lauren_s_kahn

I have been in Thailand since Nov. 1st. I have been based in Chiang Mai because I have a friend who has retired to Chiang Mai due to the lower cost of living.

At this point my trip is ending. I return to the US on Jan. 14th. Christmas Day I will be in Phuket for a kayak trip with Paddle Asia. The blog for it will be here:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...ayak-trip.html

My blogs for Chiang Mai are here:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-thailand.html

and

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...-thailand.html

I saw the Jim Thompson House on the day after I landed in Bangkok but, as yet have not "done" Bangkok. I will have 3 days there before going home.

I return to Chiang Mai from the paddle tour on Dec. 30th and then have another week in Chiang Mai before leaving for good on Jan. 6th. I will go to Yangon, Burma, before going to Bangkok for the last few days.

I do hope your health stays well and you have a great time in Thailand!

simpsonc510

Bangkok and our large apartment with enormous terrace has been great! We had a lovely Christmas buffet dinner at the J W Marriott, and I've been going on walks around Sukhumvit everyday. Loving the weather here. Getting a bit of sun each day, and no... I'm not tanning...haha.

We will have dinner with friends at Indigo tonight. It's one of our favorites. It is in Silom. Hubby and I had lunch yesterday in Terminal 21 at a place called Thai Thyme. It's Thai Italian. We did not try their pizza but the caprese salad, pumpkin soup and antipasto plate were quite good. The location of Thai Thyme is 5th floor, almost to the food court area.

I can tell that I'm getting stronger with each day. I'm trying not to overdo! Walking around Sukhumvit is lovely. We have a small park not far away, where it is nice to sit for a while and enjoy the green space in this huge city of concrete and steel.

Time for coffee and a bit of breakfast!

Merry Christmas one and all.

Carol

kmkrnn

Is Indigo in Silom Village or on Sliom Rd? What kind of food? I sawmThai Thyme last time I was in Termainal 21 and wondered about it. WE Willet it on our list for next fall. No shopping yet? Coco Bananas must be calling your name over there.

simpsonc510

Indigo is close to Sala Daeng BTS station. I guess that makes it Silom area. I think soi Convent is on the east side of the BTS station. Walk down soi Convent a short distance to Molly Malone's Irish Pub.There is a small soi right across the street from M Malone, and Indigo is at the end of that small soi. Indigo has a sign posted on soi Convent just where the small soi begins.

No shopping yet, and I've been here a week! There is nothing I want or need! Imagine that! Haha I'm happy just to enjoy the great weather and take my walks around Asok and Terminal 21.

We had a much longer walk today as we taxied to Central World from Robinsons and walked all around the huge mall, plus we enjoyed the Christmas decs with a Snoopy theme. Cute!! Then we walked to Paragon to the Siam station to take the sky train back to Asok. I certainly got my exercise.

Hubby and I spotted a new restaurant to try at Central World (in the newest construction, closest to Paragon). It's called Mejico Restaurant and Tequila Bar. It's pretty new since the new addition to Central World was being finished and starting to open when I was in BKK in July.

Tomorrow will be laundry and sorting what to take to Phuket and what to leave in Bangkok at our hotel. We fly to HKT on Sunday around 1-1:30.

rhkkmk

have a great time, it all seems to be agreeing with you

simpsonc510

Bob, this trip is most definitely just what I was seeking. Plenty of great food, lots of great friends, walks everyday for a few hours, a few naps, plus a big chunk of relaxation! Perfect! And I expect the same from Phuket (minus friends) except instead of traffic noises we'll hear the surf! Yeah!

kmkrnn

When in Phukett don't forget to walk over to Turtle village for lunch. That coffee club or what ever it is called has decent food..

Kathie

Just catching up with you again... Cheryl and I went to the island to spend Christmas with my mother and there is no cell phone reception there. I'm delighted to hear how much you are enjoying yourself and how being in Bangkok is helping your healing. Have a fine time in Phuket!

simpsonc510

Karen, we will for sure visit Turtle Village. Have not tried the coffee shop. Maybe this time...

Kathie, the warm sun and a bit of strolling around Sukhumvit are just what I need. Hoping for beach strolling at the condo on Mai Khao Beach. We will have a car for the week, so plenty of sight seeing, and maybe dinner at Mom Tri's Kitchen!

Kathie

It sounds just wonderful, Carol.

Guenmai

Carol: Haven't read all of the above comments yet. But, I've arrived into Bangkok. I'm at my rented place in Rajadamri. This was my first neighborhood before Sukhumvit. So, although a bit sleep deprived as in, haven't slept since Thursday night in L.A., I'm going out this evening. But, who needs sleep? It's highly overrated. LOL! I'm waiting for a couple of friends to drop by.

