sunshine---not sure how flexible your tour is but imo i give the rose garden a total pass.....its a very touristy place and not worth any of your valuable time...

Back from the day trip to Hua Hin at about 10:45pm. Tiring trip, but we had a nice time. We left this morning at 8. The traffic TO Hua Hin was unbelieveable! Traffic IN Hua Hin was also crazy!

I did not see the beach! We were too busy going other places and spending some time with Maeng's friends, at their home.

It was very hot today, very humid as well. I don't usually sweat this much! There was a jazz festival going on, plus the holiday on Monday and Wednesday, as noted by hanuman. In other words, everybody in BKK went to Hua Hin I think!

The trip down to Hua Hin took about 4 hours. Coming back only took about 2 1/2 hours.

The market that proved to be the most interesting was not Plearnwan. It was the Saturday market! 'Cicada' is the name of it... or at least the name on a very large sign right by the market. Lots of handmade interesting items. Good food as well.

Would I return to Hua Hin? I'm not sure. I guess I did not get a very favorable impression just because of the heat, the crowds, and the traffic jams. It probably deserves a second look, and the next time for at least one night in a resort!

One more day in BKK. Sunshine, enjoy your tour. Maybe we'll meet next time! I'm heading to Chatuchak in the morning. Right now, I need sleep.

Carol

carol, i do think you would like HH at a leisurely pace....its one of the nicest of the thai places we visit...

i can't believe that you did not even get a peek at the beach...wow...

Carol,

It's the "Honda Jazz" festival featuring Thai pop bands not jazz music. The Cicada market is the new weekend market, only on Friday to Sunday, and open until about midnight.

I don't like it either when it's too crowded. If you back on a weekday or even on a regular weekend, not a long-weekend, then it's much nicer IMO.

I'll give it a thought... returning to HH during the week or on a more normal weekend. It may not be in 2010 though.

Bob, I like a beach location, but that doesn't mean I spend time there. Looking at the beach would have been nice, but there was just no time. And by the time we thought about it, it was dark. Oh well...

Starting to pack my belongings today to see what room I might have left in the bags. Off to Chatuchak to pick up some more denim and coconut... and who knows what else.

C

can't believe your time is approaching for you to pack up yet again.....why doesn't AS just give you a locked closet to leave some of your stuff there??

Carol,

You are right - I haven't sweated this much in a long time. It was very hot again today, like it is going to be changing!! LOL

I thought today was cool going to the floating market and a few other places. The rose garden was very nice - I think I am easy to please plus I got to feed the elephants. So it made my day. back in the hotel to cool off and then meet for dinner and do some more work.

Safe trip back Carol.

Thanks, sunshine. Do enjoy your time in BKK. I'm sorry to be leaving already. Bob, you are right. AS should just give me a closet to store my things!! haha

Shopping at Chatuchak was very good today. I found a couple of new vendors that had things I just couldn't resist. I always love that... :)

I was probably at Chatuchak for about 2 1/2 hours. Maeng did not join me this time, but I'm really just fine on my own. I can find what I want and do my own negotiating... no problem.

Maeng and I went to dinner on Ekamai tonight. She took me to the same place where NYWoman danced!! Ken has also been there, as have several other friends of mine who are not fodorites. The name of the place is Sabai Jai Gai Yang. It is quite a distance down Ekamai (even numbered side of the street, if that means anything). We had bar bq chicken, a specialty, some shrimp cakes, papaya salad, sticky rice, and watermelon smoothie (good, but not quite as good as the ones at Monsoon). This restaurant is a large place. They can seat quite a lot of people. Most of the dining is outside. They have live music (and dancing, obviously, right NYWoman?). I did not get up and dance at this place. The food was all excellent. Maeng knows how to find good places.

Went to the PL to bid my goodbyes to friends. Now a bit of sleep, if it's possible. My flt is early, 6:50am. I'm in biz on UA all the way to ORD, but I have to go thru NRT and SFO on this trip. It's a longer one than usual, which is LONG ENOUGH already, thank you.

I'm planning on a shower at NRT Red Carpet again. NICE!! Refreshing. Love the little kit bag they give you. FREE.

We'll be in touch...

So long BKK. I'll be back again.

