Bangkok's Charms

by Erik Olsen on

I lived
in Bangkok years ago, and I have to say I have mixed feelings about the city. On the one hand, it is a sprawling,
polluted, congested, smelly, sin-addled place. On the other hand, it can be one of the most exotic and interesting
cities you will ever visit. I lived up Sukhumvit road and lived among a bunch of Thai middle class folks who generally
worked for the government or for the nearby oil company, whose building was tucked away behind iron gates, and whose
gleaming glass facade was totally incongruous to the huts that squatted next to it. Then there was the guy selling
roasted cockroaches right outside the new McDonalds. Or was it Burger king? I forget, but you get the point.

Alas, such are Bangkok’s charms. And so it’s always cool to read about others’ experiences in that
city, for example, in this piece over at the Globe and
Mail, wherein writer Guy Nicholson waxes positive (with reservation) about Bangkok’s charms. It’s funny too.
He returns to Bangkok with his wife after ten years since he had last visited it. I did almost the same thing. I
returned with my wife, as well after about eight years. And I do have to say that the city changed a lot. But it also
didn’t change that much. It was a wee bit cleaner, and the new train really seems to have helped the traffic
situation. But the cockroach sellers are still there and the city still had a decidedly rancid Third World fragrance.
But I remain a fan, and probably always will.

Thailand Tent Luxury

by Neil Woodburn on

One of the
ways I’ve learned to discern a person’s style of travel is to ask, “Do you prefer a tent, or the Four
Seasons?”  This will usually tell me if I can afford to travel with them in the future.

But now, the line between these two extremes is no longer so clear-cut.  At the beginning of the year, the
upscale Four Seasons hotel chain opened their newest venture: a tent resort in the Golden Triangle of Thailand. 

While a “tent resort” may seem like an oxymoron, I trust it will be like no camping trip you’ve
ever been on.  Each of the fifteen tents in the compound have all the amenities you’d expect from the Four
Seasons, including copper bathtubs and high speed internet access.  Indeed, the photos on the website make each
“tent” look like a top-of-the-line suite with the only difference being canvas walls where the plaster
should go. 

Check it out for yourself.  The Four Seasons is currently offering an introductory deal that
includes three nights in the tents and another two in their Chang Mai resort for just $1,131.  

 

Word for the Travel Wise (01/06/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Don’t you think time has come for us to travel to Southeast Asia? I know I’ve told my story time and time again. You know the one where I had my bags all packed to go and three days before my flight in the tsunami’s worked a most wicked set of waves upon the coasts of several countries. Long story short, my flight along with my travel plans were re-routed to Costa Rica, devastation climbed to an unforgettable high, and while I was praying for others, counting my own blessings and placing Thailand back on the list of future destinations to visit my mind couldn’t help drifting towards the east. As my travel buddy and I sat on the ‘playa’ of Manuel Antonio, C.R. we kept imagining what the beaches we had long planned to frolic on in Krabi, Phuket, and Ko Samui would be like.

Today’s word is a Thai word:

hàat sai – beach

Several news reports state the current condition of Thailand post-tsunami as being ready and able to accommodate tourists in the same manner before hand. People are encouraged to visit for the opportunity at one of the most memorable and rewarding travel experiences of a lifetime and also to help restore the decline in tourism. Do your research, start by learning a few words and phrases. We’ve covered beach or ‘hàat sai’ today, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy during your stay.

Learning Thai dot com is a great starting point for some basic Thai words and referrals to additional resources. For a brief history of the language, Thai alphabet, and pronunciation guide go to Omniglot. (A pretty clean and simple site with good details.) Another good source would be the Pimsleur language audio CD’s. I used these to prepare for my trip and they worked great! Before making the purchase look into your local library. There are several libraries carrying these audio CD’s and many more.