Sunday, September 17, 2023

Taiwan plan

5 days before takeoff register for $163 prize

https://5000.taiwan.net.tw/index_en.html



Fly Bangkok - Taipei 

https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002090


night #1


Grand Hotel 

reviews say to skip the breakfast buffet, not worth it

https://www.grand-hotel.org/en/official/main.aspx

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/the-grand-hotel









rent a scooter at  'ZOCHA' near train station 

explore Jiufen Old Street  / stay overnight

https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/642

https://www.nickkembel.com/jiufen-old-street-taiwan/

https://newtaipei.travel/en/Attractions/Detail/112939











Explore gold museum













Explore Ximending Walking District

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/ximending


Explore Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002090&id=73

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/martyrs-shrine

https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/445






explore a night market 

( my region doesn't have night markets )

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/shilin-night-market

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/gongguan-night-market



National Palace Museum 






Explore Temples

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/confucius-temple

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/dalongdong-baoan-temple-and-gardens



Beitou Hot Spring  ( private hot springs room )

https://www.gvrb.com.tw/en/service/%E6%B9%AF%E5%B1%8B-2/

https://www.springresort.com.tw/en/fac/ins.php?index_id=2

http://www.passportchop.com/asia/6-things-you-must-do-in-beitou-and-tamsui/




Stay overnight to  Wulai Hot Springs?

easy to get too

https://www.jaredsdetours.com/wulai-taiwan/

https://www.nickkembel.com/wulai-hot-spring-taipei-taiwan/





Fort San Domingo  ( hilltop Spanish fort constructed in 1629 )

https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/660


Taipei 101 Observatory

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/taipei-101




Taipei Christmas Lights & Markets

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/christmas-lights-2019


Ride High Speed train to Taichung City   300 KPH




stay overnight in Taichung City 




sample different restaurants:


Yakiniku restaurant    ( Japanese barbeque )

Teppanyaki restaurant

Ramen restaurant

Korean restaurant

Swiss restaurant  / fondue

Russian restaurant

Bulgarian restaurant



























Sunday, November 27, 2022

Thailand 2022



01  November  


Sun Country fly MPS- LAX                                 Zoya drove 



                                                             



Griffith Observatory  overlooking LA

 02  November  Los Angles to Seoul ,South Korea




         finally got to fly on the A380 , largest passenger plane in the world


two jetways to load this plane , we scored tix on the top floor



they served a traditional  Korean meal 
& included instructions on how to eat it 
Natasha gave it a thumbs up



Mt Fuji  Japan


03  November  2022         Seoul to Bangkok





I hate the late night flight into BKK , 

but we have been grounded for 3 years, not going too be fussy :)


A bed with a view

04  November  

       

The Quarter Hua Lamphong Hotel


Breakfast is REALLY good at this hotel, this may become the 'Headquarters Hotel'

Our first day , is basically a recovery day

Mango & sticky rice  ( best food ever )
yeah....this is how potatoes are grown :)



view from the roof of our hotel



I needed a haircut.  
the challenge was to get a haircut after 10pm in Bangkok
surprisingly, we failed
I really didn't think it would be  a problem

ended up getting some good grub at a Japanese place


and found a yummy lemon booze drink






sunrise in BKK , didn't sleep all the way thru the night

05  November   


an ancient pattern on our door:

swastika or svastika, meaning “conducive to well-being.”


symbol of prosperity and good fortune 
throughout the ancient and modern world
 





Another fabulous breakfast, a completely different selection
while we are at breakfast, 
our other team member is ready to board in SGN





Diễm arrives from Saigon 💓







using the subway back to hotel






using the skytrain to get to Soi 33 neighborhood


back in the old neighborhood , our fav Greek restaurant






cheburek and sour cream &  cherry vareniki 
totally worth the long flight!

