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Bangkok Airways Airbus A320 Economy Class from BKK to REP

Map Below: Bangkok Airways A320 BKK-REP


FLIGHT: BKK-REP
DATE: Wednesday, March 19, 2014
CARRIER: Bangkok Airways (PG)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 907
AIRCRAFT: Airbus A320
CABIN: Economy (single cabin aircraft)
SEATS: 16E, 16F
DEPARTURE GATE: D1
DEPARTURE- SCHEDULED: 5:40pm // ACTUAL: 5:46pm
ARRIVAL- SCHEDULED: 6:40pm // ACTUAL: 6:27pm
DURATION: 41 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 207 miles

This was our first experience flying a regional Asian carrier and we were impressed. The boarding was efficient and prompt. The legroom was reasonable. There were twice as many FAs as would be on a comparable US-based flight and they were far more friendly. And, we were served a light meal.

Our flight was probably less than half-full. So, we wound-up with a row of 3 seats for the 2 of us. This was a very short flight. Since we landed around sunset, we were treated to some very beautiful scenery out the window.

Photo Below: The Gate for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Gate Area for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: The Airplane for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: The Seating in the Gate Area for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Boarding for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Seating On-Board Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Our Seats for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Legroom for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Looking Forward On-Board Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: In-Flight Magazine for Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: In-Flight Snack Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: In-Flight Snack on Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Sunset Viewed before Landing in REP on Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320


Photo Below: Deplaning in REP from Bangkok Airways Flt. PG907 – A320

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Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia

HOTEL: Lotus Blanc Resort
NIGHTS/DATES: 1 Night - Wednesday, March 19, 2014 to Thursday, March 20, 2014
LOYALTY PROGRAM STATUS: None/N.A.
ROOM: Suite 3
ROOM TYPE: Large Suite with 1.5 Bathrooms
COMPLIMENTARY ROOM UPGRADE FROM RESERVED TYPE?: Yes

With the prior 3 nights spent on an overnight flight and in 2 different hotels, we were eagerly anticipating being able to get settled into a hotel for 3 nights because I booked the Borei Angkor Resort & Spa for 3 nights. We promptly made our way through immigration and collected our checked bags and began looking for a sign with our name as I had pre-arranged a complimentary airport transfer with the hotel. We saw our name typed (not written) on a nice sign being held by a man wearing a suit. Clearly, I had made a good hotel recommendation so far if they put touches like this on their service. However, the man introduced himself as the Manager-on-Duty and mentioned that “we have something to discuss.” Uh-oh, that doesn’t sound good!

Once in the car, the MOD mentioned that the Borei Angkor was completely sold-out and one guest had heldover (purportedly because the guest was in the hospital) and we were the last to arrive that evening…I knew where this was going! In true FT fashion, my first thought was not how unfortunate for that guest, but, rather, how fortunate this could be for us (in terms of compensation)! We were informed that the owners of the Borei Angkor also own the Lotus Blanc and had arranged for us to have a suite in the latter for that night and they would move our belongings to the Borei Angkor the following morning (i.e., we were being walked). Also, we were told that we were welcome to either a complimentary dinner or massage at the Borei Angkor during our stay. I thought they may also refund the charge for the first night; but, they didn’t. We pushed a little bit and also received a $10 discount on a full-day car hire and tour guide for the following day. Since we were in Cambodia, I had no idea what the market or requirements were for being walked at this non-chain (but 4/5-star) hotel. I did know that this was substantially less compensation than I would have received at a Marriott as a Platinum MR member.

We took being walked in-stride since we travel enough to know that things often don’t follow precisely according to plan.

We arrived at the hotel at nearly 8:00pm and arranged to be picked-up at 5:30am for our full-day tour starting with an Angkor Wat sunrise. We were brought complimentary lemongrass tea in champagne glasses (a nice touch) and offered cool towels. We were escorted up to our suite, which was way bigger than we needed for the one night and found it tastefully decorated. However, both the hotel common areas and the room are finished in a bit of a minimalist way that made them seem a bit bare/empty to me.

