HOLIDAY CHAT/DISCUSSIONS

Sunbear

2006-07-12 14:02:14

Thought I'd have a go at my own top ten of Far East experiences like ShirleyV...in no particular order and the top ten is ever changing.

1) Getting on one of the Far Eastern airlines and knowing the holiday experience starts here.

2) Landing at Don Muang airport Bangkok...soon to be a thing of the past with the new airport coming on line....I've even got the sound of the Thai announcements on my mobile..sad or what. and that rush of heat as you get shepherded to your waiting taxi for the transfer to your hotel.

3) The hustle and bustle of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya river.

4) A misty morning in Mae Hong Sorn, or perhaps on the banks of the Mekong.

5) Struggling onto a longtail and heading to the islands in Krabi, picnic and snorkelling gear in hand.

6) Gliding down river in Taman Negara Malaysia with the rainforest canopy high above, catching the odd glimpse of a hornbill.

7) Sitting by the pool at the Mandarin Oriental KL overlooking the park, turning around and craning the neck to try and see the top of the Petronas Towers next door.

Sitting at a beach restaurant, toes in the sand waiting for my satay starters, sipping a cold Singha/Chang/Tiger/Anchor/Bintang beer (delete as applicable).

9) The hypnotic sound of the gamelan on a balmy evening.

10) Back at the airport getting on the plane and knowing I'm off somewhere else - not home - because I'm on a twin/triple/quadruple centre holiday. wah hay!

Loads more than 10 of course but I don't want to bore you.

Fiona

2006-07-12 14:34:47

the gamelan- now there is a sound that evokes Far East memories.
Talking about sounds- one of my favourite memories is sitting in the middle of the jungle in the Mekong Delta sipping a honey drink and listening to sad sounding songs of a Vietnamese girl.

shirleyV

2006-07-12 18:09:35

I enjoyed your top ten Sunbear , I know what you mean about getting on a Far Eastern airline - last time we went to Thailand we flew Thai and I was overjoyed by the sight of the hostesses in traditional dress when we boarded, lovely.
I am getting very excited about going back to Thailand next week , why don't you carry on sunbear - you don't have to stop at ten, I love reading your descriptions , brings back so many good memories, interesting that you went to Mae Hong Sorn , not many people venture that far, we loved it there , though I don't think we would go back as once you've seen the long neck tribes , KMT village, fish cave etc - there is not much else to do in the town - it's very sweet though - we liked the fern restaurant there, thanks again sunbear, love shirleyV

Sunbear

2006-07-12 20:47:09

Oh the Fern in Mae Hong Sorn...I'd forgotten about that, we ate there one evening.

The thing about Mae Hong Sorn that got me is that it seemed to close down by eight in the evening. We went out at half eight and could only find one restaurant that was open and then had to walk back to the Imperial as there were no taxis about.

Its lovely down by the temple by the lake and they did a really good son et lumiere show when we were visiting...and they released loads of those little hot airballon thingies that just float into the night sky. Quite magical.

Sunbear

2006-07-12 20:49:44

ShirleyV,
and your right about the flight to Mae Hong Sorn from Chaing-Mai...its great...you seem to fly through the valleys rather than over them.

shirleyV

2006-07-12 20:58:18

Yes it is definately a 'one horse' town, the night we were in the Fern restaurant there were only 2 more diners in there and yes you are right - there doesn't seem to be many people around at night, perhaps they are all too tired after the sightseeing, we stayed at the Imperial Tara too, luckily we managed to get the hotel bus back there at night, wouldn't fancy the walk back as it is quite a distance, love shirleyV

Sunbear

2006-07-13 21:45:48

ShirleyV,
when we visited the KMT village they were having a traditional chinese tea festival which we got invited to, sitting with local dignitries and having our picture taken for the local newspaper...I wonder if they ever printed it.

Did you see any of the road side stalls where they selling bottles of spirit or medicine complete with a footlong centipede inside..I wasn't going to try that...I know my limitations.

shirleyV

2006-07-13 22:28:25

Yes we did see the bottles of spirit. I found the area where the KMT were quite strange but very interesting, fantastic scenery on the way there also, I think Northern Thailand is great and gives you a flavour of the 'rural life' that exists in Thailand.
If I were to go back I think we would probably revisit Chiang Mai, as there is more to do there, I believe it is growing at a rapid pace there and it is 6 years since we were there so I think there would be lots of changes.

