I arrived in San Diego late last nite. It was about 24 hours from hotel in Pattaya to my house in San Diego with a change of 15 hours of time zones. Needless to say, my brain will need a couple of days to sort this out.
Despite the fact it was a great trip, it is still nice to be home.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Pattaya
Above is a view of the lush courtyard and pool at the Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa from my room. It is a lovely oasis in the sleaze and honky-tonk of this city.
The last 4 days of my trip are here at this extraordinary seaside resort 2 hours southeast of Bangkok. Everything and everybody is for sale here. There are extraordinarily badly dressed Russians filling the streets, bars, brothels and hotels. They have no idea how to choose tasteful outfits for the beach. Plaid shorts with wing-tip shoes and black silk socks with sleeveless shirts with appalling slogans on them. They are loud and usually drunk. The Germans are not much more elegant. The British and Aussies are not representative of the upper or middle classes.
It is literally a human zoo. Extremely entertaining people watching!
2 more days and I fly back home on Saturday.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Brunch with Cousins in Bangkok
Today I met Cousin Jean again for brunch. We were joined by Jenny, my cousin Jeff's daughter, and her boyfriend/fiance Ter. They were in Bangkok from Koh Samui to meet with the immigration staff at the US Embassy tomorrow. They want to get a visa so Ter can come the United States.
Ter is a small, slight Thai guy who is soft spoken with decent English. He seems to be a very sweet person. He is artist who has attended the Art School in Bangkok. They seem very happy together.
A couple of photos:
I go to Pattaya tomorrow.
Ter is a small, slight Thai guy who is soft spoken with decent English. He seems to be a very sweet person. He is artist who has attended the Art School in Bangkok. They seem very happy together.
A couple of photos:
I go to Pattaya tomorrow.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Another Bangkok Interlude
Today (Friday) I left Phuket and will spend Saturday and Sunday in Bangkok. Monday I will be driven down to Pattaya, a beach town 2 hours south of Bangkok. I'll be there until next Saturday when I will return home to San Diego.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Day Trip to Koh Phi Phi
On Tuesday, I actually left the Resort to take a day trip on a speed boat t0 Koh Phi Phi Island."Koh" means island in Thai and Phi Phi is pronounced "pee-pee". The islands are beautiful limestone karsts surrounded by warm blue waters. It is about an hour ride from the Royal Phuket Marina. I swam, snorkeled and took photos.
These islands have been the setting for several movies, notably "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio.
These islands were hit quite hard by the tsunami of Christmas 2004. They now have designated evacuation routes to reach higher ground in case it happens again.
We stopped at Koh Khai on the way back to the Phuket marina. It is a very small island that is a quiet day beach area 20 minutes off the coast.
The beach chairs and umbrellas are available at rent for a nominal price. And refreshments are available.
At the end of the day it is quiet and serene.
The JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa
The resort at which I am staying is outstanding. The Phuket Beach Club (the timeshare component) is fully integrated with the Hotel. There are 6 restaurants, 3 swimming pools, an almost deserted beach and a staff which appears to be genuinely interested in everyone having a wonderful time. The construction is solid with liberal use of wood. The landscaping is such that the buildings blend in with the natural environment.
It is on the list of Conde Nast magazine's 100 Best Hotels in the World.
I was lucky to find it available online as I looked to trade one of my lock-off bedrooms at the Las Vegas property.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Arrival in Phuket
Saturday afternoon, 8 December
I arrived in Phuket, Thailand late yesterday afternoon. Phuket ("poo-get") is an island off the west coast of southern Thailand on the Andaman Sea. It is about 30 long by 12 miles wide with a population of 82,000 not including tourists.
This morning I took a brief walk around the Marriott Resort & Spa. It is the only development on a 8 mile long sandy beach on the northwest shore of the island.
This a look north and south on the beach:
There was a baby elephant wandering among the beach chairs! :
And elephant statues bordering the pool:
More later. I'm gonna relax.
