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April in Paris…. Nope… April in Bangkok!

April in Paris…. Nope… April in Bangkok!

Old Apr 17th, 2011, 04:35 PM
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April in Paris…. Nope… April in Bangkok!

Here we go again. This is #23, if I haven't lost count at this point.

Right now I'm at the Renaissance OHare doing a park/sleep/fly. Very reasonable. Nice big room on the concierge floor! Free parking for two weeks, and it's inside a parking structure, so no snow/ice (perish that thought!!)!. Free breakfast in the morning. Free shuttle to the airport tomorrow. Such a deal! Weather tomorrow could include some SNOW here at OHare.... ugh Hopefully early May (my return) will bring nice warm temps.

April in Bangkok is nothing like April in Paris!! Trust me!! I've been in Paris in April at least twice, and the weather was lovely. Bangkok, on the other hand, will probably be hot and sticky... although DS and kuranosuke are telling me that it is (relatively) mild this time around! That'd be nice.

I'm flying on United tomorrow, upper deck, upgraded biz class, lie flat bed/seat. I'm curious to see how things are doing in Tokyo! The disaster(s) there have fallen off of page one now. My plan is to go to the Red Carpet Narita and enjoy snacks and a nice hot shower. The free amenities kit is supposedly back! It had been taken away, replaced by a basket of items such as toothpaste/toothbrush, shampoo, etc in idividual packages. The cute little bag is now back... or so I've been told. It's a nice souvenir from the RCC.

This trip will be for shopping, as usual, but also for a couple of birthdays... the big one being DS's big birthday bash at Tawandang on Saturday evening! Always great fun! The other birthday is a very dear Thai friend. I'm not sure about the plan for her big day, but if I understand correctly, there is an orphanage visit planned....??? I'll give a full report later.

Maeng and DS and I will do our usual trip to Chiang Mai, sometime, probably for a day, but we are also planning to leave Thailand (gasp) for either Hong Kong, Singapore, or maybe Bali or Penang for about 3-4 days. I won't know where/when until Maeng and I meet with our travel agent in the next couple of days after my arrival. The trip out of the country will no doubt be sometime the week of the 25th. Proof that you can make spur of the moment decisions about travel in Thailand and S E Asia!

Come along with me, if you like, vicariously, on yet another trip to Bangkok. I have no plans, other than staying at Adelphi Suites to begin with, and then after the birthday bash, who knows! You will be just as surprised by the turn of events as I will be!!

Carol
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 04:50 PM
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I am here with you following along green with envy. Sounds like a good plan to me. Have a wonderful time.

Aloha!
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 05:10 PM
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Looking forward to traveling with you again - it may be a while before we return to our beloved Bangkok...
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 05:47 PM
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I always enjoy seeing Bangkok through your eyes. It will be November before I see it again with my own eyes!
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 06:18 PM
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it will be oct 20 for out bkk return this year and i can't wait, but in the meantime look forward to a new restaurant or two from you...

i think you really would like penang... if you go, i've got some great restaurants...

have a great flight and enjoy your trip to your vacation home.
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 07:36 PM
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Waaa! Carol gets to go to Bangkok AGAIN!

I'm not going to let my jealousy spoil my enjoyment of the report. No, I'M going to just enjoy the details and be happy for Carol...
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 08:12 PM
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the ninja network tells me hong kong very high on list.
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Old Apr 17th, 2011, 08:13 PM
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Welcome back Carol! Brad is already here and so is Ken. I do believe a GTG is on the horizon.
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 05:17 AM
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Can you put a little of the BKK nice warm sun, that musty rosewood smell, and oh yes, don't forget the horn noise in an envelope and mail it back to all of us...just enough so we don't have withdrawal before we all get back. Enjoy you trip . Looking forward to see where you end up "out of the country".
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 05:35 AM
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Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes. Hopefully today's flight will be uneventful.

I just had a nice (free) breakfast in the concierge lounge. Nice room, not a huge buffet, but certainly enough to fill my tummy. Creamy oatmeal with brown sugar, cheesy scrambled eggs freshly cooked, fresh fruit, and coffee. The lounge was not busy. Business travellers were probably up and out the door much earlier than me.

