Bangkok to MSP in 24 hours... I am home

Business class all the way home from Bangkok started with the lounge. A quiet place to wait for flight, some tea, food, fruit...and newspapers. I love Business class!

I was upgraded between Bangkok and Tokyo, and had already used miles to upgrade to MSP.
It was awesome - the whole way home in comfort... well as comfortable as anyone can be trapped on a plane for 20 hours.

These are the seats, they recline flat and they give us slippers too :)

Below is from a toilet in Tokyo. It allows you some options, one being just the sound of flushing... you know incase you get a shy bladder going :)

And I am home... far cry from the pool in Pattaya, but none the less home and I LOVE my bed :)

more from Wednesday in Bangkok

Wednesday in Bangkok

at reclining buddah

bangkok

Tuesday ... we are in Bangkok

Had a GREAT morning in Pattaya and then headed out to Bangkok.
We had a driver take us up there (about 90 minute drive)... it is still bizarre to see drivers on the right.

We arrived the Courtyard all safe and sound and got settled. We headed out to wonder around and well - why wouldn't there be an elephant walking down the busy city street with us?? You can't make this stuff up people!

We grabbed a tuk-tuk to a Gem store, but did not buy anything as it was too expensive and I think a scam... the Frommers guide warned us...but just an hour or two too late.

We attempted to find a tuk tuk back and soon we were shown first hand about how they try and take you to other stores that they get a kick back on. We fought with 3 and then gave up.
We walked and walked and ended up turned around...finally a tuk-tuk we could deal with got us home. Whew....

We got cleaned up and headed out to a nice Italian place with in a few blocks (of that) of the Courtyard. H got a homemade ravioli...it was YUMMY! I ordered us up a bottle of Chianti DOCG (just cant let go of my Italian experience) and we had a really nice quiet dinner. My pasta was not worth reporting on :)

I am exhausted and looking forward to a good nights sleep.
We are getting out Bangkok on tomorrow and I will be sure to report in as it is our last day i Thailand. We fly out at 6am Thursday... which is really 6pm Wednesday in MN and I get back at Noon Thursday MN time.

Good night from Bangkok! kk

Monday in Pattaya

Heather and I headed out to the BIG gold Buddha at the top of the hill today.
We grabbed a tuk-tuk and he offered to wait while we walked up to release our birds (yes you read that right - for 50bat you get 4 small birds in a cage to release).

There was a number of Buddhas up there to pray too. The saddest part for me was that a dog was up near one of them dying.... sigh... horrible to see. In Thailand cats and dogs are left to roam as they believe in the after life... so no one was going to put this dog out of its misery. Very sad to see. I prayed for it.

We left there and the tuk-tuk driver brought us to the Hard Rock Cafe/Hotel so H and I could do a little shopping. We got a couple of things and hung out. Then walked back to our hotel....for of course, pool time :)

I managed a nap by the pool, then got a scooter ride with M.E and Big E around Pattaya till they dropped me off at the massage place (um, there is one every 50 feet) to get a foot massage that Chuck had told me was a "must do". It was a whopping $6 and amazing!

I walked back to the hotel and quickly got ready as we were all gathering at the ICE bar again before heading to the Beer Garden near Walking Street for dinner. It was AMAZING food. It has been great as Chantana or Big E order all of our food family style and it is all traditional Thai and YUMMY!

After Dinner we headed to Walking Street. The photo below goes out to my Phatty Cousins!

Walking Street is an "interesting" place. I don't know how to describe the night - you will need to ask me about it :)

Catch up on Trip

Hey there,
Sorry I dropped off for about 36 hours. The Reception was a BLAST :)
They had a huge Thai buffet and it was outside in the courtyard. There was a band, and the music was not all that - so Big E took over and soon the dance floor was hoping.
Lets just say M.E. kept getting me LARGE glassses of Champagne...and when I say large, I mean it was a beer glass people....but why not?

The party eventually moved to Henry J Beans bar, where we sang to Living on a Prayer and danced. Then from there to Suzies bar...where the "girls" are. We drank, played Connect 4, Dice game and Annie got her snake on...I mean a LARGE snake wrapped around her. The photos are on my camera and not phone- so I cant share...yet. (Facebook alert here - they will be posted next Thursday night - the 29th).

M.E. and I walked the ocean down to Walking Street. How to describe this place... think of it as a circus freak show meets Hustler Magazine?

Oh my - it was CRAZY! This is the Pattaya I have been hearing about. Yes we have watched the girls all over the old men at the bars (and some not so old men) ... but this street took it up a notch. Oh My!

Headed back to hotel and was in bed by oh I don't know.... 6am? Yikes.

So Sunday was R&R by the pool for everyone. The friends Chris and Chantana have here are so fun. I feel like i have known them forever. We all get along very well and manage to have a LOT of fun!

Last night we went shopping. Ryko (sp?), JPs girlfriend took JP, H, Big E, M.E. and Luke shopping. She is the shopper and can speak the language and can negotiate.

I got a dice game - which I am very excited about and M.E. bought me a purse I was looking at as he negotiated a price that was a killer deal and so he thought he should buy it for me... yes people, another purse. It is quite cute, I will take a photo and upload next entry :) It is a "going out" purse, not an every day purse.


After shopping we went back to hotel to meet up with the rest of the group and then to dinner... yep you guessed it - traditional Thai food again :)

Have to get to the pool, my Pina Colada is waiting.
till later :)
KK

getting set for the reception

Chris and Chantana's Wedding Day - January 24, 2009

Well the day started with a "parade" of all of Chris's family and friends. We all were given gifts to bring to the ceremony, some of which included 2 pig heads (whole damn head!), 2 chickens, bananas, and us girls had fruit and veggies in bowls with tool (see Heather above).

There was drums being played and Thai people dancing. We walked in and the ceremonial Thai wedding began. Chris had his feet washed by Chantana (represented he can come in to her life clean), and then all sorts of other ceremonial things. It was about 3.5 hours in all...including a 15minute break :)

Thai culture is a lot of bowing, kneeling in front of elders and they also had a group of Monks come and chant and pray for them.....and this is where the gifts we brought in come in - they get the food and gifts....I think. (insert language barrier here)

Chris and Chantana with Chantana's Grandmother - who is a Buddhist Nun. 95 years old and lives in a shack. She is pretty amazing, (she is hard to see in his photo)

Chris and Chantana before the Holy Water blessing ceremony.
We each walked up and blessed them with the water - again, so much tradition and rich in culture.

After the water blessing - we went to Chantana and Chris's room - for the bedding ceremony.
We all prayed and there were flowers , seeds and money spread on their bed by the parents and prayers for a good "union". It was "different" - yet so amazing!! I love the tradition and culture of the Thai. Very sweet and loving. So much good being wished for the couple and so much ancient tradition and wisdom passed down from elders.

After the ceremony there was a luncheon, then we headed to the pool!Love the pool and sun :)
Below is Luke and Dan. We are now getting ready for the Western Reception out by the pool, happy hour, dinner, dancing. After that H and I hope to finally get to the bars with all the boys.

Not sure i will be in shape to type... so I sign off for now with "what a day, it was beautiful, educational, loving, fun and something I am so glad I was part of."

Peace and love to all of you :)
KK