Last night we took it easy and went to the one day market (there are three big markets: Night Bazaar, One Day, and Sunday market.)

We bought some things, nothing to exciting though - I got a T-shirt and a hat. We figure we'll get more beachy clothing in the south.

The one day market is also ridiculously long so we decided to get a massage for our barking feet. It felt like that scene from Seinfeld when the Korean ladies make fun of us. They just kept laughing at us and we didn't understand what about. It was pretty humurous.

We were signed up for a three day jeeping trip that was supposed to leave on Sunday morning but we decided after speaking with people who went on the trip to forego it. Instead we are planning two day trips and one day of Chiang Mai relaxing.

Today was the Chiang Mai relaxing. I rented a scooter for 250 baht (including insurance) but unfourtanetly my friend can't ride a bicycle nor a scooter. The scooter is amazing and makes me want to get a scooter more and more in Israel.

I drove to the Chiang Mai zoo where I met up with Aaron who take a Songtauw (a small mini bus). We saw the Great Pandas of which there are only ~160 in captivity and under 2,000 left in the world. We had to pay another 100 baht just to see them, but it was well worth it. They were adorable.

The rational behind going to yet another zoo was that a) I love animals, b) there was a famous Panda, c) it's beautiful scenary without having to travel 3 hours to get to a jungled. In the end it was likely one of the most non-touristy things we did as it was mainly populated by locals . We also saw a seal show.

The crazy part about the zoo was that at most stations they also sold meat of the animals so that you can taste them. Pretty crazy stuff.

The entire time at the zoo though I was dying to get back onto my scooter though and I will likely use the rest of the day to get lost in Chiang Mai. I just hope I can find my way back.

For one humorous anecdote:
When we were riding the tram at the zoo I mentioned to my friend surprisingly that there are some pretty attractive thai people. My friend answered "that's a pretty strange way to describe an animal." I was pretty shocked that he would describe Thai people as animals. In the end he thought I was talking about TIGERS.

Another great part is that EVERYWHERE we go my friend is asked if he's pregnant because he's a little overweight. It's not just funny that Thai people all are so rude to make fat jokes, but that they all use the pregnant line. This has literally happened around 7 times so far. It's probibly the best part of the whole trip so far. I find it hysterical.

Shabbat in Chiang Mai was nice. There were about 150-200 people for Friday night dinner at Chabbad. The food was ok, but a bit scarce. We met a bunch of interesting people. We had dinner and lunh with an American religious woman who is volunteering with AJWS for four months in Thailand.

We walked around old Chiang Mai on Shabbat day and sat by the pool (until being asked politely to leave) at the Shangi La. The Shangri La is the hotel to stay at if you have the money. It was really nice.

The bus ride to Chiang Mai wasn't terrible. I slept through most of it. The last two days we went ATV'ing (which I am absolutely terrible at) and zip-lining through the jungle (which I thought was a bit boring, although my travel mate is scared of heights so it was funny watching him freak out on each one [everyone else on our group thought that was the best part too]).

Both events were in the magnificent jungle. It is really refreshing to be able to get some fresh air away from Bangkok.

When we went ATV'ing we came across a famous temple but couldn't enter because of the the Halacha we learned:( We did see some Monks so got pictures with them. It was really really funny. I won't say we made a mockery of their religion or desecrated their holy sites but yeah...

The ATV was just the two of us, a very nice Israeli guy and the tour guide.

At night we went to a Thai Boxing match where we watched people gamble on 10 year old children kick box. (One kid was knocked out from a hard kick to the face - he almost cried). It was really really disturbing and I had to leave several times as I couldn't bare watching it. So far Thailand is turning out to be an extremely disgusting place. The only thing we haven't seen yet is people eating live animals.

The Chabad in Chiang Mai is much smaller than Bangkok but still very impressive. Were staying at the Red Brick Hostel which is basically 90% Israeli.

Shabbat is soon and we will be going to Chabad obviously. Saturday night we are going to try and go to the night safari. On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we will be going on a jeeping trip and then flying to Krabi (southern Thailand) to hang out on the islands - which is what I am really excited about.

Have a Shabbat Shalom!

Basically Bangkok is nearly the worst place in the world (based on my limited traveling experience).

You know how Israeli shop keepers are very pushy and always try to scam you. Thai people in Bangkok are a whole new level. The only worthwhile reason to go to Bangkok is to witness they way they operate in person. You can't walk 10 feet without being pressured into buying something or going somewhere.

The most common conversation I have had is:
Tuk Tuk driver: Where you going?
Me: I'm going for a walk.
Tuk Tuk driver: I'll take you anywhere, 10 Baht.
Me: I want to walk.
Tuk Tuk driver: Come I take you.
Me: WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!!
Tuk Tuk: 5 Baht I take you anywhere.

I've learned to really just ignore the sellers.

The prostitutes are just as aggressive and possibly even a larger multitude. The only thing more than prostitutes may be rats. They both come out at about 11.

All in all, Bangkok is a crummy city with terrible pollution.

I am thriled we are going to Chiang Mai tonight, even though the ride is going to be 12 hours by bus. Yikes! And I didn't even like the 5 hour bus ride from Tel Aviv to Eilat. At least were saving a little by not flying.

We also went to the zoo in Bangkok which was pretty interesting. We saw many endangered species, and the last male albino Barking Deer. I was thinking about killing it, because then I would be the last one in the history of the world to have seen a male albino barking deer. I decided against it.

I am thinking of going to the Chiang Mai zoo too because they have two famous Giant Pandas.

