The Drrons shoot a killer and other delights.

[drron]

We both got an amusee bouche and an appetiser that wasn't on the menu.

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Mrsdrron had the sea bream and lobster claw.

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I had the Thai meal but the FA obviously thought I was undernourished as she gave me the roasted garlic from the Japanese meal as well.

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The curry smelt wonderful so I was into it before I remembered to take a picture.

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And the accompaniments.

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And finished with a cheese plate.

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The plane appeared full.Certainly a peak at the J cabin didn't reveal any empty seats.
About 2 hours out we were given a card for 20Mb free wifi but I just wanted to go to sleep and managed 3 hours.I awoke 45 minutes out.
We were parked at the furthest gate from Immigration but it is the ground experience in BKK where TG shines.We were straight into a golf cart and to Immigration where you are taken into TG's Fast track petitioned off from all others.A TG lady guides you through and when you emerge a fellow takes your carry on and takes you to the carousel,gets a trolley,takes your bags off and takes you through customs to the waiting SGS limo.So 20 minutes after walking off the plane we are seated in the limo to be whisked off to the SGS.

 

[bPeteb]

So the second of our 2 days in Tokyo.It really doesn't matter how many times you have stayed here there is always something new to see or do.Today was going to be another day of firsts.Fortunately the weather has improved.First the floral display outside the hotel.
..
..
There is a moat here running past the Prince and the New Otani hotel.

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And if you look closely you can see a couple of fellows fishing.
Here's where they get the boats.One fellow hasn't gone far.

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The New Otani and the Prince Gallery Koichi hotels.
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Ah, now I realise how you knew how far we'd walked! Because we'd walked some of the same path and took some of the same pictures. I wish we'd gone into the palace now. There were lines of elderly people going in and we thought it must have been only opened to organised groups. Damn!! Thanks for your kind comments about my report Ron. I love reading your adventures tremendously.

 

[drron]

Our first day in Bangkok is usually a visit to mrsdrron's jeweller.Today was no different but first a Rossini's breakfast.

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After breakfast it was down to the river by the skytrain and then the Sheraton shuttle up river passing what many consider their favourite hotel.

.
The new Icon Siam has certainly progressed since our visit 4 months ago.

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Another new building reaching completion further up river.

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Then to the jewellers where mrsdrron is getting a ring remodeled.Whilst there 2 young Aussies with their father walk in looking for an engagement ring.Recognising our accent the father asked us if the jeweller was trustworthy.Mrsdrron asked her to produce mrsdrron's file.They were reassured.
In the River City mall they have opened a branch of the Chiang Mai elephant shop.Mrsdrron loves elephants.

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[drron]

Back to the hotel and then across to Terminal 21 and have some Michelin star street food at Chef Chan-chicken and rice and a selection of pork.

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That evening as usual in the Living Room listening to some light jazz.

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And mrsdrron reminds me that the free wine now goes for 4 hours.

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Back to the room and tonight is very clear giving us a good view of the upmarket surrounds-Soi Cowboy.

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Mrsdrron is happy that we have a suite upgrade this time.

.

 

[drron]

Ah, now I realise how you knew how far we'd walked! Because we'd walked some of the same path and took some of the same pictures. I wish we'd gone into the palace now. There were lines of elderly people going in and we thought it must have been only opened to organised groups. Damn!! Thanks for your kind comments about my report Ron. I love reading your adventures tremendously.

Thanks Pete.I also get a lot out of your TRs.Driving Hokkaido has firmed further.A couple of other gardens when we are back in Tokyo.Also interesting Hakone attractions but in September we are trying somewhere different to try and see Fujisan.We are trying a hotel outside of Fujikawaguchiko.
To the top of this map-
Google Maps.

 

[drron]

Our second day in Bangkok and it was time for pampering.We both had a manicure and pedicure in Terminal 21.I also had a haircut.
After that lunch in a Thai restaurant.

.

So my favourite Khao soi and mrsdrron had a Pad Thai.She obviously overpaid for it-$A5 but it was tastier than the $2 street food variant and came with prawns and a view.

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Now my Khao soi wasn't the best I had that was in a Marriott.None of the several street food versions were anywhere near the Marriott version.

That evening it was back to the Living Room and as we do most nights had a light meal.Shared a lobster risotto and gnocchi with truffles.Yum.

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[drron]

The last day in Bangkok.
Breakfast with an omelette for mrsdrron and a tasty mediterranean bake for me.

.

.
So it was back to the jewellers to pick up mrsdrron's ring.The jeweller was having a hard time with a group of 6 loud Phillipinos waving wads of pesos and trying to get discounts on gold chains.They kept interupting and trying to get her to make a mistake on the exchange rate for pesos.They didn't stand a chance.
Once again mrsdrron was very pleased with the work.We stopped at Siam for lunch at one of our favourite chains-Nara.

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Spring rolls and a refreshing pomelo salad to start.

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A really tasty spicy pork and green beans and a beautiful pad Thai.

Finishing off with breakfast before we left for BKK.My favourite oyster and chorizo omelette.

.

 

[drron]

A limo to BKK at 0800.Fortunately didn't have to wait for checkin to open as there was an earlier CX flight to HKG.Bags now weighing just over 25Kg each.But no problems with any check in.Quickly through security.Telling them I had a knee replacement meant just a quick feel of my right knee when the Xray machine beeped.No lines at Immigration so wandered off to the CX lounge.Only used it for the quiet and internet access.
At the gate you show your BP to enter the gate area.As a J pax you are shown a roped off area to wait in.Obviously elites get there as well as far more people than J seats.First time this has occurred.But it also meant a smaller bun rush when boarding commenced.

