April in Paris…. Nope… April in Bangkok!
Apr 21st, 2011, 12:17 PM
#43
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Sounds like a good day.
Make sure you go out to Lantau Isalnd to see the big Budha. There is also an island that is the fishermans island. Take a ferry out for dinner and then when you come back into the city the lights are comming on. So beautiful and relaxing on the ride back. Sorry I don't remember the name ,but someone here will. We did it on 2 evenings.
Make sure you go out to Lantau Isalnd to see the big Budha. There is also an island that is the fishermans island. Take a ferry out for dinner and then when you come back into the city the lights are comming on. So beautiful and relaxing on the ride back. Sorry I don't remember the name ,but someone here will. We did it on 2 evenings.
Apr 21st, 2011, 03:28 PM
#44
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Was this the first time you've gone to an orphanage Carol? I've not done this yet as I have wondered if I could handle the sad aspect of it. Many years ago while on a tour for a not for profit of several African Nations, I was overcome with sadness at the plight of some families living in the shanty townships of Jo'sburg S. Africa. I do think I'll go though on our next trip to BKK. Plese do tell us exactly where it is and how you arranged it. - Oh would like to know the reason for no holding the little babies! Surely these are the ones who need holding the most of all.
Looking forward to all your news of HK. I've not stayed there in 40 years but am thinking that the time has come to add that destination to the next SE Asia Trip. I would put it at the beginning or end of a Thailand/Vietnam trip which we usually take Jan/Feb. I think though that the HK weather is not that good at that time, at least it didn't seem to be when we were there whilst awaiting our onward flight to BKK. - When is the best time to go to HK?
Loving your report. Keep it coming.
Sue
Looking forward to all your news of HK. I've not stayed there in 40 years but am thinking that the time has come to add that destination to the next SE Asia Trip. I would put it at the beginning or end of a Thailand/Vietnam trip which we usually take Jan/Feb. I think though that the HK weather is not that good at that time, at least it didn't seem to be when we were there whilst awaiting our onward flight to BKK. - When is the best time to go to HK?
Loving your report. Keep it coming.
Sue
Apr 21st, 2011, 06:02 PM
#45
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Sue, yes, this was my very first orphange visit. Our Thai friend whose birthday we celebrated yesterday made the arrangements for the orphanage visit and invited us to come along. I'm so glad she did! The business card from the psychologist who showed us around at the beginning of our visit lists the following information:
Phayathai Home for Babies
78/24 Moo. 1 District Bangtalad
Amphur Pakkret, Nonthaburi Thailand
There is a web site (since they have babies to adopt) which I have not checked out. The address is:
www.phayathaibabieshome.go.th
One of the members of our group (the birthday girl's more elderly mother) was quite overcome a couple of times. For me it was tough at times, but I managed to stay composed. I taught first grade for 33 years, so you know I have to be a caring patient person!! The least adoption-worthy children are the ones who give me the most grief (if that's the right word for it) and they are the neediest ones, of course!
Anyway, I would not hesitate to visit again and bring lots more baby items next time. Baby bottles, diapers, training pants, balls, stuffed animals, etc.
Craig... are you 'up' on the latest music? You have to know all music eras. It's pretty tough! I can sing along to a lot of the songs, but coming up with musicians and song titles is not that easy for me. Doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things... haha
I forgot to mention the heavy rain we had yesterday, right as we were arriving at the orphanage. It was finished by the time we left, but it came down pretty good for a while. It cooled things down a bit, which made dining outside at Via Vai a treat.
I will head to Vasu shortly, to exchange more currency. The other day the rate at Vasu was an even 30.000. Street walk ups were more like 29.568 to 29.69. Vasu is slightly better than the walk up places. It means quite a bit more baht if a person is exchanging a larger amount of $$.
I will go with Brad to the office today. I'm on vacation, but I'm still 'working'.... it's another tough proofing job; another manuscript that is written in English as a second language! I have to 'Americanize' the text. Not always easy. It will be nice to see the staff at the office again. Many of them will be at the big birthday party tomorrow night at Tawandang.
Karen, I've heard of Lantau. I always enjoy a boatride, so this is a possibility. Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like a nice ride.
Later...
Phayathai Home for Babies
78/24 Moo. 1 District Bangtalad
Amphur Pakkret, Nonthaburi Thailand
There is a web site (since they have babies to adopt) which I have not checked out. The address is:
www.phayathaibabieshome.go.th
One of the members of our group (the birthday girl's more elderly mother) was quite overcome a couple of times. For me it was tough at times, but I managed to stay composed. I taught first grade for 33 years, so you know I have to be a caring patient person!! The least adoption-worthy children are the ones who give me the most grief (if that's the right word for it) and they are the neediest ones, of course!
Anyway, I would not hesitate to visit again and bring lots more baby items next time. Baby bottles, diapers, training pants, balls, stuffed animals, etc.
Craig... are you 'up' on the latest music? You have to know all music eras. It's pretty tough! I can sing along to a lot of the songs, but coming up with musicians and song titles is not that easy for me. Doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things... haha
I forgot to mention the heavy rain we had yesterday, right as we were arriving at the orphanage. It was finished by the time we left, but it came down pretty good for a while. It cooled things down a bit, which made dining outside at Via Vai a treat.
I will head to Vasu shortly, to exchange more currency. The other day the rate at Vasu was an even 30.000. Street walk ups were more like 29.568 to 29.69. Vasu is slightly better than the walk up places. It means quite a bit more baht if a person is exchanging a larger amount of $$.