My friend showed up at about 2 AM last night. We woke up for minyan at Chabad at 9:30, after which we had a 250 baht breakfast (I had eggs, cappuccino, and salad), and then headed to the Royal Palace of Thailand.



The Royal Palace and the Emerald Buddha are all in the same complex so we also looked at some of the temples. Based on my limited knowledge of Buddhism, basically the novel Siddhartha and Wikipedia, I was under the impression that Buddhism was not avoda zara. I decided to email Rabbi Ezra Bick from Gush this morning just to check...



Question: I am in Thailand, and I was wondering if I can visit the Buddhist temples and or see the Buddhist statues.



Answer: Bhuddist temples are avoda zara mamash. They and everything in them are assurim be-hana'a. That means that you may not even enjoy the shade from the sun. Halakha l'maase one should not enter a temple even if there is no direct hana'a.



So in retrospect most of the day was pretty bad... We did not go to any place where they required us to take off our shoes, but we still looked at everything.



After the palace we were greeted by a very official looking Thai man who advised us that our ticket includes another museum which is a few miles away and that we should make sure to go there too. He arranged for us to travel with a tuk-tuk driver (basically a golf cart) that can take us there and some other places for only 40 baht - which is crazy cheap even for Thailand.



So we went with him expecting to see the sites but instead he took us to a custom made suit store where he makes commission. We were like we don't want anything and just want to go to the museum. So we got back into the tuk-tuk and drove for another 30 minutes at which point I insisted we definitely drove too far so he stopped in another minute and told us we were at an important site. We got out, and he drove away.



He left us basically in the middle of nowhere. (At least we didn't pay him...)

If only we had read the Lonely Planet guide:
Preludes to a rip off:
"A tuk-tuk driver offers a sighsteeing tour for 10B to 20B. Do thae maths: Petrol and time will get paid by you thanks to a commission from whatver tailor store the driver "happens" to know about". They even mention in another paragraph that "You should be doubly suspicious if they are professionally dressed but aren't busy at a real job somewhere."

Touched down in the land of smiles at about 3:30 today. Slept most of the flight which was great. My hotel's sign is written in huge hebrew letters. First thing I did was stopped by Chabad and grabbed a 150 Baht (about $5) meal of shnitzel, israeli salad, ice tea, and fries. T'was decent. Chabad is packed. Getting a minyan for Maariv was very easy.

Now I'm in Bangkok. You can't help but feel alive here. Very busy, lots of people.

I'm paying 10 baht for 20 minutes of internet use so I'm in a rush. I'll likely update the blog periodically over the trip.

Overview:

The Palmach Museum is an experiential museum, covering the Palmach legacy through the stories of individuals and groups. Visitors to the museum join the group of young Palmach recruits from its establishment, and advanced through the story of the Palmach until the end of the War of Independence. 
The manner of presentation is extremely innovative. There are no displays or documents, but rather an account of a fascinating personal story accompanied by three-dimensional decor, films and various effects incorporating documentary materials. 
The visit, which is conducted in groups, correlates with the structure of the presentation, set out as a series of events, and symbolizing the Palmach team spirit. 
The tour commences and ends in the memorial hall for Palmach warriors who died fighting for establishment of the state of Israel. 

Visit to the museum must be pre-arranged. The tour is carried out in groups of up to 25 people (individuals visitors will be pre-arranged into groups).
The tour is for children over 6 years only. 
The length of the tour is 90 minutes. The presentation is in Hebrew. English, Spanish, French and Russian speakers will be provided with a translation through headphones. 
Entrance fee: 25 NIS for adults. 15 NIS for school children and pensioners (payment is by cash or check only).
Bus routes: all routes reaching the Tel-Aviv University, parking is available at the Eretz Israel Museum's parking areas, situated adjacent to the Palmach Museum. 
Driving directions to the Palmach Museum:
Take No. 20 Highway ("Netivay Ayalon" - Ayalon freeway). Exit at Rokach West. After 1 Km. drive, turn right to Namir road and after about 200m. turn right again at Levanon St. (passing the Eretz-Israel Museum) and the Palmach Museum is at No. 10 Levanon St.

Contact us: For arranging tours please call: 972-3-6436393, or Fax: 972-3-6436964. Email: palmach_reservation@mailto.mod.gov.il

The Museum opening hours: Sun, Mon, Weds 0900-1700; Tues, 0900-2000; Thurs, 0900-1400; Fri, 0900-1300.

Address: 10 Haim Levanon st. Ramat-Aviv, Tel-Aviv. For correspondence: the Departmenr of Museums, Ministry of Defense, P.O.B. 952 Kiryat-Ono 55108 

Tel. 03-6436393. Fax. 036436964

Review:

A 100% must see. The museum reminded me of a universal studios ride. You can tell that they spent a significant amount of time and money in order to get patrons to really feel the experience of being part of the Palmach. They even utilize the sense of smell. 

I don't want to ruin too much for you, but I don't think this museum will be a let down to anyone. I have not been to or even heard of a similar museum anywhere. The whole time I was thinking wouldn't it be cool if in the future all movies were like this... 

Your not going to be inundated with facts etc... and you may feel like you didn't learn that much about the Palmach (it really only covers the bare basics of who they were and what they did), but it will hopefully get you a sense of how it felt to be part of the Palmach.

Tip:

Call a week in advance. If you are one person you may be able to get a spot in the middle of the day on the day you call, but generally it makes sense to book a spot at least a week in advance.