Kathie's Celadon report
Mar 4th, 2007, 09:33 AM
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Kathie's Celadon report
(At last! I'm able to post! Fodors, please get your problems fixed!)
Many of you know that I purchased a full set of celadon on my recent trip to Thailand. I ordered from Siam Celadon in Chiang Mai. We ordered 8 place settings of 4 sizes of plates, 2 sizes of bowls, lots of serving pieces (a large salad bowl, a huge platter, mangosteen-shaped condiment containers, sauce boat, butter dish etc) mugs and tiny Chinese tea cups. The total cost including shipping was about US$800. The celadon was cutom-made for us (takes about 1 month) and then was shipped by sea. We ordered in mid-late November, received notice that it was shipped on Dec 25 and would take 75-90 days to get to our doorstep in Seattle in 8 boxes. On Saturday, three boxes arrived. This stuff was packed! Each piece was carefully wrapped in paper (large pieces in bubblewrap as well) and then in double cardboard, then packed with slabs of foam between and arround the pieces, small pieces of foam filling every space, and packed into sturdy cardboard boxes. Each box was labeled (e.g., 8/8, etc) plus had our order number and the designation of the pieces packed (e.g., 4-1181).
What we have received so far are the largest pieces. The pieces are stunning!
You know how it is, you're in Thailand looking at things and buying stuff, and when you get home, you're amazed at how special it is. This was an even more striking instance of this, as it's been months since we saw what we were ordering.
I'll keep you posted on the arrival of the rest of the celadon.
Many of you know that I purchased a full set of celadon on my recent trip to Thailand. I ordered from Siam Celadon in Chiang Mai. We ordered 8 place settings of 4 sizes of plates, 2 sizes of bowls, lots of serving pieces (a large salad bowl, a huge platter, mangosteen-shaped condiment containers, sauce boat, butter dish etc) mugs and tiny Chinese tea cups. The total cost including shipping was about US$800. The celadon was cutom-made for us (takes about 1 month) and then was shipped by sea. We ordered in mid-late November, received notice that it was shipped on Dec 25 and would take 75-90 days to get to our doorstep in Seattle in 8 boxes. On Saturday, three boxes arrived. This stuff was packed! Each piece was carefully wrapped in paper (large pieces in bubblewrap as well) and then in double cardboard, then packed with slabs of foam between and arround the pieces, small pieces of foam filling every space, and packed into sturdy cardboard boxes. Each box was labeled (e.g., 8/8, etc) plus had our order number and the designation of the pieces packed (e.g., 4-1181).
What we have received so far are the largest pieces. The pieces are stunning!
You know how it is, you're in Thailand looking at things and buying stuff, and when you get home, you're amazed at how special it is. This was an even more striking instance of this, as it's been months since we saw what we were ordering.
I'll keep you posted on the arrival of the rest of the celadon.
Mar 4th, 2007, 09:56 AM
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Kathie,
Glad to hear about the safe voyage of your celadon. I know the excitement you feel when you are opening and admiring something that was brought from afar. Sounds like you've gotten a beautiful set, enjoy!
Aloha!
Glad to hear about the safe voyage of your celadon. I know the excitement you feel when you are opening and admiring something that was brought from afar. Sounds like you've gotten a beautiful set, enjoy!
Aloha!
Mar 4th, 2007, 02:05 PM
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Im also planning to purchase something large..a set of celadon, furniture, etc...and have it shiped, OR ship it myself from Chiang Mai. I commissioned a rug from the Tibetan Refugee center in Darjeeling and that piece was stunning.
Does anyone have nfo on having things shipped from Thailan? Is there a UPS store or Fedex or other shipping company in the area?
Mark-
Does anyone have nfo on having things shipped from Thailan? Is there a UPS store or Fedex or other shipping company in the area?
