Up and out this morning at 8 and on the road again. We are heading north west and the countryside is much hillier. In parts it is full on jungle and then around the corner it is rice fields or general farming land. This certainly is a land of contrasts. Weather warm but only a little humidity so once again we are very fortunate. We stop for a comfort break and I buy some fried banana strips that I share on the coach. I still had some Durain falvoured wafers left from the other day so we have those too. We finally get to Lampang after about 2 1/2 hours. We take a delightful ride on a horse drawn cart around the old city for about half an hour. It was great fun and very relaxing. Then back on the coach to an out of the way restaurant for lunch in a secluded spot where we have yet another of Joe's "light lunches". So much food and always so tasty. One of the platters had prawns on skewers. Most of us had one or two but Frugal clearly liked them and ended up finishing off about 10 of them. I think she was a bit embarrassed by the time she finished when she saw the big pile of prawn shells in front of her, and all of us staring at her!!! (I sat and had breakfast with her this morning as I wanted to try and spend a bit of one on one time with her just to see if I could get through her 'serious' nature. She is enjoying herself but you wouldn't know it unless you push her on the subject.)
Anyway, time to get back on the coach again and we head to Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao which is the temple where initially the Jade Buddha was kept. But King V had it moved to Bangkok some hundreds of years ago, so we are very privileged that we have not only seen the jade Buddha but its original 'home' which not many locals can say.
We stop in at a local market and have a wander through. There are all sorts of foodstuffs that I can't recognise and then we see all the bugs for sale to eat. I tried a cricket last time I came to Thailand but can't be convinced to eat bugs ever again... There was all sorts of offal and small skinned beasties for sale. all was on display and nothing was refrigerated. No wonder some people turn Vegan..
A small pet area at the back of the market had chickens, rabbits and puppies for sale. I was horrified as I was worried that they were for sale to eat, but Joe assured me that they were for pets. He then told the story of some time ago he and some friends were at the market and each decided to buy a pet. He bought a rat, but by the time they got back to Bangkok his rat had clearly escaped as it was no where to be found in their luggage! At the mere mention of rats I was out of there. Thankfully I didn't see them in cages at the back of this market stall or you would have heard me screaming from here! At the front of the markets I did however buy a silver belt so at least I have a half reasonable nice memory of that market now.
Time to head to our hotel which is the River Lodge at Lampang. It is like a tropical garden with wooden bungalows dotted along the various paths. I had a wander around and eventually found my way to the pool so went for a swim, which was wonderful - the water is always just right, time for a quick change and then to a buffet dinner in an open air restaurant at the resort. Way too much food once again, but hey, I'm on holidays...
aanother lovely day in paradise.
Tomorrow we head to Chang Rai. I had asked Joe if there was any way we would be able to get to the Golden Triangle where Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand borders meet. Bless him, he has organised a boat to take us on the Mekong river to go to Laos. It will cost about 500 baht each ($20) and at this stage all have said they are interested in goign, even Frugal. I'm very much looking forward to our next few days. I don't want to think about it that we have now been here a week which means that we are half way through our holiday. Denial is a strong defence to reality.
And with that, it is my bedtime.
Saturday, 31 October 2015
Friday, 30 October 2015
Sukhothai
Had a very lazy morning so got some washing out of the way before heading to breakfast. I love the asian food and if you want you can have chicken curry and rice for breakfast! I opted for the best spring rolls ever. They were so good I had three of them, and that was after I had myVegemite on toast...
It is quite warm and a bit humid but no one is complaining.
On the coach at 9.30 and a short ride to the ruins of the intial temple and palace when Sukhothai was the first capital of Siam (which we now know as Thailand) about 1,000 years ago. I am sure it is hard to understand from reading my few lines, but the ruins are absolutely fantastic. I am not sick of seeing them and love the stories that go with each different site. Joe is such a wealth of information and he is so very comfortable with my little herd of kittens that he often jokes with us and is always looking for extra things to show us or take us to. Poor Chook (pronounced choke, as in strangle) simply manoeuvres the big bus through side streets and lanes to wherever Joe says and all without the blink of an eye or the scraping of vehicles on the side!!!
At the ruins we then board our own motorized tram ride around the ruins, getting off at key points. I am amazed at how few people there are here, but then I realize that Joe has us getting to all these sites at just the right time as the crowds build up each time we are about to leave. that's just another huge tick in the box for him and the tour itinerary.
We then head to a ceramics 'factory' which is a well known family business, to see how the products are made. We are offered the chance to paint our own mug or plate but no one wants to embarrass themselves as we are quite happy to watch the lass painting a plate. Frugal decides to go for a wander up the street so I finally locate her and get her on the coach where the others are waiting... sigh...
We then head a short coach ride to lunch where Joe had been promising us since last night, that we were only going to have a light lunch as we have all been saying that there is just too much food at every meal and as none of us have any will power, we eat every time food is put in front of us. So we were more than surprised to find at lunch that after the fabulous coconut chicken soup for starters, we then had our table filled with various Thai dishes to sample. We just couldn't eat it all again!!! Joe thought it was hilarious. The excess baggage I will be bringing home will be well and truly stuck on my hips, thighs and bum...
Rolled back onto the coach and another short ride back to our hotel where we now have a free afternoon. We were meant to go to a weaving factory but that isn't open so joe has promised to find something similar later in the tour for us. So back at the hotel I head straight to the Spa for a Thai massage. OMG, who knew I was as flexible as the girl made me??? I had legs flinging about in directions I didn't know they could go. After an hour of being pummelled in the nicest possible way I then headed to the gorgeous big pool and went for a much needed swim. I did give thought at one stage to what the poor people might be doing, but then I decided I didn't really care, so gave it no more thought.
Back to the room to shower and then add some photos for all you needy little armchair travellers, plus get the blog underway. Dinner in the hotel again tonight as Joe and I agreed that everyone would probably want to stay in tonight after such a relaxed afternoon, so that's what Joe has now arranged for us. We head off to Lampang tomorrow which is very rural and will be yet another change of pace and scenery for us.
I know I've already made mention of this, but all on the tour are repeatedly telling me of how good a time they are having, and our only fellow on the tour (partner of one of my kittens) said last night that even though he is world travelled, so far, this is the best tour he has ever done, so how good is that? I am very very very pleased with the first overseas trip I've organized for my kittens. Hopefully you armchair travellers are enjoying the journey too - if not, just consider my 'care factor'.
Am now back from dinner which was another huge banquet. We all feel like battery hens being force-fed!!! It has been a lovely day. I'm almost packed up again ready for our departure in the morning. I am now going to treat myself to an early night... after my scotch night cap ofcourse.
It is quite warm and a bit humid but no one is complaining.
