Travels & Adventures: August 2009

Thailand Part 6 (Taipai; coming home)

Bangkok to Taipai to LAX
8/7/2009

We show up at the airport in Bangkok thinking we were leaving at 7pm with Thai Air. They list us and say come back at 5pm only to be told that no, you can't fly with us back to the "states" so we, ok, I go into panic mode! When the dust settles we have to stay yet another night in Bangkok. It's 40 minutes back into town so we are directed to an area for help. The lady who is assisting us is trying to explain what she can do for us; for 1600 baht we can have a ride to and from the airport, a room for the night, breakfast, and an hour massage! Great deal for sure and it's 10 minutes away from the airport for our 8am departure. In working on this deal, Bev listens closely and says "no-tel motel?" I crack up at the confusion of the ladies face who was working with us....Priceless!
And yes, we took the deal and yes it could have been called that for we kept doors double locked all night!

Getting set to leave Thailand.

Flying over Vietnam as well as Taipai.

Taipai and its airport. Hats along the wall are decorative from kids around Taipai.

More hat art, Bev reads around the world, look close..
a bull riding machine in the nurses station. Can someone tell me what that is doing there?

Thailand Part 5 (Chiang Mai)

Chiang Mai
5/7/2009

Flying Thai Air throughout until leaving Thailand to come home, we found that going up to the counter worked just fine. Flying from southern Thailand to the north was $87.00 one way for the 2hr flight. Again, traveling on large 777's from site to site.

Cultural night; Bev is dreaming of American foods; Burger King? :-)

Thailand Part 4 (Phuket)

Phuket / Patong Beach
3/7/2009

In traveling from Phi Phi to Phuket one can see how desasters can occur on the water. The ferry we were on did not seem to have many rules. There were people literally hanging all over the rails on the sides as well as the unprotected deck. We watched as one gentleman fell asleep and with a sudden turn of the ships wheel he could have easily rolled right off into the ocean. Regulations for travel; not a bad thing after all!

The road from the actual township of Phuket over to Patong Beach was very educational. Roads were much like spider webs, circling and weaving; making sense to only the those who drive it on a daily basis. Our van traveled out of Phuket and over a large mountain pass only to drop down to the other side of the island to the resort beach of Patong.

While on the ferry we had spoken to military guy who had said there had just been four american military ships in port. His comparison as to how wild it got was; " Tijuana on crack"! Interesting comparison!

After the two nights in Phi Phi, the last thing we wanted were more long nights from the loud music echoing in the warm nights air.

Coming into Phuket Thailand.