Kooky.

I'm a bit too late with this comment to be useful, but 7 days in Bangkok sounds a lot to me. I love the place, in all its madness, but I don't know what you'll do for 7 days, especially if you don't shop like a demon and can't walk around in the heat. (If you do want to shop for silver jewellery, let me know. But never tell the taxi driver to take you there or you'll likely end up at his "uncle's" shop instead.)

Do remember also that, changing airlines, you don't have any comeback if your first leg is delayed, and also you need plenty of time to collect and re-check your luggage.

spouse of scouse

Thanks Kooky. Bangkok will be fine, we've travelled a lot through countries such as India, Vietnam and Malaysia so we know what works for both of us. I'm happy to walk around in the heat for an hour or so, then recover in the air conditioning before venturing forth again We hire a car and driver for half and full day tours, there's quite a few things within 3 driving hours of Bangkok that we want to see. In between, swimming and relaxing at the hotel is the go

Good tip re the airfares, I've been caught like that before! Although some legs of our flights are operated by other carriers, they're all booked under Qantas so baggage is checked through.

Kooky.

Oh if you have plans to go out of the city, that's another story.

spouse of scouse

Hello from Thailand

It's been a great holiday so far. Bangkok was so much bigger and busier than I expected, even though I expected it to be both big and busy! We did a couple of day tours which we enjoyed, but what I enjoyed most was getting a day pass for the Skytrain and just hopping on and off. We did that for 3 days and saw a lot, with a bit of additional walking. The long boat tour along the river and khlongs was a lot of fun, and when the boatman revved the engine and sped along the river the breeze was most welcome. The old bones were a bit sore the next day though!

As the people on this thread who know Thailand well warned me, the heat/humidity was quite oppressive. I got around this by doing most of my walking in the 'relative' cool of the early morning, mainly around the park next to the Marriott. The club lounge terrace on the 27th floor was also a great place to catch a breeze.

In Hua Hin now, and what a blissful place it is. Long walks along the beach, lots of swimming (hotel pool, I don't 'do' ocean swimming!), and daily hour long massages. Hua Hin night market was good last night, delicious food, cold beer and very cheap (410 baht for stir fried noodles with chicken, stir fried mixed veggies, and chicken satays, plus three large bottles of Singha beer). Going to Tamarind night market tonight.

My most lasting impression of Thailand will be the people. Unfailingly friendly and helpful, the Land of Smiles is well named. I brought little clip on koala bears and packets of Aussie sweets with me to go with thank you cards with a gratuity inside, I leave these for housekeeping every day plus at restaurants and bars. The huge smiles that something so small brings are priceless. I'll have to tell housekeeping that we have enough dragon fruit, bananas and bottled water though, they keep loading us up every day

Something I didn't expect to see were snakes! Long, thin and green, I think they're called whip snakes. Have had one on the terrace of our ground floor suite (eek!), and one last night in the tree next to our table at the outside club restaurant. The staff had great fun with this, telling us to be careful because the snakes jump, and that the chef catches them to make tom yum soup. I half believed the soup tale, until their giggles gave them away. I asked if the snakes were dangerous but that didn't translate too well, so I asked (with hand movements) 'if snake bites me, I die?'. Answer, 'only die a little bit'. That's ok then

Three more days in Hua Hin (raining today, heavenly!), then one night at a golf resort near the airport, then home. I think we'll be back, perhaps not to Bangkok but I'd like to return to Hua Hin and perhaps other parts of Thailand. Of all the south east Asian countries and places we've visited, this is now top of the list for us.

BEVS

Snakes? Visible snakes? That's me out.

spouse of scouse

'fraid so BEVS, not so visible in the foliage but being bright green they really stand out against the pale grey tiles of our terrace I did some research on them, they're classed as 'mildly venomous' and unlikely to kill you although they may make you crook. So you can relax now

BEVS

Nopes.
They undulate in a manner I do not like and have no legs. This is not good.
Even the word is rather quivery

Thairetired2016

I'm glad you enjoyed your stay so far. It is nice to read your posituve comments as so many visitors do nothing but complain about everything.
After living for 16 years in the Land of Smiles I still find Thailand a pleasant country to spend my retirement.

spouse of scouse

Lovely to hear that you're enjoying your retirement here. We've always been a bit adverse to retiring anywhere but one of our home countries, but Hua Hin could change our minds very easily! In fact we were 'choosing' our location as we walked along the beach this morning Fantasy though, I very much doubt that the bank account would stretch that far even if we could get the necessary visa. Nice to dream though!

scrubbedexpat142

Me too!

Kooky.

Glad to hear you're having a good time, SoS! We never made it to Hua Hin but I have heard only good things about it.

Terrible to read about the fire at Chatuchak Market.

spouse of scouse

Thanks Kooky, just loving our time here. Yes, a really bad fire and I'm amazed that no one was badly hurt or worse. It sounds like you lived in Thailand for quite a while?

Kooky.

Oh no, never lived there, but it was an easy hop from Singapore for long weekends in the city and weeks at the beach. Mr K also spent a lot of time in BKK, especially once his old company shut down the local office.

scot47

There is something scary about snakes. i came across them when living in Africa but i never learned to love them. Does anyone ? There is something in that story about Eve and the Serpent.

nonthaburi

Interestingly enough, Thais believe it is good luck if a snake crosses their path, and many a time I've heard discussion of buying a lottery ticket after that happening.

See a lot of dead ones as roadkill, but only occasionally a live one. There is a specialist pest removal department in Bangkok that deals with their removal when they turn up in people's houses. Not for the small ones of course but for the big pythons and cobras. Most likely to be found in your toilet.

Biggest I've come across was a 4 meter cobra on the Burmese border in Ranong. That was something.

Glad you're having a good time, enjoy the rest of your holiday!