Did you not see them at Sapin Taskin station, there are normally a few lying there.... I always feel bad for them but I do stay well clear.

Most dogs are malnourished and have lots of parasites, so they are pretty lethargic.

Looking forward to long version of your road trip!

Dogs. Wait til you get to India.

Hi again

Awake and leaving MHS to head back to Pai for one night.

I am pretty much ignoring the dogs - certainly not touching them.

I have to say, I like MHS better than Pai, which may be an unfair statement because Pai is kind of a way point - I got in at 4 PM the other night and left the next morning, and today will probably be somewhat similar although I hope to arrive before 2 PM... (any ideas on a few hours jaunt once I get in?).

I was surprised that MHS is as developed as it is. It seems like a real town, and much better infrastructure than I expected based on the limited readings I could find about it. There is even a Toyota dealership. I expected Pai to be more like MHS and vice versa. Pai seems like "sleepy dirt roads" and MHS seems like a real town.

Quick question for anyone reading: when I get back to Bangkok I will have 1.5 days left. I have two meetings at Cotton House - third fitting in AM and pick up that afternoon which is another reason I am staying at the Shangri-la again.

I still haven't peeked in to any jewelers and may or may not have time. It would probably make sense to look for places near the hotel or near dinner my first night in - at Nahm. Any tips on decent jewelers near either place? Silver and gems both. I don't need or want to spend an arm and a leg - some reasonable and pretty silver jewelry would be nice for my niece, for instance.

Thank you everyone for following along and offering all the advice too!

our favorite is Lim silver on oriental lane behind the oriental hotel... there are 2, we prefer the one nearer to the hotel. quick taxi from sh-la.. it is 1/2 way down OL, on the right, as you come from new rd.

many more places along new rd

Thanks!!

Am sitting again at Anantara Chiang Mai as my flight is delayed. Lunch and a few glasses of wine here are better than any lounge. One of my new fave hotels and will have to change my profile soon.

Will look for those stores.

Another Q: Skybar. Good idea?

Take your wallet if you you go to sky bar. Views are spectacular, and it is fun to be up there at sunset and watch the city's lights come on. Treat yourself to one drink and nurse it for a while. We have not eaten there but have heard food is ok, but again pricey

Like Indian? Himal cha cha is just off of New road

I agree... the views are spectacular! Buy just one drink and sip it very slowly. And yes, do go at sunset and watch the city lights come on.

Sirrocco (IMO) (that's the restaurant that is located in that same area) is waaaaaaaay over priced.

If you would care to venture towards the shopping area of Bangkok, around SIAM station, you could go to another really nice open air bar on a very high floor. That would be RED SKY. It is located at the top of the Central World Mall (top of the hotel... name escapes me right now).

Or, a bit further down the Sukhumvit skytrain line would be at the ASOK station, and then backtrack about 5 minutes walk to the Sofitel Hotel (by soi 15). The top of the Sofitel also has a nice view, food that isn't overly priced, but the outside area is not nearly as large as Sky Bar.

One more..... Sukhumvit soi 57 (?) at the "new" Marriott Sukhumvit Hotel. They have a really nice outside dining/drinking terrace with a lovely view.

Many choices, obviously..... but Sky Bar is (probably) the best one. Just EXPENSIVE.

I also like, and actually prefer, the one on the top of the banyon tree on sathorn

Oh Bob do you, I think the sky bar is waaaay nicer, you have to walk across that noisy air con units at the Banyon tree.... Either way both are over priced....but I like the sky bar but since the hangover it's a mob science, go early, like when it opens.....

I did not find sky bar a comfortable place... bar tenders were a bit rude, space is very tight..

I thought you brits were tough...

Now in Krabi and loving the hotel and location.

I will like it much more when I've finally put the food poisoning or whatever it was, last night, behind me! I *think* it's mostly gone as I'm having ginger ale and yoghurt this morning and so far so good although tummy not fully normal. Headache is still with me though.

I can't say for certain but I think various Indian dishes I had at lunch yesterday may have caused it. I was fine until about an hour after I checked in to my hotel last night and it came on quickly. I wonder if the OJ the hotel offered me at checkin just tipped the balance (acidity).

So thankful I wasn't sick in transit or at any other time this week. My trip is winding down and this location was going to be about doing very little anyway.

All that said:

My priorities for this location will be photography and relaxing. I'm not a sun bunny so I'm either going to be doing things late/early or I'll be that person walking around with an umbrella at the beach. There's always one.

Any ideas on beaches with shade/umbrellas set up... Best places for photos? Right now I'm thinking Railey Beach, maybe a boat ride to an island such as Phi Phi, or sea kayaking or a visit to Ao Nang. Any other ideas including how and where to seek them out would be great! Thank you.

Ps and thank you for all the bar ideas! I figure I have some nice new dresses and I may as well wear one out while here.

Don't forget the Weekend market in bangkok! Some call it JJs or Chatachuk. Open Sat and Sunday.
It's great!

OK, so I've done my recon and am relaxing again - still feeling a little eh. In no particular order, I'm going to try to fit in some of the below:

Tub Kaek beach for the sunset.

Railey Beach, hopefully early. Anyone have an opinion if first thing versus late in day would be better? Given that I will be relying on taxis/boat from Ao Nang I am not going to be able to do this at sunrise but early would be nice. Sunset may be easier though?

There are long boat outings which will either go to Hong Island (and that's it), or, a choice of four islands nearby.

Sunset kayaking to Ao Thalane

Sea Caves Kayaking at Borthor (sp?)

There is a James Bond outing which includes canoes and monkeys. How could you go wrong?

I am going to have time for three things only, I think. Maybe four if I can do Railey one morning and the sunset kayaking at night.

what hotel in krabi?

Hi

The Sheraton.

I did the four-island boat ride this morning and when I got back got a pedi. Sunsets haven't been great due to the afternoon rains (including now) and I'm debating just hanging out at the resort tomorrow. Swimming, etc. Tomorrow is my last night here - if there is no afternoon rain, where should I see the sunset?

I did see Railey Beach on the boat ride today. Lots of longboat photos...

Enjoy the warm weather -- it's freezing in DC.

Would you believe I am still sick?? I got sick Wednesday night late and by morning enough had subsided that I thought it was going to be soon behind me. But whatever it is, still lurks. I didn't eat much at ALL Thurs or Friday (a few clementines, bites of oatmeal, bites o f yogurt, ginger ale) and was mostly fine - not even hungry - and went on the boat ride etc and was fine. Almost 48 hours later was last night so I thought I'd test it out and have real food - a caprese salad. Nope. Not as bad as Wed, but definitely something amiss. I had a very simple breakfast this morning and now an hour later am normalizing after it finally. Still have a headache though.

I kind of wonder how much the humidity is playing into this though? I am back in my room after breakfast and feel better.

At any rate, I am debating if I should cancel my Nahm reservations for tomorrow night. I am looking forward to it but it won't be the end of the world if I don't go - there's always another time. If simple food is still bothering me how much will another 24 hours help?

I'm taking gorgeous photos though. Love the longboats!

ps. and by sick I just mean "ugh, I shouldn't have eaten that maybe" - and a headache - those are my current symptoms. Which is why I wonder how much of this is humidity exacerbated.