simpsonc510

Guenmai
We are having a slight warm-up this week. I'm happy about that, as I'm not ready for cold weather! Grrr! (or is that Brrr) I'll take some of those "warm" temps in, say, January?

Thanks!

Carol

MaryW

Glad to see you are getting in that running practice. Want to make sure that Bob doesn't beat a Giant Panda in the sauntering around Bkk. Who knows what India might have done for him!

Keep having a good time.

Gpanda

The plan is to buy a VERY skimpy thong and then wear it to the Marriott to go swimming with Bob. Hopefully, he'll get barred from the property.

The overall review of the Meridien is that it is a very comfortable property, but it's too homogenized. Everything is directed towards keeping the guests on the property. It's beautiful and relaxing, but too pre-planned for our tastes. The gift shop does not sell water or soda, you're supposed to use the items in the mini bar. This is easily defeated by walking off the property to a grocery store and buying what you want and storing it in the mini bar. To get a non-hotel driver, one also walks off the property and approaches one of several waiting drivers. Little negotiating, but it's still 1/3 the hotel price.

All in all, I would say this is a nice place for 3 days, but after that it would get old.

Gpanda

The Old Phuket Hotel is very pleasant. It's a 3-star, but we got a spa room ) at the suggestion of JamesA) and it's nice. In the words of Beth, "It's funky and charming." It has character (unlike the Meridien, which could be anywhere in the world), but not bad character. It's got a Portugese feel to it. Colonial lobby (tricky in a country that was never colonized by Europeans) with ceiling fans. The hotel is on a spur off the main Karon Beach Road. The spur is essentially a walking street lined with restaurants, massage parlors, tailors etc. Most of the tourists are Northern European. There are two restaurants advertising Smorgasbords. The pool is small, but nice. The breakfast buffet (included when we booked on HuaHin.20.com) was almost as extensive as the Meridien. Amazing, given the price differential.

Ran this morning in the flat at Karon Beach. Much better than the up and down from the M.

rhkkmk

now my idea of a thailand vacation would NOT BE TWO LAWYERS FROM MA.....that would be enough for me to loose my breakfast....and can you imagine two in speedos???????????????????????????????????????

looking forward to our reunion in bkk in a few days..

bob

ps..i can't handle thai funky...

Gpanda

Ignoring Bob, the OPH is a nice change. The creature comforts are there, but not in the same over-the-top way that they are at the resorts designed for rich Farangs.

JamesA

It's safe for me now!
Gald you liked Old Phuket, I always think 'value for money'.
Do take a look if you can at those new rooms across the street, the spa rooms, might be of interest to others, they are right opposite the entrance, only weird thing about them is the semi open air shower at back is overlooked by another hotel !, but they have inside bathtub too.

That actual link is www.huahin.20m.com but there are lots of pop-ups so they also now have www.nongasia.com ( with no pop ups or ads ) which is run by the same people, has other Asia besides just Thailand, they offer all R24 and sawadee local rates and for other SE Asia they offer Rates To Go, Hotelclub, Asiaoz etc so good also for Angkor, Luang prabang, Vietnam , India etc in addition to Thailand.

If you go to Karon Circle and head up inland past the tailor shops and and other places and walk about 150 meters on the left is a semi open air restaurant called 'red Onion' ( the sign is Gold on Red, easy to spot ), it does attracts a lot of people and offers Euro food in addition to Thai, but whether Euro or Thai the food in my opinion is 'superb'!!
Hopefully they still have the same cooks, the Duck ( Gaen pet pedyang ....trying to get the "right" Thai pronounciation but heading into an argument here so....!! - if you like Duck then ask them for the mild curry Duck ), is a speciality and a great massaman curry with chicken, it does not look flashy but is very clean and does get 'packed' as the food is really very very good indeed without crazy prices, kind of place where they manage a cookie with the coffee and brown sugar!
The Thai food is very good indeed but if you want something else they are equaly as good, nice staff too.
Ok so that's 'Red Onion'.
Our other favorite is down past the Hilton Arcadia on the left the 'Old Siam', this is Thai attached to the hotel behind, open air with superb sunset views, more pricey as it's a hotel restaurant but still very nice and again, at sunset it is excellent.
We ofetn make a 'meal' from choosing a large range from the starter menu instead of lots of main dishes. In season now they should have some Thai music played also but not sure on that.

