Having spent 5 weeks in the sun, with people who smile, and return a smile, wear beautiful silk colorful clothes, being able to gently motor along a fascinating river (for free on a hotel boat) at night getting ice cold towels, ice cold water, and breathing in the "feel" of Bangkok..... I come back to every day freezing cold, everyone in grey or black, no smiles, (even if you initiate one)and, I just did a business trip with 6 hours at the airport to take off, and 8 hours at the airport to get back home. ...... Whaaaa 5 weeks in Thailand wasn't enough.

I'm already thinking about returning in 08 - however, as we have been there 3 years in a row, the husband is talking about Argentina for Jan 08 and, I just keep thinking of more smiles and the entire experience of Thailand. Just LOVE IT.
Sue

Exactly. We've been to Thailand five consecutive years. Whenever we think of going somewhere else, we remember some tidbit from our last trip and are drawn back. Next year, we may be able to break the string and go to Vietnam. We'll see. BTW, when we wwre in BKK, we took seven different boats on the river; all five hotel boats, a River City boat and the normal river ferry.

Sue
You are so right! I'm just back from BKK. I slept about 10 hours straight, last night, after waking at 3 am since returning home last Friday. I think I might be recovered from my jetlag now.

I came home to lots of snow and cold. YUK!! And you are so right about the smiles. I'm depressed... I hope to get back to BKK in a few months, even if I can never be gone more than a couple of weeks. I'd LOVE to think I could be there for five weeks, but at this point, it "ain't" in the cards!

Carol

ditto....we spent much of yesterday talking about when we can return....and we had 6 weeks this last time...it just gets better and better!!

prices are climbing again however, but that won't keep us away

I noted that the exchange rate stayed pretty much constant at 35.42 during my stay, and went down to 33.5 right after I left! The Thais know a serious shopper when they see one... lol...

Carol

That exchange rates does put the costs up, there are always more places around to see and I keep thinking of places we are yet to get to ! I envy many of you being able to have though time to experience all of these, I think back to when we traveled around far more than we do now! We have had 2 trips down to Phuket in the last couple of months but I am itching to get behind the wheel and take a couple of weeks break driving around again ! The good thing is that as some places grow others start on the 'up', new flights into Pai from Chiang Mai for example suddenly make places easier to get to. I think Novotel is going to open a resort on either Koh Tao or Koh Phangan this year.
About time some of you thought about getting a condo !!

Don't worry... it will only last until you can get back! Seems to be the only cure.

Although Argentina calls me for November I hope to spend December in SE Asia.

Cheers!

I know what you mean I have been to Thailand only 3 times and this year we are going to Oz for Christmas (which i am sure will be fab) but i am sad that we will be missing out on Thailand with not even a sniff of a chance to go this year) Muffin can't believe i am missing it already and he's talking South America next year

We generally plan at least one Asia trip a year. We like to use Bangkok as our gateway, so that we spend some time in our favorite city, even when we are headed elsewhere (Gpanda, this works great for VN). I agree with others, the only "cure" is to return again and again.

Thailand is lovely - BKK endlessly fascinating - but don't you folk have any desire to explore other corners of the planet?

Even in SEA there is Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia (and don't forget the Borneo bit - fantastic destination). And Vietnam (not been there yet).

Plus, plus, etc. etc.

Never mind India, Africa, etc. etc,

Just trying to understand this - so you go somewhere "different" and fall in love with it, and never venture further? Is that how it works for you?

Hi,
I'm also addicted to Thailand, goin back to Bangkok and koh lanta 5 weeks today. i am so excited!!!. We have been to lots of other places, really loved Borneo,been there twice,and have travelled all round malaysia.We went to aus[queenslnd ,gt barrier reef] in october, and although we had a really good time, Thailand still has that something special which we missed in Aus.
suzi

Come on, fuzzy, do you really think the people who responded to this thread never go anywhere but Thailand? And do you think that when they go to Thailand they don't venture anywhere else? Don't be silly.

fuzzy, go be smug on another forum for a while. x(.

Most of us didn't start traveling just yesterday...as the saying goes. Have been to over two dozen countries,almost annualy, over three-plus decades and take more than one overseas vacation a year. I'm sure there are plenty others in this forum who have the same experience. Happy Travels!

Fuzzy Logic,
Have you ever heard the saying, if you can't say anything nice don't say it? I don't think I've ever read one of your posts that doesn't have a nasty edge to it.
Of course those of us who love Thailand go to other places too. Many of us use BKK as a hub to visit other SEA countries and several of us visit the other side of the globe annually too.

You are probably one of those people I have been seeing since I returned, no smile, just a frown.

You can't talk me out of my love of Thailand.
Sue

It was a straight question and it's been answered, albeit with a certain amount of defensiveness from some quarters. So thnnk you.

I guess I just don't find Thailand stands out head and shoulders above all other possibilities quite as much as you addicts do.

But if someone offered me a free flight tomorrow I'd be off like a shot.

Happy travels, all.

Sue, I totally feel your pain! I swear I went into a state of depression for several weeks after returning from just three weeks in SEA last year (1st trip). Going to such wonderful places just reinforces how much I hate my job and gives me more motivation to find a plan B. I'll figure it out one of these days and I hope you do to

Me too... Just got back last week from Thailand (first trip)... So hard to get back to dreary work and everyday life... Already thinking of how and when I can go back!