Serpent Across the Mekong: SIN-BKK-VTE-LXG-CEI-BKK-SIN on TG/QV/FD
#16
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Mae Salong
Last edited by jpatokal; Mar 13, 2022 at 12:57 am
#17
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Mae Sai-Golden Triangle-Chiang Saen
Last edited by jpatokal; Mar 14, 2022 at 2:45 am
#18
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Chiang Rai
Last edited by jpatokal; Mar 16, 2022 at 8:24 am
#19
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Chiang Rai-Bangkok
Last edited by jpatokal; Mar 16, 2022 at 8:27 am
#20
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Bangkok
Last edited by jpatokal; Mar 16, 2022 at 8:33 am
#21
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Conclusion
With that, the Serpent Across the Mekong has swallowed its own tail and come full circle in Bangkok, and our story has come to an end.
Last edited by jpatokal; Mar 16, 2022 at 8:33 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: NW Plat (now they call it DL Diamond) 1MM, soon to be DL Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Dusit Gold
Posts: 2,706
Chaing Rai & Millenium Hilton
When in Chaing Rai, I always stay at the Dusit Island Resort. It used to be $US40 when I first started going there about 6 years ago. It presently is about 3200baht, but stay 3 nights and you get a suite, dinner, breakfast and sheets without wangcome for the same price. Become a free Dusit Gold and get it for much less if you can get there web-site to work. Book in Thailand and get if for even less.
The pool is very nice, but at the cheap rate, they do not heat it.
I've seen buses that will get you from the border without the long loop to Chang Rai plying the main road to Chiang Saen.
Sorry to see that you missed standing at the northernmost point in Thailand. If the crossing is open it is easy to get into Myanmar for a few hours. Just like Thailand but $5 more for the cost of the visa.
Hilton is very nice especially on the executive floor. It is probably the best SE Asian Hilton property about on a par with the KL Hilton. Yes, the Conrad Singapore is nicer but it is branded Conrad not Hilton. Next time splurge and put Z on the executive floor.
Enjoyed your report. Perhaps, I will fly into Luang Namtha on my next visit to Laos since you make it sound worthwhile.
The pool is very nice, but at the cheap rate, they do not heat it.
I've seen buses that will get you from the border without the long loop to Chang Rai plying the main road to Chiang Saen.
Sorry to see that you missed standing at the northernmost point in Thailand. If the crossing is open it is easy to get into Myanmar for a few hours. Just like Thailand but $5 more for the cost of the visa.
Hilton is very nice especially on the executive floor. It is probably the best SE Asian Hilton property about on a par with the KL Hilton. Yes, the Conrad Singapore is nicer but it is branded Conrad not Hilton. Next time splurge and put Z on the executive floor.
Enjoyed your report. Perhaps, I will fly into Luang Namtha on my next visit to Laos since you make it sound worthwhile.
Last edited by opushomes; Apr 29, 2009 at 4:13 pm
#23
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: Too many golds, no plat: OZ*G, AC*G, NZ*G, VA Gold, QF Gold, HH Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 5,350
We were somewhere around western Vientiane on the edge of the Mekong when the chili began to take hold. I remember saying something like, "I feel a bit lightheaded; maybe you should go sightseeing by yourself..." And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around me and the street was full of what looked like a tour group of retirees, all swooping and screeching and diving around the bus, which was parked in front of our hotel and not going anywhere. And a voice was whispering: "Sacre bleu! What are these animals?"
Then it was quiet again. "What the hell are you yelling about," Monsieur M muttered, staring up at the sun with his eyes closed and covered with wraparound Spanish sunglasses. "Never mind," I said. "It's your turn to head out." No point mentioning those retirees, I thought. The poor buzzard will see them soon enough.
Shortly earlier, the table of our restaurant had looked like a cooking class. The larb had two massive orange chillies, 75 pellets of chopped long bean, five coarsely shredded springs of mint, a shotglass half-full of fish sauce, and a whole galaxy of unidentifiable herbage... and also a liter bottle of Beerlao Dark, a mug of Beerlao Original, a lethal bowl of green papaya salad dressed with fermented crab, two tip khao full of sticky rice and a wine glass of orange juice, with a straw. All this had been rounded up after we finally reached the hotel, crossing the street in a frenzy of hunger -- from appetizers to mains, we picked up everything we could get our hands on. Not that we needed all that for lunch, but once you get locked into a serious Laotian meal, the tendency is to push it as far as you can.
The only thing that really worried me was the orange juice. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man who drinks orange juice in the land of Beerlao...
Then it was quiet again. "What the hell are you yelling about," Monsieur M muttered, staring up at the sun with his eyes closed and covered with wraparound Spanish sunglasses. "Never mind," I said. "It's your turn to head out." No point mentioning those retirees, I thought. The poor buzzard will see them soon enough.
Shortly earlier, the table of our restaurant had looked like a cooking class. The larb had two massive orange chillies, 75 pellets of chopped long bean, five coarsely shredded springs of mint, a shotglass half-full of fish sauce, and a whole galaxy of unidentifiable herbage... and also a liter bottle of Beerlao Dark, a mug of Beerlao Original, a lethal bowl of green papaya salad dressed with fermented crab, two tip khao full of sticky rice and a wine glass of orange juice, with a straw. All this had been rounded up after we finally reached the hotel, crossing the street in a frenzy of hunger -- from appetizers to mains, we picked up everything we could get our hands on. Not that we needed all that for lunch, but once you get locked into a serious Laotian meal, the tendency is to push it as far as you can.
The only thing that really worried me was the orange juice. There is nothing in the world more helpless and irresponsible and depraved than a man who drinks orange juice in the land of Beerlao...
I'm not sure how I missed this trip report when it originally appeared. It has just proved a very happy distraction from some very tedious work. Might we expect the welcome appearance of another jpatokal trip report any time soon?
Oh, and was Infinite Jest worth the significant investment of time (to read it) and energy (to lug around that massive tome)?
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Oh, and was Infinite Jest worth the significant investment of time (to read it) and energy (to lug around that massive tome)?
Last edited by jpatokal; Feb 23, 2022 at 7:57 am