C

bon voyage carol

Carol, thank you for the info on Tawandang German Brewery. We went on a friday night. It was just as you described. We had a great time. Food and beer was cheap. Entertainment was fun. Wish we had followed your advice and made reservations. Our seats were not great, but the place was packed. Place was easy to find for our taxi driver.

Thanks, Bob.

I'm at Red Carpet at NRT. There is a flt leaving for SFO right now, but not the one I'm on... oh well, that gives me time for a nice shower, even tho the flt from BKK to NRT wasn't such a long one. I still enjoy freshening up for the long haul. Acutally, I love the little kit bag (it's free)!! Nice souvenir, and very useable!

Flt to NRT was full. I was in the upper deck, but had to stow my carryon bag in a bin downstairs as upstairs was full already! Didn't need anything anyway, as I'd already packed my 'necessaries' in my purse. Love the window storage compartment on the 747 in the upper deck.

NYWoman, did I remember to say that Meang said hi? She wonders when you will be returning!

Last time I came thru SFO customs and had a short connecting flt time, I almost missed it!! Security was awful... long slow line. I hope things are better there this time, altho I've allowed myself 2 hrs+ at SFO rather than only about 1 hr. Time for shopping! I'll pick up some San Francisco chocolates to take home to 'the boys' at the store.

Now I have to decide when my NEXT BKK trip will be. I told Maeng I would probably be returning in July. We'll see. I miss the city already, and I just left there! But it really IS time to head home.

Carol

Well. hrmffffff... no kit bag now. Just when I finally opted to try the shower and get (another) bag, after doing so on my way TO Bangkok, for the first time of many to come, I'm sure. It was still very refreshing though. Towels, shower gel, lotion, shampoo in the shower room. Comb, shower cap, razor, toothbrush/paste, etc. at the check in counter. Just help yourself.

Refreshed and ready to travel onward...!

Hi Carol,
Hope the remaining part of your return trip goes well... Seems you will have lots of other options for flying in the near future as it looks as if United and Continental have agreed to merge,and the main hub will be ORD. Alas, my lifetime Platinum status is with AA, however, I usually have good luck out of ORD with them. Interesting about the Red Carpet Lounge in Narita. Oh I also think that the biz lounge for Cathay Pacific in HK is excellent.

I can hardly believe you are already planning on going back to BKK in July. I do think you are the MOST traveled to BKK out of all the Fodorites. Just curious, do you have a business that you go to Thailand for, wondering if your retail therapy involves finding special items to ship back for your business?

Thanks so much for all your on the spot updates over the last couple of weeks. I expect you will be a bit tuckered out for the next few days, fighting jet lag however, I'm sure you will enjoy the lovely Illinois Spring weather - quite a bit cooler than the temps you've been experiencing, but everything is so pretty and green.
Sue

Carol sell red t-shirts.

SAfe travels home, Carol. I know you can't wait to return to bangkok - that's how I always feel as I'm leaving. Someday, perhaps, Bangkok will be home.

Hanuman, I didn't buy any red t-shirts! (smile) Brad did, though. I may bring his with me to the GTG in BOS in October.

I'm up at a 'normal' time for me this morning, checking my computer, which has some minor glitches in it. The power must have gone off during my absence. Can't get into my email at the moment.

Anyway, I'm home. Made it here at midnight last night. It was nice sleeping in my own bed again, although AS is really quite comfortable.

The weather is quite chilly compared to BKK temps. I'll get used to it. Spring in Illinois can be really pretty, and yes, green.

Welcome home Carol. My power is often off when I get home, but that's because I forget to pay the bill. Hopeless. Everything has to be reset - clocks, 'puter, timers, arghhh.

Where's the DH?

DH is here at home. Someone has to hold the fort down! DS is in Samui right now.

Yes welcome home! On your next trip you can probably enjoy the merger between UA and CO, both Star Alliance members.

It's interesting to note that as soon as Carol was in the air both waring parties began peace talk! Also interesting to note that Carol's middle name is "M", Carol M(Mata Hari) Simpson.

Welcome home, Carol. We really enjoyed the upper deck but that storage closet does seem to fill up quickly. The window storage is great for stowing blankets and pillows when you don't need them.

Why the extra stop in SFO?

Will be watching progress on the CO-UA merger - the antitrust regulators still have to approve it. I have a few miles on CO that I'd like to move to my Mileage Plus account but I don't see much other benefit for us - CO is already part of the *A.