filmwill's musings (live) from thailand
Dec 21st, 2008, 05:44 AM
#61
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Will, hope you had a good trip back and don't suffer the jet lag too much. I know how hard it can be!
I look forward to your more detailed review of the SGS. I'm disappointed to hear it wasn't great because it gets such good reviews over on Trip Advisor. I thought it would be better than the ROS on the river (I wouldn't necessarily stay there again either). I also thought the location would be very good.
That's a very steep charge for internet. Did they not have free wifi anywhere in the hotel? At least the ROS has that in the lobby computer lounge.
Finally, when you reply, can you tell me if you booked your cash+points room on the SPG website, or over the phone? Did they give you any SPG upgrades and did you try to book a club floor room?
Thanks!
I look forward to your more detailed review of the SGS. I'm disappointed to hear it wasn't great because it gets such good reviews over on Trip Advisor. I thought it would be better than the ROS on the river (I wouldn't necessarily stay there again either). I also thought the location would be very good.
That's a very steep charge for internet. Did they not have free wifi anywhere in the hotel? At least the ROS has that in the lobby computer lounge.
Finally, when you reply, can you tell me if you booked your cash+points room on the SPG website, or over the phone? Did they give you any SPG upgrades and did you try to book a club floor room?
Thanks!
Dec 22nd, 2008, 05:59 PM
#62
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Just wanted to let everyone know we made it back safe and sound. I've never slept as much on a plane in my life (10 hours straight!) so the flight seemed unusually short (it was already only just barely over 14 hrs with the nice tail wind we had.)
I'd say the flight was great, but we barely had time to enjoy it. The few hours we were awake, the jetstream was bumpy something terrible. Just nonstop turbulence for hours. It would've bothered me if we weren't angled back, eating yummy food and absolutely comfortable.
Interesting little incident: upon arrival at LAX, we were 'flagged' for customs scrutiny. I knew as soon as we got up to the thick-necked, pasty customs router when he asked us 'You were in Thailand, huh? Was this for pleasure?' and David tried to make a joke about some of it being pleasurable, etc...that we were in trouble. He wrote some ominous code (400-something) on our customs form and shooed us over to "Line B" where we were given the 3rd degree from another linebacker-necked, Casper-like gent who was a bit intimidating. We sat there for what seemed like ages waiting for anything...a bag search, some information on when we could proceed...all the while, I'm elbowing David saying 'Why did you have to make that joke? Great, now he thinks we're drug smugglers...'
Finally we were asked a few questions ('how many times have you been to Thailand?', 'and you're sure you didn't bring any food or 'goods' back with you?', etc.) and released to go on our merry way after the guy checked only one of our bags and much to his dismay only found a heap of dirty laundry.
Oh well, always the adventure at LAX. Granted this didn't help soothe me back into US life at all. I groaned the whole taxi ride back about rude Americans and profiling--I think David wanted to kill me by the time we finally got home.
As pentance, I'm suffering jetlag probably worse than ever before this time. Didn't sleep at all last night (went to bed around 4 AM), took today off since I couldn't even get out of bed when I woke and slept on and off most of the day. Trying to get back to some semblance of normal, but I can tell already that it's going to be a doozy this time. Luckily we have our holiday break coming up from work, which is proving to be serendipitous timing.
I'd say the flight was great, but we barely had time to enjoy it. The few hours we were awake, the jetstream was bumpy something terrible. Just nonstop turbulence for hours. It would've bothered me if we weren't angled back, eating yummy food and absolutely comfortable.
Interesting little incident: upon arrival at LAX, we were 'flagged' for customs scrutiny. I knew as soon as we got up to the thick-necked, pasty customs router when he asked us 'You were in Thailand, huh? Was this for pleasure?' and David tried to make a joke about some of it being pleasurable, etc...that we were in trouble. He wrote some ominous code (400-something) on our customs form and shooed us over to "Line B" where we were given the 3rd degree from another linebacker-necked, Casper-like gent who was a bit intimidating. We sat there for what seemed like ages waiting for anything...a bag search, some information on when we could proceed...all the while, I'm elbowing David saying 'Why did you have to make that joke? Great, now he thinks we're drug smugglers...'
Finally we were asked a few questions ('how many times have you been to Thailand?', 'and you're sure you didn't bring any food or 'goods' back with you?', etc.) and released to go on our merry way after the guy checked only one of our bags and much to his dismay only found a heap of dirty laundry.
Oh well, always the adventure at LAX. Granted this didn't help soothe me back into US life at all. I groaned the whole taxi ride back about rude Americans and profiling--I think David wanted to kill me by the time we finally got home.
As pentance, I'm suffering jetlag probably worse than ever before this time. Didn't sleep at all last night (went to bed around 4 AM), took today off since I couldn't even get out of bed when I woke and slept on and off most of the day. Trying to get back to some semblance of normal, but I can tell already that it's going to be a doozy this time. Luckily we have our holiday break coming up from work, which is proving to be serendipitous timing.
