April in Paris…. Nope… April in Bangkok!
Apr 20th, 2011, 01:07 AM
#22
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I will have to report in more depth later... but it would seem that Maeng and I are headed to HKG instead of SIN. It is impossible to find tickets, other than biz class, for flts to SIN next Monday. HKG was not cheap, but at least we have seats! Cathay Pacific is the airline of choice.
I will be searching for a hotel now, probably on the Kowloon side. Bob, any Marriotts there that I might be able to get with points for 3 nights??
Dinner with kuranosuke and bradinbangkok at Maeng's tonight. She is anxious to cook asparagus and shrimp?? I'm sure it will be good.
Gotta run.
I will be searching for a hotel now, probably on the Kowloon side. Bob, any Marriotts there that I might be able to get with points for 3 nights??
Dinner with kuranosuke and bradinbangkok at Maeng's tonight. She is anxious to cook asparagus and shrimp?? I'm sure it will be good.
Gotta run.
Apr 20th, 2011, 12:22 PM
#24
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Not on Kowloon side, but JW Marriott in HKG is perfectly located. It's part of Pacific Place complex, which includes an upscale mall, 2 other hotels, and an MTR (metro) station. Also next to the tram line and Hong Kong Park. So, lots of place to walk to, plus ultra-easy access to most places you'd be interested in seeing in the city.
There's also a Courtyard in the Western district on HK Island -- interesting location for exploring on foot (esp Hollywood Rd), but a bit less convenient for getting around the city.
There's also a Courtyard in the Western district on HK Island -- interesting location for exploring on foot (esp Hollywood Rd), but a bit less convenient for getting around the city.
Apr 20th, 2011, 12:43 PM
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rizz is right.... andy loved the courtyard but it is on the other side...easy to get back and forth...
the salisbury Y is a great location too in kowloon..;.
i think actually there might be a renaissance??
the salisbury Y is a great location too in kowloon..;.
i think actually there might be a renaissance??
Apr 20th, 2011, 02:41 PM
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For future reference, both Tiger Air and Air Asia fly non-stop BKK-SIN. Both had seats for Monday returning threw days later (not sure of your return date so picked randomly three days) for under $400 per person round trip.
Apr 20th, 2011, 04:23 PM
#29
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Good morning! Maeng and I will be staying at the Marco Polo Hotel on Nathan Rd, Kowloon, in a harborview room. It should be a good time.
Re: the cutrate airlines... next time I'm going to skip the TA and book on line. This TA is a friend, so we always seem to make use of the service. But, since they obviously don't book Air Asia, Tiger Air, etc. I will do my best to get things done on my own next time. I'm certain Maeng and I will be leaving the country on more future trips. She has that brand new passport (just picked it up yesterday morning before we met at the TA).
Dinner last night was at PL. We had quite a large group, maybe 7-8 of us. It was good to see Ken and Dr Jack once again, as well as a friend from Samui who owns a resort on Chaweng Beach. He was showing us pics of the recent flooding... his resort suffered some serious damage on the beachfront side.
Today should be lots of fun. We are meeting at 10:30 (I think about 6-8 of us will visit the orphans together). Bob, I like your idea of markers and paper, but we shall see what I can pick up on the way there today, after getting advice from folks at the PL last night.
Looking at my quick schedule... wondering when I'll make it up to CM! Probably on Monday, May 2, my last day here!!! I don't see any other options... yikes! Time flies!
Later...
Re: the cutrate airlines... next time I'm going to skip the TA and book on line. This TA is a friend, so we always seem to make use of the service. But, since they obviously don't book Air Asia, Tiger Air, etc. I will do my best to get things done on my own next time. I'm certain Maeng and I will be leaving the country on more future trips. She has that brand new passport (just picked it up yesterday morning before we met at the TA).
Dinner last night was at PL. We had quite a large group, maybe 7-8 of us. It was good to see Ken and Dr Jack once again, as well as a friend from Samui who owns a resort on Chaweng Beach. He was showing us pics of the recent flooding... his resort suffered some serious damage on the beachfront side.
Today should be lots of fun. We are meeting at 10:30 (I think about 6-8 of us will visit the orphans together). Bob, I like your idea of markers and paper, but we shall see what I can pick up on the way there today, after getting advice from folks at the PL last night.
Looking at my quick schedule... wondering when I'll make it up to CM! Probably on Monday, May 2, my last day here!!! I don't see any other options... yikes! Time flies!
Later...
Apr 20th, 2011, 04:29 PM
#30
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The Marco Polo is a fine hotel and very convenient Carol. Lots of interconnecting malls and the Ocean Terminal close by as well. There's a great dim sum restaurant opposite the road as of the Marco Polo, a chain restaurant but very popular. You will see people lining up on the street at lunch time and I highly recommend you take Maeng there.
Enjoy and perhaps a quick ferry ride to see Macau as well?
Enjoy and perhaps a quick ferry ride to see Macau as well?
