I can see Russia from my window.

[drron]

Apologies to Sarah P but our next trip is coming up with the highlight cruising up the East coast of Russia.Our cabin is on the Port side so should indeed see Russia from our window.

On friday we start with JASA's BNE-SYD.As our cruise's starting point was changed from Tokyo to Incheon it meant our Circle Asia fare would have to go to the next level if we wanted the sectors to and from BNE included.JASAs sounded a better alternative.

After a weekend catching up with the Grandkids on Tuesday 10/5 we head off for BKK on QF1.Time for some Flounging.Mrs.dr.ron has put in for the upgrades to F for this sector.then comes 6 nights at the SGS.Now I have spent considerable time wondering whether it is worth chasing loyalty especially as this year it will require a mattress run to get back to SPG plat-or a decent promo.However when it comes to BKK we are really happy with the SGS.Everyone knows us and there are always little extras-hoping this doesn't put a hex on it!

Then on CX-BKK-HKG-ICN.Pick up the Silver Shadow for 2 weeks ending up in ANC.Now obviously things are bad with the change from Tokyo-we were offered $US1000 on board credit for the change.Many have obviously cancelled as now after asking for more we have all extra expenses(eg change fees)paid but as well $1500 off our next cruise plus an extra $1000 on board credit on that(we were already looking at our next cruise which already had $1500 in onboard credit).This will be from BGI to BGI via the Amazon river.

A night in the HGI ANC then an early flight-ANC-SEA-ORD-LGA-of course a YUPP.5 nights in NYC where our neice graduates as a Master of Law from Columbia before a few days in the North east shopping and decimating the lobster population.

We then have F sAaver awards JFK-NRT.2 days at the Westin Tokyo-cheaper than the Miyako.:shock:.Down to Kobe where Y8000 for a club room at the Sheraton couldn't be resisted before the Westin Nagoya.

Finally QF22 back to SYD then another JASA back to BNE.

PS.Thanks Russ.I finally get what Oneworldplus meant by spacers!And i thought he meant punctuation!

So Russ-you should have been my English Teacher-I might have learn't something.

 

[russ]

Allow me to translate:

Apologies to Sarah P but our next trip is coming up with the highlight cruising up the East coast of Russia. Our cabin is on the Port side so should indeed see Russia from our window.

On Friday we start with JASA's BNE-SYD. As our cruise's starting point was changed from Tokyo to Incheon it meant our Circle Asia fare would have to go to the next level if we wanted the sectors to and from BNE included. JASAs sounded a better alternative.

After a weekend catching up with the Grandkids on Tuesday 10/5 we head off for BKK on QF1. Time for some Flounging. Mrs.dr.ron has put in for the upgrades to F for this sector.then comes 6 nights at the SGS. Now I have spent considerable time wondering whether it is worth chasing loyalty especially as this year it will require a mattress run to get back to SPG plat-or a decent promo. However when it comes to BKK we are really happy with the SGS. Everyone knows us and there are always little extras-hoping this doesn't put a hex on it!

Then on CX-BKK-HKG-ICN. Pick up the Silver Shadow for 2 weeks ending up in ANC. Now obviously things are bad with the change from Tokyo-we were offered $US1000 on board credit for the change. Many have obviously cancelled as now after asking for more we have all extra expenses (eg change fees) paid but as well $1500 off our next cruise plus an extra $1000 on board credit on that (we were already looking at our next cruise which already had $1500 in onboard credit). This will be from BGI to BGI via the Amazon river.

A night in the HGI ANC then an early flight-ANC-SEA-ORD-LGA - of course a YUPP. 5 nights in NYC where our neice graduates as a Master of Law from Columbia before a few days in the North east shopping and decimating the lobster population.

We then have F sAaver awards JFK-NRT. 2 days at the Westin Tokyo - cheaper than the Miyako. :shock:. Down to Kobe where Y8000 for a club room at the Sheraton couldn't be resisted before the Westin Nagoya.

Finally QF22 back to SYD then another JASA back to BNE.

 

[serfty]

Allow me to translate:

You forget the good drron is a medical practitioner and as such is entitled to write quasi legibly.

