BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love"

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DSCN4019.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 39.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Like all fine trips from London Heathrow today, Willard's starts at the Club Lounge in the Sheraton Skyline, which he managed to slide into with a whole 5 minutes to spare before the happy hour ended! (Beware the M4 extension road! The roadworks are having their effect!!). As you can see, Willard has had to downgrade (ooooh, how we hate that word!) to a more Willard-sized, and "one item of handbaggage only" friendly laptop.
DSCN4021.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 32.5 kB Date: 12/08/2006	After a pleasingly swift run through check-in and security (only delayed by people proffering zip-loc bags, who seemed unaware that, unless you were dead, daft or thick as a brick, you may already have seen fit to comply with the new rules and put your potentially deadly chapsticks and toothpaste in a clear bag). So, we arrive at the friendly staff at the Lufthansa Senator lounge (well, friendly once Willard had shown his Senator card, Star Gold does not seem to cut it for this lounge!)
DSCN4020.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 50.3 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard finds a shady corner by the bar, and gets on with a few bits of Admin whilst he whiles away the time until his flight.
Dscn4024.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 469 x 640 Size: 35.9 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And, being a considerate kind of Flyer, Willard is at his assigned gate in plenty of time for his flight - what a shame the boarding didn't start on time! Even more of a shame considering that, even after boarding late, the flight took off over an hour late - oh, the joys of Heathrow, Growl!
Dscn4028.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 535 x 640 Size: 25.8 kB Date: 12/08/2006	At least Lufthansa have seen the wisdom of blocking a seat off for Willard - the friendly crew in Business Class even brought him his own pillow - recognising him immediately as one of the frequent-flying elite!
DSCN4032.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 35.7 kB Date: 12/08/2006	So, after a significantly delayed arrival, we only had time for a fleeting visit to the smaller Senator lounge in the A Concourse at Frankfurt airport. Still this was enough time to grab a glass of Sekt, and top-up on munchies.
DSCN4033.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 26.7 kB Date: 12/08/2006	On the way out, Willard noticed this magnificent Gingerbread House at the entrance! It's a good job Willard was on his best behaviour, or Lufthansa would probably have been short of one Christmas display in pretty short order!
Dscn4040.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 506 x 640 Size: 31.0 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard tests the seat on this old-config Lufthansa 747, the flight is so full that he does not seem to have been given his own seat on this sector, and, after observing Ken trying to get out of his seat when our neighbour was reclined, Willard decides that this operation requires ropes, crampons and 3 sherpas! The sooner Lufty gets rid of these old-config planes and upgrades everything to the new business class, the better...
DSCN4034.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 38.8 kB Date: 12/08/2006	But one thing you can say is that the food on Lufthansa is not bad in Business class - not as good as the dedicated 2-class airlines, for sure, but very acceptable and imaginative. We were advised (ordered is a slightly strong word to use) by our FA on the last flight to select the roast goose, a seasonal special, and I must admit it did not dissapoint!
Dscn4037.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 542 x 640 Size: 16.8 kB Date: 12/08/2006	After a sleep, and a minor mountineering expedition to the lavatories, we wake and find we are traversing the coast on our way down to Thailand.
Dscn4042.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 556 x 640 Size: 25.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard finds himself back at Bangkok airport - but, something is *wrong*! Where is the Golf Course?
Dscn4044.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 476 x 640 Size: 25.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard works it out, of course, we're at the new Bangkok airport - Suvarnabhumi, which took over the designation of BKK last month from Don Muang. It's a shiny new terminal and is so new it still has that "new airport" smell to it. Meanwhile, as we roll up to the gate, we see a Finnair plane parked at the gate next to us, sporting an endorsement it must be difficult to beat - "The official Airline of Santa Claus" - talk about name-dropping!
Dscn4045.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 420 x 640 Size: 33.1 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And having opened in the 60th year of the King of Thailand's reign, as well as it being His Majesty's official birthday, the Airport is keen to show it's repects at every opporunity. The Thai people are very proud of their King, and Willard is also a great admirer of his many good works for his people.
Dscn4046.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 35.6 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard makes it through immigration (much slower than Don Muang, sadly), Baggage Claim (Good priority handling), and customs (no problems - Willard obviously looks honest!) and finds himself outside the new Airport, after having booked himself a limo transfer (the Airport looked a little to chaotic for a jet-lagged bear trying to negotiate with a Bangkok taxi driver).