I will go with Brad to the office today. I'm on vacation, but I'm still 'working'.... it's another tough proofing job; another manuscript that is written in English as a second language! I have to 'Americanize' the text. Not always easy. It will be nice to see the staff at the office again. Many of them will be at the big birthday party tomorrow night at Tawandang.
Karen, I've heard of Lantau. I always enjoy a boatride, so this is a possibility. Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like a nice ride.
Later...
Apr 21st, 2011, 07:40 PM
#46
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i've asked tong if this is where she took us...
last year we went to another orphanage near to the tiger temple and it was very different.... these trips always bring a smile to the kids faces, until you have to leave and they feel sad and so do you....
last year we went to another orphanage near to the tiger temple and it was very different.... these trips always bring a smile to the kids faces, until you have to leave and they feel sad and so do you....
Apr 22nd, 2011, 06:05 AM
#47
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Bob, I have a new restaurant for you to try (but you really should take Maeng along to cook for you). The name is Sukishi. The location is in Siam Center, 3rd floor. It is basically a Japanese restaurant but there is Korean bar bq on the menu as well. We mostly did the Korean bar bq. Maeng selected the meats and seafood and then cooked in on the grill in the center of the table. FYI, Brad and Ken went there with Maeng before I arrived here in Bangkok. They both highly recommended it, so we headed there tonight. I agree... it was excellent! We had chicken, pork, fresh water prawns, squid, Japanese pumpkin (a variety of squash), and some other items I cannot recall right now. I had an egg custard with seafood that the others did not eat. Maeng ordered it just for me. It was delish!
I'm not big on all the dipping sauces... usually too spicy for me, but the bar bq sauce that the meat was marinated in was really tasty.
The bill for 4 people was just over 1600 baht, and that included beverages as well as the food.
Gotta get to bed earlier tonight so I am able to stay up late at tomorrow's big birthday bash. Are there any fodorites out there (in BKK, obviously) who are thinking about attending? I promise a good time.
Later...
I'm not big on all the dipping sauces... usually too spicy for me, but the bar bq sauce that the meat was marinated in was really tasty.
The bill for 4 people was just over 1600 baht, and that included beverages as well as the food.
Gotta get to bed earlier tonight so I am able to stay up late at tomorrow's big birthday bash. Are there any fodorites out there (in BKK, obviously) who are thinking about attending? I promise a good time.
Later...
Apr 22nd, 2011, 06:09 AM
#48
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tong just responded to me that the orphanage that you went to is the same one we went to....i may try to dig up our pics and i will post them here...
chang found the glasses frames so they should be delivered to you soon...
chang found the glasses frames so they should be delivered to you soon...
Apr 22nd, 2011, 12:29 PM
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Appreciate all the additional information on your visit to the orphanage and checked out their website. Doing something like that certainly brings everything in our lives into perspective and makes us realize how fortunate we are. So glad too that this place was founded so that these little mites aren't just left on the street to fend for themselves. Thanks also to Bob for attaching the photos, I had not seen them before. Good to see Beth and Andy in good health at the time too.
Have a great time at the Birthday Bash. We've been hearing about this for several months so it should be quite an event. Have fun.
Have a great time at the Birthday Bash. We've been hearing about this for several months so it should be quite an event. Have fun.
Apr 23rd, 2011, 12:38 AM
#54
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I shall pass along all of the lovely birthday wishes to Brad. Thank you! Wish you were all here to take part in the big 'bash' at Tawandang.
We're just havaing a gullywasher rainfall right now. I'm glad I made it back from Chatuchak before this one hit. Hope everyone here in BKK is high and dry! This should definitely cool things down a big when it's done. Hope it's done before I need to leave for the PL and then on to Tawandang!
I'll report in when I can. Pictures? There will be loads of them, but I don't know how to share them! Sorry!
We're just havaing a gullywasher rainfall right now. I'm glad I made it back from Chatuchak before this one hit. Hope everyone here in BKK is high and dry! This should definitely cool things down a big when it's done. Hope it's done before I need to leave for the PL and then on to Tawandang!
I'll report in when I can. Pictures? There will be loads of them, but I don't know how to share them! Sorry!
Apr 23rd, 2011, 10:32 AM
#56
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OMG, what a great party. You 'guys' really missed a good time. I think we had 50 people, and maybe more. I was a bit concerned when 7pm rolled around and we had only filled about half of the table space we requested. But by 8, we hardly had an emptpy seat. Great food, great entertainment, great friends....
And now I really MUST sleep!
Later
(I hope Brad will post some photos on facebook... plenty of photos were taken by many people there)
And now I really MUST sleep!
Later
(I hope Brad will post some photos on facebook... plenty of photos were taken by many people there)
Apr 24th, 2011, 01:35 AM
#57
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I just picked up my HKG guide book at Asia Books, and have written down notes from everyones' great suggestions here. Tomorrow, we're off to HKG! I understand it will be cooler than BKK, but hopefully not TOO cool for Maeng. I recall at Doi Inthanon (near CM) highest point in Thailand, Maeng said she had NEVER been as cold as she was up there! (I'm from snow country, so hard to imagine)
Apr 24th, 2011, 12:53 PM
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K, I was just wondering that very thing. I doubt she has a jacket. We'll have a look in HKG. BKK never really gets that cold! I'm going to check HKG weather for the next few days... hope it's mild and sunny. We have hot and rainy in BKK. Rain expected pretty much daily for the next few days. Maybe it will be dry when I return for my last 5 days.
