Left Mikes around 6:15 -4F
Alex drove,Airport not crowded
Straight north over North Pole,across Russia & China.
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Landed in Hong Kong after 15.5 hours
Amazing flight
Looks like we landed in a colorful area.
The Retro 39 Hotel was chosen because it's 2 minutes from Phrom Phong skytrain.
Pic off my balcony. But hotel is not as nice as last year's place:(
I miss the S33 Hotel
We ate at our favorite Chinese place in Bangkok,we came in late & very hungry.
We accidentally ordered nine different plates of food.
Right after we ordered,we realized this was going to be a fail.
Sitting across from us was an older Asian couple. ( he is the gentleman with the hat )
The old guy came over to our table with a plate of untouched food,
and kindly asked if we would like the food.
We explained our nine plate situation.
He was entertained and brought his extra plate of food ,back to his table.
Every time a plate of food was delivered,they would smile at us.
About the 5th or 6th plate of food arrived,I gave him a big smile & patted the seat next to me.
He busted out laughing.
Then he explained it to his wife & they were both laughing.....with us I hope:)
No time for nap this year.
Hangover Tour bus showed up at 7:30.
The Hangover Tour was interesting as ever.
We couldn't help but notice the blonde on the other side of ring,smoking her cigarette.
She really doesn't move thru the whole match.
Saturday Jan 6th
( got a message from Bo asking if I was hungover )
I was up early,no hangover:)
( IM-Chan is the name )
A scary looking joint that has really good food.
Took the afternoon off,nap
While walking,
I passed the old couple from the Chinese restaurant yesterday, wave/big smiles.
Met up with Mike/Kelly at ASOK Station.....so easy with smart phones.
Walked up to Nana looking for the night market.
Ate at Sunrise Bistro ( above the subway ) ( very good )
I offered to buy a USA Cowboy Taco,for anyone who would eat it
Maybe next time
January 8th
Ended up ordering a second plate after tasting it.
One on the McD's was serving Corn pie.
Creme corn in a deep fried pie....to die for.
massage parlor alley
there are a lot of entertaining massage parlor names
bicycle rental & massage
barber shop & massage
karaoke & massage
Also was Finger Massage
Need to start getting picture of the funny ones
_____________________________________________________________________________there are a lot of entertaining massage parlor names
bicycle rental & massage
barber shop & massage
karaoke & massage
Also was Finger Massage
Need to start getting picture of the funny ones
January 9th
Ramen in 'Little Tokyo' in Bangkok
Jan 10
I had to use the crapper on the night train in Thailand,going to Chaing Mai.
Using the flashlight on my cell phone,I could see the tracks going by:):)
The hole went straight down thru the bottom of the train.
The train crapper has a slight vacuum so it doesn't stink,but it's windy when you use it.
I guess the is the crapper update:)
January11
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Colorful neighborhood,our favorite ramen noodle house is 50 ft away.
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January 12
Our driver was introduced as Mr Number One.
He had to put on his racing glove to drive.
I alway try to sit in the center of the van,with my seat belt tight
I tried some of the local grown coffee.
January 13
But VietJet is projected to overtake Vietnam's biggest domestic carrier by 2017's end.
The companies CEO is now the first self-made woman billionaire from Vietnam.
Mike trys to get a picture of our flight attendant
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80K/hour.....and hourly hotel in SGN?
She recognized me from last year.
She lives nearby,we have bumped into her while walking thru the alleys.
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January 14
The girl in front,her name is Le ( Greg's penpal )
Her family farms coffee, peppers and fruit,
Her brothers are into motorcycles,and she is a pharmacy student.
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January 15
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| Hot tea,hot coffee,hot beef soup & sit down toilet = a satisfying combination:) |
January 16
I'm going to offer to pay for his room...his $6USD room:)
Our alley leading to our hotel,is close to the $6 room sign
If you can smell the open fish market, you are going to get a good deal:)
This gal is cooking with homemade charcoal
I used google translate to tell the young man:
'popular man hairstyle for Saigon'.
I got the two thumbs up.
After he finished,he turned me around to face the mirror
and he said ' you handsome man':)
XO Foodie Tour Our tour guides arrive
One og the XO Girls asked her what was in it:
' Mommy's Special Water':)
Mai did all the had work,my only job is not to mess up:)
Did the XO Tour again,sounds like everyone had a great time.
My driver 'Mai' is on the left.
She spoke great English with a British accent,
but she doesn't know where she picked accent up.
Besides being very fun & sociable.
She takes 1000 km scooter trips,with her girlfriends.
They cross muddy jungles and camp along the way.