Given the hour of the evening and the early start to our tour the next morning, we chose to eat dinner in the hotel restaurant. We were the only ones in the restaurant and didn’t see any other guests during check-in or our walk to the restaurant; so, we thought the hotel may have been empty (it wasn’t – the lobby was packed in the morning for others going to see the sunrise). The dinner was excellent and the prices were very reasonable.

Photo Below: Entrance to Suite 3 - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Living Room of Suite - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Living Room of Suite (View 2) - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Suite Bedroom - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Primary Bathroom Sink (1 of 2) and Shower - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: ˝ Bathroom Near Room Entry - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Interior Courtyard Grounds - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Fish Amok - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Meal Sides - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Our Uninvited Additional Room Guest - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: In-Room Fresh Fruit - Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia

HOTEL: Borei Angkor Resort & Spa
NIGHTS/DATES: 2 Nights - Thursday, March 20, 2014 to Saturday, March 22, 2014
LOYALTY PROGRAM STATUS: None/N.A.
ROOM: 250
ROOM TYPE: Premier Room (Landmark)
COMPLIMENTARY ROOM UPGRADE FROM RESERVED TYPE?: Yes

Our 4th hotel in 4 nights! After our full-day tour, we arrived at the hotel in the late afternoon. Check-in was easy and, as promised when we were walked the night before, our bags were waiting in our room. Also waiting for us was a bottle of champagne on ice with some champagne flutes. We had booked the least expensive room (a “Deluxe Room”) and were upgraded to a room with a pool-facing balcony (a Premier Room (Landmark)).

The room and hotel were quite luxuriously finished with touches of rich woods and nice tile. There was also a fair amount of artwork and decorative and accent pieces completing each space. The lobby also had a television running the list of arriving and departing flights from REP and their status. The bathroom in the room was a good size and the balcony was convenient. I was glad I had chosen to book this hotel but a bit disappointed we didn’t get to enjoy it all 3 nights.

The pool looked so inviting (it was 106 degrees Fahrenheit) that we did something we rarely do outside of hotels at beach locations – we went for a swim and lounged around the pool until we were ready for dinner.

For dinner, we decided to use our offered complimentary dinner (for being walked the prior night) by enjoying the traditional music and dancing performance dinner the hotel hosts. I did learn that I like Khmer food more than Thai food during the course of our visit to Cambodia and the dinner performance was nice to help provide us with a bit of background on the culture.

Photo Below: Hotel Lobby - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Hotel Lobby Stairway - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Guest Room - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Guest Room (View 2) - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Complimentary Champagne in Guest Room - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Guest Room Balcony - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Guest Room Bathtub - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Guest Room Bathroom - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Guest Room Bathroom (View 2) - Premier Room (Landmark), Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Apsara Ballet Performance and Dinner – Pavillion - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Apsara Ballet Performance and Dinner – Pavillion - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Apsara Ballet Performance and Dinner – Pavillion - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Apsara Ballet Performance and Dinner – Pavillion - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Complimentary Breakfast Buffet - Borei Angkor Resort & Spa, Siem Reap, Cambodia

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2 Full Days in Siem Reap and Environs

Our itinerary in Cambodia was relatively full. We didn’t plan it in detail like with some other destinations. Instead, we knew the primary attractions that we put on our “must visit” list and sort-of saw where the day took us. After leaving the Lotus Blanc hotel, we began our first day by watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat and a tour of Angkor Wat. Next, we toured Angkor Thom and spent most of our time in Prasat Bayon. Then, we walked around the tree-covered complex at Ta Prohm followed by a late lunch. After lunch, we decided to head out to Banteay Srei before returning to Siem Reap and the Borei Angkor hotel.

We began our second day with a remork moto (tuk tuk) out to Tonle Sap Lake and a tour of the floating village (if you do this, please read up on related scams first) followed by lunch on Pub Street in Siem Reap. In the afternoon, we hired a car to take us to Beng Mealea (where we were able to get a blue-shirted worker to give us a guided tour) and bring us into Siem Reap town for us to grab dinner and shop a bit in the Angkor Night Market (T-Shirts for $2.50 anyone?).

