I completely missed breakfast this morning. I didn't wake up until about 10:30am! I guess I needed some sleep.

It isn't reining right now, but we had a storm during the night. I'm going to assume we will have our share of rain on this trip. Funny, the restaurant on the street level here at my apartment hotel has changed hands at least twice since I've been staying here. The name of the place is now MONSOON. How appropriate!

I'll report in later on, but the plan is MBK today, and then I'll be seeing DS Brad and Maeng and Dr Jack this evening at dinnertime. A stop at 7-11 (which I usually would have done last night) where I will stock up on yogurt and milk and cereal... I needed that this morning! I'll also get my laundry soap and fabric softener and paper towels, etc.

Can't believe I slept in this late! Gotta get busy. There is shopping to do! haha

Carol

Hi Carol!

sounds like you are off and running on adventure #___! I don't know the number, but it must be high!

Have fun, and happy shopping. I've been using my little bag and my bookmark all week. Thank you!

PS: what are all those C9 D9 Z9 codes? and where do you find them?

They just moved the taxis downstairs (again) this month. Their excuse is that it will make it 'safer' and easier to prevent touts! Have yet to see the logic in that.

Lucy, those codes are on the UA web site, if you register as an advanced user. When you look for flights, you are offered to see seat availability, flight details, and there is one more thing... having to do with details of the flight. If you put your mouse on that particular info icon, it will tell you how many C/W/M/H/etc. various fare code seats are left on the flight you select. But you have to be an advanced user in order to see that information. You can select "advanced" user under your UA profile. I'm still in the process of trying to see just how it works, as it takes some practice. I can at least tell which flight segment is costing me more, because the cheaper seats are all sold out.

So, Michael, they are moving taxi stands back and forth from floor to floor?? I agree, I don't see how that is going to help with safety issues of solve the problem of touts. I really don't like having to take the people mover with my baggage cart DOWN one floor...UGH. That is inconvenient, in my opinion. Wish they would switch it back to arrivals floor. Just my two cents...

I just had a really tasty salad lunch at a new place. I've seen construction of "On 8" Cafe/hotel the last few times I've been in the city. The place was open in August, but I didn't go inside. Today I decided to stop there for a quick lunch. Glad I did. It is located right at the intersection of Sukhumvit and Soi 8 (located ON Sukhumvit) and is right at the bottom of the escalator that I always take UP to the skytrain.

Anyway, my salad was very tasty, very fresh, and not too big. Some salads are huge and I end up eating about half. This one is called the "On 8 Salad" and had slices of pear, slices of avocado, cherry tomatos, parmasean cheese, on a bed of romaine, and a delicious vinaigrette dressing tossed in. Delicious!!! I decided to try a strawberry "shake" to go with my salad. The shake was not the thick type I'm used to at home, more like a smoothie, but it was also quite good. The salad was 150 baht and 85 baht for the shake. I would definitely go back to this place for lunch, or maybe for breakfast. I should take the time to look at their hotel room options, if I have time sometime.

MBK had a few bargains for me today. There were a few things, though, that I could not bargain the vendor out of! Even when I walked away, and he followed me, he would NOT take my offered price. Maybe tomorrow??? We'll see....

Meeting up with DS, Maeng, and Dr Jack tonight at the Pickled Liver. I will go with bags of gifts in tow. I brought a number of things with me... that'll take a big load out of my suitcases!!! (more room for buying new stuff)

Lucy, glad you are still liking your "girl bag" from the GTG.

I can't believe that the temperature (I don't know exactly how hot it is) does NOT feel as hot as usual. It isn't the stifling heat I had at least one or two of the days I was here in August. Lucy, I think this is trip #18 btw....

When I checked in last night, I told the staff at the desk that I brought them a lot of business. They wanted to know if I post on Trip Advisor. This place is in the top 10 or something like that, on TA. I told them I did not post on TA, that I posted instead on fodors. I will have to write it down for them, so they can check it out.

We'll chat again later....

Carol

MBK has really changed since I first went there in '03. Just 6 years ago Thailand had a much different feel and look to it, like it was still in the mid 70's to 80's.

Carol- You'll have to get Maeng to go shopping with you to MBK. Make sure you hide so the vendor doesn't see you and let her buy the item you're interested in. Works every time for me and the wife(although she looks pretty westernized now).

Carol,

You guys going to be here for Loy Kratong(Nov. 2nd)?

