Northern Thailand
Jun 26th, 2004, 10:54 AM
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Northern Thailand
James A & others, Am working on the northern part of our trip to Thailand. We'll have about 6 or 7 days for the north & would like to try to do Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son & if possible a day or two at the Anantara. Is that doable? Would we have to fly from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son & then back to Chiang Mai to fly to Chiang Rae & then drive to the Anantara? Seems like a lot of travelling, but maybe it's worth it. How different is the area around the Anantara from the Mae Hong Son area, which I understand is beautiful. We want to see waterfalls, elephants ....
Jun 26th, 2004, 11:15 AM
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i have just returned from the anantara and i would highly recommend it...the location is wonderful...from our room we looked directly out to the myanmar casino and the actual golden triangle..the actual spot of the meeting of the 2 rivers...we were in room 116...
may i suggest that if you do stay there that you request a room as near to the lobby area as possible...room 116 was almost to the top of the hill and was an intense walk every time you wanted to go anywheres...look at my report on fodors which is currently under construction for more info...i will be getting to the anantara in the next day or two i hope..
we flew to chiang rai...we rented a car from avis through the internet for 4200 B for 3 days...it was a compact toyota, slightly bigger than a corolla...there was practically no traffic...
you might want to consider flying to CM and spending your time there with or without a car and then renting a car and driving north...i am not familiar with the area around mae hong son, but don't think i could be much different from the chiang rai and north areas--not heavily populated...and more motorcycles than cars...you could easily visit both chiang rai/anantara areas (they are 1 hour apart) and mae hong son.. i do know that it takes about 3 hours from chiang mai to chiang rai...there is a michelin map book of thailand which i purchased in the usa which is helpful.. you could then fly back to bkk from CR...
may i suggest that if you do stay there that you request a room as near to the lobby area as possible...room 116 was almost to the top of the hill and was an intense walk every time you wanted to go anywheres...look at my report on fodors which is currently under construction for more info...i will be getting to the anantara in the next day or two i hope..
we flew to chiang rai...we rented a car from avis through the internet for 4200 B for 3 days...it was a compact toyota, slightly bigger than a corolla...there was practically no traffic...
you might want to consider flying to CM and spending your time there with or without a car and then renting a car and driving north...i am not familiar with the area around mae hong son, but don't think i could be much different from the chiang rai and north areas--not heavily populated...and more motorcycles than cars...you could easily visit both chiang rai/anantara areas (they are 1 hour apart) and mae hong son.. i do know that it takes about 3 hours from chiang mai to chiang rai...there is a michelin map book of thailand which i purchased in the usa which is helpful.. you could then fly back to bkk from CR...
Jun 26th, 2004, 12:32 PM
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The day we were departing the Anantara (we were there before it changed ownership/name), after droppig us at the Chiang Rai airport our guide was returning to the Anantara to gather a group for a full-day trip to Mae Hong Son. She indicated that it would be a full day there and back, close to 5-hrs drive time each way(if they didn't stop along the way). But if I recall, there are flights to Mae Hong Son, so would suggest you check flight schedules and figure out from where you want to fly and which segments might be better to drive.
And we did drive from about 30-miles north of Chiang Mai (after first stopping at the Elephant Camp and rafting the river) - onto the Anantara (bypassing Chiang Rai) which was a good 3-hrs drive, but we did stop for lunch along the way, arriving at the hotel between 4-5pm.
Definitely agree with rhkkmk about getting a room closer to the registration area of the hotel. Though a great property with great views into Laos, we were fortunate to have a room at the second set of steps to the room and glad not to have to walk up to any of the rooms at the top of the hill.
And we did drive from about 30-miles north of Chiang Mai (after first stopping at the Elephant Camp and rafting the river) - onto the Anantara (bypassing Chiang Rai) which was a good 3-hrs drive, but we did stop for lunch along the way, arriving at the hotel between 4-5pm.
Definitely agree with rhkkmk about getting a room closer to the registration area of the hotel. Though a great property with great views into Laos, we were fortunate to have a room at the second set of steps to the room and glad not to have to walk up to any of the rooms at the top of the hill.
