Thailand 2011 — Part 7 – Zoo, Elephant Show, Flying Home

19 June 2011

The next day, I was nagged out of bed at 6am. We were going to Bangkok and Pattaya to spend time with some of my parents friends. BORING. We got dragged to a shitty zoo. It was hot.

wpid-DSC02365-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgCheck out the E30

wpid-DSC02369-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWe meandered around this neighborhood trying to find their house. A fender bender.

wpid-DSC02370-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWe finally got there. Nice place in the middle of a not so nice area. They had a newish E-class and a Cooper S. The guy was in the food processing business.

wpid-DSC02371-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThere were a few tigers, but they also had dumb stuff like pigs, rabbits, and deer.

Q: Whats the difference between a Thai zoo and a Thai supermarket? A: Nothing.

wpid-DSC02373-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgNice E34 in a no-parking zone

wpid-DSC02376-2011-08-6-13-03.jpglol, shoot and feed… shoot what, a rabbit? Feed who, me?

wpid-DSC02378-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgCamels

wpid-DSC02379-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThis SOB wouldnt look me in the face. I had to walk around and zoom in

wpid-DSC02380-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgA little pony

wpid-DSC02383-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgOne of those things with big teeth

wpid-DSC02384-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgI wish all the world’s deer were dead. They do nothing but spread rabies and cause car accidents

wpid-DSC02386-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgTiger cubs

wpid-DSC02387-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgDonkeys

wpid-DSC02388-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgPig races

wpid-DSC02389-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgHuge hog
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wpid-DSC02390-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgChild labor lol

wpid-DSC02392-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02395-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgFeeding the crocs

wpid-DSC02398-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgAn elephant

wpid-DSC02399-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgIce cream, sweet relief from the heat

wpid-DSC02401-2011-08-6-13-03.jpglol, crocodiles doing long division

wpid-DSC02402-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgTiger posing

wpid-DSC02403-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02404-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgCubs feeding off a pig

wpid-DSC02407-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02406-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWell thats a bit close. Good thing theres glass

wpid-DSC02408-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgMurals showing idyllic images of people and animals together

wpid-DSC02409-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWhy does the guy in this mural have braces?

wpid-DSC02410-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgA Toyota Scepter. Much cooler name than Camry

wpid-DSC02412-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgIt started raining HARD. This sign fell down

wpid-DSC02413-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgDeep water. The street looked like a river

wpid-DSC02418-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWe got to some place where they put on a Thai cultural show. Some of it was boring, some of it was great. wpid-DSC02419-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThe kickboxing here was staged.


Fast Tube by Casper


Fast Tube by Casper

wpid-DSC02425-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
wpid-DSC02426-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02431-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02433-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02445-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgSaw an elephant show


Fast Tube by Casper

wpid-DSC02447-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWatched an elephant paint

wpid-DSC02454-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgBasketball


Fast Tube by Casper

wpid-DSC02456-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgStreamers


Fast Tube by Casper

wpid-DSC02459-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgHula hoops

wpid-DSC02462-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgBowling

wpid-DSC02463-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02464-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02465-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02467-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgAudience participation

wpid-DSC02468-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgTaking pics with a tiger. This didnt look safe to me

wpid-DSC02471-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgElephant taxi

wpid-DSC02472-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02477-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThe place had a huge garden

wpid-DSC02478-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThe bathroom had no paper. I fortunately kept several paper towels in my pocket, and then used the spray to finish the cleanup. It was… miserable… and filthy.
wpid-DSC02479-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
wpid-DSC02482-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02483-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02484-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02486-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThis meat grinder was disgusting, covered in flies

wpid-DSC02487-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgDumb playboy sticker

wpid-DSC02488-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgWent to the beach for dinner. Looks like a Kia, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, a Camry, an Accord, a Toyota, something else, and an E-class wagon. I guess this place was high end dining.

wpid-DSC02489-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgThe fish go from these tubs to your plate

wpid-DSC02490-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02491-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02492-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02495-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgNice view of the water. Lots of fishing boats

wpid-DSC02499-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02497-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02498-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgIt was excellent food.

wpid-DSC02504-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgMy brother cleaned out his crabs

wpid-DSC02505-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgwpid-DSC02506-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgFishing boats

wpid-DSC02507-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgA Ford Ranger

wpid-DSC02510-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgAn Audi A6. I kind of want one.

wpid-DSC02511-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgMom stopped to buy fermented fish. I dont know how Thais eat that stuff. Growing up, I remember how awful it smelled.

wpid-DSC02512-2011-08-6-13-03.jpgA store selling lights?

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20 June 2011

Back “home” in Kabin Buri

wpid-DSC02519-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Some sugar-covered thingies.

wpid-DSC02522-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
I bought some doughnuts at Tesco.

wpid-DSC02526-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Salmon flavored chips. Not so good in execution.

wpid-DSC02528-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Hot dog chips. Blech.

——————————————————

21 June 2011

wpid-DSC02529-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Heading to Bangkok to fly home.

wpid-DSC02534-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
wpid-DSC02535-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02542-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

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New airport

wpid-DSC02549-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02550-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02552-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
SO MANY BAGS for no reason.

wpid-DSC02554-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02556-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Korean Air has a class called “Morning Calm”

wpid-DSC02560-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02561-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02562-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02563-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Uncle, brother, grandmother

wpid-DSC02565-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02569-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02570-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02573-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02578-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Had dinner at the airport.

wpid-DSC02579-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
So good I forgot to get a picture before eating it.

wpid-DSC02580-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
PERRIER! A GODSEND.

wpid-DSC02581-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02585-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02586-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg

wpid-DSC02588-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
lol, an article about George Michael

wpid-DSC02594-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
My brother met a cute girl at the airport in Korea. Got her number. She initiated conversation (she was from Illinois or Wisconsin or something) and I had to walk away and text him to remind him to talk to her.

wpid-DSC02595-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
lol creeper pic

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Strangely tasty.

wpid-DSC02598-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
In-flight noodles.

wpid-DSC02599-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Watching House

wpid-DSC02600-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
Arrived in Chicago feeling very, very tired.

The moment we stepped foot on US soil, the level of airline and airport service, courtesy, and cleanliness steeply declined.

wpid-DSC02601-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
First thing I wanted was Italian beef at O’Hare, but it wasn’t anywhere near as good as Portillo’s. Sad.

wpid-IMG_20110529_030850-2011-08-6-13-03.jpg
My dog’s level of excitement upon seeing me was a bit underwhelming.

It was a relief to drive on properly maintained roads where I wasn’t afraid for my life. I really, really missed my cars.

Thailand is an exciting place to visit, but the place I call home is dull, pristine, and quiet, and I’m thankful for that.

2 Responses to Thailand 2011 — Part 7 – Zoo, Elephant Show, Flying Home

  1. Matt says:

    After seeing all the pics, I my curiosity about Thailand has been satiated, and I can continue sitting on my butt in front of my TV at home.

  2. Looks like a great trip. Excellent narrative for the hundreds of pictures you posted. You must have been putting this blog together for the past two months.

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