 300B for all day). You can first walk on the sea between two islands (but only in the morning, in the afternoon the sea level is too high to walk!), then you can snorkkeling (but be careful, I've smashed my right ancle to a rock and for all the next day I could't walk at all!) and visit a really "stupid" cave, but still good backgrounds!
Anyway, me and Jamie waited here in Krabi for Pamela and Davina (they always joined me one or two days later, in Bangkok, in Ko Samui and now here!), then all together went to Koh Phi Phi, and here we met again Channa in the evening (he decided to go back in Koh Pha Ngan for the half moon carnival, then I took a trip from there to Koh Phi Phi to spend some other days with us!)
Anyway, we finally arrived to KOH PHI PHI, considered to be one of teh best Asian attraction! We rent a room at "Phi Phi Don Chukit", but don't forget to call one day before to book a room, otehrwise you will pay 1000B instead of 500B! The numebr is (66) 75618126, but there are also cheaper accomodation, like Gypsi Guesthouse, for 350B, but more far from the centre!
I've spent only two nights in this island but I'm still regretting to haven't spent here more time...Pam and Davina forced us to see Railay, so we left the 3rd day but then they recognized that Phi Phi was much better and they came back the day after...and for me there was no more time to come back :-(
Anyway, the two days spent here were absolutely crazy! During the day maybe you can get bored after a couple of days, but the nightlife is jsut the same as Koh Pha Ngan, I still don't know which island is the best! Everynight drinking and dancing, meeting people (most of them from Ireland), but also some funny italian girls (one of them famous for me and Jamie since she was always singing "Shakira-Shakira"...) and stay up till late....one of those night I also get really scared watching two thai guy fighting with a gun! It was like a movie, all the people watching the scene from 50 meters, the police guys watching the stars or us instead on doing his job, and in the other side this thai guy pointing the gun on the other thai guy's head, really close to shoot him.....what a night! Anyway, at the end a third thai guy came and make the movie ending, since he convinced the guy with the gun to forget about it!
More, in those two nights we met many people: Jess from Ireland (really nice girl, she was explaing us how the island was before the Tsunami on 2004, sicne she was there!), Marie from Ireland as well (I've found her completely drunk on teh way, after we met before in the club, adn she was so drunk to don't remember where to sleep...so I've bring her in my room, sharing our bed with Jamie and Channa, all together) and Susy, the girl working for the guesthouse, an amazing example of thai beauty! Too much fun when the day after Marie woke up without remember anything, and still thinking why Jamie was sleeping next to her instead of me!!! (When I bring her home, she was too drunk so we left her sleeping and me, Channa and Jamie continued the party for another couple of hours, then when we came back Jamie felt down next to her and it was impossible to wake him up, so I left them sleeping together!).
If you're around this island, don't forget to visit Hippies Bar, but before there is another great pub easily to recognize since it has different level of dance floor (all openen).
Anyway, most of the fun is thanks to those amazing friends met during my world trip, so thanks to Pamela, Davina, Channa and Jamie! (But also don't forget the extraordinary power of the buckets...)
During the day I've passed another on my best moment of this world trip: we were in 5 so we booked for a whole day a long tail boat adn we started exploring the two islands of Phi Phi, deciding each time where to go and where to stop adn for how long...everything for only 400B (8 euro!), much better than buy a stardard tour trip! Anyway, during the day we went first to the National Park, where there is first an amazing bay where to stop for snorkelling and to dive from the boat, then we went in another side of the island, left the boat and we walked inside the island directed to the otehr side, where there was the amazing Ao maya beach, the same beach where Di Caprio mades the movie "The Beach"!!!! This beach was great, I've neved seen such white sands, really really cool! But also the path to arrive there was interesting and great, I think to have took 30min. only filming this part of the island! Then we continued the trip visiting other places and we did more snorkelling, but that beach will be impressed on my mind for long time!
Anyway, don't forget that 2 years ago the Tsunami passed here, and still now you can see how much damages it creates! Interesting to see but also very sad!
Anyway, without have slept too much, next day we have had our classic "sand-wiches" for 50B and then left to Railay, considered another good place to visit and explore! Unfortunately for me, I've been here for less than a day, thus I couldn't see at all the area, considered really interesting. But, it was good anyway to have spent the night here: we took a cheap accomodation on Ao Railay (east), at "Ya Ya resort" good place to stay if you don't want to take a dangerous path to Ao Ton Sai, where there are cheaper boungalow! (we tried to go there but after 10min walking on the ebach with my suitcase we changed idea!). Anyway, we went to Ao Ton Sai in the evening, with a free ride on a long tail boat, completely dark on teh boat by night, another cool experience! The boat left us in front of the party (of course on teh beach!), where there was latin music (I've danced salsa with Pamela on the beach), few but cool people (I've also played bonghi with the local band, I've got some photos!). We found a ball somewhere so we played on the ebach for a while, then we get bored and we came back, at 4am, completely dark, passing throw a rocky path on teh sea (+ a small cave), everything really cool but extremely dangerous (in 5 with only one torch)...my flip-flop of course where to trash after this path!
This was our last night all together since the day after Pamela and Davina left for Phi Phi, and me and the guys came back to Bangkok, after another long journey! Here I've spent again 2 days, believing to leave for India and instead now I'm in north Thailand for another week, waiting for an indian VISA! Last night I've took a bus to arrive here but after 2 hours we saw a huge cloud from the back of teh bus....engine overheaten!! We spent 1-2h helping the driver to top up water in the engine (our water!) before to leave again!
Ok, that's it, now in the next few days I'm going to cross the border with Burma or Laos in order to extend my VISA fo Thailand, I hope to be back safe!
