Heading to Thailand for the holidays again!
Dec 21st, 2009, 02:36 AM
#81
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dogster,
You've inspired the fashion trend for young Thai men, sort of like a confuse Karl Lagerfeld before Chanel. If you are banned then who will they look up to?
After all, even John Wayne and Ronald Reagan wore make-up.
You've inspired the fashion trend for young Thai men, sort of like a confuse Karl Lagerfeld before Chanel. If you are banned then who will they look up to?
After all, even John Wayne and Ronald Reagan wore make-up.
Dec 21st, 2009, 06:24 AM
#83
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And on a different subject, Maeng and I tried out the new Italian restaurant, Grossi, at the Intercontinental, for lunch today. Jess, the chef, is a friend of Maeng's. She cooks for him sometime. I had my usual insalata caprese and margherita pizza. It was delicious... the crust wasn't QUITE what I enjoy so much at Via Vai, but a very close second. The menu has the usual assortment of pastas, and at reasonable prices, 300 baht and up. I would return to this restaurant.
A substantial wine list, including one of my favorites, Brunello di Montalcino... but at 4200/bottle. A bit expensive. I buy it at home for about $60. But I do understand that Thailand has excise taxes on wine.The cigar bar in the Intercontinental lobby is really nice! Andy, you should try it sometime. Very comfortable looking furniture. Plenty of ash trays. It's a humidor so smoking cigars is allowed (unusual these days).
We have our tickets for Chiang Mai tomorrow morning. I need to be up at 5:20am, so I'm going to cut this short and get some sleep.
My tummy is full... Maeng made mango and sticky rice. It was very rich and very filling. And of course, delicious.
I'll probably not be posting until tomorrow night, when I've returned from the CM shopping expedition. You'll have to carry on here without me for 24 hours. I think you've got plenty to discuss, however.
Enjoy your day!
Carol
A substantial wine list, including one of my favorites, Brunello di Montalcino... but at 4200/bottle. A bit expensive. I buy it at home for about $60. But I do understand that Thailand has excise taxes on wine.The cigar bar in the Intercontinental lobby is really nice! Andy, you should try it sometime. Very comfortable looking furniture. Plenty of ash trays. It's a humidor so smoking cigars is allowed (unusual these days).
We have our tickets for Chiang Mai tomorrow morning. I need to be up at 5:20am, so I'm going to cut this short and get some sleep.
My tummy is full... Maeng made mango and sticky rice. It was very rich and very filling. And of course, delicious.
I'll probably not be posting until tomorrow night, when I've returned from the CM shopping expedition. You'll have to carry on here without me for 24 hours. I think you've got plenty to discuss, however.
Enjoy your day!
Carol
Dec 21st, 2009, 08:03 AM
#86
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I will definitely try the Intercontinental cigar smoking facilities. Maybe I can trick Hanuman into joining me. Of course, it will difficult to schedule around our planned day of beauty including makeovers. We're both looking forward to the technicians making us look like travel-weary Aussies.
Dec 21st, 2009, 12:59 PM
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Oh, what fun you all are having!!!!!! Since we are NOT spending the holidays in BKK this year ~ only the second time in many years ~ I am wearing my J Thompson T-shirt in honor of those of you who are lucky enough to be there.
To each and everyone ~ whether in Thailand or elsewhere.'HAPPY HOLIDAYS'FROM NICE BALMY TEXAS.
Sandra (McBeanie)
To each and everyone ~ whether in Thailand or elsewhere.'HAPPY HOLIDAYS'FROM NICE BALMY TEXAS.
Sandra (McBeanie)
Dec 21st, 2009, 02:42 PM
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My apologies offered to Dogster. A bit of an over-reaction from someone trapped in my own "western conceptual framework." You carry on and perhaps I'll search for a discussion group more suitable for those of us in "existential angst."
Dec 21st, 2009, 03:57 PM
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Zenod42-I can assure you that many of us are trapped in Existential Angst. The thing is that most of us are freed from the manifestations through Asia travel and its discussion in this community. As a result, many of our disagreements are done in an orderly fashion. The antithesis of flaming.
Dec 21st, 2009, 04:32 PM
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I guess you don't have to be a farang to have a western conceptual framework. Yesterday, Kitty Chirapongse's list of "Bangkok trends we'd rather not see in 2010" included these "ambiguously gendered" lads:
http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/shop/ba...ee-2010-162109
CNN Go has some really good writers doing their Bangkok posts. The only ones they're missing are Pook and me. Kitty is a real hoot. Some of her comments on Twitter would make a sailor blush.
http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/shop/ba...ee-2010-162109
CNN Go has some really good writers doing their Bangkok posts. The only ones they're missing are Pook and me. Kitty is a real hoot. Some of her comments on Twitter would make a sailor blush.