On the coach at 9.30 and a short ride to the ruins of the intial temple and palace when Sukhothai was the first capital of Siam (which we now know as Thailand) about 1,000 years ago. I am sure it is hard to understand from reading my few lines, but the ruins are absolutely fantastic. I am not sick of seeing them and love the stories that go with each different site. Joe is such a wealth of information and he is so very comfortable with my little herd of kittens that he often jokes with us and is always looking for extra things to show us or take us to. Poor Chook (pronounced choke, as in strangle) simply manoeuvres the big bus through side streets and lanes to wherever Joe says and all without the blink of an eye or the scraping of vehicles on the side!!!
At the ruins we then board our own motorized tram ride around the ruins, getting off at key points. I am amazed at how few people there are here, but then I realize that Joe has us getting to all these sites at just the right time as the crowds build up each time we are about to leave. that's just another huge tick in the box for him and the tour itinerary.
We then head to a ceramics 'factory' which is a well known family business, to see how the products are made. We are offered the chance to paint our own mug or plate but no one wants to embarrass themselves as we are quite happy to watch the lass painting a plate. Frugal decides to go for a wander up the street so I finally locate her and get her on the coach where the others are waiting... sigh...
We then head a short coach ride to lunch where Joe had been promising us since last night, that we were only going to have a light lunch as we have all been saying that there is just too much food at every meal and as none of us have any will power, we eat every time food is put in front of us. So we were more than surprised to find at lunch that after the fabulous coconut chicken soup for starters, we then had our table filled with various Thai dishes to sample. We just couldn't eat it all again!!! Joe thought it was hilarious. The excess baggage I will be bringing home will be well and truly stuck on my hips, thighs and bum...
Rolled back onto the coach and another short ride back to our hotel where we now have a free afternoon. We were meant to go to a weaving factory but that isn't open so joe has promised to find something similar later in the tour for us. So back at the hotel I head straight to the Spa for a Thai massage. OMG, who knew I was as flexible as the girl made me??? I had legs flinging about in directions I didn't know they could go. After an hour of being pummelled in the nicest possible way I then headed to the gorgeous big pool and went for a much needed swim. I did give thought at one stage to what the poor people might be doing, but then I decided I didn't really care, so gave it no more thought.
Back to the room to shower and then add some photos for all you needy little armchair travellers, plus get the blog underway. Dinner in the hotel again tonight as Joe and I agreed that everyone would probably want to stay in tonight after such a relaxed afternoon, so that's what Joe has now arranged for us. We head off to Lampang tomorrow which is very rural and will be yet another change of pace and scenery for us.
I know I've already made mention of this, but all on the tour are repeatedly telling me of how good a time they are having, and our only fellow on the tour (partner of one of my kittens) said last night that even though he is world travelled, so far, this is the best tour he has ever done, so how good is that? I am very very very pleased with the first overseas trip I've organized for my kittens. Hopefully you armchair travellers are enjoying the journey too - if not, just consider my 'care factor'.
Am now back from dinner which was another huge banquet. We all feel like battery hens being force-fed!!! It has been a lovely day. I'm almost packed up again ready for our departure in the morning. I am now going to treat myself to an early night... after my scotch night cap ofcourse.
Thursday, 29 October 2015
More photos
You need to consider yourselves very lucky, as we have a free afternoon and after my Thai massage and a swim I am feeling very mellow and happy to spend time down loading more photos for my dear little armchair travellers.
Enjoy...
Traditional dancers. How they bend those fingers back makes me cringe.
Me at the pagoda showcasing the important part elephants played in development of the country during Sukhothai's early years.
Enjoy...
The solid gold Buddha.
The Orient Express crossing the bridge over the River Kwai
this would be me on the bridge over the River Kwai
Just one of the headstones at the Allied Cemetry. I saw that this one was for an Adelaide boy so thought it only fitting to pay special respects to a local lad.
Face of Buddha carved into a tree at Ayuthaya
Elephants at entrance to the ruins of Ayuthaya
The photos cannot possibly portray the grandeur and splendour of the ruins at Aythaya
Sukhothai is the first capital of Siam 1000 years ago. Its name means dawn of happiness which is clearly reflected in the ancient ruins and temples.
Joe told us we were having a 'light lunch' today and we were all pleased to hear that, as we have eaten like kings since we got here. This is a photo of the supposed 'light lunch'!!!! Just looooove that Thai food...
To Sukhothai
(I have uploaded some photos on a page earlier).
Can't believe that the darn alarm woke me at 5.30 this morning. Could well have done with a couple more hours sleep but up I got, shower, suitcase out, breakfast and on the coach and way by 7. We have a very long travel day today. Weather warm and a bit humid but fine inside the air conditioned coach - funny about that...
First stop after about 1 1/2 hours of driving is the ruins of Ayuthaya. I haven't been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, but figure that this has to be similar. It was quite humid by now but fine in the shade. we were able to take our time having a wander through the ruins which were fascinating. Back on the coach for a short ride to the remains of the palace and surrounding temples. This wasn't on our itinerary but Joe looks after us so well that as we were so close it made sense as far as he was concerned to fit this in too. Very impressive once again. Even saw four elephants that were carrying tourists around. Did I remember to tell you about the wild monkeys we saw in the jungle area two days ago? Cheeky things were running across the road and having a wonderful time searching for food that passing motorists had thrown from their vehicles.
Anyway, I digress, back on the coach and about 1/12 hours later we arrive at our lunch destination which is just too hard to describe but was just wonderful. There were a number of thatched roof areas alongside a big dam, and we were seated in one of these areas. A fabulous lush path led from where the coach dropped us off to our esating area. The flowers were beautiful and arches were formed by some of the taller plants, trees and vines. Anyway we had a Thai banquet and the food was great. A couple of the meals had pineapple in them so I said that I couldn't eat them because of my allergy. I didn't wnat anythign else as the other 2 main options plus the soup were going to be more than enough for me, however next thing I know I am brought out my own special little dish of chicken and cashews. The service was exceptional. They kept coming to ask if we wanted more of anything and as it was we couldn't eat all they had brought first time around! We then rolled back onto the coach and had about 2 more hours until a short pit stop (or happy stop as Joe calls them) at a large service station so that we could have a bathroom break. there was a small mini mart there too so I bought some Durian flavoured wafers and a packet of sticky rice cakes with palm sugar syrup drizzled over them that I shared with all on the coach once we were underway again. The Durian wafers were scrummy.. kind of like a custard taste and the sticky rice cakes were good too, altough the palm sugar toffee topping tested anyone with false teeth. LOL!!!
2 more hours on the road and we finally arrived at our boutique hotel, The Legendha at Sukhothai which was the oroginal capital. It was about 6.20 p.m. by the time I got to my room and it had been a very long travelling day, but an extra good one. Our hotel is really nice - and being boutique has quite a lot of quirky things. I've already spent too long uploading your first lot of photos on the previous entry that you will have to wait for photos of my room for another time.