Mark-
Mar 4th, 2007, 03:21 PM
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great kathie...so it will all arrive in time for the GTG...don't throw the boxes away cause you will need them for the flight to pasadena....
shipping....i have used ups several times and while expensive, they usually pickup from the people i have bought from....there might be some limitations to the insurance if you pack yourself so check it out...
i know there is a shipping place in many of the malls in bkk....i also know that some of the hotel business centers will also assist you with this...
they are also in the phone book...
some of your furniture may come freight included....
shipping....i have used ups several times and while expensive, they usually pickup from the people i have bought from....there might be some limitations to the insurance if you pack yourself so check it out...
i know there is a shipping place in many of the malls in bkk....i also know that some of the hotel business centers will also assist you with this...
they are also in the phone book...
some of your furniture may come freight included....
Mar 4th, 2007, 05:49 PM
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Kathie,
Did you have to go to the port to pick up the boxes or was it delivered to your door? I'm curious how it works in Seattle, as our "by sea" shipment last year into the Port of Newark from Chiang Mai was much more complicated than I would have imagined (which may be a Port of Newark anomoly though unless we move no way around that) -- warehouse charges added on both the west coast and east coast, and several delays as the container it was in didn't pass the Homeland Security xray test so it had to be unpacked, hand inspected, and repacked.
I opted for FedEx door to door delivery for my china from Jenggala Ceramics in Bali this year, and that was snap.
Bob, Craig, anyone on the east coast -- your thoughts, experiences??
Did you have to go to the port to pick up the boxes or was it delivered to your door? I'm curious how it works in Seattle, as our "by sea" shipment last year into the Port of Newark from Chiang Mai was much more complicated than I would have imagined (which may be a Port of Newark anomoly though unless we move no way around that) -- warehouse charges added on both the west coast and east coast, and several delays as the container it was in didn't pass the Homeland Security xray test so it had to be unpacked, hand inspected, and repacked.
I opted for FedEx door to door delivery for my china from Jenggala Ceramics in Bali this year, and that was snap.
Bob, Craig, anyone on the east coast -- your thoughts, experiences??
Mar 4th, 2007, 05:56 PM
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we have used ups air (5 day) from thailand and laos....no laos was delivered directly to us via a sea voyage now that i think about it...
we did not go to the port....guenmai wrote a very funny story about having to go to the LA port last year to get her "children" from their sea shipment....she had given each one a box of crackers to eat along the way...so not to worry....
in short....all our shipments have been door to door...
i believe kathie's was the same...
its very expensive, so to get a whole set of quality dishes and shipment for $800 is amazing....
i sent 25 kilos, about 50 lbs, from bkk last fall and that alone cost $185....ups air---5 day....
we did not go to the port....guenmai wrote a very funny story about having to go to the LA port last year to get her "children" from their sea shipment....she had given each one a box of crackers to eat along the way...so not to worry....
in short....all our shipments have been door to door...
i believe kathie's was the same...
its very expensive, so to get a whole set of quality dishes and shipment for $800 is amazing....
i sent 25 kilos, about 50 lbs, from bkk last fall and that alone cost $185....ups air---5 day....
Mar 4th, 2007, 06:36 PM
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(I can't believe I can post this - this site has been impossible all day!)
My celadon was door to door sent via the post office(!!). I thought I was going to get DHL, but it turned out the DHL was air only and incredibly expensive for the heavy celadon. So it was sent via the Thai post office via sea to the USPS. So no going to the port or the airport to pick it up (I did that for carpets from Turkey once - what a hassle).
I'm hoping the rest will arrive on Monday. I suspect the post office just sent three boxes to be delivered on Saturday so the postman would have space in his truck for other people's mail...
My celadon was door to door sent via the post office(!!). I thought I was going to get DHL, but it turned out the DHL was air only and incredibly expensive for the heavy celadon. So it was sent via the Thai post office via sea to the USPS. So no going to the port or the airport to pick it up (I did that for carpets from Turkey once - what a hassle).
I'm hoping the rest will arrive on Monday. I suspect the post office just sent three boxes to be delivered on Saturday so the postman would have space in his truck for other people's mail...