Apr 20th, 2011, 06:09 PM
#31
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Pook, any suggestions on craft (local) markets we might want to browse through? The dum sim sounds great! We'll have to try it. I am sure we'll do the Peak. Hope weather cooperates.
I assume we will take the airport express train to Kowloon. Does it stop anywhere near the Marco Polo?
Not sure about Macau... our time is pretty limited. Ken suggested it as well, but then thought that there will be a lot for us to do in our 3 1/2 days already. We'll see...
I'm excited about returning to Hong Kong. The first time was during monsoon season, and we had only one 'good' day for seeing the sights. Maeng is, of course, very excited about leaving Thailand for the first time in her life. Her daughter went to Hong Kong recently, and will give her all sorts of suggestions, I'm sure.
I assume we will take the airport express train to Kowloon. Does it stop anywhere near the Marco Polo?
Not sure about Macau... our time is pretty limited. Ken suggested it as well, but then thought that there will be a lot for us to do in our 3 1/2 days already. We'll see...
I'm excited about returning to Hong Kong. The first time was during monsoon season, and we had only one 'good' day for seeing the sights. Maeng is, of course, very excited about leaving Thailand for the first time in her life. Her daughter went to Hong Kong recently, and will give her all sorts of suggestions, I'm sure.
Apr 20th, 2011, 06:14 PM
#32
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one key to HK shopping...when you are walking along the busy streets, look up at the signs and you will see signs for outlets up on the 7th or 10th floor....tons of bargains to be had...
there is a tourist info office just to the left of the star ferry door in kowloon... they used to have a pamphlet for outlets in HK.. well worth a check...
the peddler building on the HK island is a great place to shop as well...its a small building not far from the star ferry...
have fun
there is a tourist info office just to the left of the star ferry door in kowloon... they used to have a pamphlet for outlets in HK.. well worth a check...
the peddler building on the HK island is a great place to shop as well...its a small building not far from the star ferry...
have fun
Apr 21st, 2011, 07:09 AM
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There is a Shanghai style dumpling restaurant on Mody Road behind the Marco Polo in the Intercontinental Plaza Square called Dragon Noodles and Dumplings on the ground floor. Great dumplings and you get to watch the chefs make and stretch the noodles from behind a large glass wall which features the live kitchen. Very popular with the locals with a line out the door at lunch while being an inexpensive treat.
Take the bus ride over to Stanley for some shopping and lunch. We took the 101 bus over and another back. Very easy to do with lots of shopping and harborside restaurants in Stanley.The views on the bus over the hill are just incredible!
Dinner at The Harborside Restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel at sunset is a real treat as you can get very good food along with a harbor view for a reasonable price. Bob would love this place.
Aloha!
Take the bus ride over to Stanley for some shopping and lunch. We took the 101 bus over and another back. Very easy to do with lots of shopping and harborside restaurants in Stanley.The views on the bus over the hill are just incredible!
Dinner at The Harborside Restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel at sunset is a real treat as you can get very good food along with a harbor view for a reasonable price. Bob would love this place.
Aloha!
Apr 21st, 2011, 07:13 AM
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Almost forgot, if you time it right you can walk out the door of the Harborside after dinner onto the Promenade in time for the 8:00 laser light show. Great way to see it while walking off your dinner on the Promenade back to the MC
Aloha!
Aloha!
Apr 21st, 2011, 08:07 AM
#38
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i second the ride to and from stanley....the stanley market is fun too... a must do...
a walk along hollywood rd is interesting and fun as well...
buy yourselves a guidebook in bkk on HK.. it will help a lot..
for a super treat take yourselves to tea at the penn... make a res...
a walk along hollywood rd is interesting and fun as well...
buy yourselves a guidebook in bkk on HK.. it will help a lot..
for a super treat take yourselves to tea at the penn... make a res...
Apr 21st, 2011, 09:16 AM
#39
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WOW!!! I'm gone for the day, and look what I have on Hong Kong. Tremendus help, everyone! Thank you thank you!!
What a wonderful day today was. A very heartwrenching but yet heartwarming experience for the 8 of us who went to see the children at the Phaya Thai Home for Babies. We stopped at Big C and bought toys, clothing, coloring books, markers, baby bottles, and on and on and on. The bill for these items was just about 3000 baht. So worth it!
Besides the items mentioned above, we brought snacks of donuts and yogurt drink. We got to feed the little ones. This home is for babies from birth to 5 years old, if I understood correctly. We were allowed into the play rooms to interact with the children in all by two of the 'wards' there. The littlest babies in cribs could not be handled, and the HIV positive children are in their own building.
This appears to be a well-funded orphans home. The children are well cared for. But they so want to be picked up and given some attention. One little girl cried and cried when I had to put her down to go to the next ward. She was maybe 18 months old.
The oldest group we got to see were 3 years old. Not sure where the 4 and 5 year olds were (if I understood the age limits correctly)... perhaps in preschool classes.