Dinner was at the restaurant and it was fantastic, yet again with a budffet that had so many options I barely touched on half of them. We even had the option of having our own Pad Thai made up in front of us, which I most certainly took advantage of. In keeping with previous dinners I had a Legendha Special from the cocktail menu and as it had things like Gin, rum, grenadine, triple sec and a host of other yummy alcoholic beverages in it I was very impressed. it ws uppose to have pineapple juice in it but the subsituted orange juice for me... and then went and served it with a big chunk of pineapple in it so had to go and make me another one (and yes I checked, they did make another one not just fished the pineapple out!) After dinner we were entertained with some traditional dancing from some of the local students. It was lovely. However it has been a very long day and we are all pooped so time to retire to our rooms and just enough time for me for a cleansing scotch, upload photos (Sis, if it were quicker and simpler to upload photos, there really would be more of them) and pen these lines. My bed beckons.
Can't believe that the darn alarm woke me at 5.30 this morning. Could well have done with a couple more hours sleep but up I got, shower, suitcase out, breakfast and on the coach and way by 7. We have a very long travel day today. Weather warm and a bit humid but fine inside the air conditioned coach - funny about that...
First stop after about 1 1/2 hours of driving is the ruins of Ayuthaya. I haven't been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, but figure that this has to be similar. It was quite humid by now but fine in the shade. we were able to take our time having a wander through the ruins which were fascinating. Back on the coach for a short ride to the remains of the palace and surrounding temples. This wasn't on our itinerary but Joe looks after us so well that as we were so close it made sense as far as he was concerned to fit this in too. Very impressive once again. Even saw four elephants that were carrying tourists around. Did I remember to tell you about the wild monkeys we saw in the jungle area two days ago? Cheeky things were running across the road and having a wonderful time searching for food that passing motorists had thrown from their vehicles.
Anyway, I digress, back on the coach and about 1/12 hours later we arrive at our lunch destination which is just too hard to describe but was just wonderful. There were a number of thatched roof areas alongside a big dam, and we were seated in one of these areas. A fabulous lush path led from where the coach dropped us off to our esating area. The flowers were beautiful and arches were formed by some of the taller plants, trees and vines. Anyway we had a Thai banquet and the food was great. A couple of the meals had pineapple in them so I said that I couldn't eat them because of my allergy. I didn't wnat anythign else as the other 2 main options plus the soup were going to be more than enough for me, however next thing I know I am brought out my own special little dish of chicken and cashews. The service was exceptional. They kept coming to ask if we wanted more of anything and as it was we couldn't eat all they had brought first time around! We then rolled back onto the coach and had about 2 more hours until a short pit stop (or happy stop as Joe calls them) at a large service station so that we could have a bathroom break. there was a small mini mart there too so I bought some Durian flavoured wafers and a packet of sticky rice cakes with palm sugar syrup drizzled over them that I shared with all on the coach once we were underway again. The Durian wafers were scrummy.. kind of like a custard taste and the sticky rice cakes were good too, altough the palm sugar toffee topping tested anyone with false teeth. LOL!!!
2 more hours on the road and we finally arrived at our boutique hotel, The Legendha at Sukhothai which was the oroginal capital. It was about 6.20 p.m. by the time I got to my room and it had been a very long travelling day, but an extra good one. Our hotel is really nice - and being boutique has quite a lot of quirky things. I've already spent too long uploading your first lot of photos on the previous entry that you will have to wait for photos of my room for another time.
Dinner was at the restaurant and it was fantastic, yet again with a budffet that had so many options I barely touched on half of them. We even had the option of having our own Pad Thai made up in front of us, which I most certainly took advantage of. In keeping with previous dinners I had a Legendha Special from the cocktail menu and as it had things like Gin, rum, grenadine, triple sec and a host of other yummy alcoholic beverages in it I was very impressed. it ws uppose to have pineapple juice in it but the subsituted orange juice for me... and then went and served it with a big chunk of pineapple in it so had to go and make me another one (and yes I checked, they did make another one not just fished the pineapple out!) After dinner we were entertained with some traditional dancing from some of the local students. It was lovely. However it has been a very long day and we are all pooped so time to retire to our rooms and just enough time for me for a cleansing scotch, upload photos (Sis, if it were quicker and simpler to upload photos, there really would be more of them) and pen these lines. My bed beckons.
Photos
Because the iPad and I struggle to upload photos apologies that there are so few, and anyway, the photos simply do not do justice to being here and experiencing it all first hand. So that simply means that if you have never been to Thailand then you need to add it to your bucket list. I'm not talking about Phuket or Pattaya or any of the other beach resort tourist traps. Start in Bangkok and head north. The people are just so friendly, the food fantastic, the weather fine as long as you pick the right season and the scenery unbelievable!
Typical view along the Chao Praya River.
Floating market. This was just delightful! Bought myself a white blouse that I did a reasonable job of bartering for. Wore it to dinner to noight and all commented on how lovely it was so I am extra chuffed.
Hellfire Pass, unfortunately the photo doesn't give anywhere near the sense of actual size. How those POWs cut through the sheer rock is just amazing. More than a few tears shed here.
How those along the Chao Praya River in the klong of Thonburi live, but many not as nice as these. There is no shortage of second hand galvanised iron all over the place.
Local taxis that are more generally used by the tourists. haven't had the need to risk life and limb yet to go in one.
Reclining Golden buddha. Couldn't possibly fit the whole thing into one picture.
Flower market - a florist's delight.
The railway market - everything gets whisked away when the train comes through. You can see the sleepers in the centre of the photo.
Made me bloody proud to be an Aussie, that's for sure!
Wednesday, 28 October 2015
DAY 3
Reasonable night sleep but still waking up about 5 each morning which is way too early. When I went out to breakfast I saw that it had been raining overnight but didnt hear it at all. Was a bit humid but by the time we had finished breakfast and on the coach at 8, not too bad at all. First stop was to a railway stop which is very popular marking a key section of the Thailand Burma railway that crosses the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi. Our timing was so good that we even got to see the Orient Express train which had travelled up from Bangkok. It was full of rich Americans and English apparently. Once that train moved on we got a chance to walk a section of the actual bridge. I felt like Alec Guinness and if I could have whistled better I would have done. So I simply started it off and then the rest of my kittens joined in. You know the tune, the one made famous in the film, Bridge over the River kwai. I have no idea of the name of the tune other than knowing some of the words that are not very flattering to Adolf Hitler. Whistling or humming loudly takes away the need to remember the words.
Back on the coach and then we head to the Allied War Cemetery which is superbly maintained by the locals. Not a weed in sight and the grass maincured to an inch of its existence. Very emotional experience once again, then we walked across the road to the Death Rail memorial museum which was equally as humbling and sad. Back on the coach and then we head to the local railway station where we once again see the Orient Express train and even had to walk through it to get to the other train track where our local train was which took us on an almost 2 hour ride through the countryside, shadowing where much of the original track would have been. When we got to one of the spots where sheer cliff face had been cut away high alongside the River Kwai, the train actually slows right down for photos. Just breath taking and all those other mixed emotions swirling around at the sheer feat of human endurance required to build that track.
