January 10, 2015: Bangkok at Last
Today was a day of a lot of frustration. AlteCocker had no difficulty getting to the airport in Yangon picked her up promptly at 9:45am as planned. However, there was a lot of waiting around at the airport as the flight to Bangkok departed two hours late. Air Asia was less than forthcoming about what was going on. The plane from Bangkok--which would take us back to Bangkok after dropping off passengers in Yangon--hadn't even left Bangkok when it was supposed to be leaving Yangon. Instead of being honest, the representatives of the airline simply lied. They would advance the departure a half hour at a time. If people asked they denied lying, but one person admitted the situation. Apparently Asians do not view lies to shut passengers up as real lies. AlteCocker has no clue why they did this, but it did leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth. There were some passengers who were really upset as they missed connections and/or were in danger of missing connections. The lies only made things worse and it was a very stupid strategy. To add to the fun, the Yangon Airport had the a/c turned up full blast and it was freezing in the airport. It was a largely wasted day that AlteCocker could do nothing about.
On the positive side, AlteCocker did not have to pay Air Asia anymore for her luggage. She thought she would have to pay extra with the bag with the Garuda marionnette. The way it works is that AlteCocker had paid for up to a certain weight of luggage. It didn't matter whether it was one bag or 3, so she was able to check all her bags without any further surcharge. Nice to take a flight without hand luggage, but not nice to schlep them all through customs and then face this enormous line for taxis at Don Mueng Airport in Bangkok. Of course, AlteCocker inevitably got in the tai chi line. Finally getting into a metered cab, she found out that she had to pay extra every time there was a toll on the expressway. The entire trip to the hotel with tip and tolls was about 420 baht. With a metered cab, you are assured not to get cheated--as you can be with gypsy cabs making up rates to rip off tourists. Beware!
AlteCocker is staying at the Centre Point Silom Hotel for 4 nights. Her room is the nicest she has had on the trip with a washer/dryer (albeit of the slow European type, but convenient to just be able to do her own laundry--which is running now while she types up the blog). She forgot to put a couple of things in but she likes the idea of being able to do it again if she needs to. Hopefully she won't. She also has one of those Japanese toilets with a heated seat and a lot of buttons. Damned if she knows what all the buttons are for.
For dinner she hit the adjacent Robinson Shopping Mall. She had an omelet with mussels in it and Swenson's Ice Cream (yes, the American Swenson's). Then she went to the room and had the usual struggle with the internet. These were finally resolved by a hotel technician. AlteCocker is skeptical that this is a permanent fix as opposed to a momentary one. SE Asian internet is simply not what we are used to in the US.
AlteCocker updated herself on the sad news about the terrorist attacks in France while her laundry spun in the washing machine. She wonders how many eons the drying will take. It may still be running tomorrow morning at the rate it is going. She, in fact, realize that the "dryer" just spun the water out of the clothes. It didn't really dry them. Eventually all the clothes were simply hung up in the closet and dried there. It was the last laundry in Thailand. The rest of it made great stuffing for the large marionnette in the second suitcase.
She has collected a bunch of brochures as she plans her 3 days in Bangkok. Bangkok appears to be a mix of skyscrapers, wats and older buildings interspersed with shopping malls--a lot of shopping malls. AlteCocker is staying away from the shopping. The last thing she needs to have to buy a third suitcase.
On the positive side, AlteCocker did not have to pay Air Asia anymore for her luggage. She thought she would have to pay extra with the bag with the Garuda marionnette. The way it works is that AlteCocker had paid for up to a certain weight of luggage. It didn't matter whether it was one bag or 3, so she was able to check all her bags without any further surcharge. Nice to take a flight without hand luggage, but not nice to schlep them all through customs and then face this enormous line for taxis at Don Mueng Airport in Bangkok. Of course, AlteCocker inevitably got in the tai chi line. Finally getting into a metered cab, she found out that she had to pay extra every time there was a toll on the expressway. The entire trip to the hotel with tip and tolls was about 420 baht. With a metered cab, you are assured not to get cheated--as you can be with gypsy cabs making up rates to rip off tourists. Beware!