Photo Below: Sunrise Behind Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Sunrise Behind Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Entering Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Jungle Surrounding Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Entry Pathway to Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Angkor Wat Grounds – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Central Tower Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Temple Complex of Angkor Wat – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Bayon Temple - Angkor Thom – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Giant Faces of Bayon Temple – Angkor Thom – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: More Giant Faces of Bayon Temple – Angkor Thom – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Looking Back at Angkor Thom – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Angkor Thom – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Remork Motos (tuk tuk) at Angkor Thom – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree-Covered Ta Prohm Temple – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree-Covered Ta Prohm Temple – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree-Covered Ta Prohm Temple – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree-Covered Ta Prohm Temple – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Ta Prohm – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Ta Prohm – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Ta Prohm – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Khmer Food Lunch – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Countryside – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Countryside – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Statue at Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Temple Complex of Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Banteay Srei – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Fields of Rice – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Lotus Fields – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Roadside Bars – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Homes on Stilts – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tonle Sap Lake – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Floating Village on Tonle Sap Lake – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Boats on Tonle Sap Lake– Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Country Corner Market – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Everything, Including the Kitchen Sink – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree Growing on Temple – Beng Mealea – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Beng Mealea Temple Complex –Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Walkway through the Center of Beng Mealea – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Old-Growth Trees at Beng Mealea – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree-Covered Walls of Beng Mealea – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree-Covered Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree on Beng Mealea Temple Complex – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Tree atop Beng Mealea – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Roadside Food Stands – Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Angkor Night Market – Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Angkor Night Market – Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Pub Street – Siem Reap, Cambodia


Photo Below: Crowded, Narrow Streets – Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Bangkok Airways Check-in and Lounge at REP

On Saturday morning, we took the pre-arranged complimentary shuttle from the hotel to the airport. We found a somewhat long, but moving, check-in line for Bangkok Airways. However, there was no line at security or immigration; so, we were in the terminal well before our scheduled departure.

Before leaving, I could not find any information about whether Bangkok Airways has a lounge in REP. Well, they do. It is very small and the chairs are less comfortable than the chairs in the terminal, but, there are complimentary drinks and snacks. We sat for a while before moving out into the terminal area and waiting to board our flight.

Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Check-In Line – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)


Photo Below: Airport Terminal – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)


Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Lounge Entrance – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)


Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Lounge Seating – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)


Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Lounge Snacks and Drinks – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)


Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Lounge Snacks – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)

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Bangkok Airways Airbus A320 Economy Class from REP to BKK and BKK to HKT

Map Below: Bangkok Airways A320 REP-BKK


FLIGHT: REP-BKK
DATE: Saturday, March 22, 2014
CARRIER: Bangkok Airways (PG)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 924
AIRCRAFT: Airbus A320
CABIN: Economy (single cabin aircraft)
SEATS: 21A, 21B
DEPARTURE GATE: 5
DEPARTURE- SCHEDULED: 9:50am // ACTUAL: 10:12am
ARRIVAL- SCHEDULED: 10:45am // ACTUAL: 11:01am
DURATION: 49 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 207 miles

………….continuing as………….

Map Below: Bangkok Airways A320 BKK-HKT


FLIGHT: BKK-HKT
DATE: Saturday, March 22, 2014
CARRIER: Bangkok Airways (PG)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 924 (continued)
AIRCRAFT: Airbus A320
CABIN: Economy (single cabin aircraft)
SEATS: 21A, 21B
DEPARTURE GATE: B2A
DEPARTURE- SCHEDULED: 12:30pm // ACTUAL: 1:51pm
ARRIVAL- SCHEDULED: 1:55pm // ACTUAL: 3:01pm
DURATION: 1 hour 10 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 419 miles

Our flight from REP to BKK was delayed enough that we realized we probably wouldn’t have time for any lounge in BKK. But, since PG serves light meals on flights, this wasn’t going to be a problem. We boarded by the rear staircase. Again on this flight, the legroom was reasonable, the service was good and we were served a light meal. The REP-BKK flight was a little more than half-full. Upon landing in BKK, we were not parked at a jetway. Instead, we needed to be bussed to the terminal, which took a bit of extra time; so, since our continuing flight remained on time, we didn’t have time to visit any lounge in BKK.