At Wang Pho we get off the train and a very short walk down the street to our luncheon stop where we are once again treated to a fabulous buffet where they had the absolute best banana fritter EVER!!! They were so good, I had 4 of them!!!
Waddled back on the coach and then headed our jouney back to our hotel but with one stop at a lovely local waterfall at Saiyoke. There were kids everywhere splashing about in the waters which were grey from all the silt they had stirred up, but each child was having a ball and it was good to be amongst so many locals all having a great time. Back on the coach and then back to our hotel about 3.30. I had hoped to be able to book in for a massage at the local spa but they were booked out so I took myself down to the pool and had a very refreshing dip instead. The pool area is huge and lots of little islands in it with lush vegetation. the water was simply perfect. There were only two other kittens in the pool so dont know what the rest of my little herd were up to. Hopefully they were resting up for this evening as we are heading out to an unknown destination for dinner. All are agreed that so far the holiday just keeps getting better and better so I am really chuffed that it is all going so well. Frugal continues to be a bit bothersome as she is so damn serious all the time and when someone tells a little anecdote she counters with facts and figures. She is clearly very well read and astute re history and politics, but on holiday, that is as useful as taking condoms to a convention for nuns... No one wants to know about them. I've also told her that she has to stop hogging the front seat of the coach which she has done every day so far. None of the others have spoken up about it and wont ask her to move but I have no such inhibitions or reservations... well, there's a surprise... NOT...
So I have time now after my swim to start today's blog and as it also happens to be scotch o'clock I'm imbibing in a wee tipple at the same time.
Now back from dinner which was a delicious Thai banquet at a fabulous floating restaurant right alongside the bridge over the River Kwai. Exceptional. We had quite a few laughs between us too over lots of silly little things, so that tells me how well the kittens are getting along being very comfortable with each other. Even my kitten who was grumpy pre-tour about getting the dates wrong was having a good laugh and even had us laughing at a couple of things she came out with. a fun ending to another great day. It had been raining steadily by early evening but stopped entirely by the time we had dinner. it has cooled things down beautifully and hopefully means we are in for another fine day tomorrow. We have about 500 km to cover tomorrow so will be a long touring day. Bags out by 6 so time for me to sign off for now. Sleep beckons.
Back on the coach and then we head to the Allied War Cemetery which is superbly maintained by the locals. Not a weed in sight and the grass maincured to an inch of its existence. Very emotional experience once again, then we walked across the road to the Death Rail memorial museum which was equally as humbling and sad. Back on the coach and then we head to the local railway station where we once again see the Orient Express train and even had to walk through it to get to the other train track where our local train was which took us on an almost 2 hour ride through the countryside, shadowing where much of the original track would have been. When we got to one of the spots where sheer cliff face had been cut away high alongside the River Kwai, the train actually slows right down for photos. Just breath taking and all those other mixed emotions swirling around at the sheer feat of human endurance required to build that track.
At Wang Pho we get off the train and a very short walk down the street to our luncheon stop where we are once again treated to a fabulous buffet where they had the absolute best banana fritter EVER!!! They were so good, I had 4 of them!!!
Waddled back on the coach and then headed our jouney back to our hotel but with one stop at a lovely local waterfall at Saiyoke. There were kids everywhere splashing about in the waters which were grey from all the silt they had stirred up, but each child was having a ball and it was good to be amongst so many locals all having a great time. Back on the coach and then back to our hotel about 3.30. I had hoped to be able to book in for a massage at the local spa but they were booked out so I took myself down to the pool and had a very refreshing dip instead. The pool area is huge and lots of little islands in it with lush vegetation. the water was simply perfect. There were only two other kittens in the pool so dont know what the rest of my little herd were up to. Hopefully they were resting up for this evening as we are heading out to an unknown destination for dinner. All are agreed that so far the holiday just keeps getting better and better so I am really chuffed that it is all going so well. Frugal continues to be a bit bothersome as she is so damn serious all the time and when someone tells a little anecdote she counters with facts and figures. She is clearly very well read and astute re history and politics, but on holiday, that is as useful as taking condoms to a convention for nuns... No one wants to know about them. I've also told her that she has to stop hogging the front seat of the coach which she has done every day so far. None of the others have spoken up about it and wont ask her to move but I have no such inhibitions or reservations... well, there's a surprise... NOT...
So I have time now after my swim to start today's blog and as it also happens to be scotch o'clock I'm imbibing in a wee tipple at the same time.
Now back from dinner which was a delicious Thai banquet at a fabulous floating restaurant right alongside the bridge over the River Kwai. Exceptional. We had quite a few laughs between us too over lots of silly little things, so that tells me how well the kittens are getting along being very comfortable with each other. Even my kitten who was grumpy pre-tour about getting the dates wrong was having a good laugh and even had us laughing at a couple of things she came out with. a fun ending to another great day. It had been raining steadily by early evening but stopped entirely by the time we had dinner. it has cooled things down beautifully and hopefully means we are in for another fine day tomorrow. We have about 500 km to cover tomorrow so will be a long touring day. Bags out by 6 so time for me to sign off for now. Sleep beckons.
Tuesday, 27 October 2015
Day 2
It was a good night last night at the Thai dance and dinner. I went down to the lobby bar before we needed to head off and decided to shout myself to a B52. I think that it has similar impact on the body as drinking jet full, and i loved it!!! At the show there was plenty of food, but only complaint is it could have been hotter, heat wise. I washed my main meal down with a margarita. Who knew that Thailand people love to make cocktails for foreigners so much???
Thankfully the dancing was only about an hour as the music does my head in. Sounds way too much like cats wailing and fighting for my refined taste. How the girls manage to bend their fingers back so far without breaking them off defies thinking about. You wont be surprised that I waas asked to get up and dance with the performers on stage for their final number but I declined as I was too busy taking photos...
Back to our lovely hotel at a reasonable hour with enough time for a night cap and packing as early start in the morning. Good night sleep had (with the entry light off) but up at 5, bags out at 6 and straight to breakfast. Off we headed at 7. there is still so much more to see and do in Bangkok but it has been a great taster for the group and my kittens are all having a fabulous time so far. Similar weather as yesterday and even though it is 35 degrees it doesn't feel too hot and the humidity is very bearable, even pleasant for most of the time. Our first stop is unexpected as we stop at the village that has the train which runs through a little market. Cant remember the name of the place but Ive seen it shown on tv programmes. The locals set up their little fruit, veg, fish, etc stalls immediately on top of the railway line and sell their wares. They have rigged up plastic canpoies ov the top. The train runs through 5 times a day, so 4 minutes before the train is due they pull back the canopies and remove any of the wares that are sitting up about the level of the rail track, wait for the train to pass and then set up their stalls again. Absolutely incredible. Thankfully the train is in for repairs at this time so we were in no real danger of getting run over by it! The market is only for locals who clearly use it well, but because of recent overseas media coverage about it, it is becoming more of a touristy spot. We were the only 'foreigners' there though when we went through.