Dscn4047.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 544 Size: 51.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard is whisked in comfort to his first stop on this whistle-stop tour of Starwood properties - the Royal Orchid Sheraton. Willard is immediately welcomed as a VIP and offered a traditional Thai flower bracelet as he checks in.
DSCN4048.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 29.7 kB Date: 12/08/2006	The Royal Orchid has lived up to it's generous (to SPG Platinum members) reputation, and has upgraded us to an Executive suite that is slightly larger than an A380!
DSCN4051.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 28.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	The bedroom has a wonderful view of the Chao Praya River - the hotel is on the river bank.
DSCN4052.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 37.3 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And so this must be Willard's room? Well, nearly - A nice sitting room with another view of the river.
Dscn4053.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 565 Size: 45.7 kB Date: 12/08/2006	No sooner has Willard taken his jacket off, and there is a knock on the door and a fruit platter is delivered. This being Thailand, with a seemingly endless supply of new and uncharted fruits, the platter comes with an extensive instruction manual, which Willard studies intently.
DSCN4055.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 44.8 kB Date: 12/08/2006	The view from our room is but naught when compared to the view from the Towers Lounge on the top floor of the hotel! Willard makes his way up there for the "Cocktail Hour" and partakes of a Singapore Sling (or two...)
DSCN4058.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 28.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	The view only gets better as night falls and the electric beauty of Bangkoks most prestigious buildings presents itself.
Dscn4061.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 44.1 kB Date: 12/08/2006	We choose to escape from the hotel and take Dinner at a riverside restaurant. High winds and driving rain mean that poor Willard has to be lashed to his chair in order to avoid being dashed into the river by a stray gust of wind - still, this is all part of the Bangkok dining experience!
DSCN4065.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 72.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	After a slightly jet-lagged night's sleep, Willard has just enough time to tour some of the Hotel's other facilities before we have to move on for our flight to Krabi. Here he is considering (and thankfully dismissing) the idea of a dip in the pool/jacuzzi.
DSCN4066.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 54.1 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And we find many things have changed since our last (pre Willard) visit - the Hotel now has a new riverside bar, and a riverboat shuttle to take guests to various locations, like the Skytrain station.
DSCN4069.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 39.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard has just enough time for a cockail in the Lobby Lounge before we have to get on the road.
DSCN4070.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 41.1 kB Date: 12/08/2006	....perhaps one too many for the road, methinks!
Dscn4075.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 30.6 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And now that he's more awake, Willard takes a Bangkok taxi back to the airport, and watches the city wizz by.
Dscn4076.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 484 Size: 37.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard breezes through the new Thai domestic check-in and security, and arrives at the new Domestic Lounge - where he is warmly greeted!
DSCN4078.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 48.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Regulars at the old domestic lounge will be vey pleased to hear that the new one is not only immaculately decorated and sporting a full complement of brand new chairs, but it is also a lot, lot bigger! Thai have quadroupled the seating capacity (at least) and appear to have an area next door reserved for expansion - and Thai lounge officionados will be pleased to know that the savoury pastry snacks are still in evidence.
DSCN4082.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 36.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Boss Boss, look! De plane boss! De plane!
Dscn4086.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 21.4 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Time to say goodbye to the new airport for a little while as we taxi out to the runway to take-off for Krabi.
Dscn4089.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 26.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	No problems with seating for Willard this time - as one of only 4 passengers in the business cabin (counting Willard) he easily gets a seat to himself.
Dscn4088.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 33.7 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And even on this short flight, Thai are offering a snack of Thai Fishcakes and assorted deserts to it's business class passengers - very civilised!
DSCN4092.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 24.8 kB Date: 12/08/2006	On approach to Krabi, we get a crystal clear view of the countryside.
DSCN4093.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 33.9 kB Date: 12/08/2006	On arrival at the Sheraton Krabi, Willard again gets the VIP treatment, sat down away from the check-in area, he is offered a cold drink and a cold towel whilst the SPG co-ordinator explains his benefits.
DSCN4094.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 44.2 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Hey, Willard! Another suite! This is one of the two executive suites at the hotel (the better one, in Willard's opinion, with a nice open Balcony)
DSCN4096.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 43.3 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Another nice sitting room, and another fruit bowl (and another instruction manual for said fruit bowl)
DSCN4100.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 50.9 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Never mind "a room with a view", what about a bathroom with a view? Nothing like a nice relaxing soak with the majesty of nature for company!
Dscn4101.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 325 Size: 19.7 kB Date: 12/08/2006	Willard just makes in out onto the beach in time for the beautiful tropical sunset - shame he forgot to pack his bucket and spade.
