Elephants & Adventure 15/11/2008 - 06/12/2008

Elephants & Adventure 15 Nov 2008

Hi Kerri

Thanks for posting on the forums! I went on this tour in June this year and had a wonderful time, I am sure you will love it. Don't worry about travelling alone, lots of people book and travel solo, and there are a couple of other single travellers on your tour (both female).

Any questions about the tour, please don't hesitate to contact me! I do hope someone from you tour gets in touch soon.

Best Wishes,
Kelly

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for this, i hope to speak to some people before the actual trip.

I do have a question with regards to backpacks for the trip, trivial i know, but i've never travelled like this before so if you could give me some guidance on the kind of size etc you think i'd need that would be great.
Also is there another way to contact you rather than via the forum?

Speak soon,

Kerri

Backpacks on tour

Hello again Kerri,

Thanks for your reply! The packpack I took was around the 65L size, I think. It also has a zippable (is that a word?!) day pack that can be detached from the main pack or used by the end of the tour for extra luggage space.

I would suggest travelling as light as possible, as you will need to put the bag onto luggage racks in the trains, so if it's too heavy to lift up then you will struggle. One person on my tour had quite a large solid suitcase and it was a bit big for some of the trains.

I think I had about 14kg of luggage but I didn't run short of clothes, and on this tour there are LOADS of opportunities to do laundry (at the Elephant Park, in Chiang Mai, in Bangkok and in Krabi). It's cheap and quick to get laundry done, so I would strongly recommend you do that.

Also take a smaller bag (like a handbag) as you will no doubt have some evenings out for meals and drinks and won't want to carry your day pack around.

One thing about Thailand as well - you will shop! So leave some spare space in your bag (or buy a spare bag over there) as I guarantee you will want to buy things.

If you want, you can contact me on kelly@imtrav.net and I am happy to answer anything else you need to know.

Best Wishes,
Kelly

Hi!

Hi Kerry

It's so good to know that at least one other single female is booked onto this trip!! It's my birthday the day after the trip starts so it would be nice to know someone to have a drink with!!

I'm flying out from Birmingham on Thurs 13th Nov (7 weeks today!) to arrive on the Friday evening in Bangkok and fly back to Birmingham on the evening of Sunday 7th December. Where are you flying from?

I'm 25 and I've never been abroad alone before at all and definately not done any kind of trip like this - it's getting quite scary now!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Amy xx

Hey Amy,

Yeh at least we know we're not the only ones travelling solo!
Wow what a way to spend your birthday, that'll be great.

I'm flying from Heathrow on 14 Nov and back on 6 Dec so i've got a mad dash from my internal flight from Krabi to my flight home on 6th!!

The most i've done is travel back alone from Portugal this year so i'm in the same bout as you! I'm 21 btw.

You must live pretty local to me if you're flying from B'ham, i live in Leicester?

I'm so excited about this trip, i really can't wait!

Kez

Hi

I looked at flights from London and found that with the travel down there it was just as cheap to fly from B'ham. I live in Cannock if you have heard of that? I didn't want the rush back which is why I decided to stay an extra night in Krabi then fly back to Bangkok for lunch on Sunday so I'm ready for my flight back in the evening. Apparently there is one area of Bangkok airport full of chairs where you can get a massage before the flight! When do you land on the Friday? I should arrive 18.05 so at least there will be someone else at the hotel for that first night!
xx

Fair enough really, i can't remember why i decided to fly from Heathrow!!! I'll land at 15:35hrs on 15 Nov. Thinking about it now i wish i'd of stayed another night in Krabi! Oh well!!!

it's really bad but not heard of Cannock!!!

What jabs have you had for the trip? I've ordered my rucksack today!
I'm so excited about working on the elephant nature reserve.

I think there's about 7 of us traveling so far. x

Cannock is between Wolverhampton and Stafford if you know those?!

So far I've had tetanus, diptheria, polio, hep a and typhoid. Still got to get the yellow fever. Have you had any yet? My arms did hurt for a couple of days afterwards! I've been told I don't need malaria tablets - have you had any advice?

I've bought a 50l rucksack and a 23l day sack for when we don't need the whole bag. I'm not planning on taking many clothes - just get them laundered which leaves more space for shopping! Great chance to get some unusual christmas presents!

Hey!
I'll be on this trip too all by myself. I'm 23 and from Canada. I get in the day before the tour starts. I'm spending my first night in the same hotel we meet at. Hopefully after 24hrs of flying I'll get some sleep before we head out! I'm also staying in krabi for about 6 days before I start heading back home. I've haven't done much travelling, nevermind alone but I'm super excited!
Manda

Hi Manda

Both Kerri and I land the day before the trip starts too and will be staying at the same hotel as you so we could all meet up and venture out together! It's so good to know that there are other single females booked on this trip that have never travelled before either - I was very nervous at the idea of being left alone on the free days! I'm spending just one extra night in Krabi before flying back to Bangkok to return home.

I'm 25 (it will be my 26th birthday the day after the trip starts so I hope you will have a drink with me!), live in a small town called Cannock in Staffordshire, UK and work for Finning UK - a Canadian company.

