"Out-take" photos, tips & trauma

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My best tip would be to make sure you have a great travel agent like ours who will book you a flight on Singapore Airlines. You will be treated like royalty. The attendants are amazing and stunning in their jewel-like uniforms with impeccable manners. You can order special food ahead of your flight, like "Vegetarian, no MSG" and they will come beforehand and make sure you like the FOUR meals you are going to be served!

Second "in flight" tip is to walk around whenever you get the chance, or you may find your feet have swollen and you can't get your shoes on the next day. Which is fine, because you will have a great excuse to take naps and keep your feet up at the pool all day.

Third, once you have arrived, DON'T just hook up with the first taxi driver that swarms you at the airport, or especially when you are getting off of your hotel shuttle in town. Evil taxi drivers know how to spot you. They will offer you a cheap price to drive you around, but not where YOU want to go. They will take you shopping or eating somewhere that gives them a cut of what they rip you off for. Get a GREAT driver like we did.

Packing: Pack all essentials in a carry-on bag. Pack all non-essentials in a large suitcase.
Leave the large suitcase HOME.

Planning: Don't over-plan, just have a sketchy idea of some "want-to-sees". Leave room for God to surprise you; you won't be disappointed.

Don't waste money on useless junk you won't even want once you get home. Instead, tip the Thai people who wait on you and do everything they can to make sure you are happy. Tip GENEROUSLY and often; you will never regret it and you will bless the people who really deserve it and build good will, which lasts long after your vacation is over.

Scroll down for some random silliness.

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Photos

Mai Khao Royal Suites
We "found" this on the last day, too.

Next time
Private pool for the royal ban

Lizard Love
They were everywhere, and so were the GECKOS.

They DO run the place!
In reality, these are monks who have left "the path", so I've been advised.

Why is this elephant laughing?
Because she knows how bad the photo will turn out.

He came home with us...
but in pieces! Tiger shrimp shells are fragile. I wish I'd carried him on.

Lovely Jessica LEK
She gave us Thai names and we gave her an American name.

Why are these people smiling?
Because they are planning on sticking us with a 3,500 THBaht bill for our lunch!

What???!!! I think this is some kind of local joke
Ming took this photo.

Singapore Airport is an absolutely FABULOUS place to spend a layover.
An orchid jungle and every high-end store known to woman.

Cried almost all the way home, until the airlines started feeding me
Watch out for "free" stuff. It never is; you know that, right?

We WILL return
We got a whole row of four seats to ourselves on the way back

Comments

[Jo Harlow]

What a great trip
Connie: Thanks for sharing this trip and the pics. It looked absolutely awesome. It is not a place I will probably ever go to, but I sure enjoyed seeing the photos.

[john crites]

Glad you could share the photos and description of your trip
I can see why you had such a great time. Some day I would love to do the same. Thanks for posting all the photos and for the very good description of your dream vacation. How very lucky you have been. John