July 13, 2009

Day 1- I arrived at the airport and checked in for my business class flight to Taipei. I was surprised to see that the airline substituted an A330-300 for the usual A340-300. The planes are similar in size and in the business class the seat design is different. The seats are molded differently and the large video screen is attached to the seat in front of you. Since the seat pitch is about 36” the screen appears to be far away but at least the screen size is large enough to see clearly.
For breakfast I was served quiche which I haven’t acquired a taste for yet. Dinner was much better with the beef tenderloin offering. Another difference was in the movies that was available. I noticed that they were now edited as far as nudity is concerned. The foul language were still left uncensored.
The business class cabin was full with every seat taken. The air con was rather strong so the blanket came in handy. The flight was a little less than 10 hours with arrival in Taipei a little behind schedule.
After going through the security I rushed to the VIP lounge and quickly had a snack with Sapporo beer in the 15 minutes that I had before heading for the gate for the flight to Bangkok.
The plane arrived in Bangkok on time and I quickly cleared customs. I exchanged some traveler’s checks for bahts in the airport before heading for the exit to the public taxi stand. The exchange rate is now down to 33.45 bahts to the dollar at the airport. I normally go to exit 10 for the taxi but I took a right turn instead of a left turn and ended up at the other public taxi stand by exit 3. So now I know that there are 2 public taxi stands at the airport.
I took the taxi and arrived at Nana Hotel around 6:00 pm due to traffic. The taxi fare came out to 320 bahts so I gave him 400 bahts to include his tip. I also paid the 25 baht tollway from the airport to the hotel. I checked into the hotel and was given a hotel room with a view of an old building.
I did notice something different this time. The room came with a rather large in room electronic safe. The safe looked a little different than the smaller ones that I used in Pattaya and Angeles City. It’s more high tech with the locking mechanism engaging after you put your 4 digit code in. It’s easy to change and it opens automatically when you re-enter your pin number. There’s no key hole in it so I’m sure the hotel has a master code to unlock it if you forget your pin number. I was a little cautious with this safe on my first use so I only put my netbook inside and the rest of my valuables in the safety deposit box downstairs in reception.
I unpacked my stuff that I’ll need for tonight since I’ll be checking out tomorrow for my flight to Singapore. I was ready to head out to the cocktail lounge downstairs for my welcome drink at 7:30 pm. I had a mai tai and drank it rather quickly.
I headed out to Took Lae Dee on Soi 7 for dinner. After my meal I walked to none other than my favorite hideout Nana Plaza. The first bar I walked into was the popular club Rainbow 2 located at the rear of the plaza. Inside the dancers were basically in the above average category when compared to Pattaya’s agogos. I saw a few potential candidates but it was too early so I finished my drink after an hour of checking out both group of dancers.
I then went upstairs to check out Rainbow 4. It was busy up there, too, with a good selection of dancers. It seems that most of the customers were in the Rainbow agogos. I
Decided after my beer to check out G Spot next door. G Spot was a lot slower than the previous 2 bars that I went into already. I was drinking and this one dancer was trying to attract my attention. I eventually bought her a drink and then she popped the question of me taking her out for a short time. I eventually relented since it was starting to get late and I had a 4:00 am wake up call in the morning. We went to my hotel room and got down to business. Being that my cold sore was really bothering me I didn’t do any kissing or sucking of nipples. After the deed I gave her a good tip and then I started packing up my things to make it easier in the morning.

                                                    July 18, 2009

Day 6- I woke up to my alarm at 6:00 am. I showered and got dressed so that I can go out for a bite to eat. There's no real American style restaurants in the area for a real breakfast so I just walked down Geylang Rd. to the next Lorong. I just had a fried chicken plate with rice. The price was S$1.70 for the meal. I then walked back to my hotel room to finish packing up my stuff.
I asked the front desk to call a taxi for me to pick me up at 7:30 am. I checked out of the hotel at 7:30 am and a yellow taxi was waiting for me. This time the driver put my suitcase in the trunk for me. He then took me to Changi airport which was only a 15 minute drive from Geylang. The fare came out to S$12 plus a surcharge of S$5 for a total of S$17. I didn't tip the driver as I assume the surcharge will cover the tip (I think).
I went into the check in and it was fast with no waiting in line. I then proceeded to the passport control and that's where I noticed my stamped departure card is lost (I eventually found it after I arrived in Bangkok). I had to go the immigration desk to the side and fill in a new one and declare that I lost the original one. It didn't take long to go through the process.
