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Thailand and WA

December 2018 - January 2019
Heading for the wedding of Joe and Bronwyn in Freo via a stop in Thailand Read more
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  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 1

    Heathrow departure

    December 29, 2018 in England ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    The Piccadilly line transported us in leisurely fashion to T2 the Queens Terminal where we breakfasted on scrambled eggs with cherry tomatoes and avocado on focaccia. The plane boarded on time, though we were slightly disappointed to find our Thai Airways A380 had been replaced by a 777 and our seats on an aisle of a pretty full flight. G&T helped, then after settling down for a post lunch snooze we were awoken by the chap in the window seat. Extraordinarily two women in the seats behind talked nonstop until breakfast, so more films were watched than usual and less kip.Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 2

    Bangkok

    December 30, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Our flight arrived just before 06.00. Immigration was a slow process. Our bags were getting lonely on carousel 22! We then found the checkin for our Bangkok Airways where queues were awesome. Fortunately we found a machine to check in so only had to queue for bag drop. Once through the flight was good in an old A320 and the staff excellent.Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 2

    Chiang Mai

    December 30, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    We landed just before 11.30 in much more sedate conditions. We quickly found our bags and taxi for the short drive into the old city. Our hotel the Tamarind named after a 200 year old specimen in the garden.
    We received a lovely welcome, iced drink and towel together with a free 10 minute massage and invitation to a guided walk in the morning.
    After a short recovery Kano we discovered we are in the Sunday walking night market route. The streets were buzzing with all manner of stalls and street food. We walked to one end at Tha Phae gate. Then back for a short break, bananas delivered to our room, massage and Singha beer by the pool before joining the throng again for some delicious street kebabs and Gac juice. Janet even managed to find some jewellery she liked. An excellent start to our trip and what a super location to be staying.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 3

    Wat walking tour

    December 31, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    A pretty good night’s sleep, despite the jungle fowl cockerel who didn’t know when dawn was, and excellent breakfast by the pool side. We met our guide, Kandi and a family of four from Michigan for a walking tour. We left by the rear entrance and had a quick lesson in Thai before finding the first of three temples (there are more than thirty in total). It being New Year’s Eve preparations were underway for celebrating tonight, with many lanterns, flags and prayer cards hung. Our guide was very illuminating and gave each of us a Bhudist character description based on birth day, much to the amusement of the family we were with.
    For lunch we found a northern Thai cafe and had Khai Soy, vegetables or mushrooms which was delicious. Some more temples or ‘Wat’ followed before returning for a recuperative cup of tea and fruit which had been delivered.
    While we were out the tables had been set for the banquet this evening and the band set up by the pool. All looks very special!    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 3

    New Year's Eve

    December 31, 2018 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    An afternoon rest set us up nicely for the evening festivities. I went to paint the Tamarind courtyard as the sun was setting and the celebration oil lamps were lit at the base of the tree and the atmosphere began to buzz (along with the mozzies).
    We descended at the appointed hour for Cosmapolitan cocktails and cashews in banana leaves. Many of the other people were in a group from Denmark. The hotel sales manager came to speak with us for a while. He is hoping to travel one day.
    The banquet began towards 8pm round the pool and we were seated next to a couple from Japan, who come to Chiang Mai each new year. Their English was very good and they explained they had been to Scotland in the summer via Manchester. There were dancers to entertain us till the band started.
    The menu was extensive with soups, prawns in various guises with Krabi lobster and Aussie lamb cutlets among the mains choices. Then French cheeses and too many desert options to count.
    The band were a bit patchy and Jan made a concerted effort to get the Danes to dance. By 11 we decided we’d head to the main city celebration by the three kings. It was busy but not heaving and a Thai singer took us up to midnight ( and the countdown to a little after). Then there were a few fireworks and continued lanterns in the sky.
    Back to the hotel and the band had got to YMCA! The staff joined in. They had put such a lot of effort into making the evening a special place to bring in 2019.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 4

