From the Mersey to the Mekong.

[Alanslegal]

Super Trip Report - I've been a bit slow catching up on this, but Angkor Wat is amazing (but saddening at the same time given it is quickly degrading due to natural and man-made causes).

 

[drron]

LPQ-BKK.PG942 ETD-1155,ETA 1355.
Boarding-1215,pushback-1221.TO-1224.Landed-1410.At terminal-1428.
A very light load today.pax in 2A,B.5D.10C,D but full from row 13 back.
Before take off I switch to 3D.Good views of the Mekong and LP-

And over the village of the school visit-

About 30 minutes into the flight overfly a mining area and 10 minutes later a large dam with a lot of developement.Then lunch,but first the ceremonial foot shot-

The lunch is not too bad with a chicken salad(larb type) then a cold fried pork salad with sticky rice then a tapioca pudding with 1 lychee.Wine is also served.

After lunch I start reading the airline magazine.The title,Fah Thai, is a little suggestive and I have to pay a visit.The only loo is down the back.it also had a swivel type door that had come off its track-so you could open it from outside but not inside.Fortunately the FAs were listening for the plaintive knocking sounds.
The magazine also had an interesting golf article where Chinarat won the Queens cup Samui tournament with a score of 18 and 268 under pars.At about 1 hour out from BKK the captain came over the PA-"This is your Captain actually".It was to announce some turbulence.
A rather rough landing at BKK and parked on the tarmac about as far away from the International terminal as you can get.The bus was not long in coming and soon through Immigration and had our bag so soon off to the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit.
That is next.

 

[drron]

Before too long we are back at the SGS.Met at the door by an assistant manager with profuse apologies that they could only upgrade us to a Grande Deluxe room.However it is on the 30th floor and this high you get a view of the Chao Praya river-amazing how close it is.No problems as we still have all the plat benefits.So after a little retail therapy at Robinsons across the road it is down to the Living Room for happy hour.We are greeted by the staff and the Jazz trio-we really feel at home.
dinner we once again have in Basil and once again truly good food and tastes.We of course have the soft shell crab,a mango salad and a banana flower salad with prawns.Mrsdrron orders her favourite dessert-coconut creme brulee.I order the Hibiscus and Pandan crepes with mango ice cream.i make the mistake of giving mrsdrron a taste and we exchange dishes.
The second night we are offered an upgrade to a suite on the 22nd floor-we turn it down as the view from the 30th floor is great.As happy hour ends tonight the Pianist comes and has a talk to us-introduces us to some Cuban musicians sitting behind us.The girls bring us more wine even though service is meant to have finished.Definitely now part of the family.
On our 4th night we are once again contacted about a suite upgrade-we at first we turn it down but they implore us saying it is on floor 28 and still has the view-we check it out and it did so we change rooms-the staff pack us up and move everything.
This hotel has confirmed SPG as my preferred loyalty program.
Next-a little more of Bangkok.

 

[drron]

Must finish this TR as less than 4 weeks until my next trip.However with the current problems in Bangkok there is little point talking about the restaurants we went to as most were in the Siam Square area and may not survive the downturn in business.
So back to our experiences at the SGS.We prefer the Living Room for happy hour because of the Jazz trio that perform here.On our 4th night there was this very loud American sitting behind us trying to impress his new Thai girlfriend.Everyone in the room knew all about his amazing acheivments-a legend in his own mind.He was getting up everyone's nose.Now Mrsdrron is not one to be messed with.She had had enough,gets up and with her famous look tells him to take his woman elsewhere or if he wanted to stay to shut the**** up.Well not another sound from him.At the end of the session the trio come and chat with us wanting to know how she had got him to be quiet-they were impressed.At 8pm the girls ask us if we want another wine,of course.So they bring us 2 new glasses and a bottle of wine-they also appreciated mrsdrron's efforts.
After that The Director Of Staff Training comes over and has a chat.Tells us the staff have told her we are "nice" and can she talk to us about improvements in service.She listens to us for about 30 minutes.We find out she has also helped train the staff at LM Angkor so we feel she is doing a great job.
On our last night we go back to Basil for dinner.No sooner had we ordered when we are presented with complimentary wine.We have Seafood Pad Thai,Pork with ginger,asparagus and mushrooms plus coughet lobster with garlic and mushrooms.Now the lobster dish is much larger than previously and almost certainly has the meat of 2 lobsters.Once again we find the service and recognition at the SGS is fantastic.
Next check out and QF2 to SYD.

