Bangkok#2 (vacation from vacation)

Overview

Our second stop in Bangkok gave us a chance to catch our breath and wash our laundry. (Update: Scott did the laundry while Kathy went across town and retrieved our luggage at the previous hotel. Are we a 2000's couple, or what?). It's hard being in a new city and new culture every other day, and we've found that on trips like this, it's good to take a break and get back to the comforts of home for a few days. So we've booked some nice rooms in Bangkok, and will just hang out for three or four days, doing a few sightseeing trips but mostly just relaxing by the pool. Scott got the web site updated using the prepaid internet card we'd bought on the last trip — or you wouldn't be reading this.

Updates

Our bed at the Merchant Court was laid in a double heart made from rose petals. Suppose they thought we were honeymooners?

11/21/01 11:15pm — We got an earlier flight (4:30pm) from Siem Reap back to Bangkok on Bangkok Air. Our first trip on a Boeing 717, which by convention would be older than the 727 and newer than the 707. In other terms? Younger than us, but maybe only by 10 years or so. But the interior was new and immaculate, it left on time and arrived 45 minutes later.

Can't say the rush hour traffic was as swift, but we stayed at the Merchant Court  for a few days, then onto the Grand Hyatt Erawan, cashing in some Hyatt coupons we had for free nights. We got in in time for dinner, then Kathy went cross-town to fetch our luggage (stored at another hotel while we went to Cambodia). Scott did the laundry... Don't you wish your life was this exciting?

11/22/01 8:30am — The theme for this stopover in Bangkok is "vacation from our vacation". We've been scrambling for a month now, 3 countries, half a dozen cities. For the next couple of days, we reserve the right to do nothing. We didn't completely succeed at that today, but at least we got our nap in. Our "major" effort was getting a taxi over to the Grand Palace (photos below), and an afternoon trip to a grocery/department store. You run out of stuff when you're gone for a month.

Friday we moved over to the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. The price is right (free — frequent stay-er points) and they have high speed internet access. On top of that it's a great hotel. It's Scott's ninth stay here, they told us — they keep score and you get some sort of "Big Dog" status at either nine or ten. Could be our lucky visit! (Update: maybe next time), but we are getting complementary "club" level access - breakfast, views, and enough snacks and drinks to substitute for an evening meal.

11/24/01 — 8pm — We are moderately more successful at doing nothing today. We wandered around the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Scott spent $2, Kathy $3.20. Tomorrow we head for Chaing Rai, near the 

Photos

Interesting links