    New Year's Day

    January 1, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Fortunately we woke after a solid night sleep in time to catch breakfast by the pool, with no hint of the previous celebration, amazing clear up!
    We thought we would try and visit the temple on the hill, but found the red taxi disinclined, as the traffic was bad and he quoted 3x the reasonable fare. So we decided to visit the museums instead, which provided a fascinating look at the cultural history of Chiang Mai. We found a honey based cafe, the Golden Bee and had tea with lemon and honey and delicious Thai Green Curry with Roti. After the cultural museum we sat on the library veranda enjoying the pleasant afternoon sunshine.
    Jan then headed back while I went to the Wat Chedi Luang which had numerous spectacular Bhudda in the compound along with the city pillar.
    Later we chose to eat opposite at Poppy ‘s. Excellent food complete with coconut ice cream and mango from the tree.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    11
    Day 5

    To Koh Samui

    January 2, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    A little fresher this morning but bright and sunny for our final breakfast by the pool. It’s a shame to be leaving such a lovely spot. We just had time for Janet to visit the big temple complex opposite Poppy’s and see the Buddha that has been covered with gold leaf and the reclining Buddha.
    Our taxi driver was pessimistic about the traffic, but it only took us ten minutes to get to the airport. Bag drop etc were easy and the flight left on time. Once again Bangkok Airways service was excellent.
    Landing over the beach the airport was reminiscent of Maui. A short transfer and we were installed in our very well equipped chalet room. I write this reclining on the balcony listening to the birdsongs with Shanghi beer in hand while the sun sets.
    Our attempts to book a boat trip tomorrow scuppered by poor weather forecast as a storm is due.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 6

    Preparing for Pabuk

    January 3, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    Unable to do anything water based, after breakfast by the beach we took an uninspiring walk down the road to Chaweng Beach, had coffee and walked back.
    The infinity pool was a better option, cooling us down, then a lazy afternoon on the beach, painting and reading. This evening our meal at the Larder, was a little more upmarket, and delicious, 50m across the street.
    Returning we are advised breakfast tomorrow has been moved from the beach due to impending tropical storm Pabuk the first at this time of year fir 68 years. If the Daily Mirror is to be believed, the Island is evacuating. We will see.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 7

    Pabuk

    January 4, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    Relocated breakfast was very good in the conference room with dressed tables. Although it had rained in the night it didn’t seem too heavy nor windy for those of us used to Portland Bill! There wasn’t much to be done though and during the morning the storm intensified with water getting in from all round. I managed a session in the gym-not normal holiday activity and we had fortunately laid in some supplies for lunch. After we ventured to the lobby to reply to emails and took a short walk towards the beach until we were warned to turn back as the waves could be seen crashing in and a storm surge possible. Fortunately we are quite high up.
    The worst of the weather is forecast for three hours time and the hotel has organised a special buffet in the hotel conference room this evening.
    No flights or ferries have run today and the storm is featuring on BBC World News.
    We nipped across the road for a Thai curry amid the downpours-very good it was too.    Read more

  • TravelerThailand and WA
    Day 8

    On to Bangkok

    January 5, 2019 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    The night was very wet and windy by all accounts and John Simpson had been drafted in to give a war zone feel to the storm reporting. I guess he’s had his holiday spoiled too.
    Fortunately the rain stopped in time to get to breakfast. And the sun has come out. The sea is still crashing onto the beach though. Our flight out is delayed but we still have to travel to the airport at the same time.
    We left in a tropical downpour with streets running water and the airport was hugely busy as expected. Our travel agent found us somewhere relatively quiet to wait with our bags, though we were almost inundated by the rain and wind while airport staff battled with squeegeeing.
    There was courtesy cakes and drinks and the flight eventually left at 14.15. In 55 minutes flight time the crew served a hot chicken and rice meal with chocolate cake. Once again remarkable service from Bangkok Air.
    Our hotel is a modern, high rise contrast of the same chain. Our room is on the 18th floor and the first thing we did was visit the infinity pool on floor 26 with fabulous views over the river. Cool at 24 degrees!
    We took the shuttle ferry across to Saphan Taksin where we found a little bar/ restaurant for a Chang (happy beer hour) and green curry. On the way back they treated us to a spectacular fireworks display on the river.
    So far so good.    Read more

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