Arrived in BKK on New Year's day after an appalling flight on BA from Heathrow. We are staying at the Ibis (part of the Accor group) near Victory monument, an "economy International hotel". 1000 bht per night for a spacious clean, if somewhat basic room. well worth thye money especially as we got upgrades to a suite! - must be the cheapest in BKK.

Went to what Po for a massage and after many years of visiting we tried the actual school outside of the temple - tone of the best thai massages ever - so good we have been back twice. also visit Chote Chitre (not far from Wat Po) for lunch - excellent food and friendly staff but noted that on the menu we were handed the prices were almost double those written in Thai on the board outside! We had the mackerelin spicy sauce and beef red in red curry without coconut - both were excellent. Go soon before it gets over-run with tourists - Brief report - just wanted to avoid accumulating too many panda penalties too soon on a vet\ry long trip!

Enjoy Bangkok! We've eaten at Chote Chitr a couple of times. Each time ordered more than we could eat; each time our meal was about US$10. If it's twice what Thais pay, that's fine with me!

What is your next RTW stop?

Clive-glad to hear you're back in BKK. BA can really have some miserable flights. Is it a coincidence that the empire slipped away right around the time of the invention of the airplane?

No penalty points whatsoever. Femi, I jumped in here only because he mistakenly called them panda penalty points.

The "Street Smart" thread just below has a link to a nice article in the NY Times about Chote Chitre.

Wouldn't mind hearing about the rest of your trip Crellston.

Ha ha Andy, you've got us all quaking in our boots! Truth be told I might still be thinking about *beginning* to write my report if it weren't for the dreaded penalties!

I fear I am rather lax at 'encouraging' people and so am happy for them to remain 'Panda Penalties'

PS. Crellston, I'm giving you 2 bonus points for taking the trouble to check in with us while you're on the road

Crellston is a dedicated historian. there was little doubt that he will chronicle his adventures. However, I am not in favor of bonus points. Think of how often they would not be awarded. The stick, but no carrot.

Can you tell me if the airport bus drops off at this hotel please?

Do you mean all carrot no stick? Sounds like something I'd be interested in. Ever since I got back I've been trying to dream up ways of living my SEA life (the carrot) all the time without having to work (the stick) for it.

Here's to more carrots!

Oh goodie! A RTW trip? I'm in! When do we get to hear more?
Are you doing a blog/website too?

Can you just walk into the massage school at Wat Po and get a massage, i.e. no reservation needed? How long did you have to wait? There will be 4 of us. How long was the massage?

jgg
My experience was a few years ago, but, yes, I walked right into the massage school at Wat Pho and got a massage. Mine was a Thai foot massage (for a sprained ankle that I had just gotten... uneven sidewalks in BKK!!!) and it lasted one hour. It worked BTW... I could have danced out of the massage school after that one hour!!

clive---looking to read more and happy new year to you both

bob

In reverse order:
1. Bob happy new year to you and Karen.
2. Femi - thanks for the bonus points.
3. Andy - thanks for the penalty waiver
4. jgg - like simpsonc we walked right in with no wait. there were plenty of masseurs waiting so you shouldn't wait even for 4 of you. It is easy to get to - as you get off the boat walk through the small market to the corner of wat Po - turn right and about 100 yards along turn right again into a soi - the school is at teh end of teh soi (40 yards) on the left. 360 bht for one hour. the school inside Wat Po has been temporarily rlocated form its usual palce and there was a hours wait when we went!

More to follow re a great day tour we went on yesterday

Ps Andy - re the invention of the aiplane etc - I think things started going wrong even earlier i.e. around the time you guys turned Boston Harbour into a giant teapot!

We have never been big Tea lovers. If the tea had been Big Macs or French Fries, we never would have dumped it.

Just arrived in Siem Reap. we traveled by train from HuamLampong to Aranyaprathet on the Cambodian border. What a bargain! 49bht for 6 hours on a train!! hard seats and absolutel paked with some people standing for most of the journey. still, a great way to met tehn Thai people. Carolyn ended up baby sitting a Thai baby for a couple of hours.
By the time we got to Aranyaprathet my butt knew it had been on a journey. We satye over night in the Aran Garden which we found by walikng around the town (after an attmpted hotel scam by a the. Probbly the hrdest bed I hve ever slept in - still only 200bht.

The transfer across teh border in not for the faint hearted - at least 10 attempted rip-offs through immigration and customs. The town of Poipet is a real dump and not somewhere I would want to stay any longer than necessary.
We are staying at the Peace of Angkor Villa in SR - v. comfortable room in colonial villa a/c for 20$.

Isn't Poipet a wonderful introduction to Cambodia. How did you enjoy the ride on the the worst highway in the country. I assume you went by car rather than tourist bus. Come back in a few years and that will all have change once certain political arrangements come to an end.

Hi Crellston,

Sounds like you are having a fab time - we wanted to do the train journey to Cambodia but time was a restriction. We will visit SR and PP but arrive/depart by plane unfortunately.

I am keeping a close eye on your posts - looking to pick-up some pointers (apart from the ones you have already provided) to enhance our trip !

Are you going to PP? I have not got any accomm there yet.....interested to see your choice.

Enjoy - vhs.

Clive-when you're in SR, you might want to say hello to Lori (Offwego). I think she's staying at Ponheary's guest house. You can toucg base with Ponheary at [email protected].

How was the bus ride?