Hello from Thailand - I'm here!
 

I just flew in from Tokyo and boy are my arms tired.

<rim shot>

I made it! I got to my room in the Shangri-La about 30 mins ago and am unpacking. Shortly a shower then sleep. What a loooong trip.

Let's see if I can keep up with semi-regular postings while I am on the ground here.

First order of business in the AM will be:

1. Find a really good coffee shop for breakfast, and
2. Cotton House for fittings for clothing. I only have two full days before I take off for the next place so I gotta do this tomorrow. I know they typically like 2 fittings, at least. I suppose having a second fitting Tuesday is out of the question. I have 1.5 days here on my way home...

Night everyone! Thank you for all the advice.

Hope you have a fab time in my favourite city... Looking forward to the updates :)

ps. Also a SIM card! #3 for tomorrow - a must get, ASAP.

You're not in Thailand yet, just Bangkok, the gateway to Thailand.

Have a wonderful time! Bangkok is my favorite city as well.

Despite what LL says, Bangkok is part of Thailand.

I'm awake although I think I need a few more hours...

Another question I forgot to ask- how worried should I be about Mosquitos?

In Bangkok? I seldom encounter them. Elsewhere, do use repellant.

I find I awaken at dawn in Thailand due to the time change, then have faded by 7 or so the first few days. Enjoy the early morning boat traffic on the river - I find it endlessly fascinating.

What kinds of fruit did you get in your room today?

Thanks Kathie. I brought OFF wipes - should I also get a mister? Any recos on non-sticky sprays?


Belinda, I see an apple and a pear and two other mystery fruit. They don't look exotic per se but I am not sure what they are.

Q: should I change my last two nights, at the JW Marriott, over to Shangri-La? I really like this hotel. I might have to do so if my Marriott friend doesn't send me the F&F form.. I asked her before I left but I think she forgot about it...

They give you new exotic fruits each day; rambutan, dragon fruit, star fruit... Love the Shangri-La.

I ate most of each of them. Definitely a pear. The Apple like thing tasted Apple-y but I don't think it was an apple. One of them may have been a guava. It looked very nondescript though. Inside was orangey. Excellent.

<<<Despite what LL says, Bangkok is part of Thailand.>>>

I still like the place, but only to top and tail a trip.

Jetlag Schmetlag! A full day and it's only 5 PM.

I walked to Cotton House for a fitting and am having three tailored silk dresses made. The inspiration is Audrey in her Breakfast at Tiffany's frock (from the front, not the same back... and it will be knee length not a gown).

Then lunch at Harmonique: fruit blendie/tom kha gai/satay/mango sticky rice - all for 12 bucks!!

Then a private boat ride to Wat Pho. Barefoot shuffling past the reclining Buddha and a lot of wandering. Gorgeous.

Then a wild cab ride home. To all who said don't drive here: for sure I am not driving in Bangkok traffic. I will be in the sedate mountains up north when I get the car.

Observation of the day: in this crazy traffic, I saw a family on a motorcycle. Dad, little boy straddled in front with arms hanging over handlebars... Mommy behind with a baby.in.her.arms. Only Daddy Driver had a helmet. Baby in her arms. Oy.

<<<Observation of the day: in this crazy traffic, I saw a family on a motorcycle. Dad, little boy straddled in front with arms hanging over handlebars... Mommy behind with a baby.in.her.arms. Only Daddy Driver had a helmet. Baby in her arms. Oy.>>>

You've got plenty of time to build on that. When you get behind the wheel be prepared for lots of defensive driving, and always expect the unexpected.

Meanwhile, enjoy this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftx9xoCa2LY

Any thoughts on Asiatique? I am not very tired, but tired enough that I don't want to put a lot of thought into what I'm doing for dinner/entertainment tonight. Either near the Shangri-La for dinner or the boat ride down to Asiatique looks simple.

Take the boat down, look around a bit , find something to eat. Touristy, but fun . look at the buildings and what they did with the ould warehouses...fish market I think. Take eithe boat back or it is easy to taxi back from there as the road goes in that direction

Flygirl: Refreshing report. And the Audrey Hepburn-style frock sounds really cool. She was my favorite and I've seen most of her movies so many times until I can recite the lines. LOL!
I used to dress very ala-Audrey Hepburn style back in my 20s and 30s especially, hats and all. Smiles. Have fun in my favorite city on the planet!

Happy Travels!

So glad you made it and are enjoying my favorite city! I like Asiatique for a nice place to stroll and have a meal. Great idea IMO.

Hoping you get to stay in Sukhumvit area when you return to Bangkok because it's nice to experience two very different areas of the city.

Glad you are having such a great time!!

Have a look at Banglamphu too.

It's a bit of old Bangkok, perfectly safe, and a lot of the more interesting sights within easy reach.

If you fancy visiting Banglamphu by river ferry (orange flag), then alight at Pier 13 (Navalai River Resort).

The Navalai also does a great buffet lunch, on the river terrace.

Ok this jetlag is getting ridiculous. Tired but didn't really sleep. Argh.