See ya
News from Thailand...
Dear friends,
I'm sorry if my Thai photos are not uploaded yet but I'm still looking for an Internet Cafe' with an editing photo program to resize a selection of photos (already chosen) from Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Phi Phi!
Anyway, now I'm in the north, in Chiang Mai, after two days ago Chatay Pacific didn't allow me to fly to Bombay.... yesterday I've booked a visa to India (ready the 30th) thus I've decided to explore north Thailand for a week, then fly to Bombay the 31th!
Things here looks cheaper and there are interesting places and tours to do. Maybe the south is still better than here, but my first impression is that even here I can have good time, I will let you know in the next few weeks!
Take care
Andrea
I'm sorry if my Thai photos are not uploaded yet but I'm still looking for an Internet Cafe' with an editing photo program to resize a selection of photos (already chosen) from Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Phi Phi!
Anyway, now I'm in the north, in Chiang Mai, after two days ago Chatay Pacific didn't allow me to fly to Bombay.... yesterday I've booked a visa to India (ready the 30th) thus I've decided to explore north Thailand for a week, then fly to Bombay the 31th!
Things here looks cheaper and there are interesting places and tours to do. Maybe the south is still better than here, but my first impression is that even here I can have good time, I will let you know in the next few weeks!
Take care
Andrea
Essay of italian soccer by www.beppegrillo.it
[ITALIAN VERSION, ENGLISH VERSION BELOW]
Cos’è oggi il calcio? Nel migliore dei casi è come il wrestling. Si sa prima chi vince, chi deve retrocedere. Chi partecipa alle coppe europee. Calciopoli è come se non fosse mai esistita. La vittoria dei Mondiali l’ha cancellata. Sembra ormai una storia dei tempi di Meazza, di Piola. Rimangono alcune interviste, quasi imbarazzanti per il loro candore, di Rossi che vuole riformare il calcio. Poveretto, nessuno gli ha ancora detto nulla. Lui crede veramente di fare il commissario.
In questa situazione la Juve in A è un dovere, sarebbe l’unica a pagare per il ‘Calcio Truman Show' a cui abbiamo assistito. Prima però deve risarcire fino all’ultimo centesimo tutti coloro che hanno comprato le sue azioni. Abbiamo pagato soldi veri alla Rai e a Sky per vedere partite finte. Comprato biglietti per assistere a delle sceneggiate. I soldi almeno ce li devono dare indietro. Altro che abbonamenti per la prossima stagione e rinnovo di Sky. Perchè la Rai e Sky non fanno causa a nome dei loro utenti alle squadre di calcio?
E la vittoria dell’Inter a tavolino? Una squadra senza intercettazioni che aveva tronchetti, presidente di Telecom, come azionista. E’ una contraddizione in termini.
[ENGLISH VERSION]
What is football today? At its best it’s like wrestling. You know beforehand who is going to win and who is going to go down. Who’s going to participate in the European Cups. It’s as though Calciopoli {recent football scandal} never existed. The victory in the World Cup has obliterated it. In fact it seems like a story of the times of Meazza, of Piola.
A few interviews remain, almost embarrassing for their candour, in which Rossi wants to reform football. Poor man! No one has yet said anything to him. He truly believes that he is acting as a commissioner.
In this situation having Juve in Serie A is a duty. It would be the only one to pay for the Football Truman Show that we have watched. However before that it must pay back down to the last cent all those who bought their shares. We have paid real money to RAI and to Sky to see pretend matches.
Tickets have been purchased to see staged performances. They should at least give us back our money. It’s much more than about season tickets for next season and renewing Sky. Why don’t RAI and Sky take out a court action against the football teams in the name of their viewers?
And the desk-calculated victory of Inter? A team without phone taps that had Tronchetti, the Telecom president as a shareholder. It’s a contradiction in terms.
Matarrese, as the head of the Lega Calcio has been nominated the Guarantor of the change. His first statement was: we’ll give football back to “those who know it”. Moggi phoned him straight away.
The teams are quoted on the Stock Exchange, the money of the sponsors, the TV income. It’s no longer young men that come out onto the football field but banknotes with legs. Fake banknotes. So, well, Long Live Italy, but above all it’s a shame for Ghana.
Cos’è oggi il calcio? Nel migliore dei casi è come il wrestling. Si sa prima chi vince, chi deve retrocedere. Chi partecipa alle coppe europee. Calciopoli è come se non fosse mai esistita. La vittoria dei Mondiali l’ha cancellata. Sembra ormai una storia dei tempi di Meazza, di Piola. Rimangono alcune interviste, quasi imbarazzanti per il loro candore, di Rossi che vuole riformare il calcio. Poveretto, nessuno gli ha ancora detto nulla. Lui crede veramente di fare il commissario.
In questa situazione la Juve in A è un dovere, sarebbe l’unica a pagare per il ‘Calcio Truman Show' a cui abbiamo assistito. Prima però deve risarcire fino all’ultimo centesimo tutti coloro che hanno comprato le sue azioni. Abbiamo pagato soldi veri alla Rai e a Sky per vedere partite finte. Comprato biglietti per assistere a delle sceneggiate. I soldi almeno ce li devono dare indietro. Altro che abbonamenti per la prossima stagione e rinnovo di Sky. Perchè la Rai e Sky non fanno causa a nome dei loro utenti alle squadre di calcio?
E la vittoria dell’Inter a tavolino? Una squadra senza intercettazioni che aveva tronchetti, presidente di Telecom, come azionista. E’ una contraddizione in termini.