Jun 26th, 2004, 12:32 PM
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now for a jewerly report...
on our last trip karen had bangle braclets made for herself (18K yellow gold) and for our two daughters (14K yellow gold)..they are a heavy weight and have a clasp on them which comprises a nantucket basket (wooven basket) with saphires on each joint (2) of the bale..the bale swings to assist with the on and off routine...the bale connects with a small loop on the main part of the braclet, which acts as the clasp...as frequent nantucket visitors, we had seen this braclet, sans saphires, in a local shop for around $850.. it was a significantly lighter braclet, may i add...thai stone constructed them for us for $285. and $200. respectively...
karen's had developed a small crack in its back and she needed to have it repaired and she wanted to replace the saphires with carbochon ones...this was accomplished free of charge...the braclet was returned looking like a completely new one with no scratches or blemishes...
last year we had ordered via mail and internet two more of these for friends...
now two more friends ordered them and we looked at them as karen returned hers to her arm--she wears it all the time....thai stone will hold them in their safe until our departure....the new braclets were 14K and cost $ 287. and $320. respectively depending on their size and weight...gold has gone up...i think we paid $325. for the two purchased in between trips...shipping is no problem...
in addition, our youngest daughter had some projects: she had a multi-color, semi-precious uncut stone braclet which had to be restrung--done free of charge...
she wanted to have a diamond and saphire ring that her husband had purchased for her in the islands re-rounded and gold added to the back as it is wearing thin....came back looking like new for $23....
a woman in her office always admired that ring and asked if we could duplicate it for her with a genuine saphire and "saudi" diamonds (actually a quartz clear stone found in the desert in the middle east--when it is cut and polished it looks just like a diamond---it is not hard however)...this was done for $187...you could not tell the two apart except for the size...
a work-mate of karens' wanted a duplicate earing made to match one she had lost (italian gold) and then a braclet made to match, but the goldsmith said he could not duplicate it except in solid gold, so we passed on that, not knowing if she wanted to spend that much....she has since decided that she wants the earings, but not the braclet so we will have it sent--they kept a photocopy of the earing....italian gold is often very thin and the goldsmith could not duplicate it well and was concerned about the different gold colors...the pair of new earings will be about $165...
karen has just told me that i should not be revealing exact prices to all of you, but should rather give comparisons... so i will have to give other estimates like 40% of an american price to you...oh political correctness
we do declare the full value of all jewerly we purchase based on an american program called GSP...roughly this program allows certain products, among them jewerly of precious metals and stones, to be imported from select underdeveloped countries duty free...alas thailand...the entire product must have been native to and fully producded in that country...this is my understanding of the program...us customs has a brochure outlining the program if you wish to learn more about it....
anyways back to the jewerly....
a classmate brought us a couple of projects...she wanted a duplicate gold earing made--under $50 ....she wanted the small diamonds taken out of one family ring and put in to a new platinum (thai stone does not do platnium) or white gold ring ring---similar to a wedding ring really--she supplied a picture and they duplicated it--under $250....and lastly we suggested to her that small saphires or rubies could be put in the old ring for under $50---she chose rubies--by the way that ring looks like a new ring when they finsished cleaning and polishing it up, plus the rubies....
now for karen...she had in mind a gold and saphire chocker necklace that "floats" on her neck...she found a picture of something like she wanted and mr lee re-designed it on paper with us with small carbuchon saphires every 1/2 inche around the necklace...she won't take it off need i say...it does look great....it ended up at about 50% of the price on the sample picture...this was her birthday present that i had promised in her birthday card in january, knowing that we would be in thailand in may.... mr. cheap...i think not...