Today: Jim Thompson house, second fitting, maybe a shopping mall - Siam Paragon? Not sure. Let's see what I can fit in. I moved my Nahm rez to the end of my trip- I want to see if I can get to sleep earlier.

No fruit for me! In room that is. I think I may have turned the fruit guy away last night when I was getting dressed.

But I made up for it at brekkie this morning.

Off I go- have a nice day / night everyone.

Ps thanks for comments. Still haven't ridden sky train or metro. And want to explore the canals.

Clearly this city requires a lot of time which I don't have.

Paragon is a good choice for a mall. Easy to get to by sky train. No having to change trains. Just hop on at the river and get off at SIAM station. Paragon is right there!!!

I know about jet lag. It takes me a week to really get used to the 12 hour time difference. The older I get the more time jet lag takes. I sometimes find that an afternoon nap gives me a second wind for dinner/evening. I just have to make sure I wake up from my nap after a couple of hours of resting.

Thank you Simpson!

I think I will cab to JT's house - after that, is the skytrain near enough to get me over to Siam Paragon? If the skytrain is close to JT's house, would it be easier or quicker to train the whole way?

It's a few minutes walk south to National Stadium BTS station. Ask someone in JT House the directions.

Then it's one stop on the BTS to Siam. Siam Paragon is on the left in the direction the train is going.

Pick up a BTS map at any BTS station.

JT's house was fantastic and so interesting. What a life he led (until he disappeared that is). I wonder if he worked for the CIA.

Siam Paragon - I didn't last too long. I got in another fitting and meanwhile bought three more dresses from Cotton House. Two in linen (made and apparently left behind so they are cutting them down to size for me) and the third one is black chiffon with a nice swing to it as well as a halter top style closing.

I am going to stick to the hotel tonight. Wicked tired, finally, after not much sleep since Saturday and so a glass of wine on the riverfront terrace and probably some nibbles later. It's a shame as it's still fairly early but then again many things to sightsee are closing up right now. I will have to see the Grand Palace on my return trip.

BTW Asiatique was OK. A good dinner outing for my first full day but rather sterile I thought.

A bit surprised that Asiatique was only so-so. Paragon is upscale but nice brand names. MBK is the mall to visit when you have the stamina. Love this very Thai mall. The 4th floor is all about phones. Fifth floor (or is it 6th) is Thai furniture. The rest of the 7 floors you will find food, food, food, plus shoes, clothing, jewelry, copy bags. Copy watches. Copy makeup. Some Thai made souvenirs. It's always fun to look.

Anxious to hear how you like the north!

It sounds like you are having a fine time!

sounds like you're having a great time. i'm with you on Asiatique…was not impressed. love JT house and the fabrics.

Why is Bangkok many peoples favourite city? I was going to give it a complete miss when planning my first trip to Thailand but people say I would be mad to miss it .... Why?

it is far from my favorite city, but i wouldnt miss it if it fit into my travels. if you absolutely hate big, buzzy cities, you might want to pass it by. but otherwise there is much to see there that makes it a nice city to explore.

It's my favorite city. I'm very much a city person, love the energy of Bangkok, love the contrasts... the gilded wats, the river traffic hauling everything from people to rice to industrial equipment. The food, of course, is fabulous. And the prices remain reasonable. I often say that you can live in the lap of luxury for the price of a Holiday Inn in the US. The people are warm and welcoming. Hospitality is considered a high calling, and the kind of service you get reflects that.

Kathie is 110% correct... I would just add that shopping is world class

Bangkok: fun people, never a dull city, great food variety and shopping, energetic, relaxing in a crazy-busy way, high-end hotels at the price of 2 stars in places like Paris, great mixture of the old and ultra modern in architecture and interior design, weather temperatures similar to here at home in L.A., but with more humidity, and lots of downright sanuk as the Thais say.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/...94S1DH20130529

Happy Travels!

God morning!

Another night with little sleep. Four hours at least. I'm alert for now!

I changed my last two nights of trip to be back here at the shangri-la. Really like this hotel and love the river view room!

The river is endlessly fascinating.

Glad you are liking the Shangri-La. We are there for 7 nights in the Spring. I got a really good deal.

We stayed at the Shangri-la the first time in Bangkok, but last time we were at the Peninsula, which is also a great hotel.

I want to have some clothes made...sounds like the Cotton House is the way to go and very convenient to the Shangri-La. Do they do men's dress shirts? Have good selection of shirt fabric? DH wants some new cotton ones and the tailor he has always used is out of business.

Enjoying your trip comments.

Stevelyon<<<Why is Bangkok many peoples favourite city? I was going to give it a complete miss when planning my first trip to Thailand but people say I would be mad to miss it .... Why?>>>

Best to start a new thread, and have a proper discussion. But spell out what your basic expectations are, and perhaps an idea of your budget.

Now in Chiang Mai. It was rainy yesterday and so far today just cloudy. Lively and lovely.

Spent a few hours at Riverside cafe yesterday and had nice conversations with the owner and the Aussies sitting next to me. Had my first Chang beer(s) but no changover. Saw a few lanterns last night but not many.

Right now I am having brekkie at Good Morning Chiang Mai cafe.

And I had my first tuk tuk ride!