[ENGLISH VERSION]
What is football today? At its best it’s like wrestling. You know beforehand who is going to win and who is going to go down. Who’s going to participate in the European Cups. It’s as though Calciopoli {recent football scandal} never existed. The victory in the World Cup has obliterated it. In fact it seems like a story of the times of Meazza, of Piola.
A few interviews remain, almost embarrassing for their candour, in which Rossi wants to reform football. Poor man! No one has yet said anything to him. He truly believes that he is acting as a commissioner.
In this situation having Juve in Serie A is a duty. It would be the only one to pay for the Football Truman Show that we have watched. However before that it must pay back down to the last cent all those who bought their shares. We have paid real money to RAI and to Sky to see pretend matches.
Tickets have been purchased to see staged performances. They should at least give us back our money. It’s much more than about season tickets for next season and renewing Sky. Why don’t RAI and Sky take out a court action against the football teams in the name of their viewers?
And the desk-calculated victory of Inter? A team without phone taps that had Tronchetti, the Telecom president as a shareholder. It’s a contradiction in terms.
Matarrese, as the head of the Lega Calcio has been nominated the Guarantor of the change. His first statement was: we’ll give football back to “those who know it”. Moggi phoned him straight away.
The teams are quoted on the Stock Exchange, the money of the sponsors, the TV income. It’s no longer young men that come out onto the football field but banknotes with legs. Fake banknotes. So, well, Long Live Italy, but above all it’s a shame for Ghana.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Important news from Thailand!!!
What amazing day guys!
Today I went to teh airport in order to leave Bangkok and arrive in Bombay and instead now I'm still here in Khao San Road! At the check-in, the operator asked me the VISA for India...VISa that of course I don't have! Shit, I believed italian people don't need a visa and instead everyone except indian people need a visa to get in!
Then, I contacted the indian embassy and they said to obtain a VISA it will take up to 5 working days....this changed everything!!!
First of all, I've made some changes to my itinerary again: now I'm staying in Thailand till the 30th or maybe longer (I will know tomorrow at the indian embassy). Perhaps my Thailand VISA will expire the 29th so it's a penis in the ass, I need to find a solution tomorrow!
Anyway, the flight from Bombay to London is now scheduled for September 6th, and the back to Italy the day after, thursday 7th! Fortunally I haven't paied any extra fees to change my itinerary, but the ryanair ticket of course doesn't allow changes without pay (at the end other 24 quid to travel back in Italy!)
Hopefully I won't change anymore dates and be back in Europe for September, during the time now I can explorer the north, let's see if there are interesting stuff over there!
See ya
Andrea
Today I went to teh airport in order to leave Bangkok and arrive in Bombay and instead now I'm still here in Khao San Road! At the check-in, the operator asked me the VISA for India...VISa that of course I don't have! Shit, I believed italian people don't need a visa and instead everyone except indian people need a visa to get in!
Then, I contacted the indian embassy and they said to obtain a VISA it will take up to 5 working days....this changed everything!!!
First of all, I've made some changes to my itinerary again: now I'm staying in Thailand till the 30th or maybe longer (I will know tomorrow at the indian embassy). Perhaps my Thailand VISA will expire the 29th so it's a penis in the ass, I need to find a solution tomorrow!
Anyway, the flight from Bombay to London is now scheduled for September 6th, and the back to Italy the day after, thursday 7th! Fortunally I haven't paied any extra fees to change my itinerary, but the ryanair ticket of course doesn't allow changes without pay (at the end other 24 quid to travel back in Italy!)
Hopefully I won't change anymore dates and be back in Europe for September, during the time now I can explorer the north, let's see if there are interesting stuff over there!
See ya
Andrea
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Last updated itinerary!
Today I've jsut bought the ryanair ticket to come back in italy so now I cannot change any more dates! My schedules is to finish to visit Thailand the 23rd, then go to Bombay (India) till the 28th, stay with my english friends for a couple of days and then flight finally back in Rome, the 31th of August, after exactly 5 months!!!
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: LHR - London, EN, United Kingdom (Heathrow)
Arrive: JFK - New York, NY, United States (John F. Kennedy)
Depart: LHR 18/04/2006
Time: 10.25
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: JFK - New York, NY, United States (John F. Kennedy)
Arrive: YUL - Montreal, QC, Canada (Pierre Elliott Trudeau)
Depart: JFK 05/05/2006
Time: 12.10
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: YUL - Montreal, QC, Canada (Pierre Elliott Trudeau)
Arrive: MIA - Miami, FL, United States (Miami)
Depart: YUL 17/05/2006
Time: 06.30
---------------------------------------------------------
Depart: MIA - Miami, FL, United States (Miami)
Arrive: SJU - San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin)
Depart: MIA 1.20pm 26/05/2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: SJU - San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin)
Arrive: LAX - Los Angeles, CA, United States (Los Angeles)
Depart: SJU 12.30 3/06/2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: LAX - Los Angeles, CA, United States (Los Angeles)
Arrive: HNL - Honolulu, Hawaii
Depart: LAX 22.30 27/06/2006 Terminal: B
Operating Carrier: Air Pacific
Total Duration: 10 hours 45 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: HNL - Honolulu, Hawaii
Arrive: SYD - Sydney, NS, Australia (Kingsford Smith)
Depart: NAN 9.00 02/07/2006
Operating Carrier: Air Pacific
Total Duration: 4 hours 25 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: SYD - Sydney, NS, Australia (Kingsford Smith)
