Ingrid

Hi guys!!!<BR><BR>My husband and I just got back from an 18-day vacation around Thailand. We have not created a journal yet, but have a ton of pictures and short movies we filmed throughout our trip.<BR><BR>I wanted to let you know that we appreciate all the comments and advice we received from all of you before we left. It was very useful!!!<BR><BR>I would also like to return the favor by answering any questions anyone has before going on his or her trip to Thailand...<BR><BR>Just the facts: <BR>in Bangkok we stayed at the Royal Orchid Sheraton for about six nights - four in the beginning and then the last three nights.<BR><BR>We went around the country for about nine days - at various hotels - the best being the Dusit Island Resort in Chiang Rai - highly recommended!!! (We went to Ayuthaya, Sukothai, Lampang, Lopburi, Phitsanoloke (spell), Chiang Rai, Chiag Mai, Mae Hong Son, briefly into Laos, Golden Triangle area, and some other small towns I can't remember right now... et.)<BR><BR>We also flew Cathay Pacific for anyone interested in that experience.<BR><BR>We squeezed in as much as humanly possible during our stay, so let me know if there is anything you would like to know about.<BR><BR>We also saw a lot of places in Bangkok.<BR><BR>People were friendly and refrained from harassing us to buy things - it was very refreshing to be able to walk away after saying no one time!!!<BR><BR>Ingrid <BR><BR><BR><BR>

Lora

Hi Ingrid,<BR>Just wondering if you went to a cooking class in Chiang Mai and what you thought about it?<BR>thanks

Ingrid

Hi!<BR><BR>We did not go to a cooking school since I don't like to cook. Sorry.<BR><BR>Ingrid

Nancy

Lora:<BR><BR>I have taking Thai cooking classes in Bangkok and thought they were great, especially as they do most of the chopping for you (the biggest pain in Asian cooking in my view) and you just get to do the easy bits. Best of all you learn what ingredients (esp spices) go into the dishes.<BR><BR>I took a course at the Landmark hotel, as the famous cooking school at the Oriental Hotel was closed Christmas week last year when I was there. You can contact either hotel for more info.<BR><BR>Don't know about the courses in Chiang Mai, but I can't imagine there is any great difference.<BR><BR>Hope this is helpful.<BR>

sandi

Ingrid,<BR><BR>Please tell me more about the Dusit hotel. Room, bathroom, service, secenery &amp; grounds. What're a must sight seeing you would recommend. Thanks.

David

Did you feel safe at all times? What is the press saying about all the terrorist news occuring around the world? Was there a lot of security at the airport?

Ingrid

Hi all!<BR><BR>(excuse my typos please)<BR><BR>The Dusit Island Resort (not really on an island) is really nice!!<BR>It's all white and is a mid-rise (you can see pics on the web). We were lucky to have been upgraded to a suite on the 9th floor. This meant we had our meals at the upstairs restaurant, and we had a huge balcony overlooking the mountains, Chiang Rai town and the pool (which is really big and clean - reminds me of the pools Sandals Resorts have w/ swim-up bar and everything).<BR>From the hotel you can take long-tailed boat rides to the hilltribes.<BR>The scenery is spectacular because the mountains are shaped in interesting ways - very knobby.<BR><BR>We had a guide and were on a private tour, so he took us mainly around to see hill tribes, the city and some interesting ruins, and many wats. We also ventured out on our own at night to see the market, Hilltribe Museum (A MUST!!!), and to eat at Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant - you should try that one - it's funny and works as a fundraiser to help family planning in Thailand (as well as AIDS). The food was really good and it's located next to the Hilltribe Museum.<BR><BR>We also saw a lot of trekkers - this town is monstly there for trekkers, because it's a good centrally located starting point. We hung out at an interesting Hippie bar called Tepee and met some interesting people there who have been wandering around Asia for four months - WOW!!<BR><BR>Honestly, Chiang Rai is a trekking town and the real ruins and sites are in Sukothai, Lopburi, Ayuthaya and Chaing Mai.<BR><BR>We took short video clips of the Dusit Island Room because we liked it soo much.. (although it's not a suite at the Ritz, but good enough). The room had a sitting area, small dining table, mini bar and mini kitchen, large bedroom w/ desk and sitting area, large bathroom with all marble and separate jetted tub and shower (for two). <BR><BR>I can email you the video clip, if you want. I will try to zip it with winzip to make the file smaller. Just email me and I will be more than happy to send you pictures and video footage.<BR><BR>We were very worried about the safety before going to Thailand. However, we decided to go and take the chance. It was silly to worry. The airports were very diligent with the security checks, with dogs, x-rays, lots of guards. I felt very safe. They pick a lot of people to randomly search and they go through everything in the luggage, even check your laptops, etc.<BR><BR>I was checked twice. I guess I look suspicious!!<BR><BR>Everyone in Thailand is very nice to tourists, even the police. I didn't feel threatened once. We walked around at night in all areas - with my huge didgital camera and nobody tried to rob us.<BR><BR>Even in Patpong!!!!<BR><BR>I say you should go, if you're thinking about it. The only thing is that Thailand is pretty and very interesting, BUT it doesn't have the history you find in Egypt, Greece or China.<BR>Be aware of what you are going to see when you get there, do research on Buddhism and monks - YOU WILL SEE THEM EVERY PLACE YOU GO!!!<BR><BR>It will make your visit more interesting if you understand what people are doing in the temples.<BR><BR>I swear we saw more Wats than I will ever want to in my life!!<BR><BR>Email me if you want more specifics!!<BR><BR>Ingrid <BR><BR>