If you want some 'fun' try Simon Cabaret ( down the hill on left heading into patong from Meridien), should be about B 600, lasts about 1 hr 15, seats about 500 or so.

How't the weather holding?

We are just not going to be able to make BKK as I have been totaly drowned under work ! Now why didn't I just do a restaurant instead !!

Elainee

Gpanda, We have stayed at Le Meridien twice. How much rebuilding did they need to do after the tsunami? I was afraid the hotel must have been very hard hit...it was closed a very long time. Do they still have a baby elephant? They had beautiful gardens...now? We ate several times in the restaurants up the hill from the hotel...they were ok. We also had laundry done by the ladies on the beach. They did a great job. I wish we were there now.

Gpanda

JamesA-Thanks for putting us on to the OPH. It was actually a no lose situation. If we hated it, we could blame you. We'll definitely try one of your dinner suggestions. You're right the OPH is very good value for the money. A nice change from the resorts.

Elainee-they said that the pools were completely rebuilt after the T.

I did get my hair cut at the Meridien. A decent job for a boys regular for 500 Baht. About 1/4 of what I pay at home.

For food at Karon, we ate at the OPH's restaurant, Chili. Had a very nice chicken with noodles dish. They had a Trainee wait on us. She was totally devoid of personality. We were in stitches. She was probably trained by Lurch of Addams Family fame. Yes, yes, we recognize that she was probably frightened and naturally timid, but we treated her respectfully (listening Bob?) and are entitled to our "private criticism".

Also ate at Ging Restaurant. One of the several on the spur that has Thai food and European food. We had Mae Kho, noodles and Shrimp with Chinese Broccoli. Both decent, but nothing great.

Last night we went to Mom Tri's Boathouse. Absolutely great. A must if you're on Phuket. For starters we had a delicious Gazpacho (their spelling) and the crab cake. I'm from Maryland and these crab cakes were very good. For mains, Beth had the filet of Sea Bass in Tamarind and sweet sauce. It was perfect. I had the Rock Lobster Trilogy, three small tails with Green Curry, Almondine and Thermidor sauces. Very nice, ven for a Bostonian Lobster aficianado. Six different flavors of ice cream threafter. Do not miss this place. All for 2600 Baht.

After my runs in the morning, I've used the spa on our balcony. The water did a great job of quickly lowering my body temperature.

For the critical eye, I do recognize that I'm going into absurdly minute detail. In response, I note that we're at the beach and actually doing nothing. Without the agonizing details, the posts would be one paragraph long. Breakfast, Beach, dinner.

InnovAsian

Andy, Sounds like you are having another Grand time in the land of smiles! Love reading your posts when you are in Thailand.... The speedo stuff is too funny.... Le Meridien will never be the same.

Cheers, Gregg

Gpanda

Gregg-we owe you a deep debt of gratitude in showing us the wonders of Thailand when we were newbies. I often recommend your services. Trust me, the Meridien had a few Thongs on both men and women that should not have been worn. The exposed surface area was staggering.

Gpanda

Just finished last beach day at Karon Beach. Beth says she likes the actual beach much better than the Meridien. She notes that it is far less crowded and you're not packed in like Farang Sardines. Also, the beach is much longer than at Relax Bay (nice name for a Thai beach. What do you think Relax means in Thai?)

I've been delinquent in recounting the many massages. At the Meridien, I got one all three days at the outside "parlor" to the far right of the beach area. In an act of pure selflessness (Bob can neither spell not pronounce this word), I abstained on the first day at Karon. Today, I indulged. The beach lady was actually quite good. Surprising. Many of the beach massages are merely adequate. This one was excellent.

Tomorrow, we head for BKK and the Royal Orchid Sheraton. We're not staying in the Towers because my professor son and his wife used all our extra points last year. That means that internet access may be spotty and I may lag far behind in my "reporting".