We made it to our gate in BKK for the continuation of flight 924 to Phuket a bit before boarding was scheduled to begin; but, boarding didn’t begin on time. We noticed it was a different plane too. Shortly thereafter it started raining and thunderstorming (lightning and thunder); so, the continuation of our flight was delayed more than an hour, which meant no pool/beach time for us upon arrival in Phuket before sunset. This leg was completely full and had a lot of children on-board, which was different from all of the previous legs of this trip.

HKT was the most crowded/chaotic airport we visited during our trip. Everyone seemed to be confused and we were too. It was difficult to find a taxi willing to use a meter to take us to Panwa Beach; but, eventually, we did and it saved us ~100 THB.

Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Gate 5 Seating Area – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP) - PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Gate 5 – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP) - PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Bangkok Airways Awaiting Plane – Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP) - PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Boarding Stairs – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Our Seats – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Leg Room – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Cabin – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: A/C Mist Blowing Pre-Departure – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Snack – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Snack – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Aisle – PG924 REP-BKK (A320)


Photo Below: Bus from Airplane to Terminal in BKK – PG924 (A320)


Photo Below: BKK Terminal during Layover – PG924 (A320)


Photo Below: BKK Terminal Signage during Layover – PG924 (A320)


Photo Below: BKK Gate B2A – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Gate B2A in BKK Seating Area – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Airplane in BKK before Rain – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Airplane in BKK after Rain – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: On-Board – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Our Seats – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Leg Room – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Inactive Radio and Headphone Jack – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Typical Seats – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Moist Towel – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Cabin – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Snack – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Complimentary Tea & Coffee – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: View of Island in Andaman Sea – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Arrival in HKT – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Airplane on the Ground in Phuket – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)


Photo Below: Phuket Baggage Claim – PG924 BKK-HKT (A320)

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Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach

HOTEL: Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach
NIGHTS/DATES: 2 Nights - Saturday, March 22, 2014 to Monday, March 24, 2014
LOYALTY PROGRAM STATUS: Club Carlson Gold
ROOM: 6405 (Moved from 6402, which had no A/C)
ROOM TYPE: Junior Suite
COMPLIMENTARY ROOM UPGRADE FROM RESERVED TYPE?: Yes

The taxi from HKT across the island took about an hour to reach the hotel. The lobby, restaurant and check-in area have an open-air concept, so, we were distracted by the water while checking-in. My gold status was recognized at check-in and I inquired about the on-property benefits. Essentially, I was told that there wasn’t much beyond a room upgrade and the 15% Gold Status F&B discount. But, the room upgrade was wonderful! Also, the hotel amenities were pretty good and there were convenience stores nearby for inexpensive sundries. One of the nice benefits, especially for this being a resort is that the front desk will loan DVDs to guest for free and each room has a DVD player (we watched Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in honor of our recent time at the on-location film sites in Cambodia).

We booked a Deluxe Room but were upgraded to a Junior Suite. The room into which we were upgraded was fantastic! It was a gigantic corner room with an enormous bathroom with the largest shower I’ve seen in a hotel room (and separate spa tub with a view of the beach!) and large outdoor patio (complete with private outdoor shower). However, the A/C wasn’t working in that room…so, we had to be moved into the same room-type (luckily) just down the hall. The television spun around completely, which made watching TV from the bed, desk, or daybed/sofa equally comfortable (not that we watched it much considering the beautiful sparkling waters of Thailand were outside the window). The patio had a table and chairs and daybeds/lounge chairs (as well as a pergola).

The hotel property is more expansive than it first appears upon arrival because it slopes down to the beach from the lobby level. There are multiple pools, restaurants and bars and on-property food prices weren’t too bad.

