look forward to more... can't wait for our marriott arrival on oct 28

The International First Lounge (UA) at OHare is much quieter than the Red Carpet. It's a smaller room. There are showers, which I'm not using since I just showered before heading to the airport.

Food selection is better than the rather sparse selection in the RCC. I'll be getting breakfast on the flight to SEA so will hold off. But there is fresh fruit and pastries and a coffee machine, orange juice, all the liquor you could imagine, if you want to spice up your cuppa-joe. (not me)

There are only about a half dozen people in this lounge. The RCC regular lounge is visible from the big windows here, and I can see that it is also relatively quiet at this ime of the morning.

Long day of flying ahead. I'll check in when I can.

Bye for now!

bon voyage--first class babe..

Bought some See's candy to take to the publishing office. The girls love good chocolates.

Red Carpet Club at Seattle is down an escalator from the departures terminal (N). It's a nice refuge from the crowds of people waiting at food venues and gates up on the main floor. Most seats are empty, so it's quiet.

"First Class Babe".... :) (thanks, Bob)

Oh... should have mentioned that I met a fellow traveller, an Aussie with British passport, living in Chicago, and working a lot in Singapore! He is telling me that I should go to KL or the Maldives. Maldives look FABULOUS (if I were a lay-on-the-beach sort of person). Anyway, he says that KL would be better for hand-made market shopping over Singapore. I'm thinking 'side-trip' for a few days, if I can't get Maeng to go to Samui.

Carol, you are visiting my home RCC!

I think the Maldives are great for a lay on the beach type person, but they hold no interest for me. And, as a crafts shopper they wouldn't be your cup of tea either.

We found little in terms of hand-made crafts in KL. There is the Central Market that has some nice hand-woven textiles, but not a lot else. There are a few places for hand made crafts in Singapore, but it also is not a crafts shopper's dream. You would be better off in Indonesia for crafts.

BTW, I don't know that you have been to Hanoi. There are some wonderful crafts to be had there. We met a woman from Zurich who was buying dozens of interesting hand-made purses for her boutique in Zurich. That would be more to your liking.

I have to agree with Kathy...Not alot of craft items in KL. Penang had more of a choice, and I think you would enjoy it. 3-4 days and you could have a very nice diversion. air Asia for a cheap flight. Lots of good hotel choices also.

hanoi is not a bad idea really... you would love it...look at the Gia Boa Grand hotel....that is where we are staying at the edge of the old town... tons of cheap shopping....lots of different stuff to thailand..

air asia again direct from bkk.....visa upon arrival

excellent idea kathie!!

hello carol....how is narita??

Bob, the visa has to be arranged in advance.

i'm getting mine on arrival... i did do some work on line in advance, but essentially it is a visa upon arrival

In KL, there is a very large government-run craft center near the Bukit Bintang area. It's better than the Central Market, which has stuff from VN and elsewhere sold as Malaysian. That said, I think Langkawi was the best place for batik, etc. that I've been to in Malaysia.

I'll be in Melaka and KL myself next week.

Michael, we visited the government-run crafts center and were very disappointed. I truly could not find anything I wanted to buy. Has it expanded or improved in the last few years? In the Central Market, there are two textile sellers I've bought from each time I've been in KL (only 4 times in 15+ years, so I'm not a frequent visitor). There are some items from outside Malaysia, but all of the textiles were clearly labeled as to origin.

Bob, while the VN government web site calls it a visa on arrival, a visa on arrival means you do not have to make any advance arrangements, anyone can arrive at the airport and purchase a visa. For VN, you must have a pre-aranged visa - you will not be allowed on the plane to VN without the printed email confirmation of your pre-arranged visa or the visa already in your passport. I just wanted to clarify, as the VN government has made it more confusing by their mis-use of the term "visa on arrival."

Hello Carol! My name is Carol too, and I will be following in your travel footsteps. My bf and I will arrive in Thailand right as you leave and will be going to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and a yet to be determined beach vacation. Anyway, I have been reading about your shopping exploits and am looking forward to checking out the places mentioned in your previous trip reports. Hope you have a great trip and please update us on any new finds! :)

Hello Carol, finally we are at Narita also at the ANA lounge ,all flights are on time so should be arriving in bangkok with Thai around 9:30pm, we will be meeting my son in law who is arriving from shanghai at the same time....hopefully. See you soon at the Marriott

Kathie, yes the merchandise at the gov. craft center is pretty underwhelming, although they did have things I hadn't seen elsewhere. I did find some of the art in the little kiosks around the gardens to be more interesting than anywhere else in KL, which is why I would recommend a visit.

It's been a while since I was at Central Market. It was an interesting place, but the crafts/souvenirs were pretty tacky, I thought. I'll have to visit it again next week, as well as Petaling Street. It's been years since I was there at night.

yes kathie i see the differences.... one advantage to my way is that you do not have to send your passport off in the mails

I typed a wonderful long message from the First Class Red Carpet Lounge at Narita, and the internet was so sloooooow and so poor that it didn't post!! Drat!!

I'm now at the Marriott, in an upgraded riverview room. I get free breakfast in either the club or the buffet. I have one hour of free internet right now, and I'm awake at 1am so I'm typing fast!

The RCC first class lounge at NRT is much quieter than downstairs. The selection of food is somewhat better. There is, of course, liquor galore, but I did not imbibe as I had wine on the flight from SEA to NRT.

The showers were almost identical to the regular RCC ones. The same amenities were there as downstairs as well. If the internet is always this poor at the 'upper lounge' I'd just as soon stay downstairs.

The flight to BKK arrived about a half hour early, and my bags were among the very first ones down the turnstyle. There is now a "fast track" immigration point for first class passengers (I don't know if it includes business class, but it might). No waiting.

Taxi 400 baht (I'm a good tipper) and I paid the tolls, so that isn't included in the 400. The meter registered between 200-300 baht for the trip. I'm not sure if there is still a 50baht charge at the public taxi stand or not. I'm thinking they did away with that fee.

My room is really nice. A very comfortable place for a few nights. I can see the huge pool from my balcony, as well as the view down river. If it isn't too hot, I will probably spend some time on my balcony, just watching the world go by.

Tomorrow is VASU for currency and then off to the printing company. I will probably be there most of the afternoon, and will then go to the Pickled Liver for dinner cooked by Maeng. She called and told me that she can now make her FAMOUS CHILI that she used to make at the Brunswick!!! I can't wait to have some!!! I don't care how hot it is outside. Give me that chili! (and a small order of garlic shrimp on the side).

I hope I can sleep tonight, but I slept quite a bit of my long flights here, so I may be awake for a while, or maybe crash and then get up super early for breakfast.

Evelyne, hope to see you in the lounge!

Carol

Following along and enjoying as usual. You have to give me the name and address of your bkk printer when you are in HNL in Sept. Maybe I can do a visit and write off next trip.....lol

Aloha!