If anyone wants to see the pictures of my trip just send me an e-mail.

the pics are great....love the elephant bathing ones and the pic of ratt is the best i have seen

Thanks Bob.

Speaking of Ratt. I was reading Gpanda report and he mentions the Ratt & switch. I think she pulled that one on me. When I was e-mailing her about booking her for the day I was under the distinct impression that it would be her that was going to be driving us around. She even told me what she would be wearing when she met us in the lobby. As it turned out the driver we got was very inexperienced and his English was not that good, BUT he did take us to the Tiger Temple so I won't complain too much.

The photos are great, Rob! Looks like you and iris had a wonderful time!

I am definitely going to visit the Tiger Temple! Are they as soft as they look? Do you have to sign any kind of release of liability form? How many tigers are around that temple? Is it overly crowded with visitors?

Eurotraveller, we did not have to sign anything. We were there in the afternoon and including Iris and I there may have been a total of 15 people--not crowded at all. I was surprised at how rough the tigers fur was--I expected it to be more soft. When you go to visit the temple don't be wearing a lot of perfume, seemingly that is one of the things that the tigers don't like.

Rob,
Thanks for the post. I have just added the Tiger Temple to my itinerary in September!

Lovely pics, I especially like the 'fearsome warrior' poses in Japan.
Femi

Rob,
Thanks so much for posting your report.
I enjoyed it very much,and found it very helpful- we leave tomorrow, so I'm furiously writing down last-minute information!

I get the impression that you know how to enjoy yourself, and to keep a good sense of humor.

And your pictures were great! Seeing pictures like yours really helps me to be able to visual the places.

I'm a little concerned about Ratt- we have booked her for two days, and I really won't be happy if she sends someone else instead.
If she sends someone else, especially someone who doesn't speak very good English, do you think that it would be wrong to cancel?

Thanks for the report. Sounds like you were able to think on your feet several times to modify your plans. This can be the key.

Rob
Thanks for the report. I really enjoyed reading it. I've been to the EGV gold class theater a number of times. I'm hoping King Kong will still be there in a few weeks when I'm back in BKK.

Too bad you missed Bed Supper Club. Be sure to call earlier NEXT time. You will really enjoy it.

I am sorry that the service at Face was not up to par for you. We were thoroughly impressed with everything there. Maybe it was just a bad day for the staff...

Glad you are home safe and sound. I'm currently in Puerto Rico, ready to catch a 7-day cruise in the S. Carib tomorrow!! This trip has been quite an adventure thus far, so I hope the cruise is a good chance to chill out!

Carol

Marcy--I wouldn't cancel if Ratt sends a substitute, who knows what adventure you could have with someone else.

Rob

Rob,

Thanks for the pictures, we really enjoyed them. Looks like you and Iris had a great trip. Looking at your pictures brings back memories of our trip which is already a month behind us. Good to see Ratt smiling! We had a lot of fun with her.

Chelsea2

Dear Rob, Wow your trip sounded great! My husband (a Canadian) and I (former
New Yorker) are living in Busan, Korea for a year and we are embarking on a cruise next week, which includes Thailand. I found your info to be very helpful, and I swear by Fodor's. After our cruise, we are going to Koh Samui for three nights, then on to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. Can't wait!

Koreaprincess--This was our first trip to Asia. We loved it. Unfortunately we did not have a chance to take in Angor Wat--next time. I hope you have a great cruise and I know that you are going to love Thailand.

i think i need to say something about ratt....first, she is charming....second she is a budding business woman....she calls her company----ratt's service or something similar...

she is trying to grow her business because she was not able to satisfy all the requests that she received...so she has added associates...associates at differing levels of expertise...this is always the case when one goes from a sole owner company to one with employees or sub contractors...

she is trying to make more money---its the american way...oh its thailand....well its the thai way then...

thais and asian operate a bit differently than westerners in business...i find they can not keep things quite as straight as we think we can...they miss things in the translation, if you will...

i think she is doing a good job....i also think that we fodorites are responsible for her quick rise....so we have to endure the growing pains as well...give her a chance....but also tell her when she is not meeting our expectations...

she is a small mom and pop business just trying to move forward....lets work with her....if you want things that are perfect then go with one of the big companies (nd be disappointed)...she is learning every day...

i don't think there is a 'ratt and switch'...she did provide an acceptable alternative in each case that i have read about except for lyndie's...

she took me to river kwai and never suggested the tiger temple but the guy rob had suggested it so there is a plus for someone other than ratt..

i felt i had to say something in her defense...

I was not trying to run Ratt down. Just giving the facts. As I said to another Fodorite--If I had not gone with the replacement driver that Ratt sent I would not have seen the Tiger Temple.

There is something else to remember -- Ratt is a driver NOT a guide. Thus if she sends someone who doesn't have perfect english that is to be expected.

good point gloria....rob i was not reacting to your post but supporting it as the substitute driver sent to you was excellent by all accounts, i.e. tigers...

Rob, Thanks again for your help. I've already been in touch with the infamous "Ratt". She is not available for the day I requested, so is sending someone else to meet us at the ship. Though there could be a bit of a problem with language, we are not deterred. We've lived in Busan, S.Korea for four months. There is not too much English spoken here and we communicate pretty well with hand gestures and, isn't it awful, we sometimes forget when someone doesn't speak English and resort to yelling as though they were slow or something! You have intrigued us so much about the Tiger Temple and we must go there. My husband also wants to ride elephants. Is that commonplace? We've booked a tour through our cruise ship, but I always feel this is overpriced and not so great. Any ideas?

What a great report - thank you.

Rob,
Love your travel diary!!! I will be heading to Thailand as part of my honeymoon trip... a few questions for you - when you picked up guides for the Grand Palace and Reclining Buddha, where did you get them? Were they just hanging around outside the entrance (like the touts I've been reading so much about), or is there an "official" guide hiring station or something?

Thanks...
Ken