I arrived in Phuket, Thailand late yesterday afternoon. Phuket ("poo-get") is an island off the west coast of southern Thailand on the Andaman Sea. It is about 30 long by 12 miles wide with a population of 82,000 not including tourists.
This morning I took a brief walk around the Marriott Resort & Spa. It is the only development on a 8 mile long sandy beach on the northwest shore of the island.
This a look north and south on the beach:
There was a baby elephant wandering among the beach chairs! :
And elephant statues bordering the pool:
More later. I'm gonna relax.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Bangkok Interlude
Friday morning, 7 December
I've been in Bangkok the past 2 days resting from a busy 2 weeks in Viet Nam. Yesterday I had a vacation day from my vacation. I slept late and went to the hotel gym to exercize and laid by the pool for 30 minutes. Then showered and walked over to the most amazing shopping mall I have ever seen- the Siam Paragon. I found Burger King and lunched on a double whopper (no cheese or bacon) fries and a Coke Zero. Then went up to the 6th floor Cineplex and watched a terrible movie, "The Golden Compass". After I went down a couple of floors and checked out the cars- Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Bentley, Jaguar- all have small showrooms. I then went to a bookstore and got a paperback for later in the trip. A Dairy Queen Blizzard ended my stay at the Mall. Back to the hotel for a rest. in the evening I took the SkyTrain and then a taxi to meet my Cousin Jean for dinner. She is my 80yo second cousin who has lived here for 10 years teaching English. She is always interesting.
Today I take the plane to the beach resort of Phuket for a week. Maybe some pictures later in the week.
I've been in Bangkok the past 2 days resting from a busy 2 weeks in Viet Nam. Yesterday I had a vacation day from my vacation. I slept late and went to the hotel gym to exercize and laid by the pool for 30 minutes. Then showered and walked over to the most amazing shopping mall I have ever seen- the Siam Paragon. I found Burger King and lunched on a double whopper (no cheese or bacon) fries and a Coke Zero. Then went up to the 6th floor Cineplex and watched a terrible movie, "The Golden Compass". After I went down a couple of floors and checked out the cars- Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Bentley, Jaguar- all have small showrooms. I then went to a bookstore and got a paperback for later in the trip. A Dairy Queen Blizzard ended my stay at the Mall. Back to the hotel for a rest. in the evening I took the SkyTrain and then a taxi to meet my Cousin Jean for dinner. She is my 80yo second cousin who has lived here for 10 years teaching English. She is always interesting.
Today I take the plane to the beach resort of Phuket for a week. Maybe some pictures later in the week.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Traffic in Viet Nam
Traffic supplied endless entertainment and amusement in Viet Nam. Apparently the number of motorbikes seen is actually a sign of the great economic progress there. They would have been bicycles 10 years ago.
All vehicles there are equipped with loud horns and are used incessantly. They are used to pass, to alert pedestrians that they won't stop for them, to warn other vehicles that they are near. However, since they are used so often by everybody that I couldn't see that they served any purpose. Car and truck drivers also like to flash their head lights.
The "quiet" here in Bangkok is remarkable
Here are a few views thru the windshield of our drivers:
A group of uniformed school kids as school lets out in the countryside:
A view of an intersection in Hanoi from a rooftop cafe:
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of the motorbike in Viet Nam. They outnumber cars on the streets by about 15 to 1. But they are used as a form of transport for almost everything. They call them "bikes of burden".
Families:
Sheaves of rattan:
Pots and pans:
Coffins:
Dead pigs carried to market:
I also saw folks driving them with one hand while dialing and talking on their cell phones!
Now I will spend a couple of days in Bangkok before going to the beach resort of Phuket.
All vehicles there are equipped with loud horns and are used incessantly. They are used to pass, to alert pedestrians that they won't stop for them, to warn other vehicles that they are near. However, since they are used so often by everybody that I couldn't see that they served any purpose. Car and truck drivers also like to flash their head lights.