Mar 4th, 2007, 06:49 PM
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Kathie,
Might the issues you are having with Fodors be an issue other than Fodors?
I have been checking Fodors all day with no problems.
Perhaps there is a network outage somewhere on the route you take to Fodors causing problems.
ust like an accient on a highway, a router problem somewhere along your network path to Fodors can really wreak havoc with connectivity. Unfortunately, if that IS the case, Fodors wil have no control over the issue....but it should resolve itself.
Might the issues you are having with Fodors be an issue other than Fodors?
I have been checking Fodors all day with no problems.
Perhaps there is a network outage somewhere on the route you take to Fodors causing problems.
ust like an accient on a highway, a router problem somewhere along your network path to Fodors can really wreak havoc with connectivity. Unfortunately, if that IS the case, Fodors wil have no control over the issue....but it should resolve itself.
Mar 4th, 2007, 07:29 PM
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zengoes - many people have been having probelms with Fodors this week. It comes and goes for me.
I can read posts, but I can't always post. It's interesting, because the site is set up on my computer to "remember" me, but not only does it often not remember me this week, but even when I log on, often it won't allow me to post (I click on respond, and a blank screen comes up. And then when I check to see if I'm logged on, I'm not -even though I've just logged on and it accepted my log-in.
So it does not appear to be a local problem here in Seattle (or in my house or workplace).
I can read posts, but I can't always post. It's interesting, because the site is set up on my computer to "remember" me, but not only does it often not remember me this week, but even when I log on, often it won't allow me to post (I click on respond, and a blank screen comes up. And then when I check to see if I'm logged on, I'm not -even though I've just logged on and it accepted my log-in.
So it does not appear to be a local problem here in Seattle (or in my house or workplace).
Mar 5th, 2007, 03:11 AM
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(This is definitely a Fodor's problem as I live in Singapore and have had the exact same problem intermittently for a week. )
Kathie, glad your shipment has started to arrive safely. In Bali last year I purchased service for 16 people, plus numerous serving pieces at Jenggala Ceramics, and if you can believe this....BROUGHT THE WHOLE THING HOME ON THE PLANE! Ah the joy of having a husband who is a PPS Solitaire flyer with SQ! Jenggala packed the whole shebang into several custom built wooden crates, with a total conbined weight of well over 200 lbs. My daughter was with me, and we hand carried our luggage onto the plane and used our combined weight allowance to send the dishes through the baggage line. I was prepared with US$ the "tip" the agent to be kind to me on the overweight charges, but I never had to use the money. When he saw the Solitaire card, he put the whole thing through without blinking. I still can't believe I got away with it and laugh a little each time I use my dishes! Enjoy your celadon....everything will taste better served on it, because you will remember your trip while dining!
Kathie, glad your shipment has started to arrive safely. In Bali last year I purchased service for 16 people, plus numerous serving pieces at Jenggala Ceramics, and if you can believe this....BROUGHT THE WHOLE THING HOME ON THE PLANE! Ah the joy of having a husband who is a PPS Solitaire flyer with SQ! Jenggala packed the whole shebang into several custom built wooden crates, with a total conbined weight of well over 200 lbs. My daughter was with me, and we hand carried our luggage onto the plane and used our combined weight allowance to send the dishes through the baggage line. I was prepared with US$ the "tip" the agent to be kind to me on the overweight charges, but I never had to use the money. When he saw the Solitaire card, he put the whole thing through without blinking. I still can't believe I got away with it and laugh a little each time I use my dishes! Enjoy your celadon....everything will taste better served on it, because you will remember your trip while dining!
Mar 5th, 2007, 05:49 AM
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Lindsey, so glad to read that you live in Singapore. Kids of a very close friend are going to Singapore for 2 months this summer for work. They are a family with three children (all under 10 years old). Do you know anything about summer daycamp programs in Singapore. We looked at the American School website but nothing was listed. We had heard that the American School does run a summer program. Any other programs would be good as well. Thanks!