Arrive: MEL - Melbourne, VI, Australia (Tullamarine)
Depart: SYD 9.35 07/07/2006 Terminal: 3
Operating Carrier: Qantas Airways
Total Duration: 1 hours 30 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: MEL - Melbourne, VI, Australia (Tullamarine)
Arrive: NRT - Tokyo, Japan (Narita)
Depart: MEL 10.05 18/07/2006 Terminal: 2
Operating Carrier: Qantas Airways
Total Duration: 10 hours 25 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: NRT - Tokyo, Japan (Narita)
Arrive: HKG - Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Depart: NRT 10.55 24/07/2006 Terminal: 1
Operating Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways
Total Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: HKG - Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Arrive: BKK - Bangkok, Thailand (Bangkok)
Depart: HKG 14.25 30/07/2006
Operating Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways
Total Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: BKK - Bangkok, Thailand (Bangkok)
Arrive: BOM - Mumbai, India (Mumbai)
Depart: BKK 17.20 23/08/2006 Terminal: 2
Operating Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways
Total Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: BOM - Mumbai, India (Mumbai)
Arrive: LHR - London, EN, United Kingdom (Heathrow)
Depart: BOM 13.40 28/08/2006 Terminal: 2
Operating Carrier: British Airways
Total Duration: 9 hours 55 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: LHR - London, EN, United Kingdom (Heathrow)
Arrive: JFK - New York, NY, United States (John F. Kennedy)
Depart: LHR 18/04/2006
Time: 10.25
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: JFK - New York, NY, United States (John F. Kennedy)
Arrive: YUL - Montreal, QC, Canada (Pierre Elliott Trudeau)
Depart: JFK 05/05/2006
Time: 12.10
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: YUL - Montreal, QC, Canada (Pierre Elliott Trudeau)
Arrive: MIA - Miami, FL, United States (Miami)
Depart: YUL 17/05/2006
Time: 06.30
---------------------------------------------------------
Depart: MIA - Miami, FL, United States (Miami)
Arrive: SJU - San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin)
Depart: MIA 1.20pm 26/05/2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: SJU - San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Munoz Marin)
Arrive: LAX - Los Angeles, CA, United States (Los Angeles)
Depart: SJU 12.30 3/06/2006
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: LAX - Los Angeles, CA, United States (Los Angeles)
Arrive: HNL - Honolulu, Hawaii
Depart: LAX 22.30 27/06/2006 Terminal: B
Operating Carrier: Air Pacific
Total Duration: 10 hours 45 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: HNL - Honolulu, Hawaii
Arrive: SYD - Sydney, NS, Australia (Kingsford Smith)
Depart: NAN 9.00 02/07/2006
Operating Carrier: Air Pacific
Total Duration: 4 hours 25 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: SYD - Sydney, NS, Australia (Kingsford Smith)
Arrive: MEL - Melbourne, VI, Australia (Tullamarine)
Depart: SYD 9.35 07/07/2006 Terminal: 3
Operating Carrier: Qantas Airways
Total Duration: 1 hours 30 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: MEL - Melbourne, VI, Australia (Tullamarine)
Arrive: NRT - Tokyo, Japan (Narita)
Depart: MEL 10.05 18/07/2006 Terminal: 2
Operating Carrier: Qantas Airways
Total Duration: 10 hours 25 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: NRT - Tokyo, Japan (Narita)
Arrive: HKG - Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Depart: NRT 10.55 24/07/2006 Terminal: 1
Operating Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways
Total Duration: 5 hours 15 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: HKG - Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Hong Kong)
Arrive: BKK - Bangkok, Thailand (Bangkok)
Depart: HKG 14.25 30/07/2006
Operating Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways
Total Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: BKK - Bangkok, Thailand (Bangkok)
Arrive: BOM - Mumbai, India (Mumbai)
Depart: BKK 17.20 23/08/2006 Terminal: 2
Operating Carrier: Cathay Pacific Airways
Total Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes
------------------------------------------------------------
Depart: BOM - Mumbai, India (Mumbai)
Arrive: LHR - London, EN, United Kingdom (Heathrow)
Depart: BOM 13.40 28/08/2006 Terminal: 2
Operating Carrier: British Airways
Total Duration: 9 hours 55 minutes
Monday, August 14, 2006
Ko Pha Ngan and Full Moon Party!
This post is exclusively reserved for this first island that I've found on this long way exploring the south of Thailand!
To arrive here I've spent 600 bath (12 euro) and it tooks 18 fucking hours to arrive here (sorry for the bad word)!!! Anyway, if I knew before how this island was, I didn't care to spend even 2 days to arrive here!
The place is absurd: amazing beaches, few small town and great people! Even if prices are a little bit more expensive, staying here in Pha Ngan is absolutely great, happy to have spent 5 days here!
With my Sri Lanka frien Channa and the english Pamela and Davina (met in Hawaii months ago!), we rent a room in Thong Sala, waiting for the big event of the island, two days later, at Had Rin!
The town hasn't anything special but we rent a motorbike (manual gear) and we explore the whole island in less than 3 hours driving!!! Of course we stopped many times, first to watch some elephants, then to chill out and play fresbee in a beach in the north of the island, then we tried to find a waterfall but we've just driven in really dangerous streets for ages! Anyway, an overall of the day was really positive and everybody loves the island!
But as I said, in a day you can visit all the island so there were no point to stay longer after the "FULL MOON PARTY", one of the biggest event here in Thailand (www.fullmoonparty-thailand.com). All the backpackers know about it (I've heard about it only 3-4 days before, fortunately on time to book a ticket and arrive there a day in advance). The party is on the beach, at Had Rin, an amazing place populated only by tourist loving for good electronic music (but there are many bars on the beach and some of them also play RnB and other shit like that!).