Ingrid

I also didn't see any news while we were there. I decided to not look, because I was already there anyway and wasn't going to leave until my tour was over - UNLESS they made me!!!!<BR><BR>It was very safe!!!<BR><BR>Ingrid

olivia

Welcome back! Any other suggestions on where to eat in Chiang Mai or Bangkok? Highlights in Chiang Mai? Places to shop in Bangkok and Chiang Mai? And, what stuff did you bring back? How was the jet lag?

Ingrid

Olivia:<BR><BR>Thanks! We didn't venture out to any restaurants at night because our meals were all included. We had dinner shows a few times and such.<BR>The only cool place was Condoms and Cabbages in Chiang Rai.<BR><BR>We went to en elephant park in Chiang Mai, Maetang - excellent!!<BR><BR>We went to the Golden Triangle and an opium museum there - we did sooo many things, it's too much to list for now...<BR><BR>But Chiang Mai - elephant park, the main temple at the top of the hill (the famous one - can't think of the name...,<BR>golden triangle area, etc.<BR><BR>I am still recovering from jet-lag. I was fine going there, but have been really messed up this week!!!<BR><BR>I brought back, three CD's of Thai Rock and dance music, some products made from Pineapple paper, brass rings for my neck from the long-neck women tribe in Mae Hong Son, a few books on some of the places we visited, Monk Bowls hand-made, and that's about it...<BR><BR>We don't really shop much when we travel.<BR><BR>I have 3,000 pictures though. - haha

Kathy

Would love to see your pictures, will you download onto any site? Like Ofoto.com. I'll be doing an 18 day trip with GCT. Staying at the LeMeridien in Bangkok, Dusit Island in Chang Rai and Amity Green Hills in Chiang Mai.

Diane

Just back this morning from Thailand. Felt safe in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai. One restaurant I highly recommend in Chiang Mai is The Mango Cafe.<BR><BR>Am working on my trip report and will add a post when it's complete.

Kay

Looking forward to the trip report, Diane! Were you with a tour? if so, which one?<BR><BR>Ingrid - Which tour were you on?<BR><BR>Thanks for all the information you are sharing!

Diane

Was with a friend -- no tour. It's much easier to get around Bangkok than I imagined. Everything is dual language -- Thai and English. Most people we encountered spoke at least a little English.

Ingrid

Hi guys!<BR><BR>I've been sooo busy catching up at work. We are debating what to do about the pics. We are burning CD's for all of our friends, but we are thinking about posting the best on the web. I will let you know when we decide what to do. We have video footage of our room from Bangkok (Royal Orchid Sheraton) and Chiang Rai (Dusit Island suite)<BR>We went with a private guide and driver from Arlymear Travel. They were sub-contracted by the company we actually booked the trip with - Orient Flexi-Pax.<BR><BR>We have used Isram/Orient Flexi-pax before with good experiences, BUT<BR>Arlymear was terrible!! The guide was grumpy and complained about our schedule all the time - he thought it was too much! However, it was sold that way, and that's what we paid for.<BR><BR>He also didn't like it that we didn't buy anything from the places he gets commissions from - we don't shop much!!!<BR><BR>Anyway, we enjoyed ourselves in spite of his bad attitude, but I would NEVER use Arlymear again. <BR><BR>I could go on and on about the things he tried to pull with us, but it would take all day.. We already drafted our compaint letter to the companies involved, but they said it will take them 45 days to investigate - crazy!! If they don't resolve it to our liking, we will switch tour companies.<BR><BR>Anyway,<BR><BR>One thing I highly recommend that everyone do is go to the Long-Necked Women Tribe in Mae Hon Song..That was one of the coolest things I have done in my life!!! They only get 1,200 visitors a year.<BR><BR>I'll let you guys know what we do about the pics and video clips! I would love to share them with people who can really appreciate them.<BR><BR>Ingrid <BR>