Hotel Atlanta, Haven in Bangkok

Dear Family and Friends,

When my multi-millionaire friend Nathan Maltz goes to Bangkok he stays at the Grand Millennium Suhkumvit, one of Bangkok's newest luxury hotels.  The Grand Millennium defines opulence, billing itself as 'Bangkok's newest and hippest five star hotel'.  It has four restaurants featuring Thai and International cuisine and two lounges.  Room rates range from $150 to $600 per night.

Often when I am in Bangkok I stay at the Hotel Atlanta.  The Atlanta has only one restaurant, room rates start at just over $16, and the 'suites' top out at just over $50. 

Hotel Atlanta Foyer - from hotel's website

Thailand: The Land of Smiles

Street Food Stall Smiles

Dear family and friends,

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia. Tourism was jump started in the 1960's during the American-Vietnam War. At that time, the US built a number of bases here, and now millions of tourists and travelers come here every year attracted by great beaches, delicious food, countless beautiful Buddhist Temples (Wats), all wrapped up in an exotic and historical culture.

Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles. There can be little doubt as to why. Every meeting, greeting, or leaving is an occasion for a big smile, often accompanied with the familiar palms-together, up-under-the chin, ‘wai’ sign. This genuine cheerfulness is said to have its roots in three Thai concepts, naa (face), sanuk (fun), and phuu yai - phuu nawy (big person - little person).

Tour 2003 - Koh Chang Go Bang

Dear Friends,

I had a most interesting visit to Koh Chang (Elephant Island) that I thought I should tell you about.  Koh Chang is the second largest island in Thailand after Phuket and is located in the Gulf of Thailand very near the Cambodian border.  I left Bangkok at 9:00AM last Friday in a minibus headed to the ferry dock at Laem Gnop.  I caught the 5:00PM boat to the island.  I was actually heading for a place called Lonely Beach on Koh Chang but as it was getting dark when I arrived, I thought I would take a place close to the pier and then seek out an alternate place at Lonely Beach the next day.  Many Thais go to Koh Chang for the weekend so, knowing accommodation might be tight, I booked into Mac Bungalows, the first place I checked, and got the last bungalow they had.   I had a nice dinner in their restaurant, it was very newly decorated, and the food was quite good.  I was in bed by 11:00PM. 

At 2:45AM I was wakened by a goddamn mosquito biting me and was lying there semi-asleep when BOOM!  An immense explosion.  There was a scream almost simultaneously, and over the roar of the blast I could hear glass breaking, debris hitting my roof, and I was nearly tossed out of my bed.  It was a thunderous noise. 

Tour 2003 - Things are looking up (note to Stuart)

Late February, 2003 

Dear Stuart,            

As you know, I seldom drink wine while travelling in the tropics.  It just doesn't have much appeal when it's hot and muggy.  Besides, the service can be a bit dodgy at the street side food stalls I frequent.  But today while browsing some stalls at a nearby plaza here in Bangkok, I had a chance to taste a Thai produced wine.  From the handout given me, the wine is made from 'Black Finger-root', a rhizome, which I believe makes it a relative of ginger. 

Anyway, the lady offering samples pressed a small plastic cup on me to try it.  She in turn placed her hand on my heart, stomach, bum and legs, telling me it was excellent for renewing all those areas.  Then, with a furtive glance at my nether region, she whispered "good for sex, make boom boom".  "Good for boom boom.  Boom boom all night", she repeated several times, always in a whisper.  I take it this is still a closely guarded secret.  And it apparently works equally well for men or women.  This stuff sounds unbeatable. 

The wine itself is a pale red, bright, and on the nose...  Oh hell, let's just say it's a hard wine.  I don't have to be hit on the head to recognize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  I think this is just the wine the Commanderie needs to raise it to new levels.  We'll be up for anything.  And for women, even if they are split over this, I am sure they will be thrilled with it, nothing will be too hard for them.  And to hell with a certain pharmaceutical company called Pfizer who shall remain nameless!

Knowing you would approve, I have ordered a pallet of 64 cases of this fabulous wine (it's called Golden Krachaidam by the way) for our group.  This is just the beginning of course; I have pretty much sewn up rights to this elixir on our behalf.  We're on our way up, Boy!  Best regards. 

Boom boom, toujours Boom boom. 

Merv.

