The SSSS tour of celebrations.

[drron]

So our last full day in Chiang Mai.Overcast,cloudy with a few brief showers.mrsdrron wanted her nails done so picked one with good reviews on TA.Those reviews were wrong-a disaster.But it was in the one direction we hadn't walked yet so whilst she had her nails done I went for a stroll.

.

.

.

I was unaware Mr.Armani had a branch here-

.

Not sure I would like chicken tights-

.

Shangri La looked good-

.

.

And the Art Gallery-

.

.

 

[drron]

Whilst getting her nails done mrsdrron noticed a funeral with the casket on a truck and the family in a couple of tuk tuks.I came across the service at the temple-

.

.

Then back to the LM for afternoon tea.First the temples on the mountain-

.

.

And this is a frequent flyer site so a few movements at CNX-

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

As I said not a great day-

.

There was another mall at the airport though we didn't get there.Both malls do have van shuttles to some hotels.

.

.

And the type of plane we would be on the next day-

.

.

 

[Katie]

And the Art Gallery-

.

.

Ohh - that's Art in Paradise. It's actually more of an interactive optical illusion venue than a gallery. We spent a few hours there on our last day (also rather rainy). We took pictures that look like the Little Miss was walking on a suspension bridge in the jungle, head on a table, that kind of thing. Quite clever.

 

[drron]

So that night it was back to Favola for dinner.Even better than the first night.So straight to the food.the Amuse bouche was a piece of fried porcini mushroom.mrsdrron had a scallop and pancetta entrée whilst on her advice I had the carpaccio-

.

.

.

.

For mains mrsdrron had a scallopine whilst I had a nice cacciucco-

.

.

The wine cellar-

.

Once again after we finished chef Matteo came over and had a chat with us for ~ 30 minutes over grappa and limoncello.

.

So food quality very good,presentation great,great service and a thoroughly enjoyable night.
If you are in chiang Mai I certainly recommend a visit.

 

[drron]

So a rather eventful 24 hours lay ahead.About 10pm that night mrsdrron had an episode of projectile vomiting.Settled down and was able to have some sleep but a couple of sips of water next morning and another episode.So we missed breakfast.I had had diarrhoea for the previous 24 hours so presumably it was gastroenteritis not food poisoning.
Taxi to the airport.Once there organised our VAT refund.We had to checkin at the International part of the terminal and do Immigration at CNX.Naturally for the first time ever the customs people wanted to inspect one of the items we were getting a refund on so had to open up one of the cases.
Had a wait at checkin as a Chinese couple were having problems and took some time.Our checkin was a breeze.
Even though you had to go through screening to get into the terminal you did it again after checkin.The usually wanding.Then to Immigration.A problem.We had stayed 30 days in Thailand but that should be OK but I did notice on arrival the visa stamp expired 2 days before leaving so I asked the officer what we had to do-he replied"you will be fine".No we weren't.In retrospect he might have said-"you will be fined."One letter makes a great difference.

So off we go to the Immigration office where we were told to sign a declaration written in Thai except for the place our signature was required which said-Alleged Perpetrator.Asked what we were signing-just sign.Then pay a fine of 1000 baht a day so 4000 baht between us-only had 4079 baht on me so just lucky.So I should have gone to an immigration Office and got an extension-though that would have cost 1000 baht.Trouble though if you are stopped by police and they ask to see your passport and you have overstayed even 1 day you are arrested,put in gaol,deported and are banned from Thailand for 5 years.Just in case you think you would be unlucky in Chiang Mai there have been occasions where police have raided bars at night,got all the foreigners and made them show their passports.If not on you you have already broken the law.So do be careful.


So after paying our fine we are given our passports back-a little stamp says excluded from work or business in Thailand for 6 months.We are due back in 5 months and 24 days from that day.Asked the head officer if we will be allowed back in and was not reassured when he said-"you will be fine."But have talked to others who have been through this process and as a tourist they have not had problems.

I then got through Immigration quickly but they kept mrsdrron for at least 10 minutes discussing her passport.We have no idea of why. Then to the basic TG lounge.All flights to BKK are delayed ~ 1hour.no worries as we have a 6.5 hour transit in BKK.

 

[drron]

Boarding is about 40 minutes late.When it starts we join all those that have checked in domestically.Our plane is a B773.Seats 11 E,K-the 2 middle seats in a 1-2-1 cabin.
TG 105. CNX-BKK. ETD-1040. Push back-1113. Take off-1123.
ETA-1150. Landed-1214. At gate-1225.

