Here in the Phuket airport. I'm in the Bangkok Airways lounge across from Gate 1. Free internet, coffee and snacks.

As noted above, we really liked the Sheraton Krabi Resort. Very pleasant. There were kids around, but they were mostly at the pool and all very well behaved.

Seth and Liz (son and wife, I decided S and S's W was a stilted form of reference) took a cave tour obtained through the tour booking/ laundry place next to the Sheraton. They loved it. Sounds like a slightly scaled down version of the Phang Nga Bay seacanoe tour. Less expensive and not so much time travelling in a boat. Their description included the cave/kayak exploration. They pais 1300 Baht per person. Others on the tour only pais 1100 Baht.

The last full day we were there, it was pouring rain at 9:00 a.m.. Beth was worried that she would be spending an entire day trapped in a hotel room with me. Fortunately, tyhe day cleared and it became quite nice.

Seth and I got massages on the beach for 250 Baht for an hour. One actually needs to reserve these in the restaurant next to the resort that is associated with the massage. It was a decent massage, but not as good as Wat Pho.

All 4 nights, we ate dinner at Le Terrasse, directly across from the Sheraton. The food, as noted above, is superb. Try the Deep fried fish with chili sauce (not too hot), stir fried morning glory and the BBQ prawns. The owner, Suwanna, has two restaurants in Ko Samui.

For breakfast, we found a good place to the right of the Sheraton that opens at 10:00 a.m.. Great pancakes.

Van transfer to Phuket airport arranged through tour place next to Sheraton. It was smooth and the scenery (as recommended by JamesA) was good.

we can only read one section at a time...seems like you have a finger problem both in cambridge and phuket....

Bob-not sure what you're saying, but entire message appears when ZI log in.

Flight to BKK delayed by 1 1/2 hours. Smooth pick-up by Julie's Taxi. Check in at ROS.

Seth discovers that he is actually staying in BKK one more day than he thought. This brainchild has a Ph.D. in computer Science and a prestigious position, but is incapable of reading an airline itinerary. Beth days he will make perfect professor material. Easy additional day with Starwood Points.

Down to Cotton House for fitting of Beth's jacket. Showed Seth and Liz the Oriental. There was a violin quartet in the lobby.

Took a cab over to the Asia Hotel. We had booked the Calypso Ladyboy show. We ate at the Saigon, the vietnamese restaurant in the hotel. It was good.

The Show was much fun. Last year we saw Mambo and this show was better by a tad. Both are good and enjoyable. The setting of CAlypso is better and the musical numbers a bit more creative. Mambo, however, seemed a bit more over the top and had more audience participation. There were many more westerners in the audience at Calypso.

Following Gloria's advice (I think) we went to the flower market after the show. Arrived at about 10:15 p.m.. The market was truly bustling. We have been several times before, but never seen it so alive, This is clearly the best time to go.

you mentioned JS thai silk in River City mall. I purchased two jackets and a silk coverlet for my king size bed to be made and sent to me. It has been over one month and I haven't received anything. Do you have their email address or a way I could get the address. I seem to have misplaced it. thank you, Anne

Annefox-Leaving tomorrow, otherwise I would go to JS Thai for you. I think RhkKmk can provide contact information.

Up early, everyone else was sleeping in. fairly normal.

Out to the amulet market up by the Grand palace. Beth had read about it in the NYT and wanted to visit. It's a bit hard to find. You get off the river ferry and take a left before you get to the Grand palace. It's about 3 blocks up on the left, but sort of hidden. When you go inside, there are tons of small shops selling every imagineable Buddhist amulat and tons of Hindu icons as well. Wandered for a while. Beth bought a few interesting ones. I saw several potential purchasers examining the wares with a jewelers loupe. I don't know what they were looking for.

Taxi to the Conrad Hotel for Dim Sum. The driver took the polar route, but it was clear of traffic and went quickly.

Lunch was superb. The food was tasty and delightful to look at. The on;y problem was that Beth again uttered the Phrase "Bob was right". This killed my appetite.

We're taking Air Canada tomorrow, but the first leg is on Thai Air. Being complulsive, I just checked and Thai Air DOES have a flight leaving for Hong Kong at the time our Air Canada flight is listed. Somehow, they appear to have gotten things right. We'll see.

Get this one. When on the internet in the Towers at the ROS, I noticed a Swedish woman that had been here last week. I remarked that I was surprised she was still here. She said" Oh, we spend all winter here."

This got my interest and I inquired further. It turns out her retired husband had some heart issues when here once. He received such good care at the Bunregaard (SP?) Hospital that they decided to sell their home in Spain and winter here. Apparently, they've cut some deal with the ROS for an extended stay in the Towers. I'm so jealous I could scream.

Oh, Bob, on our way to the Conrad we drove by a place of business called the "New Cambridge Mall". I did not see a "New Needham Mall".

