Tingting and I meet at 1.45pm and head to the airport express. The last few weeks at work have been mental to say the less so it's great to be able to finally breathe and step away for a few days.
Off to Bangkok we go!
The security line goes smoothly considering all of Hong Kong, their Mother's and the mother's dogs are here. I'm rather surprised as I had thought most people would have flown last Friday, alas not. I decide we'll try the Qantas lounge given the bar is so much better than in the Cathay lounge, or perhaps I'm just bias as they have aperol.....within minutes we have a drink - Aah Merry Christmas everyone!
Our flight to Bangkok is at 4.10pm, at 3.30pm we head to the bar for one last drink. We know where our gate is so leave it to the last minute to go there. To say it's a fast walk is an understatement. On arrival the sign says the flight is going to Tokyo.....umm no that's not us. Shit! I ask the man at the counter where flight CX 701 goes from (probably the first time ever I know my flight number....hmmm surely the extra drink helped with this), within milliseconds he tells me it's gate 30. Buggar that's not close, bags onto trolley and we are off running through the terminal - watch out everyone! There are a few near misses, seriously people are stupid!, before we pull up at the gate. Thankfully we aren't the only ones that are late. We made it!! A few minutes after boarding the pilot announces we are delayed due to late passengers, honestly how rude :)
The flight passes by quickly; after landing it's a LONG walk to immigration where thankfully the APEC line isn't too long. My bag is basically there once we finally locally what number baggage carousel it is. And finally it's out into the heat - ooh how I've missed thee!!
We join a long taxi line then take it in turns to get money from the ATM. My machine decides to stop working 3 times throughout my transaction, umm thanks very much but I'll have my card and go elsewhere. Finally I have money so join Tingting in the line again.
Our taxi driver has no idea where the Westin is so decided to call the hotel before we leave the airport, definitely prefer that he does that now rather than taking us somewhere that is wrong!!
Traffic is everywhere and moving rather slowly; I guess it's probably normal given its 7pm on a week night. After what seems like forever, really only one hour, we arrive at the hotel.
We had been recommended a few places to check out, Tingting had been super organized and made a reservation for dinner so after checking in and dropping our bags it's back into the crazy Bangkok traffic we go!
Dinner did not disappoint! Delicious pork neck salad that was prepared at the table followed by twice cooked beef short rib and salmon that had been smoked. I will definitely be returning!!!
My eyes are literally closing on the lift ride up to my room......sleep is needed!
Christmas Day I wake far too early, always the way when you want to sleep in.
I head to the gym for a run, and manage 5kms. Not the best but better than nothing. I "cool down" by sitting outside in the head by the swimming pool. Nice and relaxing.
After Skyping with the family I get myself to the club floor (where Tinging is staying) and enjoy a basic breakfast. Room has been to be kept for the champagne lunch we are going too in a couple of hours!
It really doesn't feel like Christmas Day so I decide to get onto YouTube and within minutes am listening to Christmas music.
We meet just after 12noon and have the concierge get us a taxi - you would think that it would be easy but alas no. The first 3 taxis wouldn't take us, honestly! Where are we going to??! Finally a taxi arrives that lets us get in, we are off......well for the first 50 meters then it's into a traffic jam we go. Got to love Bangkok traffic.
We finally arrive at the W Hotel and within minutes are seated at a booth table, I'm thinking that's not good as later on I might end up napping.....anyway I digress. We get poured a glass of bubbles - it's all go!! We have a map on the table setting, along with Christmas crackers, showing us where the food stations are as well as the drink stations. There are 6-7 drinks stations, this could get messy!
Brunch is delicious, or perhaps it’s the endless drinks. Either way definitely worth it and would absolutely recommend!
At 4.15pm we decide we need to go and get last orders for drinks and food.
With our last drinks drunk we take a taxi to the Sky Bar - I've been before but years ago. We join a long line to enter a lift to go up, everyone is super quiet so we decide it's Christmas music time :) Fun and games!!
We have about 10 minutes here before day starts to turn into night, talk about perfect timing. You can see for as long as the eye can see.
On leaving I notice a guy taking a selfie so offer to take his photo for him; Angus is an Australian living in Seattle. The three of us get chatting, we tell him what our plans are and that he's welcome to join. Patpong here we come....
We are cruising down the road when Angus asks us if we want to go to an ice bar, sure thing. Something different, even though I've been to the ice bar in HK before. Thanks taxi driver but we have a small chance of plan, we will exit. Before entering we put on thick fur coats....man alive these are soooo needed! Talk about going from one extreme to the other!
On arrival at Patpong market we stand out like sore thumbs (although there are a number of us sore thumbs), while its pitch dark it's still early so there are not as many other tourists are around as what there will be later on.
We somehow get talked into going into a show, most definitely the seedy part of Bangkok!!
Time to get out of this place and fast! By walking through the market and down the road no more than 50 meters it's like you are in another world. We spy a roof top bar, because we really need to drink more....., and after a couple of failed attempts manage to get ourselves up there. It's nice to be away from the crazy streets.
We head to the Le Meridien hotel to get a taxi back to our hotel - aqua and sleep are needed! It's been a very interesting Christmas Day, we have gone from the opulent to the super poor.
Boxing Day Susan arrives in the middle of the night. We both wake at 6.30am, never fun on holiday!, but it means we can take our time. I'm still trying to work out how my head feels :)
We have breakfast downstairs before getting our bags and heading to the airport. Definitely no issues getting a taxi thank goodness. Bangkok, it's been short and sweet - see you in 5 days! Chiang Mai here we come.
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