Dec 22nd, 2009, 01:10 AM
#91
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Oh zenod, you wouldn't the first one to over-react in here. I'm famous for my outbursts - in return I'm regularly taken to task in a far less civilized fashion than your initial response. Had this been a different post I'd have taken the time to explore your concerns in a less frivolous fashion - but this is Carol's story, not mine. Thank you for taking the time to re-think. Accepted and forgotten.
Dec 22nd, 2009, 08:20 AM
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Sawasdee kah! Back from a whirlwind day trip to Chiang Mai, and I'm exhausted. The day started out in an adventurous fashion with the three of us (Maeng, DS, myself) nearly missing our Thai flight! First it was Maeng running very late due to traffic, then our taxi driver made an illegal turn and was pulled over and given a ticket, and lastly, the check-in lines were long and s-l-o-w at Royal Silk counters. But I found a Thai employee who was sitting behind a "closed" counter and told her that we were needing to check in for the 7:50 flight to Chiang Mai (by this time it was 7:30). She checked us in and we rushed to the gate. We took our seats only minutes before the doors closed and we flew off the CM! Whew!!
We did all of our usual stops during the day, except we omitted BoSang this time. There was nothing urgent to be purchased at that particular market, and we didn't want to rush around like chickens with their heads cut off the whole deay.
I bought more of the little hand-made animal bags that are soooo cute. Last time in CM, we found a wholesale shop that sells them much cheaper than where I was buying them before. I loved the name the sales lady put on my sales ticket: she called me MRS AMERICA on the line for my name!! haha
We had lots of Thai food today. Every meal was Thai. Parts of it were street food (Maeng made the selections and we trust her judgement). It was all very tasty, and some of in was incredibly cheap as well. We had quail eggs wrapped in wonton at 6 for 10 baht, shrimp wrapped in wanton and 5 baht each, and barbq banana in coconut milk, 3 pieces of banana on a stick for 5 baht. Later on in the day, we had deep fried pork. Very tasty! Every bit of it!
Dinner was with a friend who lives in CM. We ate at Kaew Pla Soe, which is located right across the street from the CM airport. We had about 8 different Thai dishes. I didn't try the ones that were too spicy, but what I had was excellent.
A really fun day. As Maeng says, we had an adventure once again.
VASU is located at Nana skytrain station, on the side of the street with odd numbered sois. I think VASU is on the corner of Sukhumvit and soi 9. You can see it from the BTS station. There is a large sign on the building.
Gotta get some shuteye now. Enjoy your day!
Oh, before I forget, dogster, Christmas turkey will be served at about 4pm, not at 7pm as previously mentioned. It will all be gone if you arrive at 7 or later...
Carol
We did all of our usual stops during the day, except we omitted BoSang this time. There was nothing urgent to be purchased at that particular market, and we didn't want to rush around like chickens with their heads cut off the whole deay.
I bought more of the little hand-made animal bags that are soooo cute. Last time in CM, we found a wholesale shop that sells them much cheaper than where I was buying them before. I loved the name the sales lady put on my sales ticket: she called me MRS AMERICA on the line for my name!! haha
We had lots of Thai food today. Every meal was Thai. Parts of it were street food (Maeng made the selections and we trust her judgement). It was all very tasty, and some of in was incredibly cheap as well. We had quail eggs wrapped in wonton at 6 for 10 baht, shrimp wrapped in wanton and 5 baht each, and barbq banana in coconut milk, 3 pieces of banana on a stick for 5 baht. Later on in the day, we had deep fried pork. Very tasty! Every bit of it!
Dinner was with a friend who lives in CM. We ate at Kaew Pla Soe, which is located right across the street from the CM airport. We had about 8 different Thai dishes. I didn't try the ones that were too spicy, but what I had was excellent.
A really fun day. As Maeng says, we had an adventure once again.
VASU is located at Nana skytrain station, on the side of the street with odd numbered sois. I think VASU is on the corner of Sukhumvit and soi 9. You can see it from the BTS station. There is a large sign on the building.
Gotta get some shuteye now. Enjoy your day!
Oh, before I forget, dogster, Christmas turkey will be served at about 4pm, not at 7pm as previously mentioned. It will all be gone if you arrive at 7 or later...
Carol
Dec 22nd, 2009, 04:30 PM
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(smile)... Bob, turkeys take HOURS to cook. Not easy to just pop another one into the oven!!