so she had the braclet fixed and now a new necklace...what about those gold and peridot earings that she had seen in boston...we looked at fairly large rectangular stones in the shop...they were beautiful, but she wanted square...no problem, mr lee says...we can find them...the stones are very deep and a lovely green color.... the setting is to be a "U" shapped setting and the posts are to be at the top rather than in the middle...now the price...too much, more than in boston....later during a telephone conversation we find that the price has come way down because the square stone is less expensive and lighter than the rectangular stone....order them up...so in this case they came out at the same price as the boston pair, but the settings were heavier and 18K, and it was the custom setting she wanted, plus the stones were nicer and larger...ok so i am whipped....they are among the nicest earings that she has, and she has tons...
lastly our youngest wanted a very specialized necklace made...she had a pair of diamond earings that her husband had given her, but now they had been replaced by larger ones, so why not do something with the small stones... she wanted a chocker with a very fine chain and almost invisable connections with the two diamonds and a larger medium blue saphire in the middle, all set in martini glass settings...it too is perfect although she will not get it until we see them at their lake house on the 4th of july....less than 1/3 the price of one she gave us a picture of...she did supply several pictures...this girl knows exactly what she wants and how it should look which makes it easy for us and for mr. lee and the goldsmith...
lastly karen needed some everyday diamond earings...we settled on a pair of studs in the same martini glass settings as our daughters' necklace and a pair of channel set princess cut diamond, half hoop earings...these are a bonus i guess you could say...
i know, diamonds don't come from thailand but "its good enough for governement work" ....
GSP is a stretch anyways...
i think that completes the jewerly purchases...
oh no....the youngest kid gave us a tiffany picture...we had asked both girls if there was anything in the jewerly line that they might want for christmas next year... the older girl wanted nothing...tab came up with the tiffany sterling heart braclet with a single gold heart...so we have ordered one for each, but need to check on the size and they will send it...one of karen's co-workers is now also ordering two....savings over the catelog about 60%..
enough on the jewerly...
off to dinner and the boston pops tonight with the in-laws...more later...
on our last trip karen had bangle braclets made for herself (18K yellow gold) and for our two daughters (14K yellow gold)..they are a heavy weight and have a clasp on them which comprises a nantucket basket (wooven basket) with saphires on each joint (2) of the bale..the bale swings to assist with the on and off routine...the bale connects with a small loop on the main part of the braclet, which acts as the clasp...as frequent nantucket visitors, we had seen this braclet, sans saphires, in a local shop for around $850.. it was a significantly lighter braclet, may i add...thai stone constructed them for us for $285. and $200. respectively...
karen's had developed a small crack in its back and she needed to have it repaired and she wanted to replace the saphires with carbochon ones...this was accomplished free of charge...the braclet was returned looking like a completely new one with no scratches or blemishes...
last year we had ordered via mail and internet two more of these for friends...
now two more friends ordered them and we looked at them as karen returned hers to her arm--she wears it all the time....thai stone will hold them in their safe until our departure....the new braclets were 14K and cost $ 287. and $320. respectively depending on their size and weight...gold has gone up...i think we paid $325. for the two purchased in between trips...shipping is no problem...
in addition, our youngest daughter had some projects: she had a multi-color, semi-precious uncut stone braclet which had to be restrung--done free of charge...
she wanted to have a diamond and saphire ring that her husband had purchased for her in the islands re-rounded and gold added to the back as it is wearing thin....came back looking like new for $23....
a woman in her office always admired that ring and asked if we could duplicate it for her with a genuine saphire and "saudi" diamonds (actually a quartz clear stone found in the desert in the middle east--when it is cut and polished it looks just like a diamond---it is not hard however)...this was done for $187...you could not tell the two apart except for the size...
a work-mate of karens' wanted a duplicate earing made to match one she had lost (italian gold) and then a braclet made to match, but the goldsmith said he could not duplicate it except in solid gold, so we passed on that, not knowing if she wanted to spend that much....she has since decided that she wants the earings, but not the braclet so we will have it sent--they kept a photocopy of the earing....italian gold is often very thin and the goldsmith could not duplicate it well and was concerned about the different gold colors...the pair of new earings will be about $165...
