Gpanda's Thailand Trip Report
Nov 24th, 2006, 12:09 AM
#41
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Dinner last night at the Gallery Cafe. It was great we had Green Eggplant with Chicken and a very good veggie Pad Thai. To end it we had wonderful coconut ice cream.
Up early, ran on treadmill and a sauna. Light breakfast, finally.
Took a cab to ABC Amazing Bike Tours. We did this on the recommendation of Lcuy. You get a per talk from the Dutch owner and then out into the back alleys of BKK with two female Thai guides. This was a fascinating look at a part of BKK that tourists do not frequent. A Thai market (Krang Toey?) was super. We wound our way over to the river and took a long tail boat across to a part of greater BKK that is unbelievably rural. You ride on deserted rods and on concrete paths with incredible houses and vegetation. This ride is very good. However, a word of caution. The concrete paths are slightly elevated and about one meter wide. Don't do this if you're a novice bike rider.
Up early, ran on treadmill and a sauna. Light breakfast, finally.
Took a cab to ABC Amazing Bike Tours. We did this on the recommendation of Lcuy. You get a per talk from the Dutch owner and then out into the back alleys of BKK with two female Thai guides. This was a fascinating look at a part of BKK that tourists do not frequent. A Thai market (Krang Toey?) was super. We wound our way over to the river and took a long tail boat across to a part of greater BKK that is unbelievably rural. You ride on deserted rods and on concrete paths with incredible houses and vegetation. This ride is very good. However, a word of caution. The concrete paths are slightly elevated and about one meter wide. Don't do this if you're a novice bike rider.
Nov 24th, 2006, 04:01 PM
#45
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Gpanda, first of all, considering where your son is a professor, he and his wife are entitled to use all the hotel points. This is a divine right, invoked by the Wolverines. Second, I think perhaps if you tuck your key into your speedo, you'll at least know where it is at all times. So far I just can't wait for the next Boston GTG! And isn't Bob gracious to send flowers? I always liked that guy!
BC
BC
Nov 24th, 2006, 04:25 PM
#47
I'm glad you enjoyed the bike ride! We're actually debating doing another one next month.
Loving your report....Can't wait to hear the details of any meal where you and bob meet up. We'll all want to hear your version AND Bob's!
And don't all of you be jealous, but I'm checking in from Boise, Idaho.
Loving your report....Can't wait to hear the details of any meal where you and bob meet up. We'll all want to hear your version AND Bob's!
And don't all of you be jealous, but I'm checking in from Boise, Idaho.
Nov 25th, 2006, 03:39 PM
#48
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Thanks for all the good wishes. mjs, sorry we missed you. I'm at the fitness center every morning at 6:00 a.m., if you want to pop in.
Returned from the bike ride to the ROS. Beth was blown out. Restorative showers and then hopped in a cab to meet B and K at Le Bouchon at 6:00 p.m. AS PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED. Even with written instructions in Thai, the cab driver could not find the restaurant. He got us close and I asked at a drug store. This got us closer and I asked at a fancy Italian restaurant. Eventually, we found it tucked behind a clothing stall 1/2 way down Patpong Soi 2. Virtually no sign. We went in and were informed that it did not open until 7:00 p.m.. BOB AND KAREN WERE NOT THERE.
WE sat on chairs, thoughtfully provided in front of the restaurant and waited for 20 minutes. NO B and K. We did get to observe soem early evening love entanglements at the various bars. We began to worry that I had misunderstood the meeting place. I popped into an internet place to make sure there were not two "Le Bouchons" in BKK. There were not. I made resrevations for 4 for 7. We waited. We waited. We waited, in the heat. Remember, we had been on a 5 hour bike ride. We waited, in the heat. At about 7:05 Bob and Karen deigned to arrive, ever so fashionably late. They pretended to apologize, but we were wise to their tricks. Actually, Karen gets a free pass. Bob was the genius who cleverly arranged the logistics. The best part was that he was mortified. It was well worth the wait to see him so uncomfortable. Beth tried to tell him it was all right, but he knew better.