Next stop was the Damnern Saduak floating market. it was buzzing and exciting and fun. Wasnt too keen on the guys with the huge snakes that you could have your photos taken with, and some of the stall vendors were a bit pushy, but i did buy mself a little white blouse that i was happy with my bartering over. it did however get very humid amongst all the stalls. I know I keep promising photos, but I really did take some good photos of the floating market! Trust me...
Then back on the coach to head to our next spot which was at a floating restaurant on the River Kwai. lots of choices from the buffet and i am becoming very adept at making the soup, chicken today.
After lunch we then headed to Hellfire Pass which you are probably aware was the Burma to Thailand railway that the Japanese forced our prisoners of war and the local Thai people to build under the most horrific conditions. Had the opportunity to have a very good look in the little museum. Managed to shed a few tears whilst watching a video which was a compilation of photos and chalk drawings of the building of the track and the state of the POWS. Just heart breaking. Composed myself sufficiently to walk down into the actual part of the railway track and saw what was Hellfire Pass. There is a very special plaque commemorating Weary Dunlop. It is impossible to tae in what was required to dig out the rock face to create the railway and bridges. Something like 20 % (12,399) POWS died working on the railway and about 70,000-90,000 locals. The living conditions were appalling and if the dseases and malnourishment didnt kill you then the torture and beatings carried our by the Japanese would.
We were all very touched by the whole visit and are kind of looking forward to tomorrow when we go on a train ride on part of the track and a visit to the War Graves Cemetry at Kanchanaburi. But back on the coach it was, and time to head to our next hotel. We got in about 5.30 and once again are in a very nice hotel, but quite old. My room is huge!!!. Time for some hand washing and get today's blog started and then to dinner at the restaurant. The food was okay but way too much. 1. chicken salad entree followed by 2. pumpkin soup, followed by 3. chicken maryland followed by 4.fruit salad. I thought I would keep trying out new cocktails, so had a Gin Fizz which I've decided i could become quite partial to. we had quite a few laughs over the entertainment during dinner. A man on guitar and a woman singer did a darn good job of destroying every song they sang. It was terrible. I actually threatened to slap one of my kittens when she went up to them and asked them to play Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport. Thankfully they had no idea what that was so we were at least spared that embarrassment. I offered to go and grab the microphone off them at one stage and do a few ABBA numbers. I think I even had a couple of the kittens ready to storm the stage for me, but in the end we all decided that it was all aprt of the experience so we sucked it up and hoped that their performance wouldn't make our ears bleed. So it was then time to say our farewells to each other after another great day. As I now sit typing these lines, I can hear thump, thump, doof, doof from the restaurant area and have a sick feeling that it is our entertainment duo performing in the bar!!! Hope that isn't going to go on all night or there will be trouble. Should have stormed the stage when I had the numbers behind me... night, night.
Thankfully the dancing was only about an hour as the music does my head in. Sounds way too much like cats wailing and fighting for my refined taste. How the girls manage to bend their fingers back so far without breaking them off defies thinking about. You wont be surprised that I waas asked to get up and dance with the performers on stage for their final number but I declined as I was too busy taking photos...
Back to our lovely hotel at a reasonable hour with enough time for a night cap and packing as early start in the morning. Good night sleep had (with the entry light off) but up at 5, bags out at 6 and straight to breakfast. Off we headed at 7. there is still so much more to see and do in Bangkok but it has been a great taster for the group and my kittens are all having a fabulous time so far. Similar weather as yesterday and even though it is 35 degrees it doesn't feel too hot and the humidity is very bearable, even pleasant for most of the time. Our first stop is unexpected as we stop at the village that has the train which runs through a little market. Cant remember the name of the place but Ive seen it shown on tv programmes. The locals set up their little fruit, veg, fish, etc stalls immediately on top of the railway line and sell their wares. They have rigged up plastic canpoies ov the top. The train runs through 5 times a day, so 4 minutes before the train is due they pull back the canopies and remove any of the wares that are sitting up about the level of the rail track, wait for the train to pass and then set up their stalls again. Absolutely incredible. Thankfully the train is in for repairs at this time so we were in no real danger of getting run over by it! The market is only for locals who clearly use it well, but because of recent overseas media coverage about it, it is becoming more of a touristy spot. We were the only 'foreigners' there though when we went through.
Next stop was the Damnern Saduak floating market. it was buzzing and exciting and fun. Wasnt too keen on the guys with the huge snakes that you could have your photos taken with, and some of the stall vendors were a bit pushy, but i did buy mself a little white blouse that i was happy with my bartering over. it did however get very humid amongst all the stalls. I know I keep promising photos, but I really did take some good photos of the floating market! Trust me...
Then back on the coach to head to our next spot which was at a floating restaurant on the River Kwai. lots of choices from the buffet and i am becoming very adept at making the soup, chicken today.
After lunch we then headed to Hellfire Pass which you are probably aware was the Burma to Thailand railway that the Japanese forced our prisoners of war and the local Thai people to build under the most horrific conditions. Had the opportunity to have a very good look in the little museum. Managed to shed a few tears whilst watching a video which was a compilation of photos and chalk drawings of the building of the track and the state of the POWS. Just heart breaking. Composed myself sufficiently to walk down into the actual part of the railway track and saw what was Hellfire Pass. There is a very special plaque commemorating Weary Dunlop. It is impossible to tae in what was required to dig out the rock face to create the railway and bridges. Something like 20 % (12,399) POWS died working on the railway and about 70,000-90,000 locals. The living conditions were appalling and if the dseases and malnourishment didnt kill you then the torture and beatings carried our by the Japanese would.
We were all very touched by the whole visit and are kind of looking forward to tomorrow when we go on a train ride on part of the track and a visit to the War Graves Cemetry at Kanchanaburi. But back on the coach it was, and time to head to our next hotel. We got in about 5.30 and once again are in a very nice hotel, but quite old. My room is huge!!!. Time for some hand washing and get today's blog started and then to dinner at the restaurant. The food was okay but way too much. 1. chicken salad entree followed by 2. pumpkin soup, followed by 3. chicken maryland followed by 4.fruit salad. I thought I would keep trying out new cocktails, so had a Gin Fizz which I've decided i could become quite partial to. we had quite a few laughs over the entertainment during dinner. A man on guitar and a woman singer did a darn good job of destroying every song they sang. It was terrible. I actually threatened to slap one of my kittens when she went up to them and asked them to play Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport. Thankfully they had no idea what that was so we were at least spared that embarrassment. I offered to go and grab the microphone off them at one stage and do a few ABBA numbers. I think I even had a couple of the kittens ready to storm the stage for me, but in the end we all decided that it was all aprt of the experience so we sucked it up and hoped that their performance wouldn't make our ears bleed. So it was then time to say our farewells to each other after another great day. As I now sit typing these lines, I can hear thump, thump, doof, doof from the restaurant area and have a sick feeling that it is our entertainment duo performing in the bar!!! Hope that isn't going to go on all night or there will be trouble. Should have stormed the stage when I had the numbers behind me... night, night.