Fabulous place!







used tram & scooter cab to the go cart track










there are LOTS of funny bar name in Bangkok


speedy pants
skinny pants



1st prize for being the most cautious :) 



we walked to a train stop, that wasn't really a stop

called a taxi for a bail out


some travelers need a haircut while on vacation


some travelers don't need a haircut while on vacation






finding our way back to the hotel
  

06  November






our dear friend BooBoo is going to take us on a tour of the 

    Royal Palace & other point of interest in Bangkok



BooBoo showed up a full hour early :):)💓

so, she had breakfast with us :)





















Diễm gets a language lesson from BooBoo
she is learning the name of Bangkok, in Thai
(longest name in the world )





























































Mmmmmmmm, cashew chicken


                                           we didn't know at this time, 

2 weeks later we would have to walk thru this restaurant to our hotel room

we had a key to the restaurant, so we can get to our room after hours


after lunch BooBoo walked us down this alley & into a flower market






insane inside , getting ready for the festival














Chinatown in Bangkok




didn't go in, but looks pretty fancy

https://goo.gl/maps/1H2npNRNh1FLd3By5




one last look off the roof, before bed



07  November  




 looking forward to breakfast




another fabulous breakfast



a little Chinese propaganda in the hotel lobby:)



Taking the subway to the airport





Catching the  train to airport to Chiang Mai










landed Chiang Mai



on foot, looking for our hotel

Ratana's Kitchen

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ratana's+Kitchen/@18.7881241,98.9954074,21z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x30da3aa3926aec45:0x4a03f9fbb31813b4!8m2!3d18.7881241!4d98.9955442?coh=164777&entry=tt












original wall , near the old gate



Loi Krathong  
( Thailand's Festival of Lights ) 


 our little floating lantern  











08  November     late start











sampling Mexican food in Chiang Mai
( actually pretty good )















absolute mayhem 

Yee Peng Lantern Festival


09  November    













 



10  November     


rent car, drive 10 hours on the left side of the road to Ban Rak Thai


rented a Honda at the CNX airport , time to drive on the left

















11  November     Village of  Ban Rak Thai






sunrise is a big deal here






I ran out to the car to check the temperature
chopstick lessons

they are growing tea on the hillside, you can smell the  tea











   our little Honda, a very nice little car

Natasha found another cool place

It's only open for about 6 weeks
All the work is done by teenagers, supervised by adults.
all the adults are volunteers , 
giving the kids a little income & starter job training 


Rice harvest in progress!

Posaho Cafe

https://goo.gl/maps/MUWNnVPqLeMVAcwi7

https://www.facebook.com/posahocafe/


12  November     flower mountains

















breakfast at  "Dad's Garden"   ( cafe )

https://goo.gl/maps/pxLLRJpCgjvPkr1N6





























stopped in a village with zero English spoken.  Ordered a delicious bowl of  noodles 
( non spicy )





Throughout the day we were seeing corn fields. Corn planted in the strangest places. 

I didn't dare stop for pictures ( because driving here is insane)

But there were large fields of corn planted on 40 degree hills


We came across a threshing operation in full production.

13  November  




Natasha found us a cool place to stay

Our hotel is connected to a children's home & helps sustain the youth home

The adorable teenagers working at the coffee shop are from the children's home

we got to meet some of the kids & and the staff, we loved the place






balancing a coin for good luck








I accidentally put my Kikkoman packets in my phone pocket.

I dropped one at the highest point in Thailand.  Dîêm saw it,


14  November  


Back to Bangkok


sadly, we say goodbye to Diem & she flies back to Saigon😔

took the rest of the day off










15  November  











this is the view from our hotel room



fabulous view from our room. 
( have to make sure my feet point away from any buildings )


















mango sticky rice 💓💓💓


that's good advice


view from our room ....the other direction



























we had a key to the restaurant, so we can get to out room after hours
this was the restaurant that BooBoo took us to, 2 weeks ago




16  November  








Japanese booze

McDonalds Corn Pie - Fabulous 




not sure where you would were your naked Hitler shirt 




17  November  







18  November  


18  November  


19  November  


20  November  


21  November  


22  November 


23  November 







Tblisi Fix = cherry juice and chacha

24  November 








Seoul Korea:

The cleanest and most organized airport yet

Carpet and flowers in the men's room.

A large digital clock in the rest room, that you see as you wash your hands


Natasha gave Korean food a thumbs up.


25  November