Returned from the bike ride to the ROS. Beth was blown out. Restorative showers and then hopped in a cab to meet B and K at Le Bouchon at 6:00 p.m. AS PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED. Even with written instructions in Thai, the cab driver could not find the restaurant. He got us close and I asked at a drug store. This got us closer and I asked at a fancy Italian restaurant. Eventually, we found it tucked behind a clothing stall 1/2 way down Patpong Soi 2. Virtually no sign. We went in and were informed that it did not open until 7:00 p.m.. BOB AND KAREN WERE NOT THERE.
WE sat on chairs, thoughtfully provided in front of the restaurant and waited for 20 minutes. NO B and K. We did get to observe soem early evening love entanglements at the various bars. We began to worry that I had misunderstood the meeting place. I popped into an internet place to make sure there were not two "Le Bouchons" in BKK. There were not. I made resrevations for 4 for 7. We waited. We waited. We waited, in the heat. Remember, we had been on a 5 hour bike ride. We waited, in the heat. At about 7:05 Bob and Karen deigned to arrive, ever so fashionably late. They pretended to apologize, but we were wise to their tricks. Actually, Karen gets a free pass. Bob was the genius who cleverly arranged the logistics. The best part was that he was mortified. It was well worth the wait to see him so uncomfortable. Beth tried to tell him it was all right, but he knew better.
Nov 25th, 2006, 04:30 PM
#49
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Dinner at Le Bouchon was very good. I began with the Escargots, which were quite tender and well flavored. Beth had the potato and leek soup, which was also very good. The leek flavor was not obscured by the potato. For mains, Karen and I had the veal chop, very good. Beth had a lamb shank in bean sauce, she loved it. Bob had the Beef Bourgignon, he hated it. He had only a few bites. I'm far to well-mannered a person to speak of poetic justice. We'll let you be the judge. When the waitress picked up the plates, she inquired about his having left the majority of the food. He quietly said he did not care for it. We all had desserts. My Chocolate Mousse was superb.
When the bill came, we noted that the beef bourgignon had been crossed off. The owner, a classic Frenchman right out of central casting came over and apologized for the beef. he said he had tasted it and agreed with Bob that it had not been properly prepared.
Beth and I cabbed back to the ROS. B and K went to the Patpong night market.
When the bill came, we noted that the beef bourgignon had been crossed off. The owner, a classic Frenchman right out of central casting came over and apologized for the beef. he said he had tasted it and agreed with Bob that it had not been properly prepared.
Beth and I cabbed back to the ROS. B and K went to the Patpong night market.
Nov 25th, 2006, 04:49 PM
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On Saturday, up early swam 1/2 mile and brought back croissants to the room. Must have been the French influence from the previous night.
Met B and K at the Peninsula. They had a small errand. Boat to the BTS and Bob convinced us to buy day passes. Skytrain to the Ambassodor Hotel for the Thai Craft Fair. This 4 hour event has many booths with crafts from the various hill tribes. Lots of good stuff. We bought several items as gifts for the ingrates at home.
Walked to Bob's jeweler, Thai Stone in the Nana Hotel. While B and K were doing business, I almost got tricked into buying a ring for myself. Luckily, my inherent self-loathing rose to the surface and I realized I hated myself and there was no reason to be nice to me. Meanwhile Bob had jumped on the computer and was trying to set upa Paypal account for Thai Stone. Of course, this did not get done.
Walked from Thai Stone to the Bumrumgard Hospital. Escalator up to second floor. Walked past the McDonald's and ate at the very nice Italian restaurant. Thanks to Simpson510 ( no "e" in this either"
. I had black ravioli with lobster in a saffron sauce. Very well done. B,B na K had more pedestrian, pasta, calzone and pizza.