 

[tgh]

ve vill haf reports on time this time..or it's the salt mines for you !!!!

Nearly booked it.. glad we didn't in hindsight

Have a great trip and please keep us all informed

 

[drron]

ve vill haf reports on time this time..or it's the salt mines for you !!!!

Nearly booked it.. glad we didn't in hindsight

Have a great trip and please keep us all informed

At something like $250 for 100 minutes internet on the ship there will be a 2 week delay at least.

 

[Alanslegal]

Without a doubt this is going to be a great trip for the Ron couple! Have a wonderful time!

 

[drron]

Well the trip has started.We seemed to be very well organised this time-practise makes perfect?Had to sit around and wait for our car to BNE.As I have mentioned before we are both Type A people so our car was booked for 0900 for our flight at 1315.Well there is always the lounge!

The trip to BNE was faster than usual and we pulled up outside the domestic terminal just before 1000.None of this NGCI for mrsdrron-straight to the premium desk.Got one of those rare QF treasures and found ourselves on an earlier flight-QF521 to leave at 1115.As it turned out this was a godsend.

Incoming flight was late but that came up on the lounge board so we had an extra half hour in the J lounge.The wifi hasn't improved.Sitting directly behind me was Leigh Matthews.When we left the lounge we walked into the middle of the Melbourne Storm arriving for Saturdays match against the Broncos.

As usual not even a hint of priority boarding.But soon enough we were ensconced in 1D,F.A very good CSM,Claire and soon had our preflight drink.Morning tea for this flight even though it now left just before 1200.However the toasted ham and cheese sanger did fine for a light lunch.

At SYD bags were near the end of those on the flight.Soon had our Avis car-first time I was able to go straight to the car with my new preferred status.No upgrade but no biggie.

Next was negotiating SYD traffic but not too long before we are at the 4 Points.Good rate.First time though that we have missed out on a suite upgrade but a good room overlooking the harbour and with a balcony.

I then was off to take care of some family business-turned out to be very time consuming making me very greatful of the earlier flight.
Let's just say you can pick your friends but..........

Next-A sunny weekend in Sydney.

 

[moa999]

great start.
assume you aim for spg status on a nights not stays basis, rather than doing the sgs / ws shuffle across the bridge.

 

[drron]

Yes moa we qualify SPG plat on nights.Running a little short this year.Hoping for a double nights promo this year.

Now back to Sydney.Friday night and it was dinner with mrs.dr.ron's graduating group of 40 years agne of the spouses is a director of the Sydney Dance Company so it was dinner at the Wharf restaurant,Walsh Bay.An easy walk from the 4 Points.Copious wine with complimentary Hors D'ouevres.Really good night.

Saturday was babysitting,with a break to go and buy some new carryons-settled for Antler due to weight-smaller 1.7kg and larger 2.0 kg.Dinner was takeaway from the Kukthai in Queen street Woollahra.Now meant to be Thai but we feel more Chinese but great tasting food at reasonable prices and they take Amex with no surcharge.Salt and pepper soft shell crab,osso buco massuman curry and slow cooked pork belly with 5 spice.All delicious.

Sunday and Mother's Day Brunch at the Cafe in Centennial Park.Not too bad,pricy,but a great place for a family meal.I had the Eggs Benedict with bacon and roasted tomato-

After this walked to Max Brenners to meet up with more family over hot Chocolate and Belgian waffles.Great place for chocaholics and again accept Amex with no surcharge.Then to afternoon tea at son's BIL.An expensive warehouse conversion with a definite wow factor.

Monday we spent the morning in the CBD.Really is a collection of wind tunnels.Got our JR rail passes and had lunch at the Sushi Train at Food on 5-nice upmarket food court.The sushi was also a little upmarket and nice.Luck was in with again Amex and no surcharge.
The evening saw us on baby sitting duties again with dinner from Costi's in Queen street-upmarket fish and chips.Luck was holding with the Amex.

Next-Departure day is here.

 

[drron]

Have a very lazy Tuesday morning.Drop car back at Midday and have a 30 minute wait until checkin for QF1.Also waiting in the F checkin suite is Tim Sheridan from channel 9.mrs.dr.ron is quick off the mark when check in is announced and we are first in line.Funny that they closed the second checkin position a minute before opening QF1.