We stayed for about 1 1/2 hours, stopping at maybe 6 wards, 2 of which were closed to any hands on contact, as mentioned above.
I think we all got some good karma today. Everyone said they enjoyed the visit, and would definitely do it again sometime. (even our friend, the big strong military (Army) guy on leave from Afghanistan enjoyed himself) Everyone was holding the children, some holding two at a time. The 2 year olds and up would approach you with hands in the air. I thought they were saying "up up up" but the Thai word for the same thing is almost the same word, so they were speaking in Thai, not English.
There was somewhat of a language barrier since most of us in our group could not speak Thai with the children. But hugs and smiles and individual attention cross all language barriers!
Can you tell that this was something very special for me???
It was good to hear that a good per centage of the children get adopted to European and English speaking countries. And in some cases, the Thai mothers come back to claim their children once they get their lives straightened out.
After the visit, our group went to Via Vai for pizza and cold beer. We were all exhausted after playing with the children for most of the afternoon.
Quiz night... you can be proud of the fodories team. We came in dead last once again. But Brad gave us a big boost in our score, earning 29 out of 30 points in the music quiz. He does know his musicians/song titles! Gotta give him credit for that one! Ken did not come to quiz night to help us.... is that why we didn't win???? Ken... where were you!!! (I know, packing to leave early in the morning) Our team of 5 people actually only had 2 fodorites, but that has been our traditional team name, so we kept it, even if it did not apply to everyone.
I really need to try and get some sleep now. I'm pretty wired after today's experiences. Even several beers have not managed to knock me out! haha
Thanks again for all the Hong Kong help. I will be taking notes (and my laptop) and we will see what we can accomplish.
What a wonderful day today was. A very heartwrenching but yet heartwarming experience for the 8 of us who went to see the children at the Phaya Thai Home for Babies. We stopped at Big C and bought toys, clothing, coloring books, markers, baby bottles, and on and on and on. The bill for these items was just about 3000 baht. So worth it!
Besides the items mentioned above, we brought snacks of donuts and yogurt drink. We got to feed the little ones. This home is for babies from birth to 5 years old, if I understood correctly. We were allowed into the play rooms to interact with the children in all by two of the 'wards' there. The littlest babies in cribs could not be handled, and the HIV positive children are in their own building.
This appears to be a well-funded orphans home. The children are well cared for. But they so want to be picked up and given some attention. One little girl cried and cried when I had to put her down to go to the next ward. She was maybe 18 months old.
The oldest group we got to see were 3 years old. Not sure where the 4 and 5 year olds were (if I understood the age limits correctly)... perhaps in preschool classes.
We stayed for about 1 1/2 hours, stopping at maybe 6 wards, 2 of which were closed to any hands on contact, as mentioned above.
I think we all got some good karma today. Everyone said they enjoyed the visit, and would definitely do it again sometime. (even our friend, the big strong military (Army) guy on leave from Afghanistan enjoyed himself) Everyone was holding the children, some holding two at a time. The 2 year olds and up would approach you with hands in the air. I thought they were saying "up up up" but the Thai word for the same thing is almost the same word, so they were speaking in Thai, not English.
There was somewhat of a language barrier since most of us in our group could not speak Thai with the children. But hugs and smiles and individual attention cross all language barriers!
Can you tell that this was something very special for me???
It was good to hear that a good per centage of the children get adopted to European and English speaking countries. And in some cases, the Thai mothers come back to claim their children once they get their lives straightened out.
After the visit, our group went to Via Vai for pizza and cold beer. We were all exhausted after playing with the children for most of the afternoon.
Quiz night... you can be proud of the fodories team. We came in dead last once again. But Brad gave us a big boost in our score, earning 29 out of 30 points in the music quiz. He does know his musicians/song titles! Gotta give him credit for that one! Ken did not come to quiz night to help us.... is that why we didn't win???? Ken... where were you!!! (I know, packing to leave early in the morning) Our team of 5 people actually only had 2 fodorites, but that has been our traditional team name, so we kept it, even if it did not apply to everyone.
I really need to try and get some sleep now. I'm pretty wired after today's experiences. Even several beers have not managed to knock me out! haha
Thanks again for all the Hong Kong help. I will be taking notes (and my laptop) and we will see what we can accomplish.
Apr 21st, 2011, 09:25 AM
#40
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i'm wondering if this is the same orphanage that we visited several years ago... we went with andy and beth and tong... we bought them their dinner and gave $$ and diapers and other things...
there were several bldgs, including 1 or 2 HIV buildings and a baby building where we could not hold the kids...
mostly we were with the 3-6 y.o. i think...
the place was not far from bkk, up past the road to the pier to ko kret...
why don't you and brad each bring two kids home...??
there were several bldgs, including 1 or 2 HIV buildings and a baby building where we could not hold the kids...
mostly we were with the 3-6 y.o. i think...
the place was not far from bkk, up past the road to the pier to ko kret...
why don't you and brad each bring two kids home...??