Tour 2003 - A little of this, a little of that (Malaysia & Thailand)

Hello Everyone,

I have become a slob.  I'm sure many of you will find that hard to believe, knowing the sense of style I display on Savary.  But the heat, the humidity, the humping of heavy bags on and off public transportation, all cause one to sweat like Phil Esposito by the end of a tough game.  Each day I set out with new fresh clothes and literally within minutes, no matter how I try to keep cool, my clothes are sopping, stuck to me, and I'm standing in a puddle of sweat.  It's simply true; we travellers generally look a disgrace.  The locals, on the other hand, all look crisp and cool.  Personal appearance is very important to people in these countries.  Judging from the clothing choices tourists and travellers make, an entirely different value system is at play.  

Anyway, I have nothing of real excitement with which to follow up my Borneo adventure.  But to bring you somewhat up to date, on leaving Sarawak I flew to Kuala Lumpur, a leap into a hot, crowded, noisy, busy big city.  (Flying with Malaysian Air as I am, Kuala Lumpur is an obligatory stop, but it otherwise holds little interest.)  While there I, of course, visited the twin Petronas Towers, the world's tallest buildings at 1,452 feet (even when the World Trade Center was standing).  Both towers are 88 stories high but visitors can only go to the 41st floor where a sky-bridge joins the two towers.  Clad in polished aluminium, they are striking on the skyline, particularly with the sun reflecting off them.  As you can deduce from their name, they are owned by a large Malaysian oil company.  

Around the World in a 60s Daze. Chapter VIII - Laos & More

April 5, 2002

Dear Family and Friends,

My last chronicle ended as Carole and I arrived in Laos. I can only imagine your anxiety waiting to receive the next instalment, so here it is. Laos has the smallest population of any country in Indo China (5.4 million), and only Cambodia is smaller in area than Laos; but Laos manages to border on Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The Mekong River called the Nam Khong here, and so important everywhere in Indo China, runs the full length of the country. All those countries just mentioned have been involved in the rule of Laos over the past millennium. A good portion of the Ho Chi Minh trail, leading from North to South Vietnam, was in Eastern Laos, so Laos became a major target for American bombers during the Vietnam/American War. Laos has the unhappy distinction of being the most bombed country in the history of the world. Only in 1975, shortly after the fall of Saigon, did the Pathet Lao secure Vientienne and create the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a regime closely connected with Vietnam.

Carole and I flew in to Vientienne, the capital, for a short visit of this landlocked country. Vientienne is certainly the smallest national capital I have ever been in, and after the frenzy of all the other cities I have visited, flying in to Vientienne is like arriving in Powell River and stepping into a time warp. I don't know how many people live there, but it can't be much more than 100,000. From the first moment at the airport, we knew we were dealing with different people than previously. There was no rush of taxi drivers trying to get us to go with them, rather a couple of them just let us know they were there, should we ever decide to go downtown. No pressure, no bargaining. Traffic is very light and it is easy to walk around the whole downtown, which borders along the Mekong River.

Around the World in a 60s Daze. Chapter VI - Bangkok & Cambodia

March 27, 2002


Dear Family and Friends,

It is almost as big of a culture shock arriving in Bangkok as it is arriving in India. This is my first visit to Thailand after years of hearing of it and all its enticements. The soaring skyscrapers, the ultra modern Light Rail Transit, the obvious wealth in Bangkok, all are in stark contrast to what I have seen. I suspect that the advantage Thailand enjoys over other South East Asian countries is the fact that it was never colonized by any European power. I am glad I made the stop in Sri Lanka; otherwise I'm sure I would have been totally overwhelmed.

Strangely though, as busy and interesting as it is, I do not find myself taking photos at every turn as I did in India and Sri Lanka, and my first days in Bangkok were spent getting my Vietnamese visa and booking the flights in and out of Cambodia and Viet Nam. I checked into the Maxim Inn (a recommendation of John McClurg's) on Suhkumvit Road between Soi 7 and Soi 9. It is modest, but quite comfortable and inexpensive. I checked out the hotel recommended by Glenn and Lorraine, the Royal Benja, but they travel on a much larger budget than I do, so I took a pass.

Carole (Holmes) arrived as scheduled at 11:59PM on February 19th; it is great to see someone from home. We talked until about 3:00AM, as I caught up somewhat on news from Canada, and Carole got more details than I'm sure she wanted to hear about India and Sri Lanka. (Now that Carole has arrived I will have to actually write the truth and stop making this stuff up. Just kidding. I'm still going to make it up.)