Cab ride out to Soi 93 and the JT Outlet. Bob and the cab driver insisted on carrying out a conversation in which neither understood a single word spoken by the other. I had asked the Thai word for traffic ( the other direction on Sukhumvit was locked in). Bob lent his "assitance" and the fun began. The three of us in the back seat were howling with laughter. Bob would speak about 2 or three sentences, the driver would respond in Thai and then say "Highway". Thsi happened at least 5 consecutive verbal exchanges. Each was funnier than the last. Eventually, they ran out of steam. We were grateful.
The JT Outlet has many great items for much less than the JT stores. Unfortunately, not ba single item fit either Bob or me. I tried on a tie or two, but I looked like Oliver Hardy with the tie not reaching past the middle of my middle. Beth and Karen, however, found a number of items.
Cab back to the Marriott and then B and I took the same cab to the Hilton and crossed to River City in their boat The cab driver drove us for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The meter said 180 Baht. I tipped him, but how can they make any money driving so long for so little?
Coming, dinner with Smeagol and non-D BF and the GTG.
Met B and K at the Peninsula. They had a small errand. Boat to the BTS and Bob convinced us to buy day passes. Skytrain to the Ambassodor Hotel for the Thai Craft Fair. This 4 hour event has many booths with crafts from the various hill tribes. Lots of good stuff. We bought several items as gifts for the ingrates at home.
Walked to Bob's jeweler, Thai Stone in the Nana Hotel. While B and K were doing business, I almost got tricked into buying a ring for myself. Luckily, my inherent self-loathing rose to the surface and I realized I hated myself and there was no reason to be nice to me. Meanwhile Bob had jumped on the computer and was trying to set upa Paypal account for Thai Stone. Of course, this did not get done.
Walked from Thai Stone to the Bumrumgard Hospital. Escalator up to second floor. Walked past the McDonald's and ate at the very nice Italian restaurant. Thanks to Simpson510 ( no "e" in this either"
. I had black ravioli with lobster in a saffron sauce. Very well done. B,B na K had more pedestrian, pasta, calzone and pizza.Cab ride out to Soi 93 and the JT Outlet. Bob and the cab driver insisted on carrying out a conversation in which neither understood a single word spoken by the other. I had asked the Thai word for traffic ( the other direction on Sukhumvit was locked in). Bob lent his "assitance" and the fun began. The three of us in the back seat were howling with laughter. Bob would speak about 2 or three sentences, the driver would respond in Thai and then say "Highway". Thsi happened at least 5 consecutive verbal exchanges. Each was funnier than the last. Eventually, they ran out of steam. We were grateful.
The JT Outlet has many great items for much less than the JT stores. Unfortunately, not ba single item fit either Bob or me. I tried on a tie or two, but I looked like Oliver Hardy with the tie not reaching past the middle of my middle. Beth and Karen, however, found a number of items.
Cab back to the Marriott and then B and I took the same cab to the Hilton and crossed to River City in their boat The cab driver drove us for 1 hour and 20 minutes. The meter said 180 Baht. I tipped him, but how can they make any money driving so long for so little?
Coming, dinner with Smeagol and non-D BF and the GTG.
Nov 26th, 2006, 02:23 AM
#51
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We met Bob and Karen at the Taksin Pier at 5:45 p.m.. We arrived first and they shoewed up on the famous Marriott boat which was pimping for Benihana. BTS to Chong Nonsi and then a cab to the Metropolitan Hotel. I leave it to Bob to recount this hilarious cab ride. Suffice it to say that it was unique.
The Metropolitan is very swank. The lobby is stunning with a flower arrangement behind the desk that was surreal. Smeagol and David showed up right on time at 6:30. We waited a bit for another couple, but they never showed.
We were led into a private dining room. Bob had reserved a table for 8 and they put us by ourselves. This turned out to be perfect. We got quite loud at times. The wait staff would periodically close the door to our room. Big surprise, we were disturbing the other more respectable diners.
The food was quite good, but I would say it was over-priced. Dinner for 6 was 15,000 Baht. For those prices in the US, we can get exquisite food. This food was at a very high level, but not extraordinary. Our expectations were probably too high.