After clearing the immigration counter I walked around Changi airport and it's really nice inside. I can see why they are rated the best in the world. The chairs are much more comfortable to sit on and there are lots of activities you can do if you have enough time. There's free internet kiosks all over the airport but you can only have a 15 minute session at a time. My flight leaves at 10:30 am and boarding time is in 20 minutes so I'll end my internet session now and proceed to the gate and the security check.
After going through the security check at the boarding gate I realized that I forgot to return the TV remote to the Fragrance Hotel when I checked out. I still have it on me so I'll have to mail it back to them before they realize that it's missing and charge me for it. The boarding call for the flight was at 9:45 am and I boarded the plane when my seat number was called.
The flight was around 90% full this time around but I was able to still have the whole 3 middle seater section to myself. The plane left the gate right on time and soon we were airborn. I watched Dragonball on the personal movie screen during the flight. The 2 choices for the meal selections both looked good. They offered chicken with rice and fish with potatoes. I took the fish and it was delicious. The chicken looked pretty appetizing, too. I gobbled my entire meal and was delighted to have mango sherbet for dessert. As I mentioned before the economy class meal on Singapore Airlines is the best. All the other airlines could use a lesson or two for their cuisine in economy class.
Less than 2 hours later the plane arrived in Bangkok with a little turbulence here and there. I exited the plane and the passport control was right there. How convenient not having to walk a mile to the processing area. There was only one agent in each desk so it went a little slow. I then walked over to the baggage carousel and my bag was already there. I went to the bathroom first and then to the money changer. The rate is still low at 33.42 bahts to the dollar. I went through the exit and then went straight to exit 3 taxi stand.
There was only about a one minute queue for the public taxi. This time the taxi went the normal way and went through the 2 toll gates priced at 25 bahts and 45 bahts respectively. The other taxi driver on my first arrival to Bangkok took me off the tollway after the first one and went on the side roads running up the meter. This time it was faster and I remember the route. The fare came out to 210 bahts + 70 baht toll + 90 baht tip for a total of 370 bahts. I paid less than the first time from the airport.
I arrived at Nana Hotel at 1:00 pm and checked in. I went up to my room and unpacked only what I needed for the night. I did some record keeping and other miscellaneous things before getting ready to go out. I looked at the in room safe and I guess the last guest left it in the locked position so I won't be able to use it unless it was reset. I decided to just use the safety deposit box in the lobby for tonight.
I went out around 3:00 pm and walked to Times Square past Soi 12 right across the street from Robinson's. The price is 1 baht per minute. It's a lot cheaper than Nana Hotel's WI FI service. After the internet session I walked back to my hotel and got dressed for the night.
I left around 6:00 pm and took the sky train to MBK. I walked around the huge shopping center going to each of the 7 floors. I bought a few items including t-shirts and various snacks. I looked around on the 7th floor at the restaurants. Most were busy since it was dinner time and also a Saturday night. I finally just settled with KFC for something simple but quick so that I'll have enough time to check out Patpong tonight. The chicken sandwich at KFC was spicy. I think it was called a Zinger.
After my dinner I walked back to the sky train terminal and took the short ride to Sala Daeng. I got off and had to decide which exit to take. I guessed right and I was on the right side of the street. I took a left turn and I hoped that I was going in the right direction. Soon I began to see some of the other Patpong karaoke clubs so I knew I was getting close. I then saw the Patpong night market and walked that way and then I was in the area with the agogos.
I walked around trying to decide which club to go into. They all looked slow at around 8:00 pm but I decided to try out Camelot Castle first. I was the only customer inside and there were about 6 dancers on stage at the time. Later the girls were trickling in one by one. It didn't take long for the girls to start filling up the stage.
Finally another customer came in but that was all until I left. I had a dancer sit with me. She was slim and a little taller than most of the Thai girls. I found out that she's a bit older at 27 but she still looked OK. I talked with her for awhile with about 3 waitresses bugging me for drinks. I only bought the dancer a Heineken.
Eventually the bar fine subject came up and I expected the going price to be 2000 bahts and it was. The bar fine is 500 bahts. I finally paid the bar and I left with the girl to catch the taxi. We ignored the parked taxi on the curbside and waited for a taxi to cruise by. It took only a few minutes for one to come by and we went inside. The meter taxi took us back to my hotel and it cost around 70 bahts.
