Getting there

It was an early start with the alarm going off at 5.45am and I was in the taxi to the airport by 6.15. I met up with my friends there but as we checked in separately we were not seated together on the plane. After a milkshake for me, and coffee, tea and/or breakfast for the others, we cleared customs and security and wandered round the duty fee area for a while. I ordered some Tequila and Bacardi to collect on the way in and picked up the “200ml Johnny Walker Black for $5” offer to have a starter when I got there.

The plane was pretty much full. I was in the “basinet row” at the front of the last section, so I had a bit more legroom at the expense of the inconvenience of the fold out table. Not quite the luxury of the business class seats on my Indian trip. The plane stopped in Phuket with a couple of meals and 2 movies on that first leg. I watched the new Garfield movie but unfortunately the other movie – The Devil wears Prada – was one I’d seen the previous Sunday.

I caught up with my friends in the transit lounge in Phuket and after about an hour we were on the last, shorter, leg to Bangkok. We landed at the new airport there, which had only been open a week. Although we raced through the passport check, there still seem to be some teething problems and we were joking about whether the wait for our bags was longer than the flight from Phuket. Eventually they arrived and we cleared customs with barely a pause.

Since, my bookings were made separately from the other 6, although we are together and staying in the same hotel here in Bangkok, we are travelling with different tour companies. After I changed some money (27.5 Baht per A$ compared to only 24 last time I was here) I was driven to the hotel in a Mercedes saloon while my friends travelled in a Toyota minibus. The trip was also a contrast with the ride in Delhi. Here the highway to the airport is complete and we whizzed along at up to 120kph. Only when we reached our exit did things slow down taking about 10 minutes to get through the traffic lights. After that it wasn’t too bad, although as Jeff pointed out, it was Saturday evening. They were just getting out of their bus as I arrived. It had taken me 13 hours door to door.

Since we had all been upgraded to a Club room we were taken upstairs to the Dusit Club to check in. It was happy hour, so there were complimentary drinks and finger food available at the time. We got our selves some drinks - a Chivas Regal and coke for me, G&Ts for some of the others – and decided that the holiday had started. I took a few photos but again there seems to be some problem with the flash sync. Although sometimes it’s OK, other times the flash fires before the picture is taken. I thought this had been fixed, since I noticed it first at the hockey windup dinner a few weeks ago and thought it was due to accidentally turning burst mode on. After the formalities were finished, we were taken to our rooms. They are quite generous and well furnished. There was one “universal” power point that takes Australian plugs, so I was able to plug my power board in directly and set up the notebook, speakers and, when required, various rechargers.

There is also an Internet connect so I rang to organise my “complimentary usage” as it said on my welcome letter. There was some confusion at the other end since they said it was not included. Then someone turned up with an amended letter that did not include this (or the first $10 free laundry item) stating those were for a higher rate than I was paying. I have organised for the pay service, which is B500 per 24 hours. I decided to wait till the next morning before logging on.

We all met back at the Club room for several more drinks. Since the happy hour is in fact 2 hours long, we might almost be able to make up the Internet cost in free drinks. It’ll be a challenge worth taking anyway. After a 5 minute warning they took the drinks away and we all went back to being miserable again.

We then headed across the road to buy some mixers and water and then on to Anna’s, a Thai restaurant not far away, down a minor street. Not a place I’d have stumbled on myself so it is good to travel with people who’ve been here before. The food was superb and the service was also top class. They quickly moved us to a larger table when it became available and came out with a “birthday cake” – or at least a slice of cake with a candle - and half a dozen waiters sang “Happy Birthday” to Pauline. Since it’s not until December, it was a set-up by Kellie. Apparently, the staff do this all the time to random diners.

We all finished up back in one room for a few more drinks before heading to bed. So far, at least the drinking prediction has come true.