 

[drron]

Last day in BKK and down to brekky.As soon as we sit down the waiter we have a chat to most days comes over and asks us if we want our cappucinos now.Walk to the egg station and the cook nods and says-"turn over"(I have my eggs over easy).The second fellow starts slicing my ham.This definitely has become my favourite hotel.
Late checkout.At desk are 3 agents-1 checking out a couple,1 checking in a couple and the other on the phone.When she finishes I give her the room number-Oh sorry drron for keeping you waiting.then when the DC takes about 30seconds longer than usual more profuse apologies-other couples wondering who this important person is.
After finishing checkout mrsdrron is outside having a chat with several of the staff,taxi waiting and bags already loaded.This must be the best BKK taxi driver.At airport in 27 minutes,meter-222B.So he does get a tip.
Checkin is open and no line so off to security quickly-again no one else going through.As an aside not once on this trip did we take our"baggie" of liquids out of carry on and not once asked to do so.Straight through Immigration and off to the QF J lounge.Quiet initially and a reasonable selection of food and wine.We both have a french white.Then QF2 arrives and the lounge fills.The whole Kangaroo team and hangers on crowd the lounge.I do have to say though they were considerate-when using their phones they went outside and obeyed the no mobile signs unlike many of the suits.
Finally the flights home will be next and last.

 

[mm472]

Drron, you have had a GROUND HOG DAY
LOL

ps LOVE the TR !!!!

 

[drron]

QF2 BKK-SYD ETD-1725,ETA-0625
Boarding 1646.Push back-1730.TO-1740.Arr.-0610.Gate-0620.In taxi-0645.
Seats 13A,B upstairs on 747.Most of the kangaroos are upstairs as well.
Pre departure drinks offered are H2O and OJ.Champagne and Heineken were exhausted on sector from LHR.Offered peanuts but given mini pretzels.Ordered a Tim adams reisling-takes nearly 30 minutes to arrive.No menus for pax boarding in BKK until they find some after entree is served.First was a salad of green leaves-wilted,soft and obviously past their best-left.The entree was king prawn salad with spicy soy sauce(no other choice)-mrsdrron doesnt do spicy so the is 2 from 2 dishes sent back.The prawns are nice but very cold.
The bread rolls served with main course are stale and hard.I switch to the Penfolds Koonunga Hill.I have the Fillet of beef with Asian Mushroom ragout,fragrant rice and garden veggies.Veggies and rice still very cold.Beef though very well done.Mrsdrron has the crumbed chicken schnitzel with fresh lemon,potato puree and sugar snap peas.her veggies are also cold and chicken lukewarm.Reporting our problems with cold veggies not even a sorry.
Brekkie menus handed out with the main course-just a continental brekkie.Desserts are cheeses,Golden syrup sponge cake or fruit.i go for the safe option-cheese plus a Baileys Muscat.They cant get that wrong.Oh yes they can-not on the trolley and before FA gets back-turbulence and on comes the seat belt sign.They never appear.
So an F for QF catering and service.My international AA sectors for 2009 have had far better service and food.
I then go to sleep(no medication!) and am woken for brekkie.After that it is funny to watch the footballers go to the lavs in their trackies and reappear in suits plus ties.I go and have a chat to Alfie Langer being a fellow Caloundra resident.Its obvious he thinks he should know me.
After leaving the airport it is off to see the grandkids-we are on babysitting duty.Then to the SOTP at 1640-not a good experience apart from going to room in lift with Hulk Hogan.After this experience we have stayed at the 4 points or Mantra properties in Sydney.
Take my father out to lunch.he has been shunted into a nursing home-dont gert me started.A good place for lunch-Woolwich Pier hotel.He probably has affected many of your lives-he was in charge of Macot's International terminal and runway extension project-brought in on time and before Tullaramine which was started at the same time.
Then at last home.
QF528 SYD-BNE.ETD-1305.ETA-1335.
Board-1300.push back-1325.TO-1332.Land 1339.At gate-1342.
Unfortunately our bags magically make it on to QF 577 to PER then on QF 594 PER-BNE.And arrive home 24 hours later.All of this on mrsdrron's first sector as WP.
The End.
Next major trip May 2010-PVG and expo and a food lovers week in KUL.

 

[docjames]

Phew, got there in the end!

Just in time for the next trip to start....:mrgreen:

Enjoyed the TR and Pics.

That last flight shows that QF long haul is still patchy.....