TRIP REPORT-6 cities in 3 weeks
Dec 10th, 2005, 05:58 AM
#41
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K-Thanks for the effort of reporting on your travels. Glad you too were captivated by the majesty and energy of the River of Kings. On my first trip to BKK, I woke at 4:30 a.m. and was enthralled to watch the river come slowly alive. The regularity of the cross river ferries and their weaving through the up-down traffic was and remains mesmerizing. Tongue Thai is an undiscovered gem. We've always found the food wonderful. Just a few short weeks and we'll be eating there. Can't wait.
Dec 10th, 2005, 05:25 PM
#43
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Hi Boblax
Thanks for your great trip report. Have you recovered enough from your trip to think about a CT Fodord GTG? As I mentioned earlier, I am also in Fairfield Cnty....I have a few ideas for a place/time for a gtg and could handle the details...could just use some feedback from a CT Fodorite...perhaps you could drop me an email at [email protected]?
Thanks
Cruisinred
Thanks for your great trip report. Have you recovered enough from your trip to think about a CT Fodord GTG? As I mentioned earlier, I am also in Fairfield Cnty....I have a few ideas for a place/time for a gtg and could handle the details...could just use some feedback from a CT Fodorite...perhaps you could drop me an email at [email protected]?
Thanks
Cruisinred
Dec 10th, 2005, 09:23 PM
#44
Kishore, Eric amd I are still debating the Amanjiwo over the Manohara and need your input. Please tell me in detail about the Manohara. Although I REALLY want to stay at an Aman resort at least once in my life, is it really worth $700 per night more? Please tell me about the room, public areas and hotel in general. Could we survive a night there? If we stay at the Manohara, we could then spend several nights at the Losari Coffee Plantation ($200++ per night) and a few at the Dunsin in Jogia, which looks very unique and is rather inexpensive. I'm really torn over this.
I'm hoping that a CT GTG happens, would love to see you and others from the Boston GTG again.
Cruisinred, haven't forgotten about getting together in midtown with you for a drink. I've been so busy (and tired) lately but hopefully sometime soon.
I'm hoping that a CT GTG happens, would love to see you and others from the Boston GTG again.
Cruisinred, haven't forgotten about getting together in midtown with you for a drink. I've been so busy (and tired) lately but hopefully sometime soon.
Dec 11th, 2005, 03:51 PM
#46
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Crusinred-I am going to seriously start thinking and planning a CT GTG for Feb maybe--just when our serotonin levels are the lowest. I am thinking Danbury-would be easy right off I-84. what do you think?
Dec 11th, 2005, 04:19 PM
#47
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Lauireco,
Stay at the Manohara!
The grounds are really pretty and not rundown and you really are next to Borobudur.The rooms come in units of two in a bungalow type setting. There are several such bungalows scattered around.
The rooms are plain but not dirty.The A/C really worked well and you will need it. We had 2 double beds which were comfortable, closet and decent bathroom.Think of a Comfort Inn-it is not a Best Western. Service however was excellent.
There were mainly Europeans staying there when we visited.
Amanjiwo.....It is a 10-15 min ride from Borobudur.You go through a guardpost(where the guard jumps up and does a namaste to you)...you drive down a long driveway and you come to this huge stone building with a dome and pillars and a small pond in front with lotuses.You walk in and about 4-6 girls probably 6-10 years old,in colorful costumes,jump up, bow and sing this cute welcome greeting...Salammatiya.... Then the manager shows up, bows .. with a welcome drink.......she thought we were checking in, we told her we were there for lunch. Her smiling face stiffened slightly, she makes this subtle head motion...and the girls stopped singing! I mutterd something about child labor to my wife who told me I was taking this too seriously.
BTW the much talked about view of Borobudur from Amanjiwo...I had to use the zoom on my digital camera to see it clearly-it is 2 miles away and you have these tall microwave towers that you see to the right.......no view in my opinion.
While I can relate to your wanting to have an Aman experience...perhaps Bali, which is more resorty might be a better option.I hear Bhutan will have several Aman hotels.
Lunch as described in an earlier report was delicious and the most expensive lunch of our entire SE Asia trip.Service at lunch though very attentive, was sometimes amateurish...the waiter pouring my Carlsberg, kept spilling it and smiling ! There was an unseen live vocal Javanese singer, with a gamelan accompaniement...lets just say the gamelan solo would have been fine.