DSCN4110.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 25.0 kB Date: 12/08/2006	And now that the sun has set, it's time for Willard to relax by the pool with a Margerita and get ready to step out for a spot of supper.
DSCN4111.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 25.6 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Just time for a quick cocktail in the bar - "Martinis" and then Willard intends to eat outside the Hotel tonight....
DSCN4113.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 39.6 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard goes down the road (on the back of a Motorbike - eek!) to the Krabi Sands Resort - Ken and Pat had been here three years ago when the place opened, but Willard insisted on seeing the place for himself to check it met his high standards! Mark (the one without the fur) and his wife Oay run this small "boutique style" hotel just down the road from the Sheraton Krabi, and, even if deeply ingrained frequent flyer loyalties cannot persuade you to stay here, the bar/restaurant is not only cheaper than the Sheraton, but far more authentically Thai, serving high quality Thai food at local (rather than hotel) prices - like these huge Grilled Prawns in Chilli and Ginger that Willard selected for starters. As an ex-pat Brit, Mark is also unable to bring himself to charge the usual (inflated) prices for wine so prevalent in Thailand due to heavy taxation, so the prices on his wine cellar will be a pleasant surprise too! Willard is glad to add him to his links - The Krabi Sands Resort.
DSCN4118.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 56.2 kB Date: 12/10/2006	And after a long night, and a restful sleep, Willard runs a bath and intends to take a leisurely soak whilst looking out on the resorts gardens and tropical surroundings - how restful!
DSCN4119.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 54.6 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Ahhhhhhh - a private balcony to relax and reflect in the shade before moseying down to the restaurant for breakfast.
DSCN4121.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 45.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Ahhh, the breakfast buffet of champions! Lots of choice here on this huge western/asian fusion selection! It is, of course, all the better tasting for being complimentary, just one of the benefits this hotel offers to it's Starwood Platinum guests.
DSCN4126.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 58.5 kB Date: 12/10/2006	This is Willard's idea of a business centre! Open air, Wireless access (Around USD 15 for the entire length of your stay - a bargain!) and this wonderful view of the resort gardens. Willard works tirelessly on his website.....
Dscn4128.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 442 x 640 Size: 40.5 kB Date: 12/10/2006	.....and then works tirelessly on his tan (do bears have tans?). But oh dear! You can take the Bear out of Liverpool, but you can't take Liverpool out of the Bear! With Union Jack shorts and traditional British "knotted hankerchief" headwear, Willard seems to have decided to become a furry stereotype today!
DSCN4131.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 39.5 kB Date: 12/10/2006	But with a view like this, he should care! (the beach, I'm talking about the beach!).
DSCN4133.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 22.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	But Willard has to (reluctantly) drag himself away from the beach, as it's time for his massage!
Dscn4134.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 23.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	At the Mandara Spa, they spend 90 minutes working out all the tensions from Willards little, jet-lagged, body. It's almost a shame I'll have to wake him!
Dscn4169.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 43.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	But even though the resort isn't that big, you can always call for a cart to take you wherever you need to go - and since Willard's paws are tired, he gets chauferred back to the suite.
Dscn4163.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 36.2 kB Date: 12/10/2006	One of the nice little extras for Club rooms and Suites - there is a "bean to cup" espresso machine - luckily it is the same as the one Willard uses back home, and so he quickly gets it to froth the milk and dispense a nice Cappucino - now there's creature comforts for you.....
DSCN4135.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 36.1 kB Date: 12/10/2006	....and of course Willard can take it outside and enjoy it on the deck!
Dscn4138.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 629 Size: 49.5 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Tonight, Willard discovered, the bar, Martinis is running a "Sunset" promotion - drink as many Martinis as you want for (about) 13 USD during the two hour sunset - now Willard thinks that's a challenge he is more than equal to! He starts off with a Vodka Martini - extra dry, Shaken, not Stirred - Now if only he'd known he would have changed into his Dinner Jacket!
Dscn4142.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 633 Size: 24.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	And the view of the striking tropical sunset is thrown in at no extra charge! Bargain!!
DSCN4149.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 25.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard jams with the resident Pianist - what a shame that, as a Bear, he can't sing!
DSCN4151.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 44.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	But the, frankly, beautiful staff have to be the crowning attraction at this bar! Order a Martini and they will come and shake the drink for you at your table, and, being a Bear of obvious quality and breeding, he is lucky to be served by the prettiest of all of them - I don't think this bear is going to want leave....