Gpanda

Elainee-the gardens at the Meridien are quite nice again. One day we strolled the perimeter and went through the nursery where they were growing the varios trees, shrubs and flowering plants that they would use on the grounds.

They do have a baby elephant. He was quite small, so I suspect it is not the same one as when you were there. In truth, the baby elephant at the Sheraton Krabi was much more interactive and fun.

They said that the basement and first floor were inundated by the T.

Gpanda

There's good news and bad news.

Good news first. I checked the day before we were to fly back to BKK.

The bad news. I managed to lose the key to our safety deposit box at the hotel. The staff at the desk asked me if I looked carefully for the key. I refrained from my normal response and assured them that I had. I was asked to return at 10:00 a.m. Upon doing so, I was informed that a "technician" would open the box with me and a manager is attendance. The "technician" appeared armed with a hammer and chisel. 5 minutes later, I went to my room to get a book. After 20 futile minutes, the "technician" called for assistance and a guy showed up with a saw and quickly cut off the hinges. I was given a new box and a bill for 2000 Baht. The staff apologized for my difficulties. Disaster averted, humiliation inncurred.

Gpanda

For dinner, we were intent on trying one of the restaurants recommended by JamesA. We walked to Karon Circle and then inland to the Red Onion. Upon arrival, the inside was full and they offered a table in an adjoining driveway. We declined.

Tuk Tuk to Old Siam, a restaurant at the Hilton. We were dropped off at a gate and then walked forever to the restaurant. It is upstairs with very little in the way of signage. We got the opportunity to walk down a dark path by the large pool. Eventually, we found it only to discover that Wednesday is Thai cultural night. They had only a buffet with a cultural show, 900 Baht. Again, we declined.

We slogged back defeated, intending to eat again at Chili. It was deserted with only the previously mentioned Trainee in attendance. Again, we declined.

All of this turned out to be prologue. We ate at a very good restaurant 100 feet from our hotel, Bai Toey. Very nice decor with soft jazz in the background. Two Lemon shakes restored our energy and allowed us to thoroughly enjoy fried fish in chili sauce, sweet and sour chicken and stir-fried vegetables. A very roundabout way of arriving at a very pleasant meal.

Gpanda

Arrived ROS. Flight from Phuket very easy. Took a little longer to get our luggage, but not ridiculous. AAC Limo waiting for us. Meeting Kathie in an hour, Bob and Karen for dinner tomorrow.

MaryW

Gpanda - sorry you lost your key - reminds me of friends at a conference at the Shangri-la in Singapore many years ago - they lost their key and looked everywhere and eventually got in the technician who got the safe open in short time - just as he finished the room maid came dashing up shouting that she had found the key!!!! Cost them a bomb too. Same folk had also lost their cat on a trip across Australia a year or so previously - its a couple of thousand miles west to east and about 800miles or so out of the west they stopped at a very small filling station and somehow their cat got out. After searching for an age they gave up and traveled on. Three weeks later they were coming back through the little filling station - opened the car door and in jumped the cat! Why travel with a cat - well I don't know.

Just make sure Mrs Gpanda has you on a good leash - wouldn't want you to go missing too!!!!
J

simpsonc510

Andy
You just missed meeting Brad's father (my DH) as you have just arrived in BKK, and he has just left for ZRH! Too bad, but I'm sure you and Brad will have a few cigars and conversation in the next few days.

Enjoy your time in BKK!

Carol

Gpanda

Yesterday evening, Beth and I had drinks with Kathie and Cheryl at the Towers lounge. Unfortunately, they were both interesting and informative. Very little ground for Pandas to work their magic. It was a whole lot of fun meeting them and chatting. In fact, they received the highest seal of approval, Beth thought they were both great. This is a rare occurrence.

Bob pretended to be welcoming and sent over some beautiful flowers for our arrival. While Beth was taken with their thoughtfulness, I inspected each stem thoroughly for bugs, germs and virus. Pretty tricky these Needhamites, I found nothing. Now I have to pretend to be grateful. Boy does this stink.

JamesA

I hope you are wearing you safe deposit key around your neck!