IMHO save your $700 or so plus 20% tax plus breakfast and go to the coffee plantation.
I can send you some digital pics as well to give you a visual feel. I have your email .
Stay at the Manohara!
The grounds are really pretty and not rundown and you really are next to Borobudur.The rooms come in units of two in a bungalow type setting. There are several such bungalows scattered around.
The rooms are plain but not dirty.The A/C really worked well and you will need it. We had 2 double beds which were comfortable, closet and decent bathroom.Think of a Comfort Inn-it is not a Best Western. Service however was excellent.
There were mainly Europeans staying there when we visited.
Amanjiwo.....It is a 10-15 min ride from Borobudur.You go through a guardpost(where the guard jumps up and does a namaste to you)...you drive down a long driveway and you come to this huge stone building with a dome and pillars and a small pond in front with lotuses.You walk in and about 4-6 girls probably 6-10 years old,in colorful costumes,jump up, bow and sing this cute welcome greeting...Salammatiya.... Then the manager shows up, bows .. with a welcome drink.......she thought we were checking in, we told her we were there for lunch. Her smiling face stiffened slightly, she makes this subtle head motion...and the girls stopped singing! I mutterd something about child labor to my wife who told me I was taking this too seriously.
BTW the much talked about view of Borobudur from Amanjiwo...I had to use the zoom on my digital camera to see it clearly-it is 2 miles away and you have these tall microwave towers that you see to the right.......no view in my opinion.
While I can relate to your wanting to have an Aman experience...perhaps Bali, which is more resorty might be a better option.I hear Bhutan will have several Aman hotels.
Lunch as described in an earlier report was delicious and the most expensive lunch of our entire SE Asia trip.Service at lunch though very attentive, was sometimes amateurish...the waiter pouring my Carlsberg, kept spilling it and smiling ! There was an unseen live vocal Javanese singer, with a gamelan accompaniement...lets just say the gamelan solo would have been fine.
IMHO save your $700 or so plus 20% tax plus breakfast and go to the coffee plantation.
I can send you some digital pics as well to give you a visual feel. I have your email .
Dec 11th, 2005, 04:56 PM
#48
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Also Laurieco, I did look that the Dusun Jogja Inn......we stayed at the Hyatt and I think this was a GREAT value...we got it for $45 from asiarooms plus it is on the north end of town, away from the bustle..marmot recommended it as well. It has a pool, great spa and my wife loved her 2 hour manicure which cost her next to nothing. I got a Javanese massage...which I still remember.. They greet you at the entrance and walk you to the elevator...imaginre that in NYC!
Dec 11th, 2005, 04:57 PM
#49
Kishore, thanks for that input on the hotels. I would love to see some of the pics so please do send them.
Looking forward to the details of the CT GTG.
Cruisinred, that would be fabulous if we could meet up in BKK. My dates are still up in the air at this point as to when in May it will be, probably near the end though. How about you, do you have your dates yet?
Looking forward to the details of the CT GTG.
Cruisinred, that would be fabulous if we could meet up in BKK. My dates are still up in the air at this point as to when in May it will be, probably near the end though. How about you, do you have your dates yet?
Dec 11th, 2005, 05:17 PM
#53
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Boblax-
Feb sounds great....Danbury would definitely be a good mid-way point for those Fodorites coming from Boston, Hartford and Albany. I am not too familiar with Danbury, but my husband and I did find a great hole-in-the-wall family-type Vietnamese restaurant in Danbury a few months ago...our Fodorites gtg would probably fill the entire place but the food was yummy and the price was right.
Laurieco-
Our current travel plans have us coming and going through BKK several times at the end of May....I know I am trying to pack too much in to a 2 week trip going to BKK, SR, LP and Bali...but long story short it looks like we will be arriving in BKK on May 21&22(Pen) , back in BKK on the 27th, June 1&2 (Oriental-great low season rates).
We will also be taking the Thai non-stop from JFK (not booked yet)so keep me posted if you find any good deals...I am also finding prices of $1420 for JFK-BKK-DPS.
Feb sounds great....Danbury would definitely be a good mid-way point for those Fodorites coming from Boston, Hartford and Albany. I am not too familiar with Danbury, but my husband and I did find a great hole-in-the-wall family-type Vietnamese restaurant in Danbury a few months ago...our Fodorites gtg would probably fill the entire place but the food was yummy and the price was right.