Anyway, the party of course was a great success! People said there were 7000 people dancing till 8am (me included of course!) and then others also went to an afterparty around there (but I've prefered to drive Pamela and Divina back home, staying in 3 on the motorbike....police doesn't exist here, it seems to be in Naples!). I don't really remember at all the night, too drunk (I've a gap between 2 and 5, if someone knows what I did and where I was I would be happy to know!)...not joking, I've got some photos with people met on the boat to arrive in this island and I still don't remember to have seen them that night...I should stop drinking....
I will post some photos about Had Rin and the party, absolutely to see! Anyway, the day after we recovered all the energy, then friday we went to Had Rin again, this time with all out luggages (it was supposed to be not busy anymore and thus we have found some bungalow where to stay). Here, we found new power and energies and we liked so much the nightlife that we spent 2 more days (two great nights, of course!)
Then I've decided to move to Ko Samui (another island next to Ko Pha Ngan, where I'm writing now), but not because I get bored of the island, it just that I don't have more time to visit the rest of the south,shit! If you're planning to visit thailand check the previous website and try to be on this island during this full moon party, an experience absolutely to do!
Now I'm in Ko Samui, considered more advanced than Ko Pha Ngan...yes, if fact I can bargain again and have shopping! The town Chaewang looks like a small Bangkok, but unfortunaly in this period there are really too many italians and israel people (it reminds me that this is the month where italians are used to travel for vacation).
Last night was cool, Channa (the sri lanka guy) is really crazy and with people like him is impossible to don't have fun, let's have look some photos later and you will see!
Next post will be maybe about Ko Phi Phi, where Leonardo Di Caprio makes the movie "The Beach", but it's also one of the island hitted by Tsunami on 2004!
See ya
Andrea
xxxxxxxxxxx
To arrive here I've spent 600 bath (12 euro) and it tooks 18 fucking hours to arrive here (sorry for the bad word)!!! Anyway, if I knew before how this island was, I didn't care to spend even 2 days to arrive here!
The place is absurd: amazing beaches, few small town and great people! Even if prices are a little bit more expensive, staying here in Pha Ngan is absolutely great, happy to have spent 5 days here!
With my Sri Lanka frien Channa and the english Pamela and Davina (met in Hawaii months ago!), we rent a room in Thong Sala, waiting for the big event of the island, two days later, at Had Rin!
The town hasn't anything special but we rent a motorbike (manual gear) and we explore the whole island in less than 3 hours driving!!! Of course we stopped many times, first to watch some elephants, then to chill out and play fresbee in a beach in the north of the island, then we tried to find a waterfall but we've just driven in really dangerous streets for ages! Anyway, an overall of the day was really positive and everybody loves the island!
But as I said, in a day you can visit all the island so there were no point to stay longer after the "FULL MOON PARTY", one of the biggest event here in Thailand (www.fullmoonparty-thailand.com). All the backpackers know about it (I've heard about it only 3-4 days before, fortunately on time to book a ticket and arrive there a day in advance). The party is on the beach, at Had Rin, an amazing place populated only by tourist loving for good electronic music (but there are many bars on the beach and some of them also play RnB and other shit like that!).
Anyway, the party of course was a great success! People said there were 7000 people dancing till 8am (me included of course!) and then others also went to an afterparty around there (but I've prefered to drive Pamela and Divina back home, staying in 3 on the motorbike....police doesn't exist here, it seems to be in Naples!). I don't really remember at all the night, too drunk (I've a gap between 2 and 5, if someone knows what I did and where I was I would be happy to know!)...not joking, I've got some photos with people met on the boat to arrive in this island and I still don't remember to have seen them that night...I should stop drinking....
I will post some photos about Had Rin and the party, absolutely to see! Anyway, the day after we recovered all the energy, then friday we went to Had Rin again, this time with all out luggages (it was supposed to be not busy anymore and thus we have found some bungalow where to stay). Here, we found new power and energies and we liked so much the nightlife that we spent 2 more days (two great nights, of course!)
Then I've decided to move to Ko Samui (another island next to Ko Pha Ngan, where I'm writing now), but not because I get bored of the island, it just that I don't have more time to visit the rest of the south,shit! If you're planning to visit thailand check the previous website and try to be on this island during this full moon party, an experience absolutely to do!
Now I'm in Ko Samui, considered more advanced than Ko Pha Ngan...yes, if fact I can bargain again and have shopping! The town Chaewang looks like a small Bangkok, but unfortunaly in this period there are really too many italians and israel people (it reminds me that this is the month where italians are used to travel for vacation).
Last night was cool, Channa (the sri lanka guy) is really crazy and with people like him is impossible to don't have fun, let's have look some photos later and you will see!
Next post will be maybe about Ko Phi Phi, where Leonardo Di Caprio makes the movie "The Beach", but it's also one of the island hitted by Tsunami on 2004!
See ya
Andrea
xxxxxxxxxxx
Let's talk about Bangkok!
Dear friends,
Thailand is amazing, absolutely a place to visit (and to come back, in my case!).
As soon as I arrived to the airport I've noticed some strange characteristics about this country: considered poor but with some technological things to remain surprised! For example, the webcam in front the immigration desk, used to take your photo and to see if it really match with your passport! More, the traffic light with a panel on top used to tell you how long you must wait before the next green light (so you don't get stress)....the new underground 10 times better than Rome (most of the underground around the world are better than those one found in Italy...:-( and more and more...
Living in Thailand is really really cheap: after have paid 200 bath for a single room you can have breakfast for 50-100 bath more, then you can travel around the city with tuk-tuk (similar to taxi) or local transportation (extremely cheap and interesting), have some snack on the way with local fresh fruits (pineapple is my favorite!), then have lunch or dinner for 150 bath or less! A beer it could cost 100 bath in expensive places, generally it ranges from 50 to 100 bath anyway!