AlteCocker is staying at the Centre Point Silom Hotel for 4 nights. Her room is the nicest she has had on the trip with a washer/dryer (albeit of the slow European type, but convenient to just be able to do her own laundry--which is running now while she types up the blog). She forgot to put a couple of things in but she likes the idea of being able to do it again if she needs to. Hopefully she won't. She also has one of those Japanese toilets with a heated seat and a lot of buttons. Damned if she knows what all the buttons are for.
For dinner she hit the adjacent Robinson Shopping Mall. She had an omelet with mussels in it and Swenson's Ice Cream (yes, the American Swenson's). Then she went to the room and had the usual struggle with the internet. These were finally resolved by a hotel technician. AlteCocker is skeptical that this is a permanent fix as opposed to a momentary one. SE Asian internet is simply not what we are used to in the US.
AlteCocker updated herself on the sad news about the terrorist attacks in France while her laundry spun in the washing machine. She wonders how many eons the drying will take. It may still be running tomorrow morning at the rate it is going. She, in fact, realize that the "dryer" just spun the water out of the clothes. It didn't really dry them. Eventually all the clothes were simply hung up in the closet and dried there. It was the last laundry in Thailand. The rest of it made great stuffing for the large marionnette in the second suitcase.
She has collected a bunch of brochures as she plans her 3 days in Bangkok. Bangkok appears to be a mix of skyscrapers, wats and older buildings interspersed with shopping malls--a lot of shopping malls. AlteCocker is staying away from the shopping. The last thing she needs to have to buy a third suitcase.
January 11, 2015: THe Royal Palace, Dinner Cruise
Today was the day to check off the Grand Palace. There are some places that just say the city you are in and the Grand Palace is one of them. The Grand Palace is nothing like what you see in a European palace. In Europe, if you are visiting a palace, you go inside. The "palace" on the Grand Palace grounds is a building that is used only for royal ceremonies. The royal family lives elsewhere. What you see are the grounds, a model of Angkor Wat, and exteriors. The only building you actually enter is the temple containing the "emerald" Buddha (actually not emerald but jade). For the rest, you have to be content with the outside. Nevertheless, the outside of the buildings is so ornate that there is a lot to see. There are murals with Hindu stories. Before Thailand was Buddhist, of course, it was Hindu. Buddism here has absorbed a lot of Hinduism as well as some elements of traditional Chinese religion with ancestor/spirit worship. You can even see Buddhas with several arms that resemble Vishnu. Rather than parsing it all, you just need to absorb the the artistry of it all. At the Palace what impressed AlteCocker the most were the oversize demons. She took lots of photos of those--when she could get a moment where tourists were not photographing themselves next to the demons. Gawd, they have to take photos of themselves next to everyone and everything. It is a challenge to snap the photo before getting photobombed again. AlteCocker finally had enough when she was trying to photograph a Thai guard in dress uniform and a series of Chinese tourists, one after the other, kept bumping her down the queue taking pictures of themselves standing next to the guard one after another. When she finally firmly yelled at them to stop because they did not recognize her existence and that she was entitled to a turn, she finally got the photo--of the soldier by himself. It was an impressive dress uniform.
In addition to the temple housing the Emerald Buddha (which is really jade)--which is on the palace grounds--you see the exterior of the palace, a pavillion where the king would climb on a royal elephant and another where the king would climb on a platform that was then hauled around by men so he could be seen by his subjects. Now the king uses a car--albeit an upscale one. It is strange that, with the palace not used, no one is allowed to see what is in it. However, the royal ashes from many sovereigns are actually interred in the palace, so perhaps that is why. Would you, pray tell, like to live with the ashes of your ancestors in the same building? It's a different culture.
AlteCocker got to the Palace via the Chao Praya River boats. If the sea is choppy, well, AlteCocker did not fall into the Chao Praya, but it is possible. You wait until the boat is against the pier if it is moving back and forth. Do not try to be a big hero or you could get wet.
AlteCocker grabbed some fried fish balls on the way into the palace with orange juice. On the way out, it was ice cream and some small Thai donuts. Not exactly a health lunch (or a good idea when you are going on a dinner cruise), but, hey, AlteCocker does not have many days of vacation left.
Insofar as the Giant Buddha and Reclining Buddha or whatever other Buddhas Bangkok has to offer, well, AlteCocker was going to see them today but instead opted for down time in her hotel room. AlteCocker is giving those guys a pass. She is Buddhaed out. Mr. Reclining is very near the Palace and she just did not have enough energy for it. She apologizes to the Buddhas, but she has seen more than a few of their brothers on this trip. No thanks, guys. You will have to wait for another time as you aren't included in AlteCocker's plans for the next two days either.
