We left NZ at 6am Qantas via Sydney 8hours stopover and then onto Bangkok. On arrival in Wellington they told us we had been upgraded to Business for the Sydney –Bangkok leg of the journey yeah…. On arrival in Sydney my 110ml toothpaste half empty was taken off me (we were only in Transit) the poor man in front of me had 3 bottles of 42 Below (NZ and the Worlds best Vodka) plus some perfume taken off him, he was as mad as hell, as he bought them at the duty Free in Wellington that morning and was also only in transit. Personally I think the Australians have gone overboard with this liquid thing. So we hung out at Sydney airport between the Qantas lounge and the shops before finally getting onto the plane bound for Bangkok. Business is certainly the way to go for the long haul.

On arrival in Bangkok we met up with a Thai friend who had kindly arranged a car to whisk us off to the Westin Grande on Sukhumvit we arrived at the start of Songkran, and Bangkok was empty. It was bliss. We spent 5 days in Bangkok, I went to the dentist and started getting my 2 caps and various other things done, my partner got glasses made in MBK, which were multi focal transitional lenses, which we had to pick up on our return journey due to Songkran, but then we had a great idea, she had a pair of old sunglasses with her and asked if they could just put the long distant lenses in, sure no problem we came back in 4 hours and $NZ32.00 she had a pair of prescription sunglasses. The Westin was a treat, really comfy beds, and great pool free wireless in the pool and lobby area. Most of our time was spent in MBK and the hotel and just cruising the streets getting wet.

We then jumped on a train down to Trang we could only get 1st class, (we were lucky to get anything as now being the end of songkran and every one was traveling). The train was really good I highly recommend trains in Thailand.

We stayed just out of Trang for a few days with my Thai family, (My brother had children with a Thai women but they split up years ago) it was great seeing the kids again, and playing Bingo in Thai with all my rellies. Everyone bringing food over for us to try etc. Living in the village is just like it was years ago, kids playing in the streets, everyone keeping an eye out on one another etc. The old lady next door had just died, so the start of a very long funeral was being set up. Marquee, table’s lights etc.

After 4 days we set of for Koh Lanta, and got a mini bus from Trang there. We stayed in our old favourite haunt the Seahouse; we were in Lanta in 2002. Well have they done some building works there. It was still the same but much bigger, we stayed 3 nights before moving down to Pimalai. (I work in travel so I was mixing business and pleasure. The business part was checking out 5* properties) Well Pimalai was amazing; it was beautifully laid out, lovely rooms great pool and fabulous food. We were there for 4 nights and really did not want to leave. The manager took us to Saladan for dinner one night to the Lanta Seafood, which was just as good as I remembered from last time.

Koh Lanta has changed a lot in the past 5 years, with lots of new properties popping up everywhere. I would suggest going there sooner rather than later, before the commercialism of say Samui or Phuket takes over and you can get a Big Mac or Pizza Hut on every 2nd corner.

After the 4 days on Pimalai we went back to Trang for a couple of days (funeral still going) and then we took the kids back to Koh Lanta and stayed once again at the Seahouse. So then we had 8 days just hanging out playing with the kids and eating lots of banana pancakes.

Finally our holiday was coming to an end so back to Trang again to drop off the kids. This time the funeral was in full swing, Half the road was blocked off, the karaoke stage was set up, all the fairy lights were flashing, we spent our final night at the funeral, drinking far to much Brandy and generally having a very good time. The lady was going to be burnt 2 days later. We worked out the funeral went for 26 days. Every person was feed and watered who attended over that period, by other villagers as her husband had passed on a couple of years ago and they had no children.

We finally said our goodbyes to the family and villagers and got on a 2nd class sleeper back to Bangkok. I enjoy the 2nd class much better cos there is more interaction with other train passengers. On arrival into Bangkok we jumped into a taxi and into the Grande Sheraton on Sukhumvit (another work thing) had a great breakfast before heading back to the dentist to get all the work finished. 2 caps, 5 veneers several filling replacements 41,000 baht, about a third of what I would have paid in NZ. Picked up the glasses 8,000 baht a few t-shirts 180baht, shoes 199 baht and various other stuff.

So off to the airport hoping like hell we get our upgrade back to Sydney, but no the plane was full…damm. So I emptied my drink bottles and put them in my hand luggage, so at least I could fill them on the plane and have water when I want /need it, but no they were taken off me cos the Australians would not allow empty drink bottles on the aircraft…stupid.

Finally arrived back in NZ having had a great holiday.


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