I like the CX A350 J seat.

.

.

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The first glass of champagne didn't touch the sides!

.
Now the menu and wine list.

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.

 

[drron]

CX 717. BKK-SIN. ETD-1150. Push back-1230. Take off-1249. A350.
ETA-1520. Landed-1541. At gate-1548. Seats-20D,G.
A little late as the plane arrived late.Push back.

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Time to leave the tug behind.

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Time to line up on the runway.

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[drron]

Take off.

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[drron]

Soon the clouds and smog obscured the view.

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Not much longer after that lunch was served.I had the stir fry.

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I had the shiraz with that.I then watched a weird but funny NZ film-Pork Pie.

The thing I dont like flying CX into SIN is their move to T4.It really is a long hike to connect with other OW airlines.Made worse by the fact they are allocated the furthest gates from the entrance and transfer point.At least an airside bus transfer now but it still is a long hike to connect to BA.

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks Pete.I also get a lot out of your TRs.Driving Hokkaido has firmed further.A couple of other gardens when we are back in Tokyo.Also interesting Hakone attractions but in September we are trying somewhere different to try and see Fujisan.We are trying a hotel outside of Fujikawaguchiko.
To the top of this map-
Google Maps.

Our friend was desperate to see the pink moss we'd missed on Hokkaido. They were in full bloom in the Seven Lakes area where you're going. Couldn't get there from Hakone except by hideously expensive private guide so she gave it a miss.

 

[bPeteb]

I then watched a weird but funny NZ film-Pork Pie.

The original is wayyyy weirder!

 

[drron]

Now this is the 4th BA sector in F in the last 6 months and I finally realised that it was not my camera causing blue pictures-

.
For take off and landing BA have blue lighting in the cabin so if it is dark outside everything looks blue.But the next morning as we prepared for landing and it was light outside only my feet are blue.

.
So now to the menu and wine list.Taken before departure the pics are all blue.Not when in the air but it became turbulent and you will see I just gave up trying to get clear pics.

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[drron]

BA15. SIN-SYD. ETD-1925. Push back-1946. Take off-2002. B777. Seats 2D,F.
ETA-0510. Landed-0502. At Gate-0505.
We had a fair time in the SIN BA lounge.We didn't go into the Concorde Bar as it is a bit claustrophobic.besides the food there is what is on the buffet outside just served on a plate.The lounge was initially nice and quiet but as it filled the noise levels rose and the internet got slower.Plane was a little late getting in.
As usual a hassle with security at the gate in SIN and this time particularly slow and officious.
Boarding again as usual for BA in SIN a real scrum.On boarding I just had a half glass of champagne and didn't imbibe any further.
Had the starter then the carrot and coughin soup which was bland and the cheese toast was forgotten.

.

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Now the FA on my side was of West Indian stock.I found it very hard to understand her and she wasn't going to try and understand me so I finished there and lay down to have 5 hours of fitful sleep.
Mrsdrron had the baked portobello mushroom and the lasagna.Neither particularly good.

.

.
She also had the dessert which was nothing to write home about.

.

As was becoming a habit I awoke about 45 minutes out of Sydney.There was a breakfast but again I just didn't feel like it.

.

We made up all the time into SYD and were the first plane in.First through Smart gate,first to carousel-strange with no one else there.Bags 4th and 5th off and straight out the fast track.25 minutes and sitting in our Avis car.

 

[drron]

So first off to mrsdrron's sister's place where we caught up,had some lunch then checked in to the SOTP about 1430.

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Now at this stage my computer decided to play up.It obviously felt I had posted a number of these smaller photos so every time I tried to upload it would say photo no longer available.yet the next size up posts fine.So here is the view from our SYD office.

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After checking in it was straight out to start baby sitting duties which kept us busy for the next 36 hours.Only 1 meal out at the Paddington RSL.Good place to go with kids but that Friday night very busy as a Swan's home game.
So all that is left to do is get home.
When we arrived at SYD this bird came in-

.

QF 524. SYD-BNE. ETD-1200. push back-1223. Take off-1236. B738. Seats-2A,C.
ETA-1330. landed-1339. At gate-1343.
Ended our journey with a broken handle on one of our cases-didn't notice it until a few days later.Took it to see if it was a warranty issue.Fellow said it had been dropped very heavily.

 

[jkbaus]

Our first day in Bangkok is usually a visit to mrsdrron's jeweller.Today was no different but first a Rossini's breakfast.

.

.
After breakfast it was down to the river by the skytrain and then the Sheraton shuttle up river passing what many consider their favourite hotel.

.
The new Icon Siam has certainly progressed since our visit 4 months ago.

.

.

.
Another new building reaching completion further up river.

.

Then to the jewellers where mrsdrron is getting a ring remodeled.Whilst there 2 young Aussies with their father walk in looking for an engagement ring.Recognising our accent the father asked us if the jeweller was trustworthy.Mrsdrron asked her to produce mrsdrron's file.They were reassured.
In the River City mall they have opened a branch of the Chiang Mai elephant shop.Mrsdrron loves elephants.

.

.

Love reading trip reports. Thank you.

I visit Bangkok most years for a week or two to escape the Sydney winter for a little while.
Never been confident to buy jewellery.
I would really appreciate it if you let me know the name and location of the jewellery shop.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Love reading trip reports. Thank you.
I visit Bangkok most years for a week or two to escape the Sydney winter for a little while.
Never been confident to buy jewellery.I would really appreciate it if you let me know the name and location of the jewellery shop.

I will send you a personal message

 

[jkbaus]

I will send you a personal message

Thank you.
Do I need to do anything to receive a personal message?

 

[JohnM]

No. You'll get an email.