After some down time at the hotel, AlteCocker finished the day with the White Orchid Dinner Cruise. There are lots of probably mostly identical cruises plying the Chao Praya River in the evening. It was an enjoyable evening despite the inevitable mediocre food on the buffet. AlteCocker took a lot of photos and videos of the Royal Palace and some of the wats with the Buddhas AlteCocker is not going to see. You can't see the Buddhas from the river--just the wats--so her "No More Buddhas" resolve remained. Bangkok cooperates by lighting up the wats and Royal Palace at night. The dinner boats are also lit up creating a nice atmosphere. The entertainment was mainly one singer on the deck AlteCocker was on--who was excellent. She tried to involve everyone. No one wanted to dance. The Israeli couple seated next to AlteCocker finally inveigled her to dance! AlteCocker is a wretched dancer. Then there was this young couple at an adjacent table who just wouldn't dance. When they were finally dragged on the dance floor, they were two pros! They take your photo when you go on the boat. AlteCocker purchased hers because it turned out well. It was 300 baht (about $9.50). As with all these events any drinks you buy are extra. Since AlteCocker was not driving, she had a maitai. The cruise was booked through the hotel.
In addition to the temple housing the Emerald Buddha (which is really jade)--which is on the palace grounds--you see the exterior of the palace, a pavillion where the king would climb on a royal elephant and another where the king would climb on a platform that was then hauled around by men so he could be seen by his subjects. Now the king uses a car--albeit an upscale one. It is strange that, with the palace not used, no one is allowed to see what is in it. However, the royal ashes from many sovereigns are actually interred in the palace, so perhaps that is why. Would you, pray tell, like to live with the ashes of your ancestors in the same building? It's a different culture.
AlteCocker got to the Palace via the Chao Praya River boats. If the sea is choppy, well, AlteCocker did not fall into the Chao Praya, but it is possible. You wait until the boat is against the pier if it is moving back and forth. Do not try to be a big hero or you could get wet.
AlteCocker grabbed some fried fish balls on the way into the palace with orange juice. On the way out, it was ice cream and some small Thai donuts. Not exactly a health lunch (or a good idea when you are going on a dinner cruise), but, hey, AlteCocker does not have many days of vacation left.
Insofar as the Giant Buddha and Reclining Buddha or whatever other Buddhas Bangkok has to offer, well, AlteCocker was going to see them today but instead opted for down time in her hotel room. AlteCocker is giving those guys a pass. She is Buddhaed out. Mr. Reclining is very near the Palace and she just did not have enough energy for it. She apologizes to the Buddhas, but she has seen more than a few of their brothers on this trip. No thanks, guys. You will have to wait for another time as you aren't included in AlteCocker's plans for the next two days either.
After some down time at the hotel, AlteCocker finished the day with the White Orchid Dinner Cruise. There are lots of probably mostly identical cruises plying the Chao Praya River in the evening. It was an enjoyable evening despite the inevitable mediocre food on the buffet. AlteCocker took a lot of photos and videos of the Royal Palace and some of the wats with the Buddhas AlteCocker is not going to see. You can't see the Buddhas from the river--just the wats--so her "No More Buddhas" resolve remained. Bangkok cooperates by lighting up the wats and Royal Palace at night. The dinner boats are also lit up creating a nice atmosphere. The entertainment was mainly one singer on the deck AlteCocker was on--who was excellent. She tried to involve everyone. No one wanted to dance. The Israeli couple seated next to AlteCocker finally inveigled her to dance! AlteCocker is a wretched dancer. Then there was this young couple at an adjacent table who just wouldn't dance. When they were finally dragged on the dance floor, they were two pros! They take your photo when you go on the boat. AlteCocker purchased hers because it turned out well. It was 300 baht (about $9.50). As with all these events any drinks you buy are extra. Since AlteCocker was not driving, she had a maitai. The cruise was booked through the hotel.
January 12, 2015: Bridge on the River Kwai Day trip
The hotel, which in all other ways is satisfactory, booked me on this day tour with Mam Tours. Mam Tours appears to have no website. The link is to the reviews on Trip Advisor. Except for one review that appears to be a plant, the reviews are uniformly negative. This was the worst day of my trip to SE Asia. Whatever you do, do not use this company. It stinks. There wa, for starters, no tour guide.