Thus, at the end of a day you can spend something like 500-800 bath with corresponds to 10-15 euro!!!
I'm really enjoying stay here in Thailand, just Bangkok impressed me enough to like this country, and now that I'm in the south (on the islands!) my idea of Thailand is even better! Bangkok itself has many many attractions: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are two amazing temple where you can spend a whole day, amazing objects and architecture completely different from the Western culture! Another interesting temple is "Temple of Dawn" , cool to see and also you're forced to use the local boats to reach the other side of the river (it cost 3 BATH, less than 2 cent of euro!!!). Other interesting areas are Silom rd (especially for the nightlife), Sukhumvit rd for its local market (and some great salsa clubs absolutely to see...people here dance really really good!), Jim Thompson's house to have an idea about how the old Thai houses were, and Vimanmek Mansion if you're interested in a old style rich house (I think the king lived there, not sure!)
Moving around Bangkok is another amazing experience: you can bargain with those "tuk-tuk" (as italian, I always have make great deals, but most of the people just pay for what they ask!), use normal taxi with meter or, the BOAT! Bangkok has a main river and many channels so you can ride a local boat (just like Venice) and travel in some areas of the city, an experience absolutely to do! Also, there are motorbike driver that can be useful when there is traffic, but of course they are a little bit more expensive and very dangerous...dangerous for not italian people, in Rome I was used to drive even more crazy than them, but for the average people it is considered quite dangerous.....did anyone of you have had a ride on my Vespa when I was in Rome??!!
Anyway, just staying in Khaosan rd and around it could take 2-3 days, too many interesting things to see and do, it's hard to find the words to tell you why here is so good, maybe the main reason is because everything is so different from European style that really attract me!
As you should know, I'm a salsa dancer so after few days I've found some clubs where to dance latin music! I didn't believe Bangkok was so good about latin places, instead just staying at the bar and watching the people dancing can be really enjoyable...but of course I haven't been there to watch! Thai girls are really good with salsa, some of them mix salsa and tango steps, making this dance really interesting! If you're interested to dance salsa in Bangkok, let's visit "La rueda" on Thursday or "Fico vivo" on friday, but I recommend to check the latest news on google since places always change!
Unfortunately Thailand is also very famous for the cheap sex and prostitution. Fortunately I still don't need of them but if you came here it's hard to no find those girls on the streets or in go-go bars! I don't like at all since if you are interested to meet a Thai girl, it's basically impossible to meet a "normal" one, everybody ask you for money, even inside normal clubs or bars (fortunately the salsa bars are fine, girls doesn't look to be prostitutes). One of the worst places where this problem is so evident is Pattaya, where I spent only one night, enough to understand how the system works! Those girls must work for a kind of pimp (which is generally a normal man/woman that own a bar), and they work till late all nights looking for customers! Now, if you like one of them, you can pay directly how much they ask or, if the girl likes you, you can just pay some money to the pimp to make free the girl for that night, then the girl became normal girl and it's up to you to decide what to do (just to let you know, I've spent one night there with my mexican friend Ancel and we where talking with those girls in one of those go-go bars, talked enough to guess of it work, maybe the system is different, I haven't tried but it looks like that!).
Bargains with all the local markets, taxi, prices for goods are considerer normal here, but if you think in other currencies, at the end you're dealing for cents, so after a while is not so exciting anymore....but still, I like to bargain to reduce the price since I know that the showed price is for tourist and not for local people!
Anyway, this was only an overall of Bangkok, next post will be about the islands (south Thailand!), which are famous worldwide.
See ya next post
Andrea
Thailand is amazing, absolutely a place to visit (and to come back, in my case!).
As soon as I arrived to the airport I've noticed some strange characteristics about this country: considered poor but with some technological things to remain surprised! For example, the webcam in front the immigration desk, used to take your photo and to see if it really match with your passport! More, the traffic light with a panel on top used to tell you how long you must wait before the next green light (so you don't get stress)....the new underground 10 times better than Rome (most of the underground around the world are better than those one found in Italy...:-( and more and more...
Living in Thailand is really really cheap: after have paid 200 bath for a single room you can have breakfast for 50-100 bath more, then you can travel around the city with tuk-tuk (similar to taxi) or local transportation (extremely cheap and interesting), have some snack on the way with local fresh fruits (pineapple is my favorite!), then have lunch or dinner for 150 bath or less! A beer it could cost 100 bath in expensive places, generally it ranges from 50 to 100 bath anyway!
Thus, at the end of a day you can spend something like 500-800 bath with corresponds to 10-15 euro!!!
I'm really enjoying stay here in Thailand, just Bangkok impressed me enough to like this country, and now that I'm in the south (on the islands!) my idea of Thailand is even better! Bangkok itself has many many attractions: Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew are two amazing temple where you can spend a whole day, amazing objects and architecture completely different from the Western culture! Another interesting temple is "Temple of Dawn" , cool to see and also you're forced to use the local boats to reach the other side of the river (it cost 3 BATH, less than 2 cent of euro!!!). Other interesting areas are Silom rd (especially for the nightlife), Sukhumvit rd for its local market (and some great salsa clubs absolutely to see...people here dance really really good!), Jim Thompson's house to have an idea about how the old Thai houses were, and Vimanmek Mansion if you're interested in a old style rich house (I think the king lived there, not sure!)