The "quiet" here in Bangkok is remarkable
Here are a few views thru the windshield of our drivers:
A group of uniformed school kids as school lets out in the countryside:
A view of an intersection in Hanoi from a rooftop cafe:
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of the motorbike in Viet Nam. They outnumber cars on the streets by about 15 to 1. But they are used as a form of transport for almost everything. They call them "bikes of burden".
Families:
Sheaves of rattan:
Pots and pans:
Coffins:
Dead pigs carried to market:
I also saw folks driving them with one hand while dialing and talking on their cell phones!
Now I will spend a couple of days in Bangkok before going to the beach resort of Phuket.
To Bangkok
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Hue
Tuesday morning, December 4
Hue was the Vietnamese Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. It is located in Central Vietnam on the Perfume River and was the focus of severe battles in 1947 during the French War and in 1968 during the American War. Lots of damage was done to the Imperial structures and monuments in those years. A lot of restoration is being attempted, but much work is yet to be accomplished.
The Citadel contains the former Imperial headquarters, living and working areas as well as temples. There are now also museums there.
The various Emperors each constructed elaborate Tombs out in the surrounding countryside. They served as vacation homes for each emperor as well has honoring them for immortality.
We visited 3 tombs.
A gate within the Citadel:
A building in the Forbidden Purple City within the Citadel:
These photos were taken at the Tu Duc Tomb Site built in the 1840s. The grounds are beautifully landscaped:
The Khai Dinh Tomb site was built in the 1920's by an emperor who traveled often to Europe and incorporated Asian and European elements in his tomb.
This is his elaborately decorated throne:
And some detail of the ceramic mosaic:
The ceiling has a 1920's European style (Chagall?) with Asian subject matter:
Statues of imperial advisors with elephant and horse:
And a "modest" pathway from the main tomb to a temple:
In the afternoon we took a cruise on the river.
Today we return to Hanoi.
Tomorrow I fly to Thailand.
Hue was the Vietnamese Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. It is located in Central Vietnam on the Perfume River and was the focus of severe battles in 1947 during the French War and in 1968 during the American War. Lots of damage was done to the Imperial structures and monuments in those years. A lot of restoration is being attempted, but much work is yet to be accomplished.The Citadel contains the former Imperial headquarters, living and working areas as well as temples. There are now also museums there.
The various Emperors each constructed elaborate Tombs out in the surrounding countryside. They served as vacation homes for each emperor as well has honoring them for immortality.
We visited 3 tombs.
A gate within the Citadel:
A building in the Forbidden Purple City within the Citadel:
These photos were taken at the Tu Duc Tomb Site built in the 1840s. The grounds are beautifully landscaped:
The Khai Dinh Tomb site was built in the 1920's by an emperor who traveled often to Europe and incorporated Asian and European elements in his tomb.
This is his elaborately decorated throne:
And some detail of the ceramic mosaic:
The ceiling has a 1920's European style (Chagall?) with Asian subject matter:
Statues of imperial advisors with elephant and horse:
And a "modest" pathway from the main tomb to a temple:
In the afternoon we took a cruise on the river.
Today we return to Hanoi.
Tomorrow I fly to Thailand.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Some extra photos at Sapa
I am in Hue today but thought I would post some extra photos from the mountain areas.
These are some panoramas I stitched together on the computer:
A pig wandering among the terraced rice paddies:
Tribesmen moving some newly finished furniture down to their village:
A dad walking his little boy down the trail:
A group of red Dzao women resting in town in front of a restaurant:
The women seated in their house....our hosts:
A pig and her children:
Hue will come tomorrow. We visited the ancient Citadel yesterday and will drive out into the countryside to visit some emperors tombs.
These are some panoramas I stitched together on the computer:
A pig wandering among the terraced rice paddies:
Tribesmen moving some newly finished furniture down to their village:
A dad walking his little boy down the trail:
A group of red Dzao women resting in town in front of a restaurant:
The women seated in their house....our hosts:
A pig and her children:
Hue will come tomorrow. We visited the ancient Citadel yesterday and will drive out into the countryside to visit some emperors tombs.
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