laurieco

Hi Cruisinred

Have you made your Bangkok plans yet for this coming Spring? I recall you saying that you will be there in late May and that perhaps we could get together for a drink. We'll be in BKK from May 30 to June 5. We're at the Peninsula. Perhaps a drink at the Oriental's Bamboo Bar?

cruisinred

Hi Laurieco-

We are still in the process of confirming our plans but at this point, it does look like you and I (and our SO's) will be in Bangkok at the same time on June 1/2. We will be staying at the Pen at the beginning of our trip May 21-23, and then at the Oriental for June 1-2. Would love to meet up with you and Eric for a drink....looking forward to hearing details about your Java trip and Amanjiwo splurge. We will be in SR and then Bali as well as BKK.

laurieco

GREAT!!! We'll look forward to meeting up and having that drink

Keep me posted.

cruisinred

Can't wait \/

BTW, did you see the following article I posted today...as if you needed any more reason not to fly a budget carrier in Indonesia:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34761793

laurieco

Yeah, I saw that. How in hell do you lose a plane????

rhkkmk

cruise---hire laurie to fight you case with the airline---she gets terrific results....remember indonesia?? or was it malaysia?? they are still talking about her...

and that poor man with the motor bike...all he wanted was a ride

laurieco

Hi cruisinred, Since we'll both be leaving for SEA within the next few weeks, I thought this was a good time to get our plans together to meeting up in Bangkok. We'll be in BKK at the Pen from May 30 to June 5 so let me know when you want to meet up. you can email me at lauriecohen1xxhotmail

just sub @ for the xx and put .com at the end. After I hear from you, I'll answer on my regular email address, which I don't like posting for obvious reasons.

Ericka

Hi Laurico,

Make sure you watch the news (Google News at least) in the next few weeks. Mt. Merapi on Java is getting ready to blow. They have started to evacuate parts of Megalang (hopefully the parts directly on the slope of Mt. Merapi and not Losari and Amanjiwo).

At any rate, we'll need to be praying for everyone's safety. Hopefully, it will be a small erruption, but let's not forget that at the time Borobudur was rediscovered during the 19th century, it had been completely covered in volcanic ash.

laurieco

Ericka, I'm somewhat concerned about this too. Hopefully if there is an eruption, it won't hurt anyone or disrupt anything. It's odd because I was telling someone just the other day that I was hoping to see a volcanic eruption, from a safe distance of course. When I was in Costa Rica last May, Arenal erupted constantly for the three days we were in that area and it was a highlight of that trip. Volcanic eruptions are spectacular sights but Aernal's eruptions didn't harm anyone or anything.

cruisinred

Hi Laurieco-

Unfortunately, my plans have changed slightly as I could not get an inexpensive airfare on the Thai non-stop for the dates I wanted later in May....I had to move the trip up by a week or so.
I think we will literally just miss each other at the Pen in Bangkok

Here is my current itin (too busy/too many stops for some Fodorites, but I really want to see alot during this trip)
Monday, May 15 Bangkok with Tong
Tuesday, May 16 fly to Luang Prabang
Wed, May 17 Luang Prabang
Thursday, May 18 Luang Prabang
Friday, May 19 fly to Hanoi
Saturday, May 20 Hanoi
Sunday, May 21 Hanoi
Monday, May 22 fly to Nha Trang (Evason Hideaway Ana Mandara)
Tuesday, May 23 Nha Trang
Wed, May 24 fly to Siem Reap (Hotel Paix)
Thursday, May 25 Angkor Wat
Friday, May 26 Angkor Wat
Saturday, May 27 fly to Bangkok
Sunday, May 28 all day Bangkok


Maybe we can have a mini NYC GTG later in the summer and share pictures?

Craig

Cruisin and Laurie - We will be thinking of you at the CT GTG May 21st.

Cruisin - I think you have allocated the right amount of time for LP and SR at least (and Bangkok since you've been there before). Can't comment about VN though as I haven't been. The itinerary I'm putting together for Myanmar is similar in stops to yours - its the only way to see a lot in the time available.

laurieco

Cruisinred, Oh well, that's too bad. I was looking forward to having a little GTG in BKK but I guess it will have to be in New York. We're flying to BKK on May 27 also, get in about 4:20pm but we're renting a car at the airport and going to Hua Hin. What time does your flight get in? Maybe we'll see each other at the airport. Ours is a Thai Airways flight from Jakarta.

cruisinred

Craig- Wish we could have made it to the GTG to meet everyone...will have to wait until the next one this fall in Boston. We will toast the CT GTG while in Hanoi drinking a 333 (I think that is the Vietnamese local beer).

Laurieco- So sorry that we will not be able to meet up . We will be coming back through the BKK airport from SR at around noon on May 27. will u b at the boston gtg?

laurieco

I do plan on being at the Boston GTG but hopefully we can have that drink in NY this summer too.