Laurieco-
Our current travel plans have us coming and going through BKK several times at the end of May....I know I am trying to pack too much in to a 2 week trip going to BKK, SR, LP and Bali...but long story short it looks like we will be arriving in BKK on May 21&22(Pen) , back in BKK on the 27th, June 1&2 (Oriental-great low season rates).
We will also be taking the Thai non-stop from JFK (not booked yet)so keep me posted if you find any good deals...I am also finding prices of $1420 for JFK-BKK-DPS.
Dec 12th, 2005, 03:45 AM
#54
Cruisinred, if our current plans hold up, we should be arriving in BKK on the 26th or 27th of May so it looks like we will be able to GTG there! Our tentative dates are to leave JFK on either the 17th or 18th of May (both dates have non-stops at this point), spend the first night in BKK at the Asia Airport hotel and leave for Jakarta the following morning and spend 7 to 8 nights on Java, then head back to BKK for 6 or so nights at the Pen, going back to NY on June 3 (another non-stop) Looks like we may be on the same flight coming home. We can cry together on the plane that our vacations are over :'(
Kishore, when you said that you looked at the Dunsun, I mistakenly assumed that you actually went there and had a look at it. It looks really nice from the web site, with prices for a VIP room for about $75 per night. I want to try and stay away from big chains like the Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott etc. One of the reasons is that Indonesia isn't the safest place terrorism wise with the JL running around so, while I doubt anything will happen while I'm there, smaller, locally run places are less likely to be hit. I normally don't worry about these things but I do try and take some precautions to minimize my chances of running into trouble.
Kishore, when you said that you looked at the Dunsun, I mistakenly assumed that you actually went there and had a look at it. It looks really nice from the web site, with prices for a VIP room for about $75 per night. I want to try and stay away from big chains like the Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott etc. One of the reasons is that Indonesia isn't the safest place terrorism wise with the JL running around so, while I doubt anything will happen while I'm there, smaller, locally run places are less likely to be hit. I normally don't worry about these things but I do try and take some precautions to minimize my chances of running into trouble.
Dec 12th, 2005, 10:04 AM
#56
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Laurieco,
you have a point...the Hyatt has a long driveway and they looked under our taxi at the entrance. In the lobby a guard checked our hand luggage...all the while I admit I was morbidly wondering where a van with bomber could park.......go with Dusun
you have a point...the Hyatt has a long driveway and they looked under our taxi at the entrance. In the lobby a guard checked our hand luggage...all the while I admit I was morbidly wondering where a van with bomber could park.......go with Dusun
Dec 12th, 2005, 10:10 AM
#57
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Cruisinred,
I think you are referring to Thang Long restaurantin Danbury. There is also Bangkok which serves Thai(obviously). Let me look into the logistics and report back. I will put out a formal announcement after Xmas
Guenmai,
thanks for your comments as always
I think you are referring to Thang Long restaurantin Danbury. There is also Bangkok which serves Thai(obviously). Let me look into the logistics and report back. I will put out a formal announcement after Xmas
Guenmai,
thanks for your comments as always
Dec 12th, 2005, 10:20 AM
#58
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Great report, Kishore. I'm just getting caught up on my fodors reading and found this thread. I noted that you enjoyed the EGV Gold Class theater. We do also! We try to see a movie there each time (sometimes we can't manage) and it doesn't seem to matter what the movie is. We always enjoy the seats with pillows, footies, blankets, etc.
Are you planning your NEXT trip to BKK and SEA yet?? Haha.
Carol
Are you planning your NEXT trip to BKK and SEA yet?? Haha.
Carol
Dec 12th, 2005, 06:32 PM
#59
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kishore....thanks for this wonderful complete report...i have loved it...
to you and to cruis....karen and i are very interested in attending a CT GTG at any time....please put us on your lists
[email protected]
to you and to cruis....karen and i are very interested in attending a CT GTG at any time....please put us on your lists
[email protected]
Dec 15th, 2005, 05:40 PM
#60
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Dear Boblax,
I'm trying to contact you by e-mail, but was rejected by your anti-spam system
I need your permission to re-publish your story about Borobudur and Manohara in our website, since we're going to create a new section called "True Story".
For more details, please contact me via our website http://www.yogyes.com/en/about/
I'm trying to contact you by e-mail, but was rejected by your anti-spam system
I need your permission to re-publish your story about Borobudur and Manohara in our website, since we're going to create a new section called "True Story".
For more details, please contact me via our website http://www.yogyes.com/en/about/