One benefit of the hotel’s location is the walking distance to the waterfront esplanade with restaurants, views, and the aquarium. Since our room faced east and the esplanade faces west, we were able to watch both sunrise (from the room) and sunset (from the esplanade) above the water most days.

Photo Below: Bed – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Sitting Area – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Patio – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Patio View – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Bed – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: View from Patio – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Desk – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Bathroom Tub – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Separate Outdoor Shower – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Bathroom Vanity – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Closet between Room and Bathroom – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Bathroom Shower – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Hotel Grounds - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Beach View - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Beach - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Lower Pool - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Pre-Dawn - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: Sunrise - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach


Photo Below: View from Patio – Guest Room - Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach

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2+ Days in Phuket

We had 2 nights and just over 2 full days in Phuket. With our inbound flight delay, we were just able to catch sunset after checking-in on our first night. We spent our first full day on a full day trip to the Phi Phi islands. And, we spent our final day (before beginning to make our way back to the US) lounging around the hotel.

Photo Below: View from Panwa Beach Esplanade – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: View from Panwa Beach Esplanade – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Boat for Our Phi Phi Islands Day Trip – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Limestone Cliffs Surrounding Maya Beach – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Maya Beach, Phi Phi Islands – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Maya Beach – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Boat on Phi Phi Islands – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Monkey Beach – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Monkey Beach – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Phi Phi Islands – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Phi Phi Islands – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Limestone Island – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Boat – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Sunset from Panwa Beach Esplanade – Phuket, Thailand


Photo Below: Sunset from Panwa Beach Esplanade – Phuket, Thailand

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Thai Airways Check-In and Lux – The Luxury Lounge at HKT

We arranged for a taxi to take us to take us back to the airport about 48-hour after checking-in to our hotel in Phuket. Upon arriving back at the Phuket airport, we were not sure whether we would be able to check in for our separate BKK-(TG)-CDG-(UA)-ORD flight itinerary; but, we were able to both check-in and check our bags through without an issue.

The economy check-in line was quite long and moved very slowly. However, there was no line for business class check-in. Since we were connecting to a business class itinerary (and I was trying to check-in for that itinerary too), even though we were on economy HKT-BKK tickets, I wandered over to the business class check-in to inquire about checking-in. I was promptly accepted and before I knew it we were checked-in for both our HKT-BKK and BKK-CDG-ORD itineraries with our bags going through (although, they were unable to print the ticket for the CDG-ORD leg on UA). We confirmed that we would not leave the airport in BKK; so, we were given the stickers designating international departure from HKT and we had to make our way to the gate through the “International” departures hallway.

It didn’t take very long before we made it through security and immigration and to the gate area. All of the gate areas by our gate share a giant communal area of seating. So, we decided to find the “Lux – The Luxury Lounge” where we could enter with our Priority Pass Select memberships…but, at first, we couldn’t find it! I looked one more time and found it in the far corner almost hidden behind the Thai lounge.

We found the Lux lounge was empty. But, the food and beverages were well-stocked. The lounge is quite small and has glass on three sides, some of which look into the general seating area for departures. So, the lounge certainly doesn’t feel very secluded. We enjoyed the lounge for about 20 minutes before heading to our departure gate for our HKT-BKK flight.

Photo Below: Thai Airways Economy Check-In – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)


Photo Below: Shared Gate Area – International Departures – Gate 8 – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)


Photo Below: Lux - The Luxury Lounge – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)


Photo Below: Beverages in Lux – The Luxury Lounge – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)


Photo Below: Food Selections – Lux – The Luxury Lounge – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)


Photo Below: Seating – Lux – The Luxury Lounge – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)


Photo Below: Self-Serve Beverage Cans – Lux – The Luxury Lounge – Phuket, Thailand (HKT)

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Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class from HKT to BKK