Moving around Bangkok is another amazing experience: you can bargain with those "tuk-tuk" (as italian, I always have make great deals, but most of the people just pay for what they ask!), use normal taxi with meter or, the BOAT! Bangkok has a main river and many channels so you can ride a local boat (just like Venice) and travel in some areas of the city, an experience absolutely to do! Also, there are motorbike driver that can be useful when there is traffic, but of course they are a little bit more expensive and very dangerous...dangerous for not italian people, in Rome I was used to drive even more crazy than them, but for the average people it is considered quite dangerous.....did anyone of you have had a ride on my Vespa when I was in Rome??!!
Anyway, just staying in Khaosan rd and around it could take 2-3 days, too many interesting things to see and do, it's hard to find the words to tell you why here is so good, maybe the main reason is because everything is so different from European style that really attract me!
As you should know, I'm a salsa dancer so after few days I've found some clubs where to dance latin music! I didn't believe Bangkok was so good about latin places, instead just staying at the bar and watching the people dancing can be really enjoyable...but of course I haven't been there to watch! Thai girls are really good with salsa, some of them mix salsa and tango steps, making this dance really interesting! If you're interested to dance salsa in Bangkok, let's visit "La rueda" on Thursday or "Fico vivo" on friday, but I recommend to check the latest news on google since places always change!
Unfortunately Thailand is also very famous for the cheap sex and prostitution. Fortunately I still don't need of them but if you came here it's hard to no find those girls on the streets or in go-go bars! I don't like at all since if you are interested to meet a Thai girl, it's basically impossible to meet a "normal" one, everybody ask you for money, even inside normal clubs or bars (fortunately the salsa bars are fine, girls doesn't look to be prostitutes). One of the worst places where this problem is so evident is Pattaya, where I spent only one night, enough to understand how the system works! Those girls must work for a kind of pimp (which is generally a normal man/woman that own a bar), and they work till late all nights looking for customers! Now, if you like one of them, you can pay directly how much they ask or, if the girl likes you, you can just pay some money to the pimp to make free the girl for that night, then the girl became normal girl and it's up to you to decide what to do (just to let you know, I've spent one night there with my mexican friend Ancel and we where talking with those girls in one of those go-go bars, talked enough to guess of it work, maybe the system is different, I haven't tried but it looks like that!).
Bargains with all the local markets, taxi, prices for goods are considerer normal here, but if you think in other currencies, at the end you're dealing for cents, so after a while is not so exciting anymore....but still, I like to bargain to reduce the price since I know that the showed price is for tourist and not for local people!
Anyway, this was only an overall of Bangkok, next post will be about the islands (south Thailand!), which are famous worldwide.
See ya next post
Andrea
Useful information in Bangkok
Hi everybody and sorry for the late, it's not always easy to find time to write from internet cafe', expecially when you're in a such beautiful country as Thailand!
I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS COUNTRY TO ANYBODY INTERESTED FOR A GREAT HOLIDAY!
First of all, I just wanna write some useful details about Thailand for then let you know some information about Bangkok & co.
If you're looking for an accomodation in Bangkok, I've got three places for you:
1) MyHouse guesthouse, 37 soi chanasongkram, pha-athit rd, 190 bath (less than 5US dollars!)
2) AtHome, 117 Tana rd, 320 bath
3) D&D Inn, 68-70 Khaosan rd, 550 bath (amost 10 euro)
All of them are great places, the first one for the really cheap price and still good environment (nice people, clean and big single room with private bathroom!). The second one is even more chic, and then the third one is considered one of the best in Khaosan rd (all of those 3 guesthouses are in this same area), made in Thai style and with a swimming pool! (please note that prices change, expecially when you're not in a low season)
If you need a massage, a good place where I went is "Chanwit's Hideaway", 3rd floor of 44 Khaosan rd.
(Just to let you know, I'm writing those information not because they paied me but because I wanna store all those great places for a future trip in Thailand!)
In Pattaya, a good place is 19th Hole, 104/3 Moo 10, Sophon Plaza, Tambon Nongprue (with good I mean really cheap and in central Pattaya, where the wierd nightlife is!)
Other places in Thailand are to be discovered by yourself, just like I did, going in the place and looking around!
Ok, next blog I really will start talking about Thailand!
I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS COUNTRY TO ANYBODY INTERESTED FOR A GREAT HOLIDAY!
First of all, I just wanna write some useful details about Thailand for then let you know some information about Bangkok & co.
If you're looking for an accomodation in Bangkok, I've got three places for you:
1) MyHouse guesthouse, 37 soi chanasongkram, pha-athit rd, 190 bath (less than 5US dollars!)
2) AtHome, 117 Tana rd, 320 bath
3) D&D Inn, 68-70 Khaosan rd, 550 bath (amost 10 euro)
All of them are great places, the first one for the really cheap price and still good environment (nice people, clean and big single room with private bathroom!). The second one is even more chic, and then the third one is considered one of the best in Khaosan rd (all of those 3 guesthouses are in this same area), made in Thai style and with a swimming pool! (please note that prices change, expecially when you're not in a low season)
If you need a massage, a good place where I went is "Chanwit's Hideaway", 3rd floor of 44 Khaosan rd.
(Just to let you know, I'm writing those information not because they paied me but because I wanna store all those great places for a future trip in Thailand!)
In Pattaya, a good place is 19th Hole, 104/3 Moo 10, Sophon Plaza, Tambon Nongprue (with good I mean really cheap and in central Pattaya, where the wierd nightlife is!)
Other places in Thailand are to be discovered by yourself, just like I did, going in the place and looking around!
Ok, next blog I really will start talking about Thailand!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
A post about Rome...