Hanuman, I thought Loy Kratong was later than Nov 2. Yes, we will be here. I go home on the 3rd.... hate to make it tooooo late of a night on the 2nd. What will be happening that day/evening?

mango, I do let Maeng do some of the talking, but I'm not hiding in the wings. I do note that sellers at MBK are not quite so "hungry" to make a sale as they were in August. The city seems to be pretty busy IMO. I could pretty much name my price when I shopped in August. We'll see what I end up with on this trip. Hoping for a few bargains!

We (DS) ended up at Maeng's again this evening. It was the easiest place to meet up, and Dr Jack joined us. I had gifts from home to hand out, so that was as good a place as any to do it.

Simple dinner, early evening. Even DS headed back to his apt to get some sleep before 10pm!

I am going to knock on wood that my jetlag won't be quite so bad this trip, since I was able to sleep on the flights over here; and I've been in pretty good shape today, going strong from 10am until now (it's nearly 10:30pm). Not bad! I'm usually asleep on the couch by 7 my first night in the city. But I'm not going to be awake much longer than this tonight.

Tomorrow, Chatuchak/JJ Mall with Maeng!!

Carol

Carol Loy Kratong this year falls on November 2nd so you're lucky! We, my family, normally do something on that evening so once we have a firm plan we will invite you guys along too. Don't worry we are flying to Hong Kong on the 3rd as well so not too late, late enough to watch the fireworks on the river - around 10ish.

I only "hide" because we learned that when we're both present at the vendor (when buying artistic things), prices are significantly higher that when she buys alone. Significantly! Some of the prices we were quoted in the past were ridiculous. So I learned to disappear and let her do the picking/negotiating.

Its funny how some get hammered with jetlag when in Thailand and then are OK when arriving home. During my first trip to the "Far East" (lol) I was a zombie for the first week of the trip. At 8 pm I'd be totally glazed over. Now I'm fine, but when I arrive home I feel like I'm chronically depressed!

pook, why not invite mango too for some bkk chinese food

I'd like to join Pook, but not over Chinese food. That would cancel out the whole experience.

Pook, your invitation to join you and your family for Loy Kratong sounds lovely!! We'd love to join you. Thank you so very much for the kind invitation. Let us know the plan when you can.

Mango.. trust me, the jetlag is much worse going back HOME. And this time, when I hit Chicago, I have to drive 3 hours home. No one is picking me up. I did my park/sleep/fly so I would have a car to get home in. But I should get plenty of sleep in business class on the flts home so it will be OK.

This morning I'm up at 6am. Here we go... the body has no idea what time it is! But I'll deal with it... after all, I'm back in Bangkok!

Carol

Carol- That's a good drive!

I don't know if you've ever experienced the smell of the jasmine flowers that are usually sold at various street intersections, but if you buy a small bunch on a string and put in your hotel room it makes the room smell heavenly. This is one of the great smells of Thailand! Try it if you haven't..

look at this: 2,050 baht a night + 300 tax.

http://furamaxclusive.com/sathorn/rooms.php

Dog's been sniffing around hotels in Bkk. Now, thanks to Hanuman, I know why the prices have gone up come Nov. 1, why the hotels are full [well, the ones I want] and why there's scarcely a deal to be had. It's worse in India. Those dang full moons keep attacking me.

Dog...
Come on over! We'll eat ice cream at Haagen Dazs(sp)!

Just back to my apartment from the grand opening tonight of the new street level restaurant in the Adelphi building. Quite a crowd! But then, they were offering free food (I had already eaten Via Vai pizza) and drink "as long as it lasts." The food was a selection of finger foods... looked to me like a mix of cultures was represented. I was pretty impressed that soi 8 could draw such a large crowd of people. They were not all staying here at the Adelhi. That was obvious.

DS played in a tournament today and lasted most of the day until getting beat out. I went to see how things were going, once I got back from the weekend market. Maybe I brought bad luck...?

Bargains on scarves today at the weekend market. I stocked up on several different kinds. Not silk. Not expensive!

I'm hoping to get a good nights sleep as I have two dental appts tomorrow at Bumrungrad. I arranged them ahead of time, as when I was here back in August I found out that I could not just walk in the door and get what I wanted done! Hope all goes well.

Carol

loving the updates Carol, hope you make it to Bo Lan, if not we will go and report back.

yes there's always room for the dog! C'mon over for the Loy Kratong GTG. I promise no photo taking and your secret identity will only be know to a few drunken Fodorites.

Hanuman = Pook? The Pook in Chiang Mai?