The company was great. The conversation flowed smoothly and uproarously (?). David told a mistaken identity story from his distant past that had us howling. Smeagol deftly thwarted all the barbs that Bob and I hurled. Beth and Karen sniped as usual. Who cares whether Bob and I had a good time.
We lingered over dinner and left about 9:30 for the GTG at Tawan Dang. Two cabs went easily. This is an amazing place. It's two floors absolutely packed with Thais and a few Farangs sprinkled in. Everyone is drinking copious quantities of beer with plates of fried food. There are two stages with the entertainment switching back and forth. As the evening went on, Thais would stand and dance at their tables and sing along to unknowable ditties. A good time was had by evereyone there. We met Eurotraveller and her many guests. It's always enjoyable to put a face to the many posts. She had a wonderful story of a trip to a Laotian village. I leave that to her report.
We left early, I get up at 5:00 a.m. to prepare for Pandering.
The Metropolitan is very swank. The lobby is stunning with a flower arrangement behind the desk that was surreal. Smeagol and David showed up right on time at 6:30. We waited a bit for another couple, but they never showed.
We were led into a private dining room. Bob had reserved a table for 8 and they put us by ourselves. This turned out to be perfect. We got quite loud at times. The wait staff would periodically close the door to our room. Big surprise, we were disturbing the other more respectable diners.
The food was quite good, but I would say it was over-priced. Dinner for 6 was 15,000 Baht. For those prices in the US, we can get exquisite food. This food was at a very high level, but not extraordinary. Our expectations were probably too high.
The company was great. The conversation flowed smoothly and uproarously (?). David told a mistaken identity story from his distant past that had us howling. Smeagol deftly thwarted all the barbs that Bob and I hurled. Beth and Karen sniped as usual. Who cares whether Bob and I had a good time.
We lingered over dinner and left about 9:30 for the GTG at Tawan Dang. Two cabs went easily. This is an amazing place. It's two floors absolutely packed with Thais and a few Farangs sprinkled in. Everyone is drinking copious quantities of beer with plates of fried food. There are two stages with the entertainment switching back and forth. As the evening went on, Thais would stand and dance at their tables and sing along to unknowable ditties. A good time was had by evereyone there. We met Eurotraveller and her many guests. It's always enjoyable to put a face to the many posts. She had a wonderful story of a trip to a Laotian village. I leave that to her report.
We left early, I get up at 5:00 a.m. to prepare for Pandering.
Nov 26th, 2006, 07:53 AM
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gpanda
I'm glad you tried the Italian restaurant at Bumrungrad! It's really a good place... and to be located in the lobby of a hospital... a very nice surprise.
I'm enjoying your adventures. Keep them coming. You and Bob will have lots of stories to tell at the next GTG, where ever it might be.
Oh, and thanks for the report on the GTG at Tawandang. Now you see why I enjoy this nightclub so much. Friendly Thais dancing in the aisles and singing along... what fun! I just hope bradinbangkok behaved himself! As Euro says, he can put away a lot of beer (or so he thinks)...
Carol
I'm glad you tried the Italian restaurant at Bumrungrad! It's really a good place... and to be located in the lobby of a hospital... a very nice surprise.
I'm enjoying your adventures. Keep them coming. You and Bob will have lots of stories to tell at the next GTG, where ever it might be.
Oh, and thanks for the report on the GTG at Tawandang. Now you see why I enjoy this nightclub so much. Friendly Thais dancing in the aisles and singing along... what fun! I just hope bradinbangkok behaved himself! As Euro says, he can put away a lot of beer (or so he thinks)...
Carol
Nov 26th, 2006, 02:03 PM
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Gpanda, now that I know the name, I spotted this message and saw that you landed in Thailand. Maybe you mentioned this elsewhere but what's the scoop on the new airport in Bangkok ONLY in terms of luggage- I'm flying from Bos in Jan for 3 weeks in Siem Reap, via United. I fly from BOS to LA to Tokyo to Bangkok- I haven't asked but will my luggage follow along with me or do I claim it in Tokyo? OK, I'll ask United but I wanted your opinion on how complicated it was to transport check-in luggage from here (drop the r) to they'ya. I can't believe how stressed out I'm making myself over the checked in luggage fears. I apologize for any typos but my husband is watching the game in the background yelling "get' em, get me" and if you open the front door you can hear the dull roar of the fans... life in Foxboro!