Have fun on your second part of your trip and hopefully we can hook up when you get back up here.

Happy Travels!

simpsonc510

Good morning from Phuket, where the surf is really pounding the shore. Must be the storms to the south (Singapore, Indonesia) causing it. We had a shower and some pretty mighty wind around 5:30pm last night. It didn't last long, and then we walked over to Turtle Village for dinner at the British Pub. Name escapes me right now. Everyone thought their food was great, so we will return to this place for sure.

The birds are singing and the air is very pleasant at 7:30am. What a glorious place for me to recover! I'm the first one up, as usual, with my cup of coffee on the (small as in NOT our Column terrace in Bangkok) balcony. Some balconies here are out in the open, but this condo feels a little more secluded. Grounds here at Phuket Beach Club are very tropical. Like a rain forest. The beach is probably 50 to 60 meters away, so very nearby. The adult pool is much closer than that. Plus, our condo building is the furthest north so it is the shortest walk to Turtle Village. No shuttle necessary!

Guenmai, glad to know that you have arrived safely in Bangkok. Hoping for a meet-up on the 5th, mid to late afternoon. Enjoy your return to the land of smiles.

Today we will go out early and find the nearest Tesco Lotus or Villa Market and get groceries. The small "market" at Turtle Village is pricey and selection is meager.

Enjoy your day!

Carol

rhkkmk

hope you are not walking to the market...

Kathie

Glad to hear you are settled in and enjoying Phuket.

simpsonc510

We have a car, so will definitely drive to the nearest Tesco Lotus, which is a 20-25 minute drive. Bob, I went to the deli and got my croissant and am enjoying it, with coffee, on the balcony. Lat is having rice soup with.fish and a pile of hot chilis! Wow....I'm always impressed at how hot she can stand to eat it!

Speaking of the deli, they have a lot of great looking salads today. I'm on a mission to put on some weight so I won't be eating nearly the salads I was eating, prior to my emergency surgery. I want carbs, lots of carbs, calories too. Karen, any suggestions? I have had lots of pasta and bread. What else is good for weight gain?

Kathie

I suggest ice cream!

yestravel

I second ice cream, but also mango sticky rice.

Guenmai

Carol: Great that you're having such a good time. I just tried to check my e-mail on the e-mail address that you have and it says that Adobe is not current. This has happened before and only at that e-mail address. I have 5 e-mail addresses and the other 4 work just fine.

So, I'm trying to figure it out as your e-mail address is over there. But, for some reason Adobe won't download although I've done the steps that I've done in the past and it's worked. I'll wait until my Thai friend comes maybe on Wednesday, as she's a tech person. I'm going to try to e-mail you, from one of my other e-mail address, from what I can remember of your e-mail address. I don't remember if I wrote your e-mail address down on my travel papers or not.

Happy Travels!

simpsonc510

Today was a "tour of the island" day! We wanted to go to the closest Tesco Lotus in order to get groceries for breakfast. DH asked if we could have lunch before getting groceries since we would have some items for the fridge. Lunch ended up being waaaaaay down south, almost to the southern tip of Phuket, at Mom Tri's Kitchen (pics on FB). Fabulouc choice, as I knew it would be! Great ambiance, tasty food, perfect weather, super nice view of Kata Noi Beach. So glad we drove all the way there, so worth it. Having a meal at the Kitchen was on my must do list for Phuket.

Bob (rhkkmk) I hate to say it but you are so right about Phuket. It has changed dramatically since 2006, when I last visited Kata, Karon, Patong area. What was a nice quiet beach location (Kata) is now unrecognizable!! Yikes!! I had no idea it would change this much. Yes, it's now a tourist trap! Ugh..... but I will say that Mom Tri's Kitchen and the Villa Royale resort and spa are still an oasis from the madness that is Phuket now. So glad we are at Mai Khao beach, far away from the big tourist beaches farther south. And Khao Lak is also a much more desirable beach location.

We are hoping for pizza and wine for dinner..... exploring our options as I type.

simpsonc510

So there's an Anantara Vacation Club directly across the road from Turtle Village. There is a poolside restaurant there called Crust, with outside dining. We are sitting at a liquorless "bar" which overlooks the pizza oven and the chef, as he makes the pizzas. Not bad. Four of us are sharing 3pizzas. Not sure I'd go out of my way to eat here, but it will do for tonight.