Map Below: Thai Airways Economy HKT-BKK


FLIGHT: HKT-BKK
DATE: Monday, March 24, 2014
CARRIER: Thai Airways (TG)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 218
AIRCRAFT: Boeing 777-300ER
CABIN: Economy
SEATS: 54B, 54C
DEPARTURE GATE: Gate 8
DEPARTURE- SCHEDULED: 7:15p // ACTUAL: 7:35pm
ARRIVAL- SCHEDULED: 8:40pm // ACTUAL: 8:38pm
DURATION: 1 hour 3 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 419 miles

The sun was setting as we made our way from the departure area to our seats on the plane. Once onboard, we made our way back to our seats and settled in for the first of our 3 flights and approximately 31 hours of traveling back to Chicago.

We found the seats a bit tight – with limited pitch made even tighter by the footrest that was a bit in the way when folded up (although, I think I would like the footrest for overnight flights in economy). The flight was nearly (if not completely) full.

Although the flight was short, we did receive a small snack/meal. The IFE was not able to be changed from the flightmap.

Photo Below: Our Plane - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Our Seats - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Our Seats (Emergency Exit Behind) - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Leg Room - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: IFE Remained on Flight Map - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Leg Room using Footrest - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Cabin - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Snack - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)


Photo Below: Snack - Economy Class – TG218 (777-300ER)

FindAWay

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Spa and Royal Silk Lounge at BKK

We landed in BKK and made our way directly to the Royal Orchid Spa in Concourse D. We knew that, because we were flying in Royal Silk, we were entitled to a 30-minute neck and shoulder massage or food massage and that they took business class passengers on a first-come-first-serve basis.

After putting our names on the list for neck and shoulder massages, we were welcomed into the waiting area and offered cool towels and iced tea. We weren’t waiting very long before we were invited back to private open rooms for our massages. I can’t comment on the quality since I’ve never had a neck and shoulder massage before; but, it certainly relaxed me before our overnight flight.

Next, we made our way to the nearby Royal Silk Lounge at Concourse D, Level 3. It is very large; it is 2,410 sq.m. and is allocated to accommodate 314 passengers. And, it was P-A-C-K-E-D! We did have a couple of hours to enjoy the lounge before our flight, so, we explored it. The food offerings were adequate; but, a bit less expansive than I expect in a lounge of this size.

While passing time until our flight was nearing boarding, I was checking on the local news and weather back in Chicago and learned about the CTA blue line derailment at O’Hare airport. Since we were planning to take that home from the airport, we need to change those plans! We did need to pick up our boarding pass for CDG-ORD on UA from the TG desk in BKK before getting to the gate since the check-in agent at HKT was unable to print it for us.

Photo Below: Entrance to Royal Orchid Spa – Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Waiting Area in Royal Orchid Spa – Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Iced Tea and Towel at Royal Orchid Spa – Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Waiting Area in Royal Orchid Spa – Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Entrance to Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Seating in Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Kids Room in Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Food in Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Self-Serve Drinks in Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Self-Serve Food in Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Desk in Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)


Photo Below: Royal Silk Lounge – Concourse D, Level 3, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport (BKK)

FindAWay

Thai Airways A380-800 Business (Royal Silk) Class from BKK to CDG

Map Below: Thai Airways Business BKK-CDG


FLIGHT: BKK-CDG
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
CARRIER: Thai Airways (TG)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 930
AIRCRAFT: Airbus A380-800
CABIN: Business
SEATS: 15K, 16J
DEPARTURE GATE: C7
DEPARTURE- SCHEDULED: 12:10am // ACTUAL: 12:32am
ARRIVAL- SCHEDULED: 6:50am // ACTUAL: 6:25apm
DURATION: 11 hours 53 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 5,965 miles

This was our first A380 flight; so, we looked forward to it. And, it didn’t disappoint. The crowd that gathered in the departure area was massive as there were so many flying on this fully-double-decked plane. The plane out the window was also imposing. Boarding started a bit late; but, we were among some of the first to board.

The plane has separate ramps from the jetway to the upper and lower decks with good signage. After finding our seats, we settled in for our nearly 12-hour flight. The interior was more colorful than average. The double panes of windows left much more space in between than other planes. This made looking out the window a bit difficult and limited the view.