Amy xx

Hey Manda & Amy
Good to hear from you, i didn't realise it would take you so long to get there from Canada! I visited Canada last year!
I wish i was doing what you two are doing and staying a little longer down Krabi!
Amy - i'm having Heb B and have been recommended Rabies and some Japanese thing. i'm currently looking closer into those as to whether i'd really need them as they aren't cheap!
I've ordered a 55ltr rucksack with a 20ltr daysack! Lets see if i can lift it!!!! x

Hi
I was told I needed Hep B by the Dr and then when I went for the injection the nurse said I didn't need it so wouldn't give it me! I was also told I needed Yellow Fever but then called the clinic to book an appointment and was told I didn't need that one either! It's all so confusing Only good point is that I didn't have to pay for any of the injections I had!
I'm looking into doing the shark dive at Planet Scuba in Bangkok too. I'm petrified of them so I will be so scared!!
Amy x

Oh wow the shark dive sounds wicked, is that something we'll be able to do in our spare time over there?
I know there's so much conflicting info!
My Rucksack arrived yesterday, it's massive! i was trying it on like a new dress!!!!

Kez

I am so so scared of sharks I don't even know why I want to do it! Face your fears head on and all that. The place is close to the Emporium. The only day I can think we can do it is 29th Novemer. We get back from Chaing Mai that morning and are free then until the next night when we head down south. You have a dive lesson in the pool at 14.30 then do a 30 minute dive at 18.30. It costs 6600 bhat and they take a picture of you with the sharks which you can buy afterwards. The website is sharkdive.org and its at Planet Scuba. Think you would be up for doing it too??

Hey ladies!
Reading your messages kinda makes me nervous! I only signed up for this trip a couple weeks ago so I feel like I have a million things to do still! I don't have a backpack or daypack but I'm working on it. And I got my typhoid vaccine but that's it. I honestly haven't even read through what we're doing for the three weeks. I can't beleive you're going to swim with sharks...that's too scary! Do you have any other plans for our free days?

Manda

Hi Manda

I decided on New Years Eve to do this trip and I booked in April so I have been buying bits and pieces since then so in theory it won't cost so much in this last few weeks! I started putting things in my rucksack yesterday and I think with all the shopping out there and potential Xmas present buying I need to buy a bigger one!! I keep thinking I'm going to forget something but I guess if I do I can just buy it over there! And there are loads of internet cafes too so we can keep in touch with home easily.

The shark thing shouldnt be so bad - there is a video on you tube of someone that has done it and the sharks do swim close but really don't look interested in him and with it being in an aquarium they must be used to it!

Don't really have any other plans other than the main temples and markets! Fancy doing some snorkling and the island hopping boat trips you can do in Krabi though. Do either of you have any plans?

xx

Hi both,

Manda seriously don't be nervous. I bought my rucksack with a day pack attahced the other day off of 'Gap Year Travel' - it was a great price too. I've opted for a 60ltr one.

Kelly has a great blog on here about the daily activities at the Elephant park: http://www.imaginative-traveller.com/node/22150 have a read it's fab!

I'm really up for the Shark dive, i absolutely love snorkeling and have done a Try Dive before. i haven't got anything planned for the free days, i'm just going to decide what to do when we're there.

I've also bought a little bean cushion thing to make the sleeper trains a little more comfortable!

I wish i was staying on for a little longer at the end of the trip rather than rushing back!

Also i have discovered the art of rolling your clothes, i would advise you do this because you can get som many clothes into a tiny space this way, which is what we'll need to do!

Speak soon,

Kez

Hey
What clothes and footwear are you taking with you?
I've bought one of those bean-pillow type things that folds into itself? Think I bought it from Blacks for about £6.
I've never done any kind of snorkling or diving - I'm more worried about learning how to breathe lol.
I did originally buy a 50l bag but tried packing some things on Tuesday and there will be no space for anything I buy so I'm getting a bigger one - you can get some right bargains on ebay and new ones too!
I think we need to book the shark dive in advance. I have emailed Im Trav asking what time we will be back on the morning of the 29th from the overnight train but no response as yet!
xx

Hi,
I'm taking short sleeve t-shirts, long combats, 3/4 and shorts then some evening stuff for when we can dress a bit nicer! Shoe wise i'm taking walking trainers, flip flop and crocs. also taking a fleece as i get really cold!
Kelly hass said there's 9 of us in total going on the event. I'm really getting excited/nervous now.

xx

Yeah, I'm packing similar things - not planning on taking much at all as there are so many laundries and it means less weight and more space for shopping goodies!!
I'm getting excited now too. Just want it to come now! I fly out 5 weeks on Thursday so I'm on countdown - although I'm panicking that I will forget something important.
Lets see how many Christmas presents I can get out there!
xx

26 days to go!
I've also bought a travel towel as they have been highly reccommended!
I am so excited!!!!

I can't believe I fly out in 16 days!!! The time is going so so quickly now. I think I'm all sorted. I bought some of those travel towels too and have plenty of memory cards for all the pictures I will be taking. The climate change will definately be a shock considering it's been snowing today!

More Canadians

My niece and I are also on the this trip, picked up our final documents today so are very excited. We are from Alberta, Canada so Thailand and elephants will be a departure from what we are used to. Look forward to meeting everyone. We leave Calgary Nov. 13 and arrive in Bangkok on the 15th so will probably spend most of that day getting our bearings.

Hi,
Wow that's great, so good to hear from someone else who's going on the trip.
It'll make a nice change from your harsh winter over in Canada!
I can't believe it's just over a week ago! I land in Bangkok on 15 Nov too so i shall see you then.
Kez x