Nov 26th, 2006, 02:15 PM
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Cookie, you'll check your luggage all the way through to Bangkok. You do not pick up your luggage at Narita. Also, we had quick luggage retrival from the new Bangkok Airport, just 15 munites both times. That's much faster tha it is at Logan!
Nov 26th, 2006, 03:13 PM
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Kathie's correct. United will check your baggage all the way through to BKK. When we landed at the new airport on a domestic from Phuket, our luggage appeared about the same time it would at Logan, about 10-15 minutes after you think it should.
Nov 26th, 2006, 06:43 PM
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to be fair we are having a wonderful time here and being with beth (and andy) makes it very special...he is over the top and we have had to ask for the police to come a few times but as of yet they have not taken him away...i think the problem is that they can not decide whether to take him to a mental hospital or to jail...i go with the hospital if it has bars on the window....
Nov 27th, 2006, 01:24 AM
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Would it ruin the whole report, if I were to admit that hanging around with Karen (and Bob) is a wonderful way to experience BKK? I thought so. Please disregard. The police and mental health providers have been very nice. It is Thailand.
Nov 27th, 2006, 01:35 AM
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Sunday, we met Karen and Bob at the Marriott to hang around the pool. We took the famous Marriott (Benihana) boat. They never offered anyone a towel or a cold drink. Just as I suspected.
In truth, the Marriott is very nice. The grounds are lush and the pool is even better than the ROS, which I love. The corridors are tastefully decorated and there's no feel that you are walking down a long institutional hall. Beth loved it. Being a loyal ROS fan, I believe that the Marriott may be a tad nicer, but is nowhere near as well situated. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
After the pool. we took a cab to the Indian Buffet at the Rembrandt. This is unbelievable. It's very good. A wide selection of Indian food of varying levels of spiciness. many vegetarian dishes as well. It's on the top floor with a nice view. A++.
Took a cab to the "Prime Minister's House". A two-acre enclave off od Sathorn. M.R. Kirikit built a wonderful house with surrounding gardens. There's an English Tour with a very good guide. She was better than the JT House guide. She interacted with us and did not recite by rote. Many pictures of the King and royal family. A very nice time.
Cab back to the hotel. Two hour massage at the Gallery Cafe was great. Much better than the beach massages. The masseuse (gender?) was very exacting in her motions and loosened us up a lot.
Met B and K at the Gallery Cafe for a light dinner. The food here is very good. Karen, of course, had her mandatory Mango with Sticky rice. The stir- fried veggies were excellent.
In truth, the Marriott is very nice. The grounds are lush and the pool is even better than the ROS, which I love. The corridors are tastefully decorated and there's no feel that you are walking down a long institutional hall. Beth loved it. Being a loyal ROS fan, I believe that the Marriott may be a tad nicer, but is nowhere near as well situated. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
After the pool. we took a cab to the Indian Buffet at the Rembrandt. This is unbelievable. It's very good. A wide selection of Indian food of varying levels of spiciness. many vegetarian dishes as well. It's on the top floor with a nice view. A++.
Took a cab to the "Prime Minister's House". A two-acre enclave off od Sathorn. M.R. Kirikit built a wonderful house with surrounding gardens. There's an English Tour with a very good guide. She was better than the JT House guide. She interacted with us and did not recite by rote. Many pictures of the King and royal family. A very nice time.
Cab back to the hotel. Two hour massage at the Gallery Cafe was great. Much better than the beach massages. The masseuse (gender?) was very exacting in her motions and loosened us up a lot.
Met B and K at the Gallery Cafe for a light dinner. The food here is very good. Karen, of course, had her mandatory Mango with Sticky rice. The stir- fried veggies were excellent.
