Carol, please say hello to Isis and Russ from me. I was so sorry that they missed the HNL gtg in Sept.

Entry to the Poker tournament is 500 Baht. They may have two or three tournaments a night, depending on how fast they go.

Quiz Night is for expats, so it is in English, and the trivia is geared more towards the Brits (soccer, music, politics, etc.)

Will do, Kathie. I'll also see if they might be at home in Sept for the next HNL GTG. Hope so.

Thanks, Carol, I hope they will be at the next HNL gtg as well. We're still planning on going, but no tickets yet.

Hi Carol,
Thanks for saving some time to meet with us on the spur of the moment!
See you tonight at Via Vai on Soi 8.
I found it last night.

Maeng is a gracious hostess at the Pickled Liver and food delicious.

Hi to Kathy and the gang.

Aloha,
Isis & Russ

Aloha Isis and Russ,

I'm so glad you got to meet Maeng. I am always telling her about my internet friends, and she has met a number of them! She is a great friend and she cooks a really mean garlic shrimp and chili (although she says she doesn't have the right ingredients for her chili just yet, at Pickled Liver).

Looking forward to our dinner at Via Vai. I'm anxious to hear all about Suk 11.

Later...

Carol

It's nearly 10pm in Bangkok, and DH and I have just finished a delightful dinner with Isis and Russ. What fun. What fun. The talk was, of course, about travel, but also about cars, motorcycles, a little dash of politics, etc etc and shopping! Thanks again, Isis and Russ, for your pleasant company for the evening. We enjoyed it very much.

Tomorrow is (already) my last full day in Bangkok. Seems as though I just got here, and it's already time to head back home on the 14th.

No specific plans for tomorrow, but I do plan to go back and visit with Maeng one more time. Isis and Russ also enjoyed her company at the Pickled Liver.

I'm yawning and my eyes are really trying to stay open so I can type a little bit but, alas, sleep is a must!

Enjoy your day.

Carol

Gloria, aren't you on your way over here in a matter of a few days? Seems like we just missed each other this time.

Sawatdii Kha, Khun Carol...Great to see that you're having such a great time in BKK and it's great that you were able to hook up with Isis/Russ. I thought they'd fallen off the planet or something since it's been so long since they've posted. Smiles. I'm glad they're OK. I had a GTG with them in BKK about 2 years ago...along with Rizzuto.
Well, have a safe flight home and you'd better bottle that sunshine and warmth. I'll send you some, from L.A. It's going to be 85 today. Smiles. Take care. Happy Travels!

have a good flight home...

My last day in Bangkok is just beginning. One last trip to visit Maeng (she's such a dear). I've bought enough stuff to keep me happy for a while, so no urge to go shopping. But if Maeng suggests yet another secret market, I just might have to go there... lol

guen, I'm like you. I have wondered about Isis and Russ, hoping they were OK and still traveling a lot to S E Asia. Sounds like they are doing just that.

I think they might miss the HNL GTG in September; something about Reno and an air show? I hope the dates don't conflict so they can attend the GTG! Such nice people.

Carol

Sorry we're missing you Carol - we leave Thursday. May have to wait til 09 to try Kinaree which sounds great.

Craig and Jeane

Thanks so much, Carol, for such great suggestions for food. DH goes into withdrawal if he doesn't get pizza or pasta at least once or twice when traveling (says he has to shoot up Ragu and snort parmesan ;-)!). So we will probably try Vai Vai. Had pizza in Rio, Cape Town, and Port Douglas, so we have to try Thai pizza now! And for me - I love finding little local places so I will definitely want to look at Maeng when we are there in June.

Have a safe trip back to the wonderfully snowy and cold midwest ! Not sure what part of Illinois you are from, but here in the northern Chicago suburbs you have missed really awful weather! So I have to live in the warmth vicariously. Thanks for sharing your trip.

Craig and Jeanne,

Yes, sorry I'm missing you. Maybe next time?

Jen.. brrr about Chicago. I'm in Illinois, but about 3 hours south and west of OHare airport. I'm near the Quad Cities area.

Jen, you will like Via Vai. It is a very short stroll down soi 8, and right across from the Adelphi Suites where I'm staying. DH and I each get our own pizza (and put any left overs in our fridge); but we first share a caprese salad. The fresh mozzarella here is really tasty!

Can't wait to return to BKK in two months!

Carol

Hi Carol,
Thanks again for you and the DH's company last night! We had a wonderful evening. Thank you for your taking the time to meet with us on your vacation time. Mahalo.

Envy your curly hair and especially like the new hairdo.

Carol, thanks again for your writing style; it's interesting and we've learned so much travel tips from you. As you know we are again planning to stay at the Patumwan House after we return from our upcoming South India trip.

We are here at MBK using the internet on the same floor of the movie theatre. It has good rates.
You mentioned it in one of your posts of long ago.

There is another Italian restaurant near the Emporium area, down a street (Soi 33 ?) across from the Emporium. If you have not been there yet, Guenmai knows the name. I think the name was something like Basilica. Hi Guenmai!

We do hope we can make the next HNL GTG but not sure exactly what our plans will be in Sept. 08. Hope we can!

Hope to see you all again.

Aloha,
Isis & Russ

Isis
Maeng said she saw you again today. She gave me a tour of Suk 11 area. Yep, it's charming. Not my sort of place, but I can understand the appeal for some.

Maeng cooked dinner one last time for us. I had garlic shrimp and safron rice. Maeng gave us sticky rice w/mango for dessert. Such a dear dear person.

Isis, thank you for the lovely mirror! I did not expect anything! Your company was all that was "required" and it was really lovely. I do hope you will be available for the HNL GTG on September 20. Tell Russ he can see planes anytime!! haha

Time for sleep. I'm really pooped so hopefully I'll catch about 5 hours of shuteye. Then, an early taxi and flight home (first class again... yippeeeee!)

Goodbye Bangkok, until April!

Carol

have a very safe trip home, Carol!

Enjoyed your reports enormously and look forward to more in April!

Hey Isis! Great to hear from you. I think I know what Italian restaurant you're talking about. I don't remember the name of it, but it's probably the same one that you're talking about. Is it past the Novatel Lotus? My Thai language school is on two sub sois off of that street so I've walked almost the whole street. I'll have to try it the next time I'm in BK. Happy Travels!

It's good to see you post again, Isis. I do hope you and Russ can make it to the HNL gtg in September. We're planning on being there!

And do tell us about your travels in SE Asia - what is on the itinerary for this trip?

I'm home once again! The trip was a little rough, even though I was in first class. I managed to catch a nasty head cold, which made it difficult to get comfy or sleep much. Today is better, thank goodness. Jetlag has really played havoc with my sleep/awake pattern.

Isis and Russ, thanks again for the lovely evening! I hope you are enjoying southern India by this time. Your S E Asia trip sounded wonderful. I hope you will post a report here.

April will be here before we know it, and I'll be back in BKK.

Carol

new plan for carol....move to bkk, have the shop send over your work by air freight or fax and you can do it between shopping trips....they pay you a usa salary and you live bkk prices....