Sawadee Bee Mai and Happy New Year from a busy Bangkok.
This weekend was Songkran. The roads are full of cars crawling out of the city as people head off to the Provinces to celebrate Thai New Year with their families. This mass exodus means that almost half the population of Bangkok leave town. Bangkok, however, is never quiet, as it’s a popular time of year for tourists to enjoy the Songkran water festival.
We are all dressed in our best brightest shirts and I'm sure we will be off to 'play water' as the World’s biggest water fight kicks-off all over the country. April is our hottest month here in Thailand, so being drenched is not all bad…
We’re in Phuket, a beach playground which is always lively at the best of times, unless you know the secret spots. I was interested to see how wet and wild things are here. I need not have worried, in Bangkok, the organised public Songkran spaces have been reduced, whilst the country prepares for the King's Coronation. In Phuket, they were going for it big time!
Songkran rolls into Easter weekend (which is not a public holiday for Thai people) and then I am off on my Fitcation to Bali.
Has anyone else been on a Fitcation? Do let me know! Last time I was in Bali I was there for a yoga retreat. It seems this small island is making quite a name for itself in the fitness industry. Hey ho, years ago we all went to the beach to do nothing...
Well never let it be said that your Wren is a lay-about!
Spa Queen of Asia in Bali 2016 |
It seemed like a good idea when I signed up last year to join other members of my Aussie gym at a purpose-built Bali resort! I have always been a sucker for a good destination.
Since then, I am not as fit, nor trim, as I used to be. Today's memo suggesting to pack a long-sleeved shirt and leggings for our 2 am start to climb the volcano at sunrise did make me smile. Note to self: read the small print in future.
I have been in a training frenzy all week, getting fit for my Fitcation. Don’t forget the rest of my holiday buddies have been working out for months! Hmmm, s'pose it's too late to give up coconut ice-cream?
I have a great Personal Trainer in Bangkok called Bird. He doesn’t speak much English, but when he was introduced as Bird, I knew he’d be perfect to help me keep fit for my on-off planes crazy lifestyle.
I'm a Gym Bunny in Bangkok - trouble is I'm hardly there! |
Personal Training is a third of the cost compared with Australia and so whenever I am in Thailand, I try to work out and stretch with Bird. We always have a laugh as we struggle to understand each other.
He doesn’t seem to know the word eighteen, which he skips every time and I haven’t corrected him as it means I only ever struggle to nineteen of anything, as he proudly gets to twenty!
This week it goes like this:
Bird: ‘You got new shoes
Me: ‘Yes, I’m going on a Fitcation’ Me big smiley face.
Bird: 'You got fat’ Him, even bigger smiley face.
Me: laughs nervously: 'You're not supposed to say that!'
Bird: warming up his English vocabulary: 'Today we do fat-burn
You got O-Bees!'
So today I can hardly walk, as I strive to be less obese for my Fitcation.
Wish me luck!
Thank you to those of you who have been joining me on my blogging from A-Z Challenge Around the World with Wren on Little Wandering Wren - Travels.
So far we have been to
- Australia: The Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria
- Belgium: Brilliant Expat life in Brussels
- China: Ni Hao from China
- Delhi (India): Delightful Delhi by bike
- England: Millet's Farm Falconry
- France: The best weekend in Paris
- Women's World Championship Golf: Golf getaway to Singapore
- Hua Hin: Hua Hin WTA Tennis, Thailand Open
- Indonesia: Island of Bali
- Japan: Kabukiza Theatre, Tokyo
- Korea: Wanderings in South Korea
- Laos: Timeless elegance in Laos
Pop over and see me there if you can. I promise I won't throw a bucket of water over you and I'd love to see you.
Must dash, I’m off to the gym to work on getting rid of a few bees!
Wren x
Linking with thanks to all the hosts at Our World Tuesday
Comments
I hope it is not a requirement to be fit before your Fitcation. The spa does sounds wonderful, climbing to the top of the volcano sounds interesting. Wonderful photos. Wishing you a happy day!
Loved seeing all of your photographs.
All the best Jan
Have a great day
Hope your fitcation is fun and you get a bit of the vacay with it!
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Debbie
My Our World Tuesday post features a hike in the “Issaquah Alps,” Washington State, USA.
I could do with a Bird in mine :-)
Amalia
xo
Stick to your coconut ice scream... I meant fitness plan, stick to your fitness plan :)