Through Immigration and secuity quickly.Into the Flounge.Taken to a table for lunch.I start with the sashimi tuna plus crab salad.Really nice.

Mrs.dr.ron has the salt and pepper calamari,hold the chilli dressing,and declares it perfectly cooked.I then had the spanner crab and prawn linguine with chilli,fantastic-

Whilst mrs.dr.ron had the mushroom risotto-I had a taste and agreed this was excellent-

I cant resist a good pudding so went for the treacle version-

Whilst mrs.dr.ron finds it hard to go past a great chocolate cake-

we then retired to more comfortable seating and had a coffee.Then mrs.dr.ron went off to the shops.We had spent 5 days in Coober Pedy looking for earrings to match a pendant of hers.No luck.But at the airport was the perfect match.Oh well a few more Amex points.

Whilst she was off shopping a woman sits down beside me.Mrs.dr.ron comes back and asks how did I know Gretel Packer.Well I'll be darned.
Head off to board a little before time-QF1 next.

 

[drron]

Arrived at the gate just as general boarding was called.Now there are separate lines for boarding but as soon as your BP is scanned everyone from QP to F pax go into 1 lane.Prior to sighting the plane door there is a break in the divide between Y and premium lines so Y pax are crossing over.Then both lines merge and everyone enters by the same door.So not really a great priority boarding experience.But no worries as we are amongst the few to be told turn left due to mrs.dr.ron successfully getting us J-F upgrades.

This crew are better than the last time we flew QF1.Friendly,on the ball and efficient.The only black mark was the CSM presuming I was the WP-nothing annoys mrs.dr.ron more!

After the pre take off champagne I went to sleep-had missed my nanny nap!Woken to give my order for dinner/lunch.Mrs.dr.ron went for the tasting menu whilst I just went for 3 dishes off the menu.
I stared with a Yamba prawn salad which was very nice-

This was quite good.The main course was a slow cooked Cape Grim sirloin-now I know from Tassie this is a fantastic steak,unfortunately the QF version fails.If I was a Masterchef judge on the A380 show this would have been panned.Overcooked,nearly dry and visually unexciting.Mrs.dr.ron's version being smaller on the tasting menu was very dry-

I then went for the baked treacle pudding-I love this sort of dessert.

The wines were very good.Started with a Leeuwin Estate sav blanc and then a good Tassie Pinot Noir-Spring Vale Melrose.
Next-into BKK.

 

[drron]

Interesting mix of pax in the F cabin.3 older couples(including us),5 single women and 3 men.So a full cabin.2 of the younger women appeared to be QF staff-FAs from other cabins came to talk and their carryons had QF logos.

Had some problems with the IFE initially-I couldn't get mine up and mrsdrron couldn't get hers out.My screen had to be shoved hard downwards before it condescended to come up and mrs.dr.ron's handset had to be prised out with a knife by an FA.Touch screen controls didn't work.

As I had had a short nap I was not tired for the rest of the flight so watched The King's Speech,The Tourist and Burlesque.Arrived early over BKK but had to go into a holding pattern so arrived on time.No express passes or the like.As usual furthest gate from Immigration and a line up when we got there.As usual we picked the line where several had not filled their forms in properly.

By the time we got to the baggage carousel many were already leaving.Our bags were not to be seen.Came out in a batch about 5 minutes later with others with the F luggage tags.Thanks QF.

When we got our bags it was out and pick up the hotel Merc for a quick trip to the SGS arriving at midnight.No suite upgrade but the Grande Deluxe room has plenty of space.Soon in the land of nod,leaving unpacking until the morning.
Next-Bangkok.

 

[awilcockson]

I couldn't get mine up and mrsdrron couldn't get hers out.

Sorry, couldn't help myself, a bit of out of context quoting is always great for a childish giggle. Great TR so far, looking forward to reading about the cruise.