I went up to my room with the girl in tow. We watched TV and talked a little bit before we took turns taking a shower. She gave pretty good service including a bj. After finishing and washing up I took her picture and gave her the tip and then she left.
I set my alarm to wake me up at 5:00 am so that I would have enough time to back up and eat breakfast before checking out. I went down to the coffee shop at 6:00 am and wolfed down my breakfast eating as fast as possible.
I went back up to my room and brushed my teeth. I grabbed my things and went down to the lobby to check out.
After checking out I was pressed for time so I just took the hotel taxi to take me to the airport. The taxi ride took about 30 minutes reaching the airport a little after 7:00 am. I paid the driver the 680 bahts plus tip for a total of 800 bahts.
I proceeded to the check in counter and was glad that I had a gold card so that I wouldn't have to wait in the long economy class check in counter. I grabbed my boarding pass and went through Passport control/immigration and that took a little while since it was very busy in there with long lines.
I finally made it through and now it is 7:45 am. I quickly went to the VIP lounge and had a quick and light snack. I was out by 8:00 am and walked to the security check by the gate. I went through and then walked to the waiting area at the gate.
The plane was already waiting but there was an announcement saying that there as a delay due to technical problems. I waited around and tried to make some long distance calls but wasn't able to get it through. I gave up after several attempts.
Finally we got the call for boarding and I got on. The plane left the gate one hour late and that means that by the time the plane lands in Taipei I would have to rush to the connecting plane before it takes off.
As soon as I got off the plane I sprinted to the security check which was going slowly with only one person doing the baggage scanner. After clearing security then it was off to the races to the sky train to take me to the other terminal. After getting to the other terminal I hurried to the gate which was at the end of the terminal.
I was huffing and puffing by the time I got to the gate and walked down the stairs to the waiting area. The waiting area was empty already as all the passengers boarded the plane already. I reached my seat and then began opening all the overhead bins to find an open space to put my bag into. I had to go down about 6 rows before I found a space big enough for my hand bag.
I sat down in my seat and the plane was pretty full. I started to stretch my legs under the seat in front of me but my feet bumped into something. Shucks, the person in front of me put their bag under their seat that's in front of me. That leg space is suppose to be for me and my personal items instead of the passenger in front of me. They took my leg space away. I was pissed off that I'll be cramping my legs without anyway to stretch it. Some people are rude. I know that they are sitting in the bulkhead section in the middle row but they should put their bag up in the overhead bin and not in my foot space under the seat.
That's one of the reason that I like to board the plane early with my gold card but since the plane was delayed I was unable to preboard and everybody was inside already. They took up all the overhead bin and also my leg space in my personal area.
The flight was a long one at over 9 hours of being cramped up with my legs aching all the way. I got up a couple of times to use the lavoratory to stretch my legs and it keep it from going to sleep. The food on the plane was OK this time but doesn't match the meal on Singapore Airlines. The in flight movies in the personal video screen on the back of the seat were censored on this flight, too.
When we arrived at our destination. I exited and went through Immigration. I didn't get questioned about my travels so maybe that's a good sign. I picked up my bag at the carousel and this time I decided to use the free luggage trolley. It sure makes a lot of difference using the trolley as it's easier on me and also on the suitcase wheels which are already falling apart.
I gave my customs declaration to the agent and he didn't even look at it or ask me any questions. He just said that I may go out. So I didn't have my bags checked this time.
I took the luggage trolley with me to my car and then I was home within 1 hour of getting off the plane.
I think the next time I do one of these whirlwind tours of several different countries I think I should take a longer trip so that I can settle down for a few days in Thailand before returning home. It was almost like either catching a plane or ferry constantly without any rest. I did like the Goodway Hotel in Nagoya, Batam which was the best on this trip. The Fragrance Hotel in Singapore was the smallest room and the only one without a safety deposit box. It's nice that Nana Hotel now has an in room safe that's large enough to fit my 10.1" netbook with room to spare. That safe is more advanced than the safe at Eastiny 7 & Central Park Hotel. The safe opens and closes automatically with your pin number. There's no need to turn the handle to open or close the safe. My stay in Batam & Singapore was too short to see all the venues but it was just a feeler for now and then I have a better idea of what I'll like to do when I can spend more time there. I didn't get a chance to do any tours over there but maybe next time. Having considering this I would say it was a good trip but too short.