Good morning, from yet another bright sunny and beautiful day in Bangkok. There isn't a cloud in the sky. Oh, and last night the stars were spectacular while we were flying back to BKK from CM. Crystal clear sky. The other night, I was in a taxi and I looked up to see the crescent moon sitting right next to the top of Centara Grande, right next to the big arched light that you can see from miles away. I wish I'd had my camera handy. It would have been a neat photo.
Speaking of photos, I took pictures of my 50 new cat/dog/owl bags this morning. Many of them are tote bags, just the size that the ladies back home will love! Wish I could show them to you. Did I tell you that they have now appeared at JJ Mall in Bangkok? Before, they were only in CM... and it was a mystery as to their whereabouts... where they were made, where I might get them at wholesale prices, etc. I'm glad I know a good source for them, probably cheaper than at JJ Mall. They will become more popular, I'm sure.
NYWoman, I'm going back to Platinum today to take time to have a much better look on the 5th floor. I was quite rushed the other day, as I had to be somewhere at 8pm and only had about a half hour to look around. I'm really glad you asked me to find something for you on this floor, because I'd never taken the time to go beyond maybe the 3rd floor, assuming that everything would be clothing/shoes, etc on all he floors.
I was checking out DS's big duffel bags (that he fills with wood frogs from CM) and I know where he gets them. I'm going to go purchase one of them today! I must have the extra space!!! YIKES!!! I've not bought that much stuff, or so I'd thought. Only scarves and cat/dog/owl bags, really. A few incidentals, but those two things were my main goals for this trip. I can check 3-70 lb bags on UA because of my Gold Star Alliance card, so that's good! Brad can do the same. His 2 frog bags weigh 30 kilos each!
I'm doing laundry this morning, and working on the publishing project once again, while it's quiet here in the apartment. DH is still sleeping, so the TV isn't blaring yet... haha.
Enjoy your day.
Carol
Good morning, from yet another bright sunny and beautiful day in Bangkok. There isn't a cloud in the sky. Oh, and last night the stars were spectacular while we were flying back to BKK from CM. Crystal clear sky. The other night, I was in a taxi and I looked up to see the crescent moon sitting right next to the top of Centara Grande, right next to the big arched light that you can see from miles away. I wish I'd had my camera handy. It would have been a neat photo.
Speaking of photos, I took pictures of my 50 new cat/dog/owl bags this morning. Many of them are tote bags, just the size that the ladies back home will love! Wish I could show them to you. Did I tell you that they have now appeared at JJ Mall in Bangkok? Before, they were only in CM... and it was a mystery as to their whereabouts... where they were made, where I might get them at wholesale prices, etc. I'm glad I know a good source for them, probably cheaper than at JJ Mall. They will become more popular, I'm sure.
NYWoman, I'm going back to Platinum today to take time to have a much better look on the 5th floor. I was quite rushed the other day, as I had to be somewhere at 8pm and only had about a half hour to look around. I'm really glad you asked me to find something for you on this floor, because I'd never taken the time to go beyond maybe the 3rd floor, assuming that everything would be clothing/shoes, etc on all he floors.
I was checking out DS's big duffel bags (that he fills with wood frogs from CM) and I know where he gets them. I'm going to go purchase one of them today! I must have the extra space!!! YIKES!!! I've not bought that much stuff, or so I'd thought. Only scarves and cat/dog/owl bags, really. A few incidentals, but those two things were my main goals for this trip. I can check 3-70 lb bags on UA because of my Gold Star Alliance card, so that's good! Brad can do the same. His 2 frog bags weigh 30 kilos each!
I'm doing laundry this morning, and working on the publishing project once again, while it's quiet here in the apartment. DH is still sleeping, so the TV isn't blaring yet... haha.
Enjoy your day.
Carol
Dec 22nd, 2009, 07:46 PM
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the upper floors of platinum do yield lots of things for K....she went wild, along with beth, at a front corner jewelry shop, maybe on 4 or 5.....cheap but decent costume stuff....She must have bought 10 of one $5 necklace....
Dec 23rd, 2009, 12:28 AM
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Success!!! I found the beads, nywoman. I found them. I found them!!! It took some doing. I finally had to ask the head lady at the shop (an older Thai/Chinese woman) if she spoke English. She didn't but she pointed out one of her girls who did. I spoke with the girl, tried to describe the situation as well as the beads. She then opened up a storage bin, and pulled out a bag of the beads. I looked at them and knew (about 90%) that they were the right ones. So, long story short, I have your beads. I also bought a few other things on the 5th floor, while I was there. I go gaga over all the beads... strands and strands of them. Right now the latest trend is to have a triple layered strand of "pearls" with a "flower" pin attached on the side, for a little extra flare. Cute. Really cute!