DSCN4156.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 42.7 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Resolving to go back to the Bar later, Willard tears himself away to go to Gekkos, the signature Grill restaurant that Ken and Pat never managed to try on their last visit (it having been closed to serve a private party for Jackie Chan that night). Willard has decided to wait and try their Phuket Lobster, priced by the 100 gram.
DSCN4157.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 41.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	"So now will you tell me where the secret crustation alliance base is?" - says Willard "Speaker-to-Seafood" Bear....
DSCN4166.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 56.3 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Sadly, it's the next day, and nearly time to leave the Resort, so Willard decides to take a last look around in daylight.
DSCN4167.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 51.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	When Ken and Pat were here three years ago, the Hotel stood alone, with just bare, dusty road to either side, but now it's presence has spawned a whole ecosystem of shops, restaurants, tailors, taxi services and whatever else you could want.
DSCN4171.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 30.1 kB Date: 12/10/2006	But our time is up, and it's off back to Krabi International Airport (and now that the new airport is open, Willard finds he can say that without sniggering, as it really looks like an international airport now!) via the Avis shuttle bus - the most cost effective option if you are travelling alone (or just with a bear) - private transfers work out better for couples.
DSCN4173.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 28.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard is happy to find a proper "Royal Silk" Business Class check-in in the new airport, with stylish seating whilst you wait.
DSCN4176.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 44.7 kB Date: 12/10/2006	And whilst it's not much of a lounge (a sectioned off area of the upstairs cafeteria) it is still more of a lounge than the old airport had! Comfy chairs and the option of (one) drink from the bar makes the wait a little easier.
DSCN4181.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 47.1 kB Date: 12/10/2006	As boarding time approaches, Willard completes security (quickly, as only the business class passengers are left at this point) and marvels at the new Airport - it's not the plane, you understand, it's the fact that there's an airbridge! Last time here, he had heard, it was steps and a walk to the terminal! Krabi Airport is definitely coming on, once they get the lifts and escalators working it will be (nearly) perfect!
Dscn4182.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 33.5 kB Date: 12/10/2006	"No buttered scones for me mater, I'm off to play the Grand Piano!" (With apologies to Monty Python) Willard admires the colonial nature of the snack, Tea, Maidera Cake and pastries, it's like going back in time to the height of the empire (and Thailand was never part of it, but sometimes the Thai Airways service evokes that lost, imperial, quality!)
Dscn4183.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 37.2 kB Date: 12/10/2006	As we get close to landing, Willard muses on something he rarely addresses, frequent travellers pet peves. They talk of "the Domino Effect" - nothing to do with pub games, but the effect where one passenger at the front reclines their seat, and the entire cabin is forced to, in order to maintain their space. Whilst everyone has the right to recline their seat, Willard does wonder what the benefits are (versus the disruption to fellow passengers) on a 55 minute flight, where over half is taken up by the snack service. However, since the passengers in front chose to recline both during take-off and landing (until stopped for safety reasons) I guess they thought it was really important to them. If any reader knows the Russian for "Inconsiderate Ingrates" you are welcome to enlighten Willard via the usual E-Mail....
DSCN4185.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 24.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	On the Taxi ride (yes we braved the Taxi queue this time!) back from the Airport, Willard muses that they Skytrain might not be running all the way to Suvarnabhumi this year....
DSCN4186.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 33.5 kB Date: 12/10/2006	On arrival at the Westin Sukhumvit - Willard is immediately recognised and escorted up to the Executive Lounge for Platinum Check-in service.
DSCN4187.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 28.8 kB Date: 12/17/2006	And Willard quickly relaxes in his Club room on the 24th Floor (next door to the Westin Club, in fact!) - but no suite for us this time, Willard has not managed to make the "Grand Slam" of Starwood Thailand upgrades, sadly.
DSCN4189.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 36.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	A quick chance to check-up on the Website statistics via the lounge computers (and the planned mini FlyerTalk meet that Willard has been invited to at the Sheraton Grande across the road).
DSCN4190.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 44.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	And an even quicker chance to take advantage of the cocktails and canapes (these aren't canapes by Willard's definition, you could make a full evening meal out of this if you wanted to!) on offer in the Executive Lounge.
DSCN4191.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 37.7 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard has dragged himself away from the Westin, across the bridge, and meets up with Flyertalkers (from the left) Seattle1K, TEX277, and schoflyer at the Sala pool bar at the Sheraton Grande. The strangest thing is that Seattle1K knew nothing of the meet, and spent half an hour eavesdropping on our conversation peppered with "mileage runs", "upgrades" and "award availability" before he gingerly asked if we knew about Flyertalk! Small world indeed!!
