Please notice how Craig has thoughtfully separated his thread on beginning the trip from his upcoming trip report. Apparently, certain unnamed RhkKmk's are unable to accomplish this relatively simple task. A thread that has begins in the title should not be used as a trip report. It's deceptive advetising. Oh, wait a minute, wasn't RhkKmk a banker? Why should we be surprised that he engages in deceptive practices? Sub-prime mortgage anyone?

attorneys are never on the holi side! who would you trust with your first born?

Craig, you visited some wonderful places! I can't wait to hear all the details!

Hi Craig and Jeane, I am glad you like the Lemon tree. Did you use the pool yet? We found it great after a hot day at the caves. Look forward to your report. We are home now and recouping after a 36 hour trip home!

Craig I have a strong feeling that we were in Varanasi at the same time & staying at the same place!!! I just looked at your profile picture & I am pretty sure!!! We were not meant to be staying at that hotel when we left home but things changed when we got to Varanasi & we ended up there. So I don't think it registered with me when I was reading of your plans before we left that the dates matched. We were in room 104 with a river view. Too bad I didn't get online at all while away or I would looked out for you! We have been home nearly a week now & this is the first time I have really read anything. I will attempt to right a report soon!!! Why is it that the 34 hour trip home seems to take so much longer to recover from than the trip going over??!! Enjoy the rest of your trip. J

Craig - am hoping you'll weigh in on my post regarding helping me choose between India and China this year (and giving me ideas on possible itineraries). Looking forward to more details from your trip!
Karen

So, after about 12 days of things running relatively smoothly, we have hit a glitch - our daytime connection to Bangkok was canceled due to lack of flyers and we are now scheduled to fly out of Mumbai at 11:20 PM, arriving Bangkok at about 5 AM. We are in business class but still don't expect to get much sleep. Meanwhile we have a day room at the Tunga Regale about 15-20 minutes from the international airport in Mumbai and are passing the time having lunch, doing internet and reading. We have notified the Penn of our late arrival and look forward to the GTG in Bangkok tomorrow night. I guess India wanted to hold on to us a while longer but at this point it is time to move on...

We enjoyed our stay at the Lemontree and enjoyed a refreshing swim in the pool after touring the Ellora Caves, Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara ("Tiny Taj").

Karen - we have not been to China but I'll post a few thoughts about India on your thread.

your trip sounds wonderful. i leave for india/nepal on wednesday - can't wait.
do you have a contact number for the varanasi guide pappu?
i saw a # for him on tripadvisor, but it was more than a year old.
thanks.

Craig, say hello to Bangkok for me! I'll be back in April. Sorry to hear about your delay in getting there. Travel is an adventure! Have a great time at your GTG!
Carol

dperry - as far as I know, the only way to contact Pappu is through Rashmi/Palace by the River. He has no e-mail - in fact, he cannot read English...

Carol - we will hook up in Bangkok some day...

onward t bkk...

>>>...arriving Bangkok at about 5 AM...<

Early BKK greetings to you, craig! (And do hope you've turned it up a notch with your yearly Asia trip with a certain all-time cherished, sentimental Peninsula suite, floor 3_ : your wife will appreciate it; trust me on this one.)

Now, arriving Pen early, you're going to miss my all-time favourite Bangkok Peninsula hostess (her 'shift' kicks in ~ 2pm), but no problems; ring up those marvelous masseuses from Aviva and Thonglor for in-room massage treatments, and rest up for breathless BKK 'gtg'. (Rumour has it, 'monkey god' and his lovely daughter have a certain soapy massage parlour in store for you. Best bring 'protection', and may the force be with you.)

All the best, please try to kick this 'TR' into SQTalk TR territory, shop like there's no tomorrow (my fine firm - and others - will appreciate the effort), and for next year's Asia journey, do kindly consider SQ R/F/J; thank you.

macintosh (robert)


... "Welcome home, Khun Robert!" ...

(Thanks forever, BKK Peninsula management/staff)

We are "home" at the Penn in Bangkok - slept a couple of hours then had a fabulous Penn buffet breakfast by the river. Went to Amantee, great Tibeten/Chinese furnishings and nice setting near the old airport but made no purchases. Then on to "Monk Bowl Alley" where Jeane picked up a monk bowl...

Looking forward to tonight's GTG.

Fishing village with "Lily" (one of Tong's people) tomorrow then home early am on Thursday. Hopefully we will be luckier than the poster whose UA flight to Tokyo was cancelled...

Craig it was fantastic to meet both you and Jeane tonight. Hope we can do it again sometime. Have a great day tomorrow and safe journey home Thursday

I'm glad you made it to Amantee. Very interesting place.

To Jeane,

Happy Birthday!!

Wishing you a wonderful birthday in Bangkok and hope you will enjoy your outing to the village today.

Cheers!

I second the happy birthday . Hopfully you are on the way home soon. How were the monkeys?

of course happy birthday and many more...

We are at the BKK airport right now. Jeane says our day with the monkees was the highlight of our trip. Details of all to come in a few days.

so glad of that....tons of pics i am sure....