They pick you up very early in the morning. In AlteCocker's case, her pick up at the hotel was before 7:00am. There are various people on the van from various hotels, but they are all not going to the same place. You are schlepped all over Bangkok and then finally taken to a central dispensing point that is on the street. AlteCocker never saw an office for this company. At the dispensing point, we were given stickers which is how the guides know what tour we are taking. We, in effect, were treated no better than stickers. We are then loaded in different vans. After getting up at the crack of dawn, we did not even leave Bangkok until 8:30am. No English speaker from the company accompanied my van to Kanchanaburi where the Museum of Jeath (yes that is how it is spelled and the link explains the name) and the Bridge on the River Kwai are located. In the van one really obnoxious guy got into a shouting match with the driver about how fast he was driving. Neither person understood each other's experience which really enhanced the drive. In AlteCocker's opinion, there was nothing wrong with the driver's conduct--except for the shouting. Once it got going it sort of never ended. It just added to the mess that is Mam Tours.
When we got to Kanchanburi we were given maybe a 3 minute talk about what to see by a company representative. The representative did not have a guide license (licensed guides in Thailand wear their licenses around their necks) which mostly consisted of us being told when to return to board the van. Those wanting to visit the Museum of Jeath had to pay for it. The museum tells the story about how the Japanese worked prisoners from the allies to death during World War II. AlteCocker visited both the museum and the bridge--walking halfway across and taking a lot of photos. Coming back from the bridge, AlteCocker had a roasted ear of corn (cooked on the street!) and bought a rod puppet of Hanuman the Hindu monkey god (so much for not shopping, but, hey, he packs flat and was only $6)--plus a t-shirt to impress and make her friends jealous.
After Kanchanburi, those going on the train continued to Thakilen Station (those not going on the train, but visiting other places, were sorted into other vans, of course). While we waited for the train, we were told to sit on the left side for the best photos. However, upon boarding the train, many smarter tour groups had boarded the train earlier and were already on the left hand side. Being a single, AlteCocker was able to take a left side seat and get a few photos. However, AlteCocker missed the Bridge of Death entirely as our escort omitted to tell us when we were passing it. Apparently, you did not see all that much and had to look straight down, but AlteCocker did want to see it. She did ask our escort where it was and the escort said we had already passed it--very helpful. She then added she was surprised AlteCocker had not seen it since she was sitting on the left. Thanks a lot escort!
Then it was off to a lousy lunch at a place called Pha Jab Tour where those staying overnight in the area were going to stay in places that resembled the bungalows in the Andaman Sea with their apparent "amenities". AlteCocker was very glad to miss that experience--especially after the lunch. At lunch no drinks--not even bottled water--was provided. It just added to the entire lovely experience with Mam Tours. By the way, when you approach the lunch place, you have to walk down a long steep shakey ramp. When you are done, you have to, of course, walk up the long steep ramp. AlteCocker had to walk up and down twice as she almost left her Hanuman rod puppet at lunch.
Then we got sorted again and put in different vans (some were going to the tiger temple or riding elephants, etc.). AlteCocker was very glad to be just returning to Bangkok. But first we had a stop so that the escort could visit an ATM. A final stop was done at an indifferent waterfall. AlteCocker took a pass at visiting it as it was nothing to write home about. So, why the stop? Another sorting, of course We then got final instructions from a different escort so that she could get into the correct van and presumably go to where our stickers had said we had booked. We were told that we would stop at the Allied War Cemetery in Kanchanburi on the way home and would have only 10 minutes. The cemetery was very interesting and resembled the Australian Cemeteries AlteCocker saw in Gallipoli. We did not visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum that is adjacent to the cemetery and looked interesting. Interestingly, 3 Korean girls did not get off the bus at the cemetery. They said that their van had stopped at the cemetery on the way to the museum and train. What responsible tour company would take people to the same site twice? Such is life with Mam Tours.