Here is the email for Miss Yai at J S Silk. It goes to her sister so give her a few days.
[email protected]

the new needham mall is not new, i.e. nouveau.....old as in old money and conservatiive...not raging liberal with sensible shoes;..l

i have the address for js thai silk at home and another e address it will post in about 5 days....i would expect a package to take over a month to come unless air shipped at a huge expense....

We went to Cotton House for pick up of jacket that Beth had made. It was spectacular. Da said that another woman recommendation from Gloria had been in that morning. Does she get a cut?

Dinner at Harmonique. It had been closed for a month and tonight was the first night it was open. The food was delicious. The beef salad and the Pomelo salad were both very tasty. The beef was unlike any I had previously eaten. For main, we had whole fish in chili sauce, Beth's current favorite, stir fried morning glory and chiken with cashews (in honor of Karen). All were scrumptious. Dessert was mango with sticky rice.

Walk back to ROS, pack and view pictures on son's computer. Will post them later.

Now in the HK airport with a 4 1/2 hour layover.

Go Patriots.

Hmmm... spening all winter in the Towers at the ROS... I think I could stand that. I wonder what kind of deal they get. I remember in the more distant past, running into people who were working for big corporations staying in the Towers for months at a time. Rough life... but someone has to do it!

Kathie-I did not ask what their deal was at the ROS. I was talking to the woman and she said that the man had cut the deal. It did get me dreaming.

Home-it's snowing, the Patriots won and life intercedes.

The return trip on Air Canada was smooth. The long flight from HK to Toronto was on an airbus 345. This is a much better plane than the old 747's used by United and Northwest for the long Chicago/Detroit to Narita leg. The plane did not seem like a cattle car eveb though it was completely full.

In Toronto, there was a peculiar transfer. We arrived at an infield terminal and took a 15 minute shuttle ride to Terminal 2. We had to get our baggage at terminal 2, clear Canadian customs and then clear US customs in Canada. The AC flight landed at a domestic terminal in Boston with no customs. The problem was that our luggage doid not arrive in teminal 2 until 1 1/2 hours after we did. We barely made it through customs in time.

Son is posting pictures on a website later this week. I will provide site address later.

Greetings from a very lovely San Juan today. We fly back to Chicago this afternoon (United) in first class on an Airbus. Andy, I really do NOT like the seats on the airbuses. They are just NOT comfortable for me. I know that you are also tall, like I am, and I just wonder how you manage those seats. Give me a seat on UAL 747 over the airbus anyday!!

I'm not in business on my Jan 17 flight ORD to BKK, but I have one of the exit row seats with no one in front of me in econ plus. Not real excited about it, but will manage. The planes to BKK are so full, there is not much room anymore.

Looking forward to your photos, so pls let us know where they are posted.

Carol

carol...do they know "who you are..."...you always get an upgrade---period!!!

Carol-it's not my height that makes the airbus more comfortable, but my width. The 747 seats are more narrow and cut into my posterior in an uncomfortable fashion. Like Bob, they are a pain in the butt.

Bob, my Gold Star Alliance card tells them a lot about me, yes. But if the plane is full of paying customers, then the upgrade is just a dream!

Andy, the lumbar support on the airbus must be what is a bother for me. In any case, I prefer the 747.

Flight today from SJU to ORD was on an airbus but we had seats in first class, so it was OK.

Carol

Bob has indicated that I did not fully
explain the Air Canada weight problem/solution. Hopefully, this will cover it.

When checking in at Boston, we were told by the ticjket agent that our suitcases weighing more than 50 pounds would result in an excess weight charge. We had 2 large suitcases and one small one. Fortunately, we also had an empty duffel bag to bring back loot. I got the duffel bag and took enough out of the 2 large suitcases to get them each under 50 pounds. We checked 4 bags, each under 50 pounds. The problem was the individual suitcases and not the total weight.

that you now even i understand....happy B beth!!!!

Gpanda, now I'm getting a chance to play catch up - what a great report. A lovely way to spend Christmas and New Year. I wish now that I had made the effort to seek out William McDermott's gallery. I had bought some photo cards of his which I posted by sea mail from Thailand in a parcel of stuff that I wanted to off-load. They will hopefully arrive in the next few months. We also enjoyed the local market in Siem Reap but apart from Artisans D'Angkor and a few other shops we didn't explore the town much. I'm off to hunt out your posting about your photos to check them out.

Now, to the subject of language. I suspect that suspenders may just have a slightly different usage/connotation over with you.

Braces, for the Brits.

Kippy-I've noted your keen attention to words. From whence does this stem?

Gpanda,

Thanks for the translation.

I could speculate but my pedantic nature could be due to the company I keep, coupled, some would say, with being Virgoan. I think, truthfully, it stems from what was the good old-fashioned Scottish education system. Not sure where I get my sense of humour from though!