Sunday, 25 October 2015
day 1 in Thailand
Slept well in my onderful room last night until about 2.30 and by 5 a.m. there was no more sleep to be had so a quiet morning until down to breakfast and most of my kittens were already there. Breakfast was excellent and already most have commented that our first hotel has set very high standards for all the rest to live up to now.
At 8 am we headed off for what was going to be a very full day. Forecast is for 36 max, no rain but about 80 per cent humidity. In high spirits we make our way through central Bangkok until we get onboard a motor boat for a delightful hour and a half cruise on the Chao Praya river, up and down various canals checking out all the scenery, buildings, watercraft and even a short stop on a canal to feed the fish, seeing the biggest carp ever, at least one was a metre long!!! There is very stark evidence of the very rich and the abject poor. it was a lovely start to our morning. We are then back on the coach for a short ride to Wat Po to see the temple of the Reclining Buddha which is the largest and oldest in Bangkok. Couldn't get any decent photos of it though as it is simply too huge to try and fit in one image. I think it is more than 34 metres in length. Quite jaw dropping to consider how it was made and the gorgeous temple it is housed in.
As it is a Sunday and the end of a long weekend, there are very few people about at the time so traffic is good and no crowds, however our next stop is at the Grand Palace and the crowds are building up now. Everything is simply grand and there are so many wow moments with the work that has gone into creating the magnificent temples and buildings. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is quite gorgeous but that is the only thing we arent allowed to take photos of. The buddha is about a metre high and carved from a single piece of jade. Initially when it was found they thought it was emerald, but only later realized that it was in fact jade, however kept the title of Emerald buddha. My tour brochure tells me that it is considered the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today. Taking shoes off before entering temples is a bit of a nuisance but we even got a bag to carry our shoes in when wandering around this temple. I'd already decided that if my shoes were stolen I was simply to going to find an even better pair amongst the stored shoes and take them!!!
We also see the Grand Palace built by the 4th king of Siam (the one from the king and I story, you know the one with Yul Bryner) but no one ever lived in it. Then the 5th king, Yuls' first son, because he had learnt English as a child under Anna's tutelage, travelled to western countries and came back to build his own palace that is very western on the lower 2 floors but traditional Thai on the top and roof line. Also saw the Royal Funeral Hall and Coronation hall but only from the outside.
Then back on the coach to be taken back to the river for ourm buffet lunch at a floating restaurant. The boat was huge and the food choices plentiful. Lunch was great and I even made up my own pork noodle soup (minus the pork because I don't like pork...) and it was very yummy. Might have gone a bit heavy handed with the chilli as it most definitely cleared my sinuses and made my eyes water!!! No room for desserts although most of the rest of my kittens managed to stuff them in. All have agreed that it has been a great day so far and it is only just after 1 p.m.
Back on the coach to go to the flower market to have a walk through. Very interesting and so very beautiful. The orchids and lotus flowers are simple magnificent. Too bad we cant send them home. Next stop is a visit to Wt Trimitr, the temple of the Golden Buddha. The statue is made from gold and weighs 5.5 tons. It was discovered by chance just after the end of world war 2 and at the time was all that remained of a bombed out temple region. None of the monks wanted to go back to the region and no one claimed this huge cemet covered buddha so it was eventually taken to Bangkok where it sat for a few years before a temple was built to house it and they tried to move it with a crane but it dropped to the ground where it was left until the next day when they planned to come back and have a second go. As luck would have it very heavy rains overnight caused a lot of the plaster to wash off and when one of the workmen went to try and clear away a lot of the mud and run off from it saw that there was a deep crack on one of the choulders which when he kept washing away saw a bronze colour unerneath. was then fully 'cleaned' and they thought it was a bronze statue so they began to polich it but found it was quite glossy, so kept polishing the damn thing until it was finally realized that this darn things was SOLID GOLD!!!! Amazing... as no records of its history could be found it is thought that during the way the monks plastered over it to hide it from the invading Japanese and none of those monks survived to know its true identity. Whether that is true or not I reckon it still makes for a jolly good story. My only complaint is that it is now house on the top of a 3 story building and we had to take our shoes off on the ground floor. Walking across the bloody hot marble floor on the roof top has all but given me blisters on the udnersoles of my feet. Ouch!!!
Anyway time for our next bit o9f today's itinerary and we have a wander trhough Chinatown which has some 100 plus gold stores. No one asked to stop to go inside any of them though!!! Back on the coach and then finally bck to our hotel. We have had a jam packed day but it isn't over yet.
Time to have a drink upstairs in my room and then head to the pool for a refreshing ip. The spa jets are super and give a fabulous massage to my back and sore feet. Just what I needed.
Then back upstairs as it is now scotch o'clock and a chance to get today's adventures on the blog. We are all meeting for dinner at 6.45 when we are heading off th a Thai dinner dance. Should be fun. We have an early start in the morning as we head off at 7 a.m. and have to book out of the hotel too. 2 nights at the Felix River Kwai resort await us so if I get a chance Iwill try and upload some photos tomorrow, but that's your lot for today.
No, on other though i will give you one little gem, as i was so tired last night when I finally put myself to bed i couldn't for the life of me work out how to turn off the light at the door entrance. I simply couldn't find a light switch for it so in the end determined to keep the darn thing on all ngight, not tht it bothered me at all. It wasn't until this morning after I had my shower, got dressed, put my glasses on and saw an electronic pad the size of a saucer on the bedside table on the otehr side of the bed that i slept on, that had not only the one and only switch for that light but the air conditioner control, the tv and dvd control and every other light and power connection in the room! What a numpty I felt. That was however, only until I was chatting to a couple of the kittens who are sharing a room who told me that they couldn't work out how to turn off the light by the door in their room so had to keep it on all night. they thought I was so clever when i told them where the light switch actually was lcoated... until I finally confessed and told them I'd had my door light on all night too! Clearly a man decided where to put the light switches panel..... grrrrr.
At 8 am we headed off for what was going to be a very full day. Forecast is for 36 max, no rain but about 80 per cent humidity. In high spirits we make our way through central Bangkok until we get onboard a motor boat for a delightful hour and a half cruise on the Chao Praya river, up and down various canals checking out all the scenery, buildings, watercraft and even a short stop on a canal to feed the fish, seeing the biggest carp ever, at least one was a metre long!!! There is very stark evidence of the very rich and the abject poor. it was a lovely start to our morning. We are then back on the coach for a short ride to Wat Po to see the temple of the Reclining Buddha which is the largest and oldest in Bangkok. Couldn't get any decent photos of it though as it is simply too huge to try and fit in one image. I think it is more than 34 metres in length. Quite jaw dropping to consider how it was made and the gorgeous temple it is housed in.
