Do you want Thai for dinner? Yep. So let's go to Thailand.

[Pushka]

A few months ago we decided that if we had any chance to retain status by end of April then a much greater effort was needed. We wanted Thai for dinner. So let's go to Thailand and take advantage of the DSC QBR offer and go. Back in October.

Flights booked, and as usual for Adelaidians required a stop in Sydney. We could have done the flights in a day starting in Adelaide at 6am but hell no. So it was an overnighter in Sydney and a more desirable departure at 10.20am to Bangkok then on to Koh Samui. Seemed to be the best weather spot in March.

Of course one starts with a Neil Perry Pie Floater. It doesn't float. It sits on a delicious gravy jus. Pie was nice. A party pie but the green stuff got moved away.



Mr P didn't eat much prior. The flight was due to depart at 5.10pm and we assumed dinner. Delayed. Left at 5.45. Nup.Afternoon tea. A cheese plate or - a chicken and mushroom pie

So despite a late arrival at Rydges we had to get dinner which was ok. We declined the room upgrade offer. The breakfast ($76!) and just went to sleep.

 

[AIRwin]

Mr P didn't eat much prior. The flight was due to depart at 5.10pm and we assumed dinner. Delayed. Left at 5.45. Nup.Afternoon tea. A cheese plate or - a chicken and mushroom pie

Pie in the sky

 

[Pushka]

Next morning up bright and shiny and off to International. I do like that walk across to the terminal. Into F check in, then through security. The woman guarding the priority entrance was a bit slack and she missed a large family group skipping General and into the priority queue. And of course they were completely disorganised. The security woman guarding the actual belt was furious with the first woman and that family group absolutely refused to do what security wanted them to do. Go queue in General. So the delay for priority queue was growing just while these people were grabbing all the bins.

Finally through and on a mission to get some of this stuff. My Brothers and now MrPs favourite gin. Super exy. The Blue is only available at international airports. We bought 2 litres of the 'basic'. Sent my brother a jealousy picture and of course his request was for us to buy two for him on the way back.



Into Sydney F and not having eaten it was brekky time. And it was delicious.

 

[Quickstatus]

What is the green stuff on the pie?

AUD/BHT up by 5% in a month

 

[Pushka]

What is the green stuff on the pie?

Mushy pies. A pie floater is a pie in mushy peas but Neil Perry did his thing on that theme. SA QP speciality.

 

[blackcat20]

Following, because I love Thailand.

 

[Pushka]

Following, because I love Thailand.

We almost did Luxury Escapes like you but found a good deal on this place through Agoda.

The flight to Bangkok was on the Finnair lease plane. It was a hybrid. The crew were dressed in Finnair uniform but there were signs of Qantas on the menus. The safety video was the Finnair one. The amenity kits etc were RM Williams.

The Crew I think were Thai based. And I must say - exceptional. Maybe we are the old granny grandad age but they took so much care of us but maybe they did that to everyone. I sent an email to Qantas this morning complimenting then. And the landing in Bangkok was the best I've ever experienced. We both commented on that as we did a rather fast bumpy one into Koh Samui.

The Finnair seat. I was looking forward to experiencing it. And - I loved it. MrP. Does not. He likened it to sitting in bed reading. He hates doing that. I love it. Didn't really lie down much as it as a daytime flight. The TV screens are excellent and well placed for enjoyable watching. I watched two movies - The Housekeeper - excellent, and Nuremberg. Oh my. Enthralling. Sad. Desperately sad. Gripping. Extremely well acted by Russell Crowe. I tried watching 'if I had legs I would kick you' with Rose Byrne but nixed it.

Ok. The flight. Well, first things first.

The Spritz which was delicious. You can also see the built in charger base here and which worked really well. No messy charge cables although there are also ports available if needed.






I always have soup. This was good and nice flavour.




The main. The chicken was excellent.



No special desert just the ice cream.

 

[Pushka]

I didn't like the sound of the pre arrival meals so just said I'd not worry about having anything. The crew member was rather alarmed. I assured her I wouldn't be starving so after she'd finished the first meal service she came back with one of every snack she could find so I wouldn't go hungry. MrP was impressed with the stash.



I put the Lindt into my bag and by the time we got to the hotel it was completely melted. The KoKo black Qantas chocolate on the other hand from the domestic flight the day before was still rock solid. Hmmm.

So on arrival into BKK we were assured we only had to do immigration and not collect luggage and that turned out to be the case. We did 7000 steps yesterday and I swear 6900 of those were done in the Bangkok airport. Crazy.

So we were on Bangkok Airways to get to Koh Samui. We had an hour or so and wondered if we had lounge access as Emerald. Into Bangkok airways lounge. All on the one PNR and SC earned. And yes we did. Well, at least it was quieter than the mayhem that the boarding gates in the basement turned out to be and had wifi but that's about it. No bathrooms.

 

[craven morehead]

I've been in Thailand for the last 4 weeks, sadly that's coming to end tomorrow as I start 4 flights back-to-back home. SNO-DMK BKK-SYD-BNE-EMD. Enjoy your trip and the food

 

[kookaburra75]

On board with your trip. I showed MrsK the photos from the resort, and as we're planning to use Thailand as a starter for our Grande Tour to Europe late next year, we're very interested in your experiences. Especially the grannie/grandpa angle

 

[Pushka]

We left the lounge about 30 minutes before boarding to find the loo and the gates. Went in the wrong direction because who knew that lounge 9 was not after lounge 6. Dead end. As we walked we passed by the lounge we should have gone into, the business lounge. Oh well.