The ride in the van to Bangkok was without anyone from Mam Tours who spoke English. We stopped again on the street in Bangkok for sorting into vans that would take us "home". AlteCocker was placed in a car with a guy going to the Bangkok train station for the night train to Chiang Mai. He got dropped off first--after which the driver and AlteCocker tried to teach each other a few words of each other's languages. He was a nice guy and got a tip. No one else got a tip because no one else deserved it--and AlteCocker normally is generous with tips. Additionally, she had too many drivers and escorts to have known whom she should tip. On the other hand, Mam Tours should have tipped the tourists for enduring the chaos.
Upon entry to the hotel, AlteCocker's first action was to cancel her tour with Mam Tours to the floating market on January 13th. She may not see the floating market (which is outside Bangkok), but one thing is certain, she will not have the Mam Tour experience ever again. She then went behind the Robinson Shopping Center and had banana roti from a couple who make them on the street (tipped off by someone on fodors.com). Delicious! She topped off her "dinner" with an ice cream cone at Swenson's in the Robinson Center (yes, the American chain). Then it was time for the blog. Mam Tours will be reamed on trip advisor once AlteCocker gets home. They deserve it. Ugh!
They pick you up very early in the morning. In AlteCocker's case, her pick up at the hotel was before 7:00am. There are various people on the van from various hotels, but they are all not going to the same place. You are schlepped all over Bangkok and then finally taken to a central dispensing point that is on the street. AlteCocker never saw an office for this company. At the dispensing point, we were given stickers which is how the guides know what tour we are taking. We, in effect, were treated no better than stickers. We are then loaded in different vans. After getting up at the crack of dawn, we did not even leave Bangkok until 8:30am. No English speaker from the company accompanied my van to Kanchanaburi where the Museum of Jeath (yes that is how it is spelled and the link explains the name) and the Bridge on the River Kwai are located. In the van one really obnoxious guy got into a shouting match with the driver about how fast he was driving. Neither person understood each other's experience which really enhanced the drive. In AlteCocker's opinion, there was nothing wrong with the driver's conduct--except for the shouting. Once it got going it sort of never ended. It just added to the mess that is Mam Tours.
When we got to Kanchanburi we were given maybe a 3 minute talk about what to see by a company representative. The representative did not have a guide license (licensed guides in Thailand wear their licenses around their necks) which mostly consisted of us being told when to return to board the van. Those wanting to visit the Museum of Jeath had to pay for it. The museum tells the story about how the Japanese worked prisoners from the allies to death during World War II. AlteCocker visited both the museum and the bridge--walking halfway across and taking a lot of photos. Coming back from the bridge, AlteCocker had a roasted ear of corn (cooked on the street!) and bought a rod puppet of Hanuman the Hindu monkey god (so much for not shopping, but, hey, he packs flat and was only $6)--plus a t-shirt to impress and make her friends jealous.
After Kanchanburi, those going on the train continued to Thakilen Station (those not going on the train, but visiting other places, were sorted into other vans, of course). While we waited for the train, we were told to sit on the left side for the best photos. However, upon boarding the train, many smarter tour groups had boarded the train earlier and were already on the left hand side. Being a single, AlteCocker was able to take a left side seat and get a few photos. However, AlteCocker missed the Bridge of Death entirely as our escort omitted to tell us when we were passing it. Apparently, you did not see all that much and had to look straight down, but AlteCocker did want to see it. She did ask our escort where it was and the escort said we had already passed it--very helpful. She then added she was surprised AlteCocker had not seen it since she was sitting on the left. Thanks a lot escort!
Then it was off to a lousy lunch at a place called Pha Jab Tour where those staying overnight in the area were going to stay in places that resembled the bungalows in the Andaman Sea with their apparent "amenities". AlteCocker was very glad to miss that experience--especially after the lunch. At lunch no drinks--not even bottled water--was provided. It just added to the entire lovely experience with Mam Tours. By the way, when you approach the lunch place, you have to walk down a long steep shakey ramp. When you are done, you have to, of course, walk up the long steep ramp. AlteCocker had to walk up and down twice as she almost left her Hanuman rod puppet at lunch.