Mar 5th, 2007, 06:10 AM
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Lindsey -- lucky you !! Air freight for 200 lbs I don't even want to think about !! And Kathie, great price. You must be thrilled and already planning that first dinner party. Are you going to cook Thai?
Our Port of Newark story is rather amazing. We rented a van to pick up our "child" and set off on a sunny wintry day for Newark. First, we had to go to the customs office with all our paperwork to get the final stamps -- this had arrived by fed ex a few days earlier. There is no parking in Newark near the customs office. There was no third seat in the van so I was sitting on a moving blanket on the floor. As we circled looking for a place to pull over (it got darker and darker the closer we got to customs), it started to snow.
After running into customs while my husb and friend circled the block, I discovered he had to "present himself" as his name was on the manifest. So back into the snow, which is now really starting to stick, switch drivers, hsb makes quick work of customs and we're off to find the warehouse.
It is really snowing now. Big downy flakes. We can hardly see ten feet ahead. The docks at Newark are out in no man's land, the street signs are non-existent, and now, the snow is covering all the signs anyway. We finally find the warehouse (had to call them for directions twice), pull up and out comes our "child" in his wooden crate looking for all the world like a little dracula shipped back from Transylvania. And as we drive away, thinking our karma has to be in seriously bad shape and the gods just hate us -- the sun breaks out.
Needless to say, fed ex door to door for the ceramics seemed the right choice -- the drama was one thing, but all the little hidden charges of sea freight to NY were rather profound. The shop in Chiang Mai split that with us, which was really very nice of them. It was almost an extra $400.
Our Port of Newark story is rather amazing. We rented a van to pick up our "child" and set off on a sunny wintry day for Newark. First, we had to go to the customs office with all our paperwork to get the final stamps -- this had arrived by fed ex a few days earlier. There is no parking in Newark near the customs office. There was no third seat in the van so I was sitting on a moving blanket on the floor. As we circled looking for a place to pull over (it got darker and darker the closer we got to customs), it started to snow.
After running into customs while my husb and friend circled the block, I discovered he had to "present himself" as his name was on the manifest. So back into the snow, which is now really starting to stick, switch drivers, hsb makes quick work of customs and we're off to find the warehouse.
It is really snowing now. Big downy flakes. We can hardly see ten feet ahead. The docks at Newark are out in no man's land, the street signs are non-existent, and now, the snow is covering all the signs anyway. We finally find the warehouse (had to call them for directions twice), pull up and out comes our "child" in his wooden crate looking for all the world like a little dracula shipped back from Transylvania. And as we drive away, thinking our karma has to be in seriously bad shape and the gods just hate us -- the sun breaks out.
Needless to say, fed ex door to door for the ceramics seemed the right choice -- the drama was one thing, but all the little hidden charges of sea freight to NY were rather profound. The shop in Chiang Mai split that with us, which was really very nice of them. It was almost an extra $400.
Mar 5th, 2007, 06:19 AM
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Kathie:
you might want to know that a new restaurant opened in L.A..."Celadon" ...and we were there a few weeks ago...the ambience is outstanding..and there are many Thai touches throughout. The food presentation is basically Chinois/French, with Thai dishes available. In fact their concoction of Pad Thai is by far the best I have ever tasted. Any Thai travelers in the Southern California area would do well do try tis one out...it's on Third across from Farmer's Market. Prices are a bit on the up side, but the experience is well worth it.
Stu T.
you might want to know that a new restaurant opened in L.A..."Celadon" ...and we were there a few weeks ago...the ambience is outstanding..and there are many Thai touches throughout. The food presentation is basically Chinois/French, with Thai dishes available. In fact their concoction of Pad Thai is by far the best I have ever tasted. Any Thai travelers in the Southern California area would do well do try tis one out...it's on Third across from Farmer's Market. Prices are a bit on the up side, but the experience is well worth it.
Stu T.