I told her she may have trouble finding a guys qualified to date her.
'yes:( that's why I'm still single'
by trying frog legs this year.
The joke was,they taste more like chicken than chicken.
( it's true )
https://vimeo.com/32958521
Wait.....it's deep fried!! Mmmm.
Cat on a hot tin roof....
January 18
Where the children's play area has toys for sale 'in' the play area:)
and the use Caucasian children for advertising.
January 19
January 20
especially when there is snow at home
I did a very slow,low gear controlled decent
One German & one Chinese.
There were stuck together like glue,most of the journey.
The poor Chinese girl swallowed some water in threw up in front on everybody,everyone felt so bad for her.
About 45 minutes later,she was 100% recovered & girls ran around the rest of the trip.
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Privately owned airport,mostly serving Bangkok Airways.
Free snacks,including popcorn,while you wait for your flight.
And the after we missed our flight,
Bangkok Airways got us on the next plane...no charge.
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I had to share my shower with a small land crab. He would crawl in between the rocks at shower time
If you hear voices coming up the sidewalk.......you keep your head down:)
best of 1-21 thru 1-25
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It's also a massage parlor alley,but in the morning it's the breakfast alley:)
There is an outdoor shoe repair guy on the other end,had my saddles fixed there.
For the last two trips,I've been buying pineapple from a young girl.
Her pineapple comes with a packet with a salt,cayenne pepper mixture. Fabulous. I buy from her every day.
But my pineapple girl was AWAL this morning:(
So I have to find other things to eat...deep fried things
Don't know what they are,buy they were very tasty.
But Alex didn't join us:(
January 24
She wants to explore VN next.
I left her all my travel books, told her that I'll pick them up next trip.
Krispy Kreame.......helping asian girls catch up with american girls
As I walked up to the gate,my first thought: whao..... there is alot of people here.
Thai Airways have hourly 747 flights to Phuket.
Seemed to take most of the runway to get into the air.
Still in awe of the 747,will have to try the A380 sometime.
You buy your fish directly from the fisherman,
then carry your meal across the street & have it cooked.
January 25
Phuket is my new island of choice,
may be a better choice than Koh Chang.
Miles of narrow colonial streets ( Portuguese colonial architecture)
Full of ma & pa businesses,something interesting around every corner.
I told him that I usually enjoy higher class activities,but I would make an exception:)
After Paweena joined us,we went to the pole dancing bar.
The walking street on Phuket makes Bangkok look like an amateur operation.
Never seen anything like it.
Last night was 'bring your daughters to the pole dancing club night'.
They were there almost an hour.
Longest light I've even seen,nothing slower than watching a clock.
This is the day you are supposed to remember and respect your elders.
Paweena's friend owns a small French restaurant.
The back of the restaurant dumps onto the on the same street by little hotel is on.
So they encourage me to exit thru the kitchen:)
He likes the wines with twist off caps:)
You have to blow them up to get your lucky number. Mine is 762:)
January 28
Scootering today,forget sun lotion,brutal sun at 7.59 degrees N.
low on cash,and the 7-11's couldn't get my Visa card to work.
January 29
January 30
He has a very sharp security uniform,
fancy hat and shiny black shoes.
As I walk up he jumps to attention.
When I get close enough,
he salutes,clicks his heels together and 'Good Evening Boss'.
The first night all I could do is smile and say good evening.
But the second night,
I gave him a sharp salute,big smile & 'At Ease':)
Sweden is not supporting cash anymore.
I assume this relates to what currency is still be used.
My favorite security guard got me a cup of coffee for the road:)
Took 30 min to get to airport. No traffic.
Flight to Hong Kong departed 6:45 am.
No lines at check-in or security.
Got to gate 2 hours early,went shopping and had breakfast.
Feburary 1st
did have a mild cold for about 3 days tho
This year's copyrighted phases:
you can't scare me...I've been to a ladyboy bar!
adorable
Mike , Kelly Viber message
coral view dive resort
haedtien beach resort
Sensi Paradise
Showed me the fisherman market,where you but whatever fresh seafood you would like to eat.
Then you carry your purchase across the street. The restaurants here specialize in cooking your seafood.
Each restaurant has a different style,they all charge by the weight of food you bring them.
Girl in white is LE
Note to self. Start a photo database of foods we like at specific restaurant.
I forget what I had at the ramen place.
After I ordered, I remember the I had pictures of the food we had.
http://www.newzealand.com/us/article/white-island-an-active-volcano/
They had a VR machine set up on the walking street.
We thought the gal in the black dress was going to puke.
She looked pretty messed up after her VR roller coaster ride.
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