Fiona

2006-08-02 20:26:09

well- I am already planning next summer's holiday and been getting prices where I can!

We have looked at several options round the world but are down to two ( so far!). Hanoi( Sofitel), Koh Samui( Anantara) and of course Bangkok for a couple of nights ( Shangri La).
Second one KL. Bali and Kl( 3nights the first time and 1 on way back to split the journey). If we go back to Bali we will return to Sanur but also have a few days in Ubud.
Cambodia is still being considered as well! And we do want to try Mexico some time( but thats a different forum!)
Never been to KL or Hanoi so we will have new destinations. But isn't it great sometimes to combine new with familiar?

shirleyV

2006-08-03 21:47:58

We usualy do a 3 or 4 centre hol when in the Far East and love to mix our familiar favourite with new exciting destinations..
Where to go next year?
considering 3 options - they are

1. Saigon, Nha Trang, Hoi An and Hanoi

2. Luang Prabang, Ko Phangan or Ko Samet

3. Pnomh Penh, Saigon, Hoi An

Lots of time for change but these look good options.. also wouldn't mind Luang Prabang , Samui then a 3 night side trip from Samui to Kual Lumpur on Berjaya air.. lots to think about.

Fiona

2006-08-03 22:10:34

I have been on all over the world today! :lol:

But we are in New Orleans in Easter and Goa more than likely in October so it has to be the Far East in the summer really. I can only really get quotes through TOs just now but will start looking for the DIY flight prices as soon as they come out.

Sunbear

2006-08-04 07:00:05

Gosh you lot plan ahead...we just book ours two weeks to a month in advance

Fiona

2006-08-04 08:53:54

I often have to plan mine way ahead as we use airmiles and you just have to book the flights as soon as they come out. We are also very restricted as to when we go as I teach and OH works in the North Sea for 2 weeks at a time. In this case though I am just researching early- thats part of the fun of holidays though!

Sunbear

2006-08-04 13:18:00

Indeed I'm always researching. Just found out there are direct flights from BKK to Mae Hong Sorn today for example with PBair...much handier than when I did it and had to go via Chaing-Mai. Can't plan more than a few weeks ahead in my case...can be a pain at times.

shirleyV

2006-08-04 18:35:07

I am just like you Fiona I just love planning a holiday, always takes me ages to decide which hotel to book.
I spend hours on the internet researching places before I book and I love every minute of it.

Fiona

2006-08-04 19:34:47

yes- in our household I'm the one who does all the research and then when we've booked OH takes over and plans restaurants/which trips to go on/how to get from the airport etc. Great partnership.

macfarang

2006-08-31 04:01:02

Bangkok Taxi Driver on YouTube.com

See if this guy brings back any memories . . or of it's your first time to Bkk - he might be a driver to avoid. :wink:

He's either crazy or very good at faking it. Multilingual taxi driver.

Wait till the very end for the funniest bit when the passenger asks how fast they are going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvJNNdZUC3I&mode=related&search=

gerib

2006-08-31 06:42:30

If you ask me I reckon he's a loony. We had a taxi driver in Bali once who suffered involuntary movements and let go of the wheel at every jerk... that was scary enough.
Anybody remember the name of those 'prayer flowers' that you could see dangling on the rear vision mirror?. We have plastic ones hanging in our Bali hut in our back yard... I'm full of class me!!

Sunbear

2006-08-31 11:13:30

Reminds me of the driver we had who pulled across seven lanes of traffic in Bangkok which was heading towards us and insited on wei 'ing an apology to each oncoming driver....just drive we both screamed from the back.

Oh I hate the famous phrase every taxi driver in Thailand asks "You want to go shopping"....NOOOO!

xenosuk

2006-09-02 05:24:41

Bet none of you can beat this - the main reason we got married, after living together for about 12 years, was to qualify for all the freebies and upgrades for honeymooners on our 3rd trip to the Far East in 2001 :lol:

We had a cheapo register office ceremony which was followed by a meal in a local hotel with just a handful of close family members, all of whom received home-made invitations saying "You are Invited to a Pre-Honeymoon Ceremony". We then swanned off to Hong Kong and Langkawi for 3 weeks, which cost us about 5 grand, but was worth every penny

I can't understand these people who spend thousands on their wedding day and then have a week in somewhere like Spain for their honeymoon

My priorities are definitely the opposite way round

Far East

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