Blogs from Bangkok, Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 723

Cults can take many forms. For instance, there are the more dangerous variety such as Charlie Manson's Family, Jim Jones, David Koresh, and Heaven’s Gate. There's also the good old cults of personality we've seen eminate from the likes of Joseph Stalin and President Turkmenbashi of Turkmenistan. However, I've never actually witnessed the insanity and the strangely undying loyalty that only ensues from a cult following—until now. Unbeknownst to me before this trip, Thailand is THE place for Burberry and Louis Vuitton knock off purses. Also unbeknownst to me before this trip was what a Burberry or Louis Vuitton purse even was. They're purses fashionistas buy in large quantities in different colors with little letters all over them. I don’t read fashion magazines, I’m pretty down-to-earth, and I shop at Old Navy, Target, and JCPenneys—so I’d ... read more

Hello everyone. I haven't checked my e-mail in a couple days - the hotel charged for it and I was too cheap. Bangkok is absolutely amazing, in so many ways. It is big, noisy, dirty and yet wonderful. I cannot express how great the Thai people are. I am learning some new words. Boy, this tonal language is really difficult to even hear the subtelties in, much less parrot them back. Ka-wa-dit-ka (spelled phoenetically in english) is hello Kap-kune-ka is thank you dai-po is please. I have changed hotels, because of a change of plans. I am now at the Grand Hyatt in Bangkok for 7/8 7/9 and 7/10. I will still be at the Grand Hyatt at Hua Hin for 7/11, 7/12, 7/13 and then back to the Grand Hyatt in Bangkok for 7/14. I ... read more

Hi! This is my first entry on my overseas adventure. We left Canberra on Wednesday 29th June and arrived in Bangkok late that night. Amy Pietsch, Wendy and I flew cattle class but had fun doing it. We drank champagne and watched movies (some of us stupidly wached romantic love movies, should have stuck to the comedy I think). None of us slept very well. Luckily Evita made it on our flight, we didn't know if she would until 20 minutes before we boarded, but she flew in true style - with a slepper bed in Business class, we were green with envy! We arrived in Bangkok and started the trip in style, Alan (Dana and Wendy's dad) picked us up at the airport and Marion (their mum) had put an esky of champagne in the ... read more

It’s our last day in Bangkok! We really love this city. It is so safe, so exciting, and very friendly. All of our friends really enjoyed their stay here, too. Today, our friend Nate joined us for our last guided trip. We went to Bang-Pa-In, the former summer residence of the royal family. It is a beautiful estate. We saw many beautiful buildings built during the time of King Rama V which was around 1860s-1910. It was interesting to see the separate houses for each of the “little wives”, meaning the king’s additional wives. I forget how many wives he had, but there were many. Apparently he’d decide which one would serve as the main queen for a while, and then the other wives would stay in their own houses on the estate unless he decided ... read more

Sawadee kaa! Sorry that it’s been a few days since we’ve posted, friends. We have been so busy in Bangkok, there has been little time to check in. Mark is feeling better now. His performance went well, too. The cooking school at the Thai House was terrific. Lynne spent two days and one night at the Thai House, learning to make many traditional Thai “home cooking” style dishes. There were seven people in the first day of class, and only three other people stayed for the two days of classes (a Scottish couple living in Hong Kong and their college-aged son). Lynne had a lot of fun learning, talking, and drinking beer with the Scottish family. The Thai House itself was beautiful - a teak wood home built in 1990 in the style of a traditional ... read more