The business class cabin was relatively full. The seats were very comfortable while seated and fairly comfortable while sleeping. The IFE had a very good selection. The food was decent; but, we weren’t overly hungry, which was good as the portions were not very generous. I was able to sleep enough on the flight.

I did find the footwell small and, with respect to the “K” seats (and I assume the “A” seats) in business, my seat was a bit of squeeze to get to from the aisle; but, it was also nice not to be bumped by passengers moving down the aisle.

The seats did have copious amounts of storage. The seat also had a 3-point seatbelt that needed to be used during take-off and landing (however, once airborne, the over-the-shoulder portion could be disconnected). One of the FAs gave Mrs. FindAWay an orchid boutonniere (which was later admired by an FA on our UA flight).

Photo Below: Thai A380 on Ground in BKK


Photo Below: Gate C7- Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Our A380 Plane to Paris Sitting at Gate C7- Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Our A380 Waiting at Gate C7- Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: A380 at Gate C7- Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: The Crowded Waiting Area at Gate C7- Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: The Dual Jetways to Board Lower and Upper Levels - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Upper Deck Cabin - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat 16J - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat 15K- Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat 15K - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat 15K Leg Room - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Pillow and Blanket - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat Desk - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Narrow Access to “K” Seats - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Storage between Seat and Window - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat and IFE Controls - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Desklamp - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat Footwell - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: IFE View - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Cabin View - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Cabin View - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Safety Instructions - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Coat Hook - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Power Outlet - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Pre-Departure Drink - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Amenity Kit - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Headphones - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Drink Menu - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Drink Menu - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Food Menu - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Food Menu - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Food Menu - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Food Menu - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Leg Room - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Seat Fully Flat - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Dinner Appetizer - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Dinner Appetizer - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Dinner Main Course - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Fruit and Cheese Plate - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Dinner Dessert - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Breakfast Fruit Plate - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: Breakfast - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)


Photo Below: A380 on Ground in Paris - Business (Royal Silk) Class – TG930 BKK-CDG (A380-800)

FindAWay

Star Alliance Lounge Paris and ICare Lounge at CDG T1

We were looking forward to showering in the Star Alliance Lounge Paris after our approximately 15 hours of traveling. However, with the renovations were ongoing in the lounge, the showers were not available. In fact, more than half of the lounge was closed. The lounge was so crowded because of the reduction of space that we left in order to visit the ICare lounge.

We found the ICare lounge, although smaller, to be far less busier. It also had a decent view of plants outside and pleasant interior decorating. The wifi was good. However, there were only limited food offerings. Overall, as the ICare lounge remained relatively empty during our stay, we were happy we made the switch.

Photo Below: Entrance to Star Alliance Lounge – Paris (CDG T1)


Photo Below: Confined and Crowded Star Alliance Lounge – Paris (CDG T1)


Photo Below: Self-Serve Beverages Star Alliance Lounge – Paris (CDG T1)


Photo Below: Self-Serve Drinks Star Alliance Lounge – Paris (CDG T1)


Photo Below: Food Selection Star Alliance Lounge – Paris (CDG T1)


Photo Below: Food Selection Star Alliance Lounge – Paris (CDG T1)


Photo Below: Entrance to ICare Lounge at CDG T1


Photo Below: Main Seating Area - ICare Lounge at CDG T1


Photo Below: Self-Serve Food and Drink - ICare Lounge at CDG T1


Photo Below: Seating - ICare Lounge at CDG T1

FindAWay

United Airlines 767-300 BusinessFirst from CDG to ORD

Map Below: United Airlines CDG-ORD


FLIGHT: CDG-ORD
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
CARRIER: United Airlines (UA)
FLIGHT NUMBER: 986
AIRCRAFT: Boeing 767-300
CABIN: BusinessFirst
SEATS: 7J, JK
DEPARTURE GATE: Gate 31
DEPARTURE- SCHEDULED: 11:40am // ACTUAL: 11:55am
ARRIVAL- SCHEDULED: 3:05pm // ACTUAL: 2:25pm
DURATION: 8 hours 30 minutes
MILES FLOWN: 4,706 miles