Then we got sorted again and put in different vans (some were going to the tiger temple or riding elephants, etc.). AlteCocker was very glad to be just returning to Bangkok. But first we had a stop so that the escort could visit an ATM. A final stop was done at an indifferent waterfall. AlteCocker took a pass at visiting it as it was nothing to write home about. So, why the stop? Another sorting, of course We then got final instructions from a different escort so that she could get into the correct van and presumably go to where our stickers had said we had booked. We were told that we would stop at the Allied War Cemetery in Kanchanburi on the way home and would have only 10 minutes. The cemetery was very interesting and resembled the Australian Cemeteries AlteCocker saw in Gallipoli. We did not visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum that is adjacent to the cemetery and looked interesting. Interestingly, 3 Korean girls did not get off the bus at the cemetery. They said that their van had stopped at the cemetery on the way to the museum and train. What responsible tour company would take people to the same site twice? Such is life with Mam Tours.
The ride in the van to Bangkok was without anyone from Mam Tours who spoke English. We stopped again on the street in Bangkok for sorting into vans that would take us "home". AlteCocker was placed in a car with a guy going to the Bangkok train station for the night train to Chiang Mai. He got dropped off first--after which the driver and AlteCocker tried to teach each other a few words of each other's languages. He was a nice guy and got a tip. No one else got a tip because no one else deserved it--and AlteCocker normally is generous with tips. Additionally, she had too many drivers and escorts to have known whom she should tip. On the other hand, Mam Tours should have tipped the tourists for enduring the chaos.
Upon entry to the hotel, AlteCocker's first action was to cancel her tour with Mam Tours to the floating market on January 13th. She may not see the floating market (which is outside Bangkok), but one thing is certain, she will not have the Mam Tour experience ever again. She then went behind the Robinson Shopping Center and had banana roti from a couple who make them on the street (tipped off by someone on fodors.com). Delicious! She topped off her "dinner" with an ice cream cone at Swenson's in the Robinson Center (yes, the American chain). Then it was time for the blog. Mam Tours will be reamed on trip advisor once AlteCocker gets home. They deserve it. Ugh!
January 13, 2015: Finis Thailand; No More Buddhas!
Can the trip really be over? Yes, it can. So what to do for the last day? AlteCocker took a taxi to the Flower Market. Taking a taxi, while more expensive than the Chao Praya boats, gave her a different view of Bangkok. The taxi traveled a bit through Chinatown. Once again she and the taxi driver tried to teach each other some words in their own languages. The covered over area of the market was heavily food--the name "Flower Market" being just a name. The flowers--almost all of them destined as offerings for temples--are mostly on the street--at least from what AlteCocker saw. Some of the arrangements are quite intricate. AlteCocker took a lot of photos. She eventually went to the rear of the market and saw individuals loading and unloading items--and sometimes schlepping large loads in baskets. When they are not working, the workers, who often work very hard, can be seen sleeping in hammocks or wherever they are. She photographed one guy sleeping on a dolly.
AlteCocker eventually made her way to a dock where boats that go up and down the Chao Praya stop. She took the boat past the Grand Palace to the last stop and then had to wait a long time for a boat to go the other way back to her hotel. The first boat that came was full and left a lot of passengers at the dock. Grr! Be forwarned if you go one way, going the other way is sometimes not so easy, but eventually AlteCocker got a boat or she would not be doing this blog, would she?
When AlteCocker got back to the hotel, she had the concierge make her a reservation at Harmonique, a restaurant recommended by some posters on fodors.com. She will be going there tonight with a woman from Sacramento that she has "met" through this blog. The woman, who was also tooling around SE Asia with her husband, treated her in return for all the help she got from the blog. AlteCocker really enjoyed the woman's company and the restaurant was good. When the bill came, however, the woman pulled out some Cambodian money to pay. AlteCocker informed her that she had Cambodian currency, not Thai. Sometimes you get confused on a multi country trip (throwback to Continental Europe before the euro!). 1000 Cambodian is worth 25 cemts. 1000 Thai is wortth about $33.
Then it was back to the hotel to finish the damn packing. Every trip ends like that, doesn't it?
AlteCocker eventually made her way to a dock where boats that go up and down the Chao Praya stop. She took the boat past the Grand Palace to the last stop and then had to wait a long time for a boat to go the other way back to her hotel. The first boat that came was full and left a lot of passengers at the dock. Grr! Be forwarned if you go one way, going the other way is sometimes not so easy, but eventually AlteCocker got a boat or she would not be doing this blog, would she?