Dec 22nd, 2008, 06:31 PM
#64
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anxious to read the whole report in DETAIL...
kristina....the SG is far nicer than the ROS i can tell you that....take a look at the plaza anthanee....its cash and points is cheaper i think and i fell the hotel is nicer....just not as close to the skytrain...
kristina....the SG is far nicer than the ROS i can tell you that....take a look at the plaza anthanee....its cash and points is cheaper i think and i fell the hotel is nicer....just not as close to the skytrain...
Dec 23rd, 2008, 02:20 AM
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Welcome home. Sorry about the customs hassles - with so few going to Thailand right now, they probably thought your real purpose was business (i.e. importers). I wouldn't take it personally.
Looking forward to your detailed report.
Looking forward to your detailed report.
Dec 23rd, 2008, 05:15 AM
#66
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Will, we are happy to hear you and David made it back safe! I am always afraid of something happening to us at customs or immagration, because my DW and I are always in a huge fight when we come back home, and my wife usually says something like "they won't let us back if you don't stop being mean to me!" this argument always stems from her HATING the fact that the vacation is over 
How did you day with Tong go?
Jeffrey
How did you day with Tong go?
Jeffrey
Dec 23rd, 2008, 06:23 PM
#68
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Bill/David
Glad you two made it home safe and sound. Those customs agents on the west coast can sometimes be a bit nasty (LAX, SFO and SEA to name a few) from my own experience. That's why I really prefer flying directly to OHare and clearing customs there. Even though they can sometimes give you a second look, they are much too busy with too many arriving flights at the same time (from more notorious places like Mexico) to worry about a retired teacher with 3 large bags on her cart, rather than the usual 2!!
Anyway, hope your jetlag doesn't last too long. BKK misses you both!
Carol
Glad you two made it home safe and sound. Those customs agents on the west coast can sometimes be a bit nasty (LAX, SFO and SEA to name a few) from my own experience. That's why I really prefer flying directly to OHare and clearing customs there. Even though they can sometimes give you a second look, they are much too busy with too many arriving flights at the same time (from more notorious places like Mexico) to worry about a retired teacher with 3 large bags on her cart, rather than the usual 2!!
Anyway, hope your jetlag doesn't last too long. BKK misses you both!
Carol
Dec 24th, 2008, 09:24 AM
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Jeffrey, our day with Tong was just amazing. She showed me your email when she picked us up--that was very nice of you. (Coincidentally, she showed us yours too, Bob...and
you're in trouble!)
I'll detail much more of this in my in-the-works trip report, but I already felt like I knew Tong from so many emails back and forth over the past 2 years (and specifically from setting her up with my in-laws last year) so it definitely felt like meeting long-lost family when she finally picked us up.
As I'm sure others feel, it wasn't even the places we went so much as just getting to know HER...her infectious energy, her love of animals, and, my favorite of all: her crazy screams of enthusiasm (e.g., "it's SO YUMMY!!!"
When we had to part ways with her, we hugged for about 10 minutes...it was strange, to say the least, to feel such an instant bond with someone and then, only a few hours later, to feel broken-hearted to have to say goodbye to them.
Carol, thanks again--and Happy Holidays to both you and Brad. Know that we're uber-jealous that you're still there and I'm stuck back in freezing Los Angeles (it's been 40 degrees here) with a serious case of PTD (Post-Thailand Depression.)
Bob, like you have to ask: everything was obviously stashed in the speedos we bought at Siam Paragon. And, no, they aren't as nice as Andy's.
you're in trouble!)
I'll detail much more of this in my in-the-works trip report, but I already felt like I knew Tong from so many emails back and forth over the past 2 years (and specifically from setting her up with my in-laws last year) so it definitely felt like meeting long-lost family when she finally picked us up.
As I'm sure others feel, it wasn't even the places we went so much as just getting to know HER...her infectious energy, her love of animals, and, my favorite of all: her crazy screams of enthusiasm (e.g., "it's SO YUMMY!!!"
When we had to part ways with her, we hugged for about 10 minutes...it was strange, to say the least, to feel such an instant bond with someone and then, only a few hours later, to feel broken-hearted to have to say goodbye to them.
Carol, thanks again--and Happy Holidays to both you and Brad. Know that we're uber-jealous that you're still there and I'm stuck back in freezing Los Angeles (it's been 40 degrees here) with a serious case of PTD (Post-Thailand Depression.)
Bob, like you have to ask: everything was obviously stashed in the speedos we bought at Siam Paragon. And, no, they aren't as nice as Andy's.
Dec 24th, 2008, 11:46 AM
#72
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You're breaking my heart with "freezing LA". It finally got up to 40 degrees today and it feels like summer. The snow is partially melting so it can freeze again in other places. Delightful. Only 3 months minus three days left of winter. I feel reall sorry for people in LA.
Dec 25th, 2008, 06:14 AM
#74
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I'll be there in March for the GTG. Speedos RULE!
It's actually sunny and very nice today. They're trying to lure us in with one good day of weather amongst the many horrid days. Keep hope alive.
It's actually sunny and very nice today. They're trying to lure us in with one good day of weather amongst the many horrid days. Keep hope alive.
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