Thanks for your quick response. Glad to hear about the Marriott Resort and Spas. We are planning on spending 5 nights in BKK. Then heading to Chaing Mai and Phuket. Right now we have reservations at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel. Sounds like maybe I should change it. Does anyone know what location is best?

If you are a first-timer to Bangkok, you should stay on the river, as it is an oasis in this crazy (but fabulous) city. If you are here to shop, then I'd stick with the Renaissance. I looked at that property for this current stay, but opted to try the Marriott on the river, and then move back to soi 8, my home away from home. I have stayed in this same serviced apartment building for over 2 years now. That's at least 8 trips to BKK, and maybe more than that, at Adelphi Suites.

Ratchaprasong area is the big shopping complex area. You will be close to Paragon Mall, Gaysorn Plaza, Central Chitlom Department store (my fave), as well as Amarin Plaza for Thai handicrafts, and then just a short walk past Paragon Mall is Siam Center/Siam Discovery and then MBK. Everyone has to 'experience' MBK when they come to BKK.

From the river, to get to the shopping, you simply take the shuttle boat to the Taksin pier, and then take the skytrain to the SIAM station. It is connected to Paragon Mall.

Carol,

Yes the Centara has reopen for a while now but I'm not too sure about the mall at Central World. Last I heard was that they are still closed but they rushing to reopen part of it.

Thai economy? The manufacturing and export sector are doing well but the tourism industry, apart from Thai Airways, is stil in trouble. Chiang Mai's hotels are operating at 10% occupancy but Bangkok and Phuket are doing better.

Dang and Mony spent a couple of hours at MBK yesterday "decorating" their phones!

Enjoy the long weekend Carol and don't forget that Monday is a Buddhist holiday here in Thailand and most company are closed for Tuesday as well.

Pook, Are you heading to Hua Hin for the holiday? Maeng and I will fly to Samui very early Monday morning and stay until late Thursday afternoon. Looking forward to the trip!

I'm heading out to Chatuchak in a half hour or so. I might run into Evelyne and crew, as they are also going about the same time.

Picking up a few things on folks's want-lists from home. Small items, basically, that won't take up much space in my suitcases at all. Wish I could post a link to the wooden watches. Sooooo colorful and unique!

Brad's frogs arrived. He just needs to arrange w/his customer to make delivery, and then he'll be flying over to BKK. I hope he is here when Maeng and I get back from Samui, but we don't know just yet.

Pook... How does one spend the day at MBK (THAT, I can understand) decorating their phones (now that one stumps me)??? I made a quick trip to the 4th floor to extend my BKK phone number for another year, at DTac. That took about 10 minutes. Then I left the 4th floor!

Forgot to mention that I hopped into a (dreaded by some here) tuk-tuk to get from Platinum Mall to MBK shortly after yesterday's rain shower. It's always a thrilling ride. Now, you will never (I repeat, NEVER) get me on another motorcycle taxi after my a year or two ago, in rush hour traffic, on one of BKK's busiest streets, trying to make a 6:00 'appointment' w/Dr Jack. Now THAT is a dangerous ride!!!

Carol

Carol,

They put costume jewellery to the casing of their phones. Nice looking but time consuming and you can see people line up to have their phones done.

Yes just about to get in the car and start the drive to HH. Should be there by lunch time!

Thank you so much Carol and Maeng for a fantastic evening, the food was great, the best we had since we arrive, we are definitely thinking of going back sunday night for supper, before you guys go to samui.
Just checking in at the JW Marriott, very nice room but not as big as the one at the Resort and Spa. Hope to see u again on sunday night carol

I would certainly consider going back on Sunday night for dinner at the Pickled Liver. I will try to be there by about 6:00-6:30. Is that a good time for all of you?

I hope you had good shopping, or was it just a look around, today at Chatuchak. I thought it was really hot out there today!! I will go back again. Not sure if it will be tomorrow. We'll see.

I hope you enjoy Kinnaree tonight! And then are you off to Sky bar for a cocktail?

See you at PL tomorrow night, then!

Carol

Just had the pleasure of meeting vinovino this evening. I was in my jammies (stuffed with Via Vai pizza) and my phone rang. It was Maeng. Vinovino had just walked into the bar, and didn't I want to come over and surprise him. So off I went.

Vinovino was eating Maeng's garlic shrimp and enjoying it. I recommended he try the American style chili sometime soon, as it's still my most favorite.

We talked about travel, and hotels, and restaurants. Seems vinovino is also impressed with the same French restaurant that DS and DH loved loved loved. Indigo is the name. It is down in the Silom area, near soi Convent. I hope to try it sometime.

After some pleasant conversation, we parted company, but with the hopes of catching up in Bangkok again sometime in the future! Sounds like vinovino is busy travelling S E Asia a lot these days. Good for him!!

It's always fun to run into another Fodorite!

Indigo is one of the best resaurants in Bangkok. If I get there before you leave we should try it.

Yes, it was a lovely time at the Pickled Liver last night. The food was great, as usual. So nice to finally meet Carol. She is full of energy and a true BKK expert. We even discussed ways to make some money in BKK, and not just spent it :)

Success at Chatuchak today. I finally found what I was calling 'wooden watches' at a small shop today, so bought a good selction of them. They are really made of coconut shell. Someone came to this same vendor and ordered a big bunch of them for Hawaii, so our HNL fodorites will be seeing them, probably at the International Market Place, one of these days. So colorful! So unique!

Vinovino, if you care to come back to the PL tonight, I will be there with Canadians... Evelyne and her family. There is always room for one (two) more at our table at the PL.

Carol

Dr Jack just might show up tonight as well! I talked with him on the phone about 2 hours ago. He says he will 'try' but he has been very busy. It's not like me to be in BKK for nearly a week, and not yet to have seen Dr Jack; but such is the case this time. I hope he can come and join in dinner and interesting conversation, as always. (it's fodorites... would you expect anything less than interesting conversation???)

Dr Jack showed up. Vinovino did not. We all had a great meal. Evelyne said that Maeng's cooking was better than at Kinnaree! Wow!

3:00am wake-up call (ugh) and 4:00 to the airport for a very early fligh to Samui on Bangkok Airways.

Enjoying your report, Carol, even if I'm not going to make it to Bangkok myself this year.

Maeng and I are having breakfast, right by the beach, having checked into our Samui hotel around 7:45am. It is overcast and there is a great breeze blowing. It rained right before we got here.

Seascape is basic, but clean, and right on the beach.

More later.

Sorry, I missed the dinner.Good intentions and all.

I blame it on some rowdy buddies - started me drinking early, way before the sun went down, on an empty stomach no less. Bad idea. Real bad idea. Had another since somebody else was paying, and then another, and another, until....here it comes....the next thing I know, we were watching a "special show" at some less than respectable dive!

Awake in the full light of day, I am so so ashamed and full of deep, deep remore :)

That should be "remorse" - darn hangover!

Thanks again Carol, Maeng another great meal and that sticky rice and mango..... to die for, we walked back to the hotel but had to stop for another massage....love those massages, Vinovino you missed a nice evening....
Have a great time in samui

Dog in BKK tomorrow. Dunno how long - or where yet.