aloha from bangkok
 

aloha everyone....
we just spent 3 incredible days in bangkok,
two of them with Ratt. She is wonderful,
patient and alot of fun. we drug her all over bangkok...and she helped us with finding
some incredible treasures.
we just arrived in chiang mai where her sister poon is taking us on a 3 day journey
in her car...starting wednesday to the golden
triangle where she knows where to get opal jewelry . then we are planning to travel
back to chiang rai...stopping along the way to ride elephants and shop./ then on to
bangkok, the long way...2 days and nites
thru sukothai, and where ever we end up.

thailand is everything and more than what we
expected. what I can tell newbies is that
bangkok deserves many days. we will spend
another 4 days at the end of our trip, 2 with
ratt...to do our major shopping and site seeing. dont be afraid to stay in bangkok...
but the taxi drivers and motorcycles should be an event on fear factor....never been on such amazing wild rides.( not ratt though,
she is a great driver, really slow which makes everyone else seem like the speed demons they are..no regard for lanes, right of way, etc. )
anyway...on to the cultural center for the
dinner show.

thank you all fodorites for all your wonderful, incredible help.

aloha
dee

Make sure you do the Calypso Cabaret at the Asia Hotel when you return to BKK.

diva, I'm delighted that you're having such a grea time. I'll look forward to your report when you get home!

so what about that humidity...just like maui right???

glad it is all working out great...it is truly a wonderful destination!!!

do i have you confused?? are you LA or Maui?? don't get old...

Glad you're having a wonderful time -- not surprised since Thailand is really wonderful. And very glad you are returning to bangkok -- as so many of us say, a few days there is simply not enough.

Please report back on Poon. I'm using her in December and would love to hear from someone who has used her.

Can't wait to meet Ratt!

Gloria

aloha....
yes its humid here. even tho we are from maui..its very thick air in thailand...chiang mai is much easier to
breath.

today we did a cooking class with
alot of thai cooking school...we were the only 3 people in the class and it
was well worth it. what a great experience learning how to cook thai
food.

carol...we start our journey with poon
tomorrow...she is very nice...has an old mercedes diesel with air....and is
so agreeable to whatever we want...

well...on to the spa for 3 hours of pampering and foot massage...(my feet are hurting for sure)
we also like the shopping for souveniers
in chiang mai nite bazaar much better than the weekend market in bangkok...
cooler, cheaper and same things...
the sales people are more agressive but
still ok..
thanks all...
d

I've been searching for the email for Ratt or her sister. Noticed her name mentioned -- could I receive an email address for her please??

it is: [email protected]

sorry...the address is:

[email protected]

the above is part of the web site

What cooking school did you use? Did you have advance reservations? Did your class include a trip to a market? Thanks, I'm leaving in a month and am contemplating a cooking class (Rhkkmk, no giggling) when in Chiang Mai.

gpanda---i hope the cooking school has pictures....

divediva, Sounds like you were having a wonderful trip and we're all eager for a trip report. Especially interested to hear more about your adventures in Chiang Mai & northern Thailand, and your experience with Poon. Write soon!

aloha from bangkok again...
we just returned to bkk for 3 more days
before heading back to maui...
yes bob...the humidity here is worse but yesterday and today have been quite nice and not to hot or hu;m;id.

in chiang mai...we used a lot of thai
for our cooking class. yui does the
class...small groups of 4 or less...
wonderful...i cooked the best phat thai
of my trip myself...hmm hmm good.
and yes, we visited a local market...with her.
i will write a travelogue when i return.
thanks everyone for so much good, uselful, helpful information.
dee

i, for one, look forward to your full report...

bob

Glad you're having a great time! Happy Travels!