We knew that the duty free stuff we'd bought in Sydney had to be checked again. We'd bought two bottles of Botanist. We did create a bit of an issue as it was being packed as they put both into the one security bag. We asked for them to be separated but that meant she had to redo the payment as she couldn't produce two receipts. She knew the Bangkok process well. So we were each carrying a bag. But she was right. Security checked the dates of the receipts and all was good. Then downstairs to the scrum. We thought the plane was going to be an hour late. Sigh. But there were so many announcements happening that it was all a bit confusing. We only boarded 10 minutes late but into a bus. We were group 3 but they only called group 1 so everyone just piled through at that point. Onto a jam packed bus of people from all around the world. We'd managed to get row 7 but only 72 hours prior to the flight. Have no idea why.

Just an hour flight but the crew were incredibly efficient and within a few minutes we each had a hot meal. Which was quite tasty. And surprise, metal cutlery. Then they served tea and coffee. Most impressive.

It seemed very quick that we started descent but the speed at which we were going seemed just a tad fast. And wham when we landed. Everyone just kind of looked around expecting something to happen. Don't know the technical term but we sure did slam on the brakes. But we made it.

I was sitting with some English ladies. Don't think they travel much. But they commented that for the first time they'd do local time. So me thinking - yeah, sticking with six hours behind local time really wouldn't work.

Koh Samui doesn't have buses. It has dinky little trains. But getting a bit weary and with the two damn bottles of gin clanking we were holding on tight. Some of us had stickers. So that meant a different luggage collection area. All done and dusted within 10 minutes and we were on our way. No security or immigration checking as we'd shown our transit in BKK.

Nice to see the van with the Hotels name on it waiting for us.

 

[Quickstatus]

Neil Perry did his thing on that theme

Ah!. A bit slow today. Party pie + Neil Perry re-imagining of a dish.

We'd bought two bottles of Botanist

What was the price at King Power duty free at BKK

 

[Pushka]

Ah!. A bit slow today. Party pie + Neil Perry re-imagining of a dish.

What was the price at King Power duty free at BKK

Don't know. Bought it at Sydney. Wasn't sure if it was there? Probly was. Cheaper no doubt too. Shhhh.

 

[Happy Trails]

Arrivals duty free at BKK was shut down some years ago.

 

[Pushka]

We made our way to the Hotel with that feeling of dread knowing you have to go through the reservation process when all you want to do is crash into bed and sleep. Fortunately it wasn't too onerous. We were then put onto a little golf style buggy to get to the room. We were facing the back on a tiny seat hanging on to those damn gin bottles. MrP said hang on, I somewhat listened and the next thing we launched off uphill with a jerk meaning that we were rather hanging out the back. Jeez. The resort is hilly. It's dark at night. And speed bumps. Whizzing round corners. We then get to our call bay where we can ring up and ask for a lift because our room is at the bottom and breakfast and lobby is at the top. And said we needed to go down the stairs next. Well, stairs are ok but I always at least just touch the handrail to focus the balance. Don't need to hang on just touch. So the handrails are rope ones! They look attractive but they ain't no handrail. And worse, they are about half a metre to the left of the stairs so you kind of have to lean to get to them. Slowly made our way down. I'll get a picture of them later. Anyways got to the room, unpacked and peered out through the window to see dark. We have one of these on the balcony. Good for washing clothes anyway. The bath thing is not my thing at all.




Sleep time.

 

[Pushka]

Next morning (yesterday) we unpacked. The wardrobes and drawers are in the bathroom . Shower stall is huge but we do have that bath on the deck. View is great. Sunrise. Because Thailand is 3.5 hours behind Adelaide.



It was pleasing to note that people do not reserve and then not use, lounges. Last time in Bali by 7am all the lounges had been reserved.

We'd heard great things about breakfast and were looking forward to it. It is included in the room price.

But first, we had to climb that damn hill again or at least tackle the stairs and call for a lift. Least those gin bottles were done with.

 

[Pushka]

We made it up the stairs and hill but not exactly preferred recreation at 7.30 in the morning. We need to investigate.

We were greeted at the entrance by our names which was impressive. The staff are delightful. And breakfast is simply excellent.

The juice lady. No one should be this happy at work. Her juices and selections are splendid. We first had banana juice. Tomorrow for me, mango.



All the different stations. Think I've left some out. Yep. Honeycomb missing and others.

 

[Pushka]

The resort operates on a strict environmental policy. They have their own cropping farm, produce the jams themselves from locally sourced products. No caged hens eggs. Local bees. They run a cooking school using their own products and we will try to get into on Thursday. Should be fun.



Breakfast. We sat outside overlooking the beautiful gardens.

Loved this idea. I took a photo of it then suddenly around us everyone started talking about them.





Yes we take our own Vegemite which replaces the need for salt. In this case just as well as the salt container was blocked likely due to humidity.

The view.

 

[Happy Dude]

Great looking buffet there. They're a double-edged sword though.

 

[Quickstatus]

They're a double-edged sword though.

I think its been fixed/mitigated by the stairs issue...