I was talking with a friend of mine about her recent short trip back to Rome (she's italian but she live in London), and I was so impressed about what she wrote that I've decided to post it, just to let you know that even if I'm travelling since long time and I like to travel, a part of me will still remain in Italy, so far still considered the best place where to live and proud to be born there...FORZA ITALIA!!!
"Roma...diciamo che l'ho vista con un occhio diverso....tutto qui.......come quando la si vede nei film: bella, d'atmosfera, con tanta gente che parla per strada e dentro la metro, con le mille vespette, la musica dalle finestre o i suonatori dal vivo di s Lorenzo...l'eco delle storie tipicamente romane che galleggia nella luce giallastra delle strade notturne, le sculture e i vecchi palazzi silenziosi di giorno ma così imponenti di notte, fiera della sua storia, incurante del formicolare di omini e macchinette starà sempre lì...con il suo stile da città eterna."
By Daniela, July 2006
"Roma...diciamo che l'ho vista con un occhio diverso....tutto qui.......come quando la si vede nei film: bella, d'atmosfera, con tanta gente che parla per strada e dentro la metro, con le mille vespette, la musica dalle finestre o i suonatori dal vivo di s Lorenzo...l'eco delle storie tipicamente romane che galleggia nella luce giallastra delle strade notturne, le sculture e i vecchi palazzi silenziosi di giorno ma così imponenti di notte, fiera della sua storia, incurante del formicolare di omini e macchinette starà sempre lì...con il suo stile da città eterna."
By Daniela, July 2006
Strange weather...
After a bad day in Macau (all day raining, no too many things to visit, but the weather is not the only responsible), perhaps interesting to have seen St. paul's ruins and A-Ma temple (fantastic chinese letters written in teh walls!), I've tooka f erry and I came back in Kowloon (HK). Here I've had the best night in Hong Kong! I've first met again Michelle and their friends, then we have had a good dinner, then we wnet to Lan Kwai Fong!
I think I should visit this place days before and not just at the end! Compared with Mongkok, where there is the chinese nightlife, this place is more populated my tourist (maybe too many): before to have seen this place I believed that Hong kong wasn't so busy of tourists...and istead last saturday night was packed, full of Western people! Anyway, the night was great since we found a beer festival in this area, thus we started drink pretty early and we get really drunk....I really have to say thanks to Ken to have filmed most of the night, now I have really good memories, nice photos and movies!
the day after I spent almost all morning to recover, then I went to Sham Shui Po, considered the main place where to buy electronic device! And in fact, I bought a fake iPod nano for just 34 euro!!!! And it also works fine!!! :-)
Anyway, after that I met Michelle and her laptop: I borrowed it for almost two hours, backing up all my data again and to try to understand how to use the new MP4 player!
Later, we met again Ken&co. and all together we went in a rustic hong kong place trying the real tipical and traditional food, really good!! I'm so happy to have spend all the week with those people, really cool and completely different mentality with the chineses!
Then we moved for a dessert at Saitung town, a seavillage, but don't forget to avoid the "dorian", a really shit fruit, considered the King of the fruits, but it really smell...it smell so much that the place where we went has two different section: not smoking or not smoking, but dorian eating or not!!!!!
On the way we also find a basketball court and thus we arranged a couple of games at "21" (I won both the 2 times!) and "campana"!
And with that my last night in Hong kong was done! Next day I left for Thailand, so excited to came here that I've bought at the airport a guide that now I'm still trying to read...impossible since this city is so nice and interesting that it will be a shame to stay all day reading instead of just exploring!!!
News about the airport: everything was fine but when I'm arrived at the immigration desk I've spent 45 minutes on the queue, too much time, I think I choose the wrong line....I'm starting having a Syndrome of the Queue, all the time I think the other lines are faster!!!!
Take care my friends, next post will be about Thailand!
Andrea
x x x x x x x x x
I think I should visit this place days before and not just at the end! Compared with Mongkok, where there is the chinese nightlife, this place is more populated my tourist (maybe too many): before to have seen this place I believed that Hong kong wasn't so busy of tourists...and istead last saturday night was packed, full of Western people! Anyway, the night was great since we found a beer festival in this area, thus we started drink pretty early and we get really drunk....I really have to say thanks to Ken to have filmed most of the night, now I have really good memories, nice photos and movies!
the day after I spent almost all morning to recover, then I went to Sham Shui Po, considered the main place where to buy electronic device! And in fact, I bought a fake iPod nano for just 34 euro!!!! And it also works fine!!! :-)
Anyway, after that I met Michelle and her laptop: I borrowed it for almost two hours, backing up all my data again and to try to understand how to use the new MP4 player!
Later, we met again Ken&co. and all together we went in a rustic hong kong place trying the real tipical and traditional food, really good!! I'm so happy to have spend all the week with those people, really cool and completely different mentality with the chineses!
Then we moved for a dessert at Saitung town, a seavillage, but don't forget to avoid the "dorian", a really shit fruit, considered the King of the fruits, but it really smell...it smell so much that the place where we went has two different section: not smoking or not smoking, but dorian eating or not!!!!!
On the way we also find a basketball court and thus we arranged a couple of games at "21" (I won both the 2 times!) and "campana"!
And with that my last night in Hong kong was done! Next day I left for Thailand, so excited to came here that I've bought at the airport a guide that now I'm still trying to read...impossible since this city is so nice and interesting that it will be a shame to stay all day reading instead of just exploring!!!
News about the airport: everything was fine but when I'm arrived at the immigration desk I've spent 45 minutes on the queue, too much time, I think I choose the wrong line....I'm starting having a Syndrome of the Queue, all the time I think the other lines are faster!!!!
Take care my friends, next post will be about Thailand!
Andrea
x x x x x x x x x
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