We spent 14+ days in thailand ( got back last thurs 10/28/09)

I have been away for just under 5 years, so some comments on things as I see them now

( sorry guys, no naughty bits here)

The new airport is really huge, seemed disorganized on leaving customs area, we had to walk and look around for family for about 20 minutes ( not like old don m, where out and to the right and away we go)

paid the AOT limo 1200 bt for the ride. ( felt sorry for the driver as our apartment is on a small one way, dead end soi just of phlaythai rd, and he had to back out into early evening traffic.

ate some good street food, crashed and made plans the next day to go to phuket.

got to phuket on sat, usual wait for bags and easy ride to patong.

we made reservations at orchid hotel on soi san sabi, they sent a mini van for us. once in patong I noticed he drove past soi san sabi, and waaay down rat u thit rd ( by the new hard rock)


pulled up in front of another orchid hotel, a quick phone call and we were headed back to the correct one

on leaving I asked the driver if he needed directions back to the airport, he did not think it was as funny as everyone else did.

orchid was a very nice place for the money, free and fast wifi made net access and net phone calls a breeze

reminds me to mention summer breeze just down the soi, we had planned on staying there, but an "up front" email from Bill there told me its not so good for familys.

he put us on to the orchid. thanks Bill.


we did eat several good meals at the summer breeze though, not a bad item in the lot.

the tom yung koong is great cure for a stuffed nose I found.


anyway, back to what I noticed.

first off, soi san sabi goes through the back way now to a wide road ( did not see the name) and you can walk to the Juncelyon shopping area that way ( or back agin at nite)

Juncelon shopping area is pretty cool, expecially this time of year, ( not crowded) we went to the movies 3 times, could not have been more than 20 ppl in the place any of the times.
and the sound system is good, not like bkk where it loosens up your fillings.'

the entertainment area ( 2nd bld, top floor) is nice, bowling, movies, and pool tables, and video games.

they have a shooting range using replica guns, and laser tek, really cool. my girls had a "blast"


kind of goofey thing I did notice, whole floor sales areas are dedicated to selling cell phones, not many takers that I could see.

I took a long walk around patong area ( back way out of soi san sabi all the way to thannon prachakinkrip ( spelling>?)

was a nice walk, got a haircut along the way, molested by massage girls on rat u thit rd on the way back to the room.

on soi bangla they started closing the road at both ends at nite ( for how long now I don't know) but nice idea, makes late nite "navigation" much easier.

I notice the time share guys plying their scam on a few tourists
( go ahead and scratch their cards, but sniff it and say it smells like bull shit) to piss the off.

also, on one days walk I walked past either a brit or aussi getting hasselled over a flat tire on a scooter he rented, sounded like the thai guy wanted about 6000 bht to fix the flat, sure looked like a scam to me.

overall, patong is still a good place to vacation ( at least low season) stay clear of high price places and watch the tab.




Had a good lunch at Scruffy Murphys, ribs are good as I remember them from some time ago.

English breakfast at the island restraunt on soi patong resort, good and filling as usual ( pie too).

got to drink my first strong bow at oasis bar ( agin soi patong resort)

most places with music say under 20 years of age not allowed, but 2 places we went into with 13 year old grandaughter was no problem. ( expensive thought for a few rounds of drinks, waters and nom som)

family ( I stayed in the room with a cold that day) went to karon beach and water park, real bargin at 20 bt for the park with nice shaded pool, and very few others in the area.

I noticed in most places when ordering food, they read back what is ordered so there are no mistakes ( or so the plan is, we got pork instead of chicken one time, and some other tables food delivered to us another time)


back to bkk on 26 oct, and back to usa a 28 oct via Cathay pacafic.

on the flights, Cathay has new business class seats on the flight from lax to hkg, the seats are supposed to be an improvment, but too casket like for me.

got first class on the return from hkg to lax, seat makes into a full bed, they even make it up with sheets and so on,

very nice, but the crew is a bit "pesty" checking on us for my opinion.

only bad part of the trip was scheduling, got stuck in lax from 2 to 7 pm appx for the ret to san.

customs was kind of a hassell ( but fun to watch all the ppl acting like they were being hasseled)

we had to stand on 2 lines and wait to have our carry on searched, after about 50 minutes of waiting, the agent opened just my bag, looked inside ( did not move any stuff around) and sent us on our way.


any comments or questions are welcome

be sure to checkout mapjack.com for phuket area tour, pretty cool