So the pics-

.

.

.

The table is off to the side-

.

Once again no choice of meal which is just put in front of you.Didn't eat much as we would be Flounging in BKK.

.

.

The plane came into the International part of BKK.All told to go down the stairs and busses would be waiting-thought that makes being in J a bit useless.But no-TKWWW.When we got to the bottom there is a thai employee with a sign with our names.We are led to our own minivan-

.

Interesting as you get to see a lot of planes close up-

.

We were taken to an entrance where no other pax were entering.Up the escalators to the waiting golf cart Mrsdrron sits in the second row of seats and I go to sit in the rear seats but our guide resplendent in his pink jacket and more perfume and makeup than mrsdrron says I am to sit up front with him.To get the key it was necessary for him to give me a little pat on my derriere.

When we get to the transit security the lines are horrendous.Our guide lets out an OMG.There must have been 2-300 people queued.No problem.Our guide takes the barrier rope down and guides us past the queues.As we get close to the belt he signals the staff and they stop other pax from going to the belt we are headed for.A mixed feeling being a little embarrassed but really thinking-Yeh baby!
From there a very short walk to the Thai F lounge.That next.

 

[OATEK]

So a rather eventful 24 hours lay ahead.About 10pm that night mrsdrron had an episode of projectile vomiting.Settled down and was able to have some sleep but a couple of sips of water next morning and another episode.So we missed breakfast.I had had diarrhoea for the previous 24 hours so presumably it was gastroenteritis not food poisoning.

Always seems to happen just before a long plane/train journey when you feel most vulnerable. Lucky there was a Dr in the house!

 

[RB]

Up the escalators to the waiting golf cart Mrsdrron sits in the second row of seats and I go to sit in the rear seats but our guide resplendent in his pink jacket and more perfume and makeup than mrsdrron says I am to sit up front with him.To get the key it was necessary for him to give me a little pat on my derriere.

When we get to the transit security the lines are horrendous.Our guide lets out an OMG.There must have been 2-300 people queued.No problem.Our guide takes the barrier rope down and guides us past the queues.As we get close to the belt he signals the staff and they stop other pax from going to the belt we are headed for.A mixed feeling being a little embarrassed but really thinking-Yeh baby!
From there a very short walk to the Thai F lounge.That next.

We have been lucky enough to enjoy the same service at BKK & as you say it certainly creates some short term misgivings. I am also not used to the attention received in the F lounge there. I did think it was rather strange one time when I was receiving my J massage & across the way a guy was busy using his phone while getting his foot massage.

Have really enjoyed reading your report & look forward to following your next adventures

 

[drron]

So after being escorted to the lounge one of the young women on the desk then showed us to our private room-

.

.

.

I did take a walk around the lounge.Not much in food on the buffet but they do have a small restaurant.Though seeing you can be served in your room it really wasn't needed-

.

.

.

The service was very good.An ipad to order what you wanted and thestaff continually checking your needs and filling the champagne glasses.We felt a little peckish but didn't want to spoil dinner.mrsdrron had pad thai with prawns and I a marinated beef with sticky rice-

.

.

.

And I was working hard-

.

 

[drron]

The service in the lounge was very good.We seemed to have our own staff member looking after our needs.I had had 2 glasses of red,went to the restroom and came back to a new glass.About 35 minutes before boarding our pre-boarding champagnes were delivered.We were taken to the plane.
As we exited an older couple with 2 young children.The woman flashed a QFWP card and was politely told she was in the wrong lounge and given directions.When we got to the gate everyone else had left the gate area so no waiting for the gate security check.There was a line in the airbridge and once more we were ushered past.

At the time of booking it was an A380 but swapped for a 747.9 F seats in the nose with a mini J cabin just behind.Champagne delivered as soon as we were seated but a short wait for a connecting flight from Chiang Maiu.when we booked we were given the choice of 2 flights from CNX-one with a 6.5 hour transit,the second with just over 1 hour.Presumably that was the flight we waited for.but as an AFFer the best choice had been obvious.

TG475. BKK-SYD. ETD-1810. push back-1802. take off-1816. Seats 1K,2K.
ETA-0716. Landed-0706. At gate-0715.

The cabin-

.

.

.

.

.

The menu-

.

.

.

Breakfast menu-

.

.

 

[drron]

Now the wines-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then take off-

.

.

As soon as the seat belt sign was off our pre ordered drinks were served.To save the FA I had ordered another champagne plus a glass of the Mecurey Pinot noir.The red wasvery drinkable.