As it is a Sunday and the end of a long weekend, there are very few people about at the time so traffic is good and no crowds, however our next stop is at the Grand Palace and the crowds are building up now. Everything is simply grand and there are so many wow moments with the work that has gone into creating the magnificent temples and buildings. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) is quite gorgeous but that is the only thing we arent allowed to take photos of. The buddha is about a metre high and carved from a single piece of jade. Initially when it was found they thought it was emerald, but only later realized that it was in fact jade, however kept the title of Emerald buddha. My tour brochure tells me that it is considered the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today. Taking shoes off before entering temples is a bit of a nuisance but we even got a bag to carry our shoes in when wandering around this temple. I'd already decided that if my shoes were stolen I was simply to going to find an even better pair amongst the stored shoes and take them!!!
We also see the Grand Palace built by the 4th king of Siam (the one from the king and I story, you know the one with Yul Bryner) but no one ever lived in it. Then the 5th king, Yuls' first son, because he had learnt English as a child under Anna's tutelage, travelled to western countries and came back to build his own palace that is very western on the lower 2 floors but traditional Thai on the top and roof line. Also saw the Royal Funeral Hall and Coronation hall but only from the outside.
Then back on the coach to be taken back to the river for ourm buffet lunch at a floating restaurant. The boat was huge and the food choices plentiful. Lunch was great and I even made up my own pork noodle soup (minus the pork because I don't like pork...) and it was very yummy. Might have gone a bit heavy handed with the chilli as it most definitely cleared my sinuses and made my eyes water!!! No room for desserts although most of the rest of my kittens managed to stuff them in. All have agreed that it has been a great day so far and it is only just after 1 p.m.
Back on the coach to go to the flower market to have a walk through. Very interesting and so very beautiful. The orchids and lotus flowers are simple magnificent. Too bad we cant send them home. Next stop is a visit to Wt Trimitr, the temple of the Golden Buddha. The statue is made from gold and weighs 5.5 tons. It was discovered by chance just after the end of world war 2 and at the time was all that remained of a bombed out temple region. None of the monks wanted to go back to the region and no one claimed this huge cemet covered buddha so it was eventually taken to Bangkok where it sat for a few years before a temple was built to house it and they tried to move it with a crane but it dropped to the ground where it was left until the next day when they planned to come back and have a second go. As luck would have it very heavy rains overnight caused a lot of the plaster to wash off and when one of the workmen went to try and clear away a lot of the mud and run off from it saw that there was a deep crack on one of the choulders which when he kept washing away saw a bronze colour unerneath. was then fully 'cleaned' and they thought it was a bronze statue so they began to polich it but found it was quite glossy, so kept polishing the damn thing until it was finally realized that this darn things was SOLID GOLD!!!! Amazing... as no records of its history could be found it is thought that during the way the monks plastered over it to hide it from the invading Japanese and none of those monks survived to know its true identity. Whether that is true or not I reckon it still makes for a jolly good story. My only complaint is that it is now house on the top of a 3 story building and we had to take our shoes off on the ground floor. Walking across the bloody hot marble floor on the roof top has all but given me blisters on the udnersoles of my feet. Ouch!!!
Anyway time for our next bit o9f today's itinerary and we have a wander trhough Chinatown which has some 100 plus gold stores. No one asked to stop to go inside any of them though!!! Back on the coach and then finally bck to our hotel. We have had a jam packed day but it isn't over yet.
Time to have a drink upstairs in my room and then head to the pool for a refreshing ip. The spa jets are super and give a fabulous massage to my back and sore feet. Just what I needed.
Then back upstairs as it is now scotch o'clock and a chance to get today's adventures on the blog. We are all meeting for dinner at 6.45 when we are heading off th a Thai dinner dance. Should be fun. We have an early start in the morning as we head off at 7 a.m. and have to book out of the hotel too. 2 nights at the Felix River Kwai resort await us so if I get a chance Iwill try and upload some photos tomorrow, but that's your lot for today.
No, on other though i will give you one little gem, as i was so tired last night when I finally put myself to bed i couldn't for the life of me work out how to turn off the light at the door entrance. I simply couldn't find a light switch for it so in the end determined to keep the darn thing on all ngight, not tht it bothered me at all. It wasn't until this morning after I had my shower, got dressed, put my glasses on and saw an electronic pad the size of a saucer on the bedside table on the otehr side of the bed that i slept on, that had not only the one and only switch for that light but the air conditioner control, the tv and dvd control and every other light and power connection in the room! What a numpty I felt. That was however, only until I was chatting to a couple of the kittens who are sharing a room who told me that they couldn't work out how to turn off the light by the door in their room so had to keep it on all night. they thought I was so clever when i told them where the light switch actually was lcoated... until I finally confessed and told them I'd had my door light on all night too! Clearly a man decided where to put the light switches panel..... grrrrr.
Thailand it is then...
A fairly early start saw me at my benevolent car minding and airport taxi service friends' home so that I was dropped at the airport at about 7.30 a.m. which was just as well, because no sooner had I put my suitcase down than the only male and female couple in the group arrived, followed shortly by another couple of women. I sent them in the direction of check in and then checked my baggage in. As I had asked the group to meet me at 8 a.m. in the main departure area I had 5 more to go. one came in right on 8.
As it got to 5 past 8 two of the women came in and one who I am going to refer to as Frugal, came up to me to tell me off as she had been waiting in the Arrivals area which is supposedly where I told her to be at 8 a.m. 'No' says me to Frugal, I would never have told you to be in the Arrivals area when we all have to check in at Departures! This from the same women who earlier in the week kept trying to tell me that the length of flying time is affected by the different time zones we corss so she had worked out that we arrive back home at 3 in the morning and she didn't know how she was going to expect anyone to pick her up at that time. I'm sure I never did convince her that flying times and time zones are not connected - and she got in quite a huff with me then! I'm going to have to whip her into shape very promptly as it transpires that she has never been overseas before hence why she took so damn long to get a passport, and she has never flown in a big plane before. Talk about being Eddie the Expert and being wrong every time!!!
Anyhow at 20 past 8 I have 1 lady to go and am about to get in the queue at departures to see if they will tell me if she has somehow already boarded when I get a text message from her to tell me that she is waiting at the international departure gate. Apparently she had arrived at the airport at 7 am and decided that she may as well just go through.... Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in....
So we all eventually end up at the international departure gate (after a tiny bit of single malt whiskey duty free purchasing) and we are all safely boarded. It is a fairly full flight and unfortunately we had a very small baby with huge lungs that screamed unabated for the first 20 minutes. But we left on time and about 7 hours later we arrived in Singapore. I managed to start drinking a very nice Chardy by 11 a.m. so I was mellowing nicely. Watched 3 movies and ate half my body weight with all the food they kept bringing. We only had a 50 minute turn around in Singapore for our connecting flight so thankfully everything went according to clock work. Mind you one of the ladies who is a friend of on of my kittens is a bit ditsy. She managed to misplace her boarding pass for the connecting flight and kept telling me that the man had taken it from her. When I then went through all her paperwork and found the boarding pass I realized she had no idea what a boarding pass actually is. Then she struggled to fill out the immigration form but we muddled through that. Having just gotten her through that panic attack her friend decided she couldnt find her next boarding pass either so once again Miss Karen patiently went through all her paperwork, found the boarding pass and desperately wanted to hit her repeatedly about the jowls with it, but refrained from doing so...