I had a really delicious lunch today while out and about. I ate at the Jim Thompson Cafe at Isetan store in
Central World. Dogster, were you in the mall today? I kept watching for you (that pink hair would be a give away). Anyway, I had a salad made with mango (yes, I ate mango again, pook) and avocado and crab meat on a bed of lettuce, with lemon dressing drizzled over it. Delicious! I followed it with a Haagen-Dazs sundae since I've not had one since Sunday... that fateful day... that fateful location... and that imposter... lol
Actually, dear fellow fodorites, I really MUST let the cat out of the bag. The dog really DID show up (some of you had that figured out already, I'm sure). I can't let some of you continue thinking that the dogster is a jerk for standing me up. But alas, as I said in my post of Sunday evening, he remains a mystery! I learned very little about our gifted fodors writer. Dogster, sorry to confess the truth to my friends here, but I don't want them to be mad at you when it isn't deserved!
I went over to the corner of soi 4 and Sukhumvit, to the luggage shop, to buy my giant sized duffel on wheels (like Brad's) so that I can get all my precious cargo home with me.
Looks like the US$ is gaining strength against the baht today. I saw the street walk-ups with rates of 33.09, which means that VASU probably is giving at least 33.4 or 33.5. I may exchange currency just to get in on the better exchange rate today!
More later...
Carol
I had a really delicious lunch today while out and about. I ate at the Jim Thompson Cafe at Isetan store in
Central World. Dogster, were you in the mall today? I kept watching for you (that pink hair would be a give away). Anyway, I had a salad made with mango (yes, I ate mango again, pook) and avocado and crab meat on a bed of lettuce, with lemon dressing drizzled over it. Delicious! I followed it with a Haagen-Dazs sundae since I've not had one since Sunday... that fateful day... that fateful location... and that imposter... lol
Actually, dear fellow fodorites, I really MUST let the cat out of the bag. The dog really DID show up (some of you had that figured out already, I'm sure). I can't let some of you continue thinking that the dogster is a jerk for standing me up. But alas, as I said in my post of Sunday evening, he remains a mystery! I learned very little about our gifted fodors writer. Dogster, sorry to confess the truth to my friends here, but I don't want them to be mad at you when it isn't deserved!
I went over to the corner of soi 4 and Sukhumvit, to the luggage shop, to buy my giant sized duffel on wheels (like Brad's) so that I can get all my precious cargo home with me.
Looks like the US$ is gaining strength against the baht today. I saw the street walk-ups with rates of 33.09, which means that VASU probably is giving at least 33.4 or 33.5. I may exchange currency just to get in on the better exchange rate today!
More later...
Carol
Dec 23rd, 2009, 02:28 AM
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Poor Mango - there's not much left of him now. His typing fingers have apparently been nibbled away.
I was trawling Jim Thompson, shop and restaurant, just last night but ate instead at Don Don Tei Ricebowl, a new Japanese place on the 6th Floor of Isetan - continuing my forensic examination of every restaurant in the Zen/Central World/Isetan complex.
Today was a Siam Paragon day. I had a yen for the Foodcourt Chicken Satay - and a bit of exercise. Tonight, a return visit to my new latest enthusiasm: Yayoi HOT QUICK Japanese Restaurant. Fine dining indeed.
It hadn't occurred to me that people would BELIEVE I had actually stood you up. I forget that not everybody understands my odd humour. So cat/bag is fine by me. The Dog is a mysterious, addled creature of many disguises - but he always does what he says he will do.
The days are running out. I don't want to go home at all.
I was trawling Jim Thompson, shop and restaurant, just last night but ate instead at Don Don Tei Ricebowl, a new Japanese place on the 6th Floor of Isetan - continuing my forensic examination of every restaurant in the Zen/Central World/Isetan complex.
Today was a Siam Paragon day. I had a yen for the Foodcourt Chicken Satay - and a bit of exercise. Tonight, a return visit to my new latest enthusiasm: Yayoi HOT QUICK Japanese Restaurant. Fine dining indeed.
It hadn't occurred to me that people would BELIEVE I had actually stood you up. I forget that not everybody understands my odd humour. So cat/bag is fine by me. The Dog is a mysterious, addled creature of many disguises - but he always does what he says he will do.
The days are running out. I don't want to go home at all.
Dec 23rd, 2009, 02:37 AM
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Kuranosuke, am so glad that you were observant. I love those ear rings.
My beads were much admired by my bridge team, so I thought it would be nice to give them as gifts. Carol I am indebted to you for sure. Glad that you had a chance to do a little more exploring, and perhaps find some more stuff to buy.
My beads were much admired by my bridge team, so I thought it would be nice to give them as gifts. Carol I am indebted to you for sure. Glad that you had a chance to do a little more exploring, and perhaps find some more stuff to buy.