karen has just told me that i should not be revealing exact prices to all of you, but should rather give comparisons... so i will have to give other estimates like 40% of an american price to you...oh political correctness
we do declare the full value of all jewerly we purchase based on an american program called GSP...roughly this program allows certain products, among them jewerly of precious metals and stones, to be imported from select underdeveloped countries duty free...alas thailand...the entire product must have been native to and fully producded in that country...this is my understanding of the program...us customs has a brochure outlining the program if you wish to learn more about it....
anyways back to the jewerly....
a classmate brought us a couple of projects...she wanted a duplicate gold earing made--under $50 ....she wanted the small diamonds taken out of one family ring and put in to a new platinum (thai stone does not do platnium) or white gold ring ring---similar to a wedding ring really--she supplied a picture and they duplicated it--under $250....and lastly we suggested to her that small saphires or rubies could be put in the old ring for under $50---she chose rubies--by the way that ring looks like a new ring when they finsished cleaning and polishing it up, plus the rubies....
now for karen...she had in mind a gold and saphire chocker necklace that "floats" on her neck...she found a picture of something like she wanted and mr lee re-designed it on paper with us with small carbuchon saphires every 1/2 inche around the necklace...she won't take it off need i say...it does look great....it ended up at about 50% of the price on the sample picture...this was her birthday present that i had promised in her birthday card in january, knowing that we would be in thailand in may.... mr. cheap...i think not...
so she had the braclet fixed and now a new necklace...what about those gold and peridot earings that she had seen in boston...we looked at fairly large rectangular stones in the shop...they were beautiful, but she wanted square...no problem, mr lee says...we can find them...the stones are very deep and a lovely green color.... the setting is to be a "U" shapped setting and the posts are to be at the top rather than in the middle...now the price...too much, more than in boston....later during a telephone conversation we find that the price has come way down because the square stone is less expensive and lighter than the rectangular stone....order them up...so in this case they came out at the same price as the boston pair, but the settings were heavier and 18K, and it was the custom setting she wanted, plus the stones were nicer and larger...ok so i am whipped....they are among the nicest earings that she has, and she has tons...
lastly our youngest wanted a very specialized necklace made...she had a pair of diamond earings that her husband had given her, but now they had been replaced by larger ones, so why not do something with the small stones... she wanted a chocker with a very fine chain and almost invisable connections with the two diamonds and a larger medium blue saphire in the middle, all set in martini glass settings...it too is perfect although she will not get it until we see them at their lake house on the 4th of july....less than 1/3 the price of one she gave us a picture of...she did supply several pictures...this girl knows exactly what she wants and how it should look which makes it easy for us and for mr. lee and the goldsmith...
lastly karen needed some everyday diamond earings...we settled on a pair of studs in the same martini glass settings as our daughters' necklace and a pair of channel set princess cut diamond, half hoop earings...these are a bonus i guess you could say...
i know, diamonds don't come from thailand but "its good enough for governement work" ....
GSP is a stretch anyways...
i think that completes the jewerly purchases...
oh no....the youngest kid gave us a tiffany picture...we had asked both girls if there was anything in the jewerly line that they might want for christmas next year... the older girl wanted nothing...tab came up with the tiffany sterling heart braclet with a single gold heart...so we have ordered one for each, but need to check on the size and they will send it...one of karen's co-workers is now also ordering two....savings over the catelog about 60%..
enough on the jewerly...
off to dinner and the boston pops tonight with the in-laws...more later...
Jun 26th, 2004, 12:49 PM
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Glad to see the staff at the Royal Orchid gave you the Natick (or is it Needham, all those "N" towns are the same) treatment. At least you won't be darkening their door again. The world is a safer place. The fumes were a nice touch, even if a violation of the Geneva Convention.
Make sure Karen wears some of this new or refurbished jewelry on the 11th.
CFW-we always use SPG points and stay st the ROS for free. Let me repeat that, FREE. No bidding. No agonizing over the "best" rate. FREE.
Make sure Karen wears some of this new or refurbished jewelry on the 11th.
CFW-we always use SPG points and stay st the ROS for free. Let me repeat that, FREE. No bidding. No agonizing over the "best" rate. FREE.