Dscn4193.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 28.0 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Meeting up with Seattle1K was a real stroke of luck, as he was holding a reservation at Sirroco one of Bangkok's hippest and most talked about restaurants, in the open air, 59 floors up, with a live jazz band and a bar virtually suspended in the air via perspex walls (hint, TEX277 you shouldn't have left early, jet lag is all in your mind!). However, judging by the way Willard is given this VIP escort to his table, Willard is sure he could have gotten in on the guest list by himself.
DSCN4195.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 30.2 kB Date: 12/10/2006	"Don't think we'll get much information out of this one Sir, he's had it!" - Chilli and Pepper Crab, Scirocco style....
DSCN4196.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 29.8 kB Date: 12/10/2006	1AM, and Willard has outlasted his Flyertalk compatriots (just!) and figures that, since the bar at the Westin hasn't closed, he might as well just go for a little nightcap....
DSCN4204.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 40.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Whoa! Hello Ladies! Steady on - there's enough Willard for everyone!
DSCN4197.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 44.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	....Em, er, I think I've heard about things like this happening in Bangkok on the Internet......
DSCN4199.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 40.2 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Wasn't I wearing trousers a minute ago.....? "One night in Bangkok....."
DSCN4198.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 41.7 kB Date: 12/10/2006	....."makes a small Bear humble"
DSCN4203.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 43.7 kB Date: 12/10/2006	I hope this "refreshes the Bears other beers can't reach!"
Dscn4205.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 45.8 kB Date: 12/10/2006	"Hey, baby, it's been great, you're a real doll - I'll call you next time I'm in town, we'll get it together again - I Promise! - But remember - Once you had Bear - it just ain't fair!"
DSCN4206.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 35.9 kB Date: 12/10/2006	It's a late breakfast in the Lounge for Willard, as he tries to wake himself up (are those black rings under your eyes, Will?) and face the move to the Sheraton.
DSCN4208.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 30.6 kB Date: 12/10/2006	...Just time to try out this Westin "Heavenly Bath" before we go....
DSCN4209.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 32.6 kB Date: 12/10/2006	....And the Westin have thougtfully provided "Willard-sized" towels for him!
DSCN4212.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 28.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard chills out and dries off on the chaise-lounge in this Club room before he moves on to the next (and last) hotel.
Dscn4213.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 37.7 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Check-in at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, and the staff try hard to find Willard the Grande Suite that he secretly hoped for as his Platinum Upgrade.
DSCN4214.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 40.8 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard is not dissapointed, and he settles down into his suite, and watches the new Flat screen TVs that they have installed since his last visit. What is that you're watching, Willard? I think those girls in the bar last night have been a bad influence on you.....
DSCN4216.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 60.4 kB Date: 12/10/2006	Willard uses the free Wireless Internet that is offered to Grand Deluxe (and Platinum) Guests to get his next update uploaded for you, his readers.
DSCN4217.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 30.8 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard met up with seattle1k again by the pool (enjoying the Platinum happy hour, just like Willard!) and he suggested a new ultra-hip hotel/nightspot just down the road, called DREAM. Willard enjoys one of their champagne cocktails and marvels at just how exclusive the place really is!
DSCN4219.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 39.6 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Wow! This really is Willard's idea of an exclusive bar! He's the only one who has been admitted! Perhaps we should try this place a little earlier, and on another night, methinks (good food though, no denying that!).
DSCN4220.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 17.6 kB Date: 12/17/2006	seattle1K is keen to point out pictures showing that the bar really is sometimes a lot busier, honest! Meanwhile Willard muses on the Fountain feature outside the hotel, and how the cube remains perfectly balanced on it's point, and spinning, no matter what happens. Willard tries to think of a number, and it keeps coming up as "14".
DSCN4222.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 48.7 kB Date: 12/17/2006	And after a relatively early night (Willard eschewed the bar at the Westin, as he wanted to keep his clothes on!) Willard enjoys a leisurely breakast at the legendary Sheraton Grande Buffet.
DSCN4249.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 39.7 kB Date: 12/17/2006	One of the best things about staying at the Sheraton Grande (or the Westin across the road) is the proximity to the Skytrain station, now linked directly by a bridge. Willard decides to take a trip into the centre of Bangkok (inasmuch as it has a centre, perhaps better described as the centre of the Skytrain network) and do some shopping.
DSCN4248.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 28.0 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Not