 

[drron]

Have now seen Russia from my window but with internet $1 per 3 minutes that report will have to wait.First to Bangkok.On arrival at the SGS we checked in at the desk-first time we have had to do this-usually taken to the room.Again a suite not available at checkin-not worried as it is after midnight and all we want to do is sleep.The Grande Deluxe rooms are also comfortable enough for us.We have a message on arrival in the room-from the staff of the Living room looking forward to seeing us on our second night.Nice touch.
At breakfast we note a couple of economy measures with slightly less choice and the fruit lady doesn't start until 0800.No big deal.After that it is on the Skytrain to the Paragon centre-get a few more bow ties then a snack of roast pork and mango and sticky rice.After that it is the Skytrain to the river and up to River City and mrs.dr.ron's jeweller.She gets all her jewellery made or redisgned here.Very good workmanship,turns out just as she has designed and at a very reasonable price.
Next is the usual-back to the SGS for a nanny nap and then to the Living room for happy hour.Once again dinner is snacks there-soft shell crab and some satays.Had a long chat with Randy the pianist-he has lost 40kg in the 9 months since we were here last.
Thuursday-an early lunch and then off to Ayutthaya.We do a private tour with a guide,Gift,who we got in contact with through Trip Advisor.More expensive than many options but for us it was worth it.Private car to the temples and driven around.Good info and then a river cruise with lunch back to Bangkok and the car back to the SGS.Cost was B4,200 each ~ $130.Photos will come when I get to the land of free internet.
Back to the hotel around 1600 and a message that a suite is available so we switch to 2412.
More of BKK next

 

[tgh]

Wondered where you got to.
Only a hundred passengers mostly Aussies.
S'pose they "gotta make a quid" .. somehow

 

[drron]

First the visit to Ayutthaya.This is the first time we have gone there even though ~25 visits to Bangkok.It is worth considering.Many temples in varying degrees of decay spread out over a large area.Going by car was great for us but we saw many younger travellers using the tuk tuks to get around.So some pics-

 

[drron]

And some more-

 

[drron]

Going back via boat to River City-

the river was full of fish-

Poverty-

Next to wealth-1 of 3 houses of the brothers who own the sand barges plying the Chao Praya-

Temples-

and palaces-

We had lunch on board-westernised Thai.Of course a much cheaper way of cruising the Chao Praya is the Chao Praya express.
Back at the SGS and our fruit bowl is full of mangosteens-we had said last time we loved them and were told it would be on our profile.Obviously it had been.We continue to be impressed at the service we get here.
Next-finishing Bangkok.

 

[drron]

Friday and it was on the Skytrain to Central World.Zen and some of the adjacent stores are still well and truly closed.Had some sushi there for lunch and we both had sensitive GI systems for the next 24 hours.back at the hotel and our fruit basket was full of Mangosteens-on our last visit mrsdrron mentioned that mangosteens were her favourite fruit.They were replaced for the next 2 days.No wonder we love the SGS.
Saturday and it was down to the Jim Thompson factory outlet at Soi 93 Sukhumvit.Catch the Skytrain to the On Nut terminus and it is about a Km past it.Unfortunately today it decided to rain in the morning instead of waiting for late afternoon.Wehad lunch at the JT cafe there-good,inexpensive food.Though for the sreet food lover there is a big collection of stalls just near On Nut station.As we had a few bags and it was still raining got a taxi back to the SGS.
Sunday and it was back to River City to pick up mrsdrron's jewellery-once again she was very pleased with the workmanship and price.We decided to miss lunch so we could go to dinner.We went to Rossini's at the SGS-an Italian restaurant.We both started with the foie gras with raspberry sauce,fantastic-

I then had the carpaccio-

Mrsdrron had pasta filled with minced veal and porcini mushrooms-

Both were good.I then had the mint risotto with seafood-

Whilst mrsdrron had the saffron riotto with bone marrow-

My seafood was beautifully cooked but the risotto's were a little bland.However we enjoyed the evening and probably will try it again.Besides this meant more SPG points to convert to AA miles and get me closer to LTP before the system changes!
Our time in Bangkok has come to an end so next is CX to ICN.

 

[serfty]

Good photo's of Ayutthaya; we went there two years ago during Songkran (Wasn't planned) - that made the day trip rather more interesting.