 

[drron]

For the first time leaving BKK we went south passing near the mouth of the Chao Praya river.Sunset was a bonus-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Time for dinner.The table is very large but it really feels like you are trapped when it is out.

.

Then the meal-

.

.

Then an extra course not on the menu nor explained-

.

Then the caviar-

.

The foie gras dish was unusual but the soup delicious-

.

.

Then it was obvious TKWIL.Khao soi.Couldn't help myself so only got a photo when finished but that says it all-

.

Finished with mango and sticky rice-

.

I continued on with the Mercurey pinot noir until it ran out then switched to the other pinot.Not quite as good but still very nice.

 

[drron]

After dinner I read the Australian for the first time in 6 weeks then had the bed made up.very difficult to sleep as this really isn't an F seat being narrow and very hard.Probably dozed off for an hour or two.Then time for brekkie-

.

.

.

It was all right apart from the corn fritters-one small bite was enough.
Unfortunately we were on the wrong side for sunrise and very cloudy coming into SYD-

.

.

First off.Straight through as no lines at the E readers.A bit of a wait for bags but ours were out early.Avis had our car ready so soon on our way to see family.

 

[drron]

For this stay in Sydney we tried a new hotel for us.With some Design hotels offering SPG benefits we decided to try the Old Clare hotel.It was an old pub next to the old Kent brewery on Broadway.It has been redeveloped with an old administration building.It is obviously aimed at people a lot younger than us.Reminds me a little of the Henry Jones in Hobart.My reaction is a little similar.
So our room-

.

.

.

The bath was a problem.very deep so us old farts with mobility not as good as it used to be was difficult to get in and out of.Nothing you could hold on tne morning I slipped getting in so a whole lot of water ended up over the bedroom floor.Another problem-

.

The old managers building.But now contains restaurants and bars.the windows are not double glazed so very noisy.We were very tired the first night so didn't notice it but difficult to sleep the other 2 nights.
On our first night we were tired,the hotel's restaurants get a good write up so we wanted to eat in.No space for us.Then we were given a card for 2 drinks in the bar.However totally crowded.finally when we got back from dinner on the Sunday night it was not so busy so we got our drinks.Sydney prices are ridiculous so I would only have complimentary drinks.Mrsdrron told me afterwards that some Aussie actress was also there.,

Now for the good bit.It is a reasonable position-close to Central Railway and just a short walk to Darling Harbour and the new Convention centre.So our 2 granddaughters were dropped off at the hotel and we walked down to visit the Lego display.Our grandson was in Brisbane for the Australian Junior Chess championships.
Outside the Chinese Gardens the crepe myrtles were looking good-

.

.

The lego was in one of the halls of the Convention centre.good views of the city-

.

.

But then my camera let me down for the second time this trip.Well not really the camera.In Bangkok one of our memory cards decided it was at the end of it's life and now the camera battery decided it had been recharged once too often.So unfortunately no other pics that day.But the girls really loved the lego.Now they really are not allowed junk food.Choccies and lollies are not in their diet.but we allowed them to pick the place for lunch.Maccas it was.Oldest granddaughter said she had been twice in her life.Fortunately we didn't get into trouble.
Just one more post left before wrapping up this TR.

 

[Pushka]

To me there is something brothel like about having a spa or bath in the bedroom. Or maybe the years of working next door to one are kicking in.

 

[love_the_life]

To me there is something brothel like about having a spa or bath in the bedroom. Or maybe the years of working next door to one are kicking in.

And I don't like the places where there is an open area or just a half wall between the bathroom and bedroom. Have seen quite a few 'designer' apartments with that feature when we were looking to buy - no thanks! One place had shutters that you could open into the main bedroom (lovely idea....not).

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

There were several things wrong with the room IMO. Firstly if you are going to spend a zillion dollars renovating an old building in a noisy city - double glaze the windows. (This also applies to the Westin Sydney heritage rooms ) Second give the room decent lighting. The curtains needed to be open to allow light in, but then the people in the building opposite could see in as well. The room "looked" large but really wasn't when you took in the bathroom area that should have been walled off. Ron had also booked this hotel for our next Sydney stay in April. I have made him cancel it.

 

[Pushka]

And I don't like the places where there is an open area or just a half wall between the bathroom and bedroom. Have seen quite a few 'designer' apartments with that feature when we were looking to buy - no thanks! One place had shutters that you could open into the main bedroom (lovely idea....not).

Sometimes there is just too much sharing. I blame Facebook. Give me a nice solid door. Wonder what we will share?