We made our way to our gate shortly before boarding and found that we would need to go outside in the rain to board. The 767 looked quite small after flying the A380. The gate area was tiny and offered little seating. Once we were called to board, the GA wouldn’t accept our tickets because they were printed on Thai Airways paper. So, they pulled us from the boarding line over to the nearby gate counter to print us new tickets. With those in-hand, we proceeded out into the rain and up the stairs onto the plane.

We walked through the small GlobalFirst cabin and found our seats in the BusinessFirst cabin. The configuration of the BusinessFirst cabin includes many rear-facing seats. When we selected our seats, we purposely avoided those and chose forward-facing seats. I’m not sure it would have made much difference though.

The seat was much more comfortable than I expected. It has quite a bit of cushion and is longer than other business class seats when fully flat. There was also more width than on other business class seats.

However, the food (other than the sundae) was not as good as typical business class fare (the portions were very large though). And, the wine options (which did not include the full list on the menu according to the FA) were poorer.

Still, we had a very enjoyable flight as the IFE was very good and the screen very large. Service was also far more attentive than I typically receive on United. One of the FAs liked the orchid Mrs. FindAWay had from the Thai FA and when Mrs. FindAWay mentioned it was from an FA on Thai, the UA FA brought a pair of UA plastic wings. Overall, it was a nice final flight for our trip.

With the CTA blue line derailment at O’Hare airportjust about 36-hours before our arrival, we opted for a taxi home!

Photo Below: Gate 31, CDG T1 – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Our Plane at Gate 31, CDG T1 – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Boarding Stairway – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Our Seats – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Our Seats – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Cabin – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Seats Facing Both Forward and Aft – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: My Seat – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Seat Controls – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Leg Room – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: IFE Screen and Coat Hook – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Headphones – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: IFE Controls – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Drink Coaster – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Seat Fully-Flat – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Fully-Flat – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Pre-Departure Champagne – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Menu – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Menu – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Menu – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Menu – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Wine Menu – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Wine Menu – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Amenity Kit – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Amenity Kit Contents – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Wine and Nuts – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Salad and Bread – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Chicken and Rice – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Cheese Plate – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Ice Cream Sundae – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)


Photo Below: Lunch Prior to Arrival – BusinessFirst Class – UA986 CDG-ORD (767-300)

FindAWay

Final Thoughts

I took too many pictures…but, I hope you enjoyed them nonetheless. The trip went well; but, some of our delays and being walked from our Siem Reap hotel the first night put a bit of damper on our plans. Still, there were no cancelled flights, we had no immigration issues; so, we had no real complaints; and, other than the oppressive heat and humidity in Cambodia.

My Opinions on Aspects of Our Trip:

• Best Hotel Mattress: Grand Hyatt Taipei
• Worst Hotel Mattress: Lotus Blanc Resort, Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Best IFE: EVA Airways Royal Laurel Class
• Worst IFE: Bangkok Airways Economy Class (a bit unfair - no IFE)
• Best Airplane Seat for Sitting: United BusinessFirst Class (767-300)
• Worst Airplane Seat for Sitting: Thai Airways Economy Class (777-300ER)
• Best Airplane Seat for Sleeping: Thai Airways Royal Silk (Business) Class (A380-800)
• Most Surprising - Good: How Good Cambodian Food Is (I Can’t Find Khmer Food in Chicago…Let Me Know If I’m Missing a Restaurant!)
• Most Surprising - Bad: A Few of the Tourist Scams in Thailand and Cambodia
• Best Sight: Beng Mealea, Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Most Overrated: Floating Village, Tonle Sap Lake, Outside Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Most Underrated: Climb and Views Up Elephant Mountain, Taipei, Taiwan
• Most Memorable: Siem Reap – the Town and Environs

Thank you for reading my trip report -- I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed traveling on the trip!