All on board our flight to Bangkok and about 2 and a bit hours later, plus 1 more movie, more food and another Chardy we arrive in Bangkok.
A few decided to do a quick dash into the Duty Free and at this stage my first "Ive lost my boarding pass" lady is really struggling with the payment even though I have a calculator to tell her what it is in Aus dollars and she is paying cash in Thai Baht but cant tell the difference between 100 and 1000. So everyone is getting antsy as she is taking soooooooo long. I tell them to all go through Customs and she and I will catch them up. Little did I know that she woud faff about for another 5 minutes after she'd paid, sorting out her bag. Now what was it I was reminding myself about my need to remember to breathe???
But we get ourselves to Customs, we somehow all manage to get through and we all get our suitcases, that is all except Frugal. As we watch the few remaining cases go around and around the carousel and I get assurances from Frugal that hers isn't there, I take her to report the missing suitcase just as she decided that her black suitcase really is on the carousel and had been all along. Get that bloody suitcase off the carousel and let's get out of the terminal!
Thankfully we are met by our delightful Thai guide Joe and a short walk to the bus and off to our hotel which was about 22 km away. It is now about 6 p.m. local Thai time. We are all delighted to hear that Joe is our guide for the fortnight and the bus we are currently on is our tour bus for the entire time. This means that we have a lovely big 40 something seater bus for 10 of us. Surely I can manage to keep my distance from Frugal and the 'Oops, now I can't find something else...' lady.
Our hotel is the Majestic Grande in Sukhumvit and it certainly lives up to its name. It is certainly at least a 4 1/2 star hotel. Joe books us all in and then we are asked to go to the small lounge area where we are given a free drink of our choice. There were cocktails, spirits and beers as well as juices to choose from so I had a Tequila Sunrise which was very yummy. Most had Singapore Slings but one brave lady had a Mai Tai. How good was that?We are all very weary now so all head off to their rooms. I am very pleased that I have my lovely big room to yself as it gives me time to unpack a few things, open my bottle of scotch and wind down from my big day by penning these lines. But now it really is time for this little black duck to go bye byes as we have a very full day planned for tomorrow. I reckon we are in for a fabulous time - problem kittens aside!
As it got to 5 past 8 two of the women came in and one who I am going to refer to as Frugal, came up to me to tell me off as she had been waiting in the Arrivals area which is supposedly where I told her to be at 8 a.m. 'No' says me to Frugal, I would never have told you to be in the Arrivals area when we all have to check in at Departures! This from the same women who earlier in the week kept trying to tell me that the length of flying time is affected by the different time zones we corss so she had worked out that we arrive back home at 3 in the morning and she didn't know how she was going to expect anyone to pick her up at that time. I'm sure I never did convince her that flying times and time zones are not connected - and she got in quite a huff with me then! I'm going to have to whip her into shape very promptly as it transpires that she has never been overseas before hence why she took so damn long to get a passport, and she has never flown in a big plane before. Talk about being Eddie the Expert and being wrong every time!!!
Anyhow at 20 past 8 I have 1 lady to go and am about to get in the queue at departures to see if they will tell me if she has somehow already boarded when I get a text message from her to tell me that she is waiting at the international departure gate. Apparently she had arrived at the airport at 7 am and decided that she may as well just go through.... Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in....
So we all eventually end up at the international departure gate (after a tiny bit of single malt whiskey duty free purchasing) and we are all safely boarded. It is a fairly full flight and unfortunately we had a very small baby with huge lungs that screamed unabated for the first 20 minutes. But we left on time and about 7 hours later we arrived in Singapore. I managed to start drinking a very nice Chardy by 11 a.m. so I was mellowing nicely. Watched 3 movies and ate half my body weight with all the food they kept bringing. We only had a 50 minute turn around in Singapore for our connecting flight so thankfully everything went according to clock work. Mind you one of the ladies who is a friend of on of my kittens is a bit ditsy. She managed to misplace her boarding pass for the connecting flight and kept telling me that the man had taken it from her. When I then went through all her paperwork and found the boarding pass I realized she had no idea what a boarding pass actually is. Then she struggled to fill out the immigration form but we muddled through that. Having just gotten her through that panic attack her friend decided she couldnt find her next boarding pass either so once again Miss Karen patiently went through all her paperwork, found the boarding pass and desperately wanted to hit her repeatedly about the jowls with it, but refrained from doing so...
All on board our flight to Bangkok and about 2 and a bit hours later, plus 1 more movie, more food and another Chardy we arrive in Bangkok.
A few decided to do a quick dash into the Duty Free and at this stage my first "Ive lost my boarding pass" lady is really struggling with the payment even though I have a calculator to tell her what it is in Aus dollars and she is paying cash in Thai Baht but cant tell the difference between 100 and 1000. So everyone is getting antsy as she is taking soooooooo long. I tell them to all go through Customs and she and I will catch them up. Little did I know that she woud faff about for another 5 minutes after she'd paid, sorting out her bag. Now what was it I was reminding myself about my need to remember to breathe???
But we get ourselves to Customs, we somehow all manage to get through and we all get our suitcases, that is all except Frugal. As we watch the few remaining cases go around and around the carousel and I get assurances from Frugal that hers isn't there, I take her to report the missing suitcase just as she decided that her black suitcase really is on the carousel and had been all along. Get that bloody suitcase off the carousel and let's get out of the terminal!
Thankfully we are met by our delightful Thai guide Joe and a short walk to the bus and off to our hotel which was about 22 km away. It is now about 6 p.m. local Thai time. We are all delighted to hear that Joe is our guide for the fortnight and the bus we are currently on is our tour bus for the entire time. This means that we have a lovely big 40 something seater bus for 10 of us. Surely I can manage to keep my distance from Frugal and the 'Oops, now I can't find something else...' lady.
Our hotel is the Majestic Grande in Sukhumvit and it certainly lives up to its name. It is certainly at least a 4 1/2 star hotel. Joe books us all in and then we are asked to go to the small lounge area where we are given a free drink of our choice. There were cocktails, spirits and beers as well as juices to choose from so I had a Tequila Sunrise which was very yummy. Most had Singapore Slings but one brave lady had a Mai Tai. How good was that?We are all very weary now so all head off to their rooms. I am very pleased that I have my lovely big room to yself as it gives me time to unpack a few things, open my bottle of scotch and wind down from my big day by penning these lines. But now it really is time for this little black duck to go bye byes as we have a very full day planned for tomorrow. I reckon we are in for a fabulous time - problem kittens aside!
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