When AlteCocker got back to the hotel, she had the concierge make her a reservation at Harmonique, a restaurant recommended by some posters on fodors.com. She will be going there tonight with a woman from Sacramento that she has "met" through this blog. The woman, who was also tooling around SE Asia with her husband, treated her in return for all the help she got from the blog. AlteCocker really enjoyed the woman's company and the restaurant was good. When the bill came, however, the woman pulled out some Cambodian money to pay. AlteCocker informed her that she had Cambodian currency, not Thai. Sometimes you get confused on a multi country trip (throwback to Continental Europe before the euro!). 1000 Cambodian is worth 25 cemts. 1000 Thai is wortth about $33.
Then it was back to the hotel to finish the damn packing. Every trip ends like that, doesn't it?
January 14, 2015: Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig
This, of course, was not a pleasant day and began about 2:30am. At 3:00am, the luggage loaded, AlteCocker took a taxi to Suvarnabhumi Airport--Bangkok's main long distance airport. For her shorter hops around SE Asia, she had been using Don Muang. Her flight was on ANA leaving at the ungodly hour of 7:05am.
First there was check in where she discovered that neither United nor ANA had a check in presence at the airport. Everything was done by Thai Airways, another Star Alliance partner. Paying for the flights with a United Airlines card assured AlteCocker of being allowed two bags. However, when United delegates check in to Thai Airways, you get socked $100 for the extra bag. AlteCocker will have a conversation United about this now that she is back home. Do they take the money at the counter? No. You have to go halfway down the airport to the Thai Airways office and wait in line with others being socked with the second bag fee, get a receipt and return to the counter before they will give you your boarding pass. Stating that she had paid with a United credit card which entitled her to two bags did absolutely no good. Thai Airways was just socking people in economy with the extra bag fee. Mind you, it was not a question of overweight baggage. While the marionnette was large, it was not heavy. AlteCocker was not a happy camper.
And then there was the ANA plane. Have you ever been on an international flight where the seat backs did not recline? Try ANA's Dreamliner. Instead the seat cushion at the bottom of your seat is supposed to move forward 3 inches. AlteCocker could never find out how to the work hers and it was very difficult to sleep on the flight. In fact, it was excruciating. Everyone complained about these seats. The flight attendants would show you that, yes, you could move your seat cushion forward about 3 inches--this was on a flight of almost 6 hours. AlteCocker was very unhappy about her seat, but perhaps this is the wave of the future as economy passengers are treated like cattle while those in first and business (very few) get treated like kings.
Fortunately, the flight from Tokyo to Washington, DC (no stop this time) had reclining seats. AlteCocker got some sleep but not enough. It was also on United with free food (unlike the United we know and love in the United States where there is no free anything).
The flight was on time and, from the air AlteCocker could see snow on the ground. It was back to winter and her own bed.
First there was check in where she discovered that neither United nor ANA had a check in presence at the airport. Everything was done by Thai Airways, another Star Alliance partner. Paying for the flights with a United Airlines card assured AlteCocker of being allowed two bags. However, when United delegates check in to Thai Airways, you get socked $100 for the extra bag. AlteCocker will have a conversation United about this now that she is back home. Do they take the money at the counter? No. You have to go halfway down the airport to the Thai Airways office and wait in line with others being socked with the second bag fee, get a receipt and return to the counter before they will give you your boarding pass. Stating that she had paid with a United credit card which entitled her to two bags did absolutely no good. Thai Airways was just socking people in economy with the extra bag fee. Mind you, it was not a question of overweight baggage. While the marionnette was large, it was not heavy. AlteCocker was not a happy camper.
And then there was the ANA plane. Have you ever been on an international flight where the seat backs did not recline? Try ANA's Dreamliner. Instead the seat cushion at the bottom of your seat is supposed to move forward 3 inches. AlteCocker could never find out how to the work hers and it was very difficult to sleep on the flight. In fact, it was excruciating. Everyone complained about these seats. The flight attendants would show you that, yes, you could move your seat cushion forward about 3 inches--this was on a flight of almost 6 hours. AlteCocker was very unhappy about her seat, but perhaps this is the wave of the future as economy passengers are treated like cattle while those in first and business (very few) get treated like kings.
Fortunately, the flight from Tokyo to Washington, DC (no stop this time) had reclining seats. AlteCocker got some sleep but not enough. It was also on United with free food (unlike the United we know and love in the United States where there is no free anything).
The flight was on time and, from the air AlteCocker could see snow on the ground. It was back to winter and her own bed.