Mar 5th, 2007, 06:26 AM
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Lindsey - what a great story! Somehow, I can just see them loading those big wooden crates into the plane in Bali! I once brought home two Persian carpets purchased in Singapore. One was smaller (only 8x10) but the other was 9x12 and very heavy - 80-90 lbs. The guys at the store wrapped the big one and put handles on it like a suitcase. All of our luggage was over-stuffed as we were returning from Java. Our luggage had been overweight before we bought the carpets! When we arrived at Changi with all of our luggage, I was anticipating big overage charges. But the woman at the desk smiled brightly and said "oh, you've bought a carpet - how nice!" I asked her how much to bring it back with us and she said " Oh, you're flying first class and it is new year's day - let's jsut put a tag on it." Amazingly, all of our luggage arrived in Seattle with us (two stops from Singapore in those days) for no extra charge!
And jenksar, I love your New Jersey docks story - very atmospheric...
And jenksar, I love your New Jersey docks story - very atmospheric...
Mar 5th, 2007, 07:23 AM
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Elainee, you came to the right source. As a parent of two kids at Singapore American School and an active volunteer there for the past 6 years, I can definitely help you. Here is the link for the SAS summer program. http://www.sas.edu.sg/summer
It's an excellent program, run by SAS faculty, who are some of the best teachers in Asia.
The American Club also runs a very good program here in the summer. My oldest daughter was a camp counselor there for the past two summers. Here is the link for the AC home page....http://www.amclub.org.sg. I just checked and they have not posted anything about the summer program yet, but you could email and ask them. Not sure if you have to be a member of the Club or not, to have kids in the program.
There are a few other summer options, but I think those are the best two, especially for kids who are new to Singapore.
Kathie, sorry, we seem to have totally hijacked your thread about celadon!! But I did love the rug story....several of our visitors here have done the same thing. You will be pleased to know prices on Persian carpets have jumped sharply here in the past few years. Your rugs are probably worth much more now than what you paid for them.
One other comment on shipping stuff from Thailand. Years ago, when we lived in Houston, we made a trip to Chiang Mai and shipped home some teak chairs, a small chest of drawers, a lamp and some other decorative accessories. An agent in Houston wanted $500 to do the paperwork to clear the shipment. So I called the Customs Office and found out I could do it myself. The one thing that made it go very smoothly was that I had taken pictures of everything in CM, before it was packed. I took those with me to Customs and got the signatures in about 2 seconds flat. Then I had to drive 30 miles to the other side of town to pick up my shipment, but to save the $500 it was worth it. Of course that was pre-Sept 11 and I'm sure things have become much more stringent.
It's an excellent program, run by SAS faculty, who are some of the best teachers in Asia.
The American Club also runs a very good program here in the summer. My oldest daughter was a camp counselor there for the past two summers. Here is the link for the AC home page....http://www.amclub.org.sg. I just checked and they have not posted anything about the summer program yet, but you could email and ask them. Not sure if you have to be a member of the Club or not, to have kids in the program.
There are a few other summer options, but I think those are the best two, especially for kids who are new to Singapore.
Kathie, sorry, we seem to have totally hijacked your thread about celadon!! But I did love the rug story....several of our visitors here have done the same thing. You will be pleased to know prices on Persian carpets have jumped sharply here in the past few years. Your rugs are probably worth much more now than what you paid for them.
One other comment on shipping stuff from Thailand. Years ago, when we lived in Houston, we made a trip to Chiang Mai and shipped home some teak chairs, a small chest of drawers, a lamp and some other decorative accessories. An agent in Houston wanted $500 to do the paperwork to clear the shipment. So I called the Customs Office and found out I could do it myself. The one thing that made it go very smoothly was that I had taken pictures of everything in CM, before it was packed. I took those with me to Customs and got the signatures in about 2 seconds flat. Then I had to drive 30 miles to the other side of town to pick up my shipment, but to save the $500 it was worth it. Of course that was pre-Sept 11 and I'm sure things have become much more stringent.