There is snow on the tops of the cars and some buildings as I look out the window. Looks very damp and cold. I think the snow will melt pretty quickly. The roadways are only damp, no patches of white. Too much traffic on the roads to let the snow stay put.

Hanuman, I would love a GTG! We'll see what we can do.

Ken, does your post mean that Maeng has her heart set on HK?

Thanks again, everyone.
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 07:25 AM
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Carol: We usually have another country on our agenda when we go to Thailand. This year it is HK or S'pore ~~ so your report will be read with envy.

Actually, the weather isn't looking too bad ~~ especially if there is a little rain. That would really be great for those of us in the current "Texas Dust Bowl."

Sandra
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 07:58 AM
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We had exactly the same amount of time as you in Delhi - about 3-1/2 days. But we did most of our touring in the mornings and took advantage of some of the excellent shopping in Delhi in the afternoons. I hope you will arrange for a late check-out on your last day.
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 10:15 AM
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Whoops, meant to post this on another thread. Sorry Carol!
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 12:48 PM
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Bon Voyage Carol. Count me in as envious too! I'm thinking of you right now at 37,000 ft and enjoying the BIZ ameneties. Looking forward as always to your account of your trip, and wouldn't be surprised if your next post is from the Red Carpet Lounge in Narita.
Enjoy, and take us along with your narative.
Sue
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Old Apr 18th, 2011, 04:17 PM
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Safe travel Carol, very envious also like all the others...
Jo and I will have to wait until next year to go back.
Have a great trip and a big hug to Maeng.
Evelyne
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Old Apr 19th, 2011, 12:30 AM
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Hello once again, Evelyne... yes, big hugs to Maeng.
Sue, you are right. I'm currently at the Red Carpet Club at NRT. I've had a very refreshing shower (the nice amenities kit is back!!) and will have a snack before boarding the flt on to BKK.

I think I slept about 6-8 of the 12 1/2 hours on the plane. Very quiet in the upper deck. My seatmate was not much of a talker, so I had peace and quiet. Fell asleep during one (must have been dull?) movie, and then watched another one the last couple of hours before landing at NRT.

I'm most anxious to finish the journey at this point. Will try to stay awake on the next flight, since it is 3:30-4 in the afternoon in BKK.

Craig, you are of course excused... for your misposting on this thread.

Off to BKK!
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Old Apr 19th, 2011, 02:15 PM
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>>>Off to BKK!
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Old Apr 19th, 2011, 06:33 PM
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I made it to Bangkok last night at 11:10. Immigration was a little bit slow, but then the longer wait was for my bags. I was in a taxi on my way into the city at 11:55, and sitting at the PL by about 12:30 this morning, enjoying garlic shrimp.

AskOksena, yes, Adelphi is very friendly, although there are a number of staffing changes I noticed at check in. Thank goodness there were familiar faces at the front desk this morning, and at breakfast in Monsoon as well. It's nice when one is welcomed back by the same people everytime.

AskO... Maeng and I may very well be flying on Singapore to Singapore next week! We will go to the travel agent this afternoon and see what is available.

Hope to see Khun Ken today. He cannot hang around for the birthday bash on Saturday! Too bad, Ken. Wish you could join us all once again. And Ken, I hear the Korean bar-b-q was exceptional!

I am finding out more about the visit to the orphanage for dear friend Pong's birthday. It will bring us good karma, or so I'm told. Maeng had a very interesting bit of wisdom from a monk, regarding visiting the orphans. It is easy to give money for the foundation that supports the orphanage, but it is better to bring along food/toys/gifts for the children, because you get to see the smiles on their faces. I look forward to this visit tomorrow, and will have to decide what to take for the children. Hopefully Pong will have some suggestions.
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Old Apr 19th, 2011, 07:06 PM
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Sawasdee krub Carol! Hot, humid with the occasional thunderstorm is the forecast for your visit.
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Old Apr 19th, 2011, 07:58 PM
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our visits to orphanges have been such fun times... i'm sure you will find it the same... give gifts, but leave money as well for the future...

we had 5 or 6 cakes made for our last visit and the kids loved it, eating 3 or 4 different pieces from the different themed cakes... lots of smiles...

pens are always a good gift for them and paper.... markers too.

anxious to read more about your trip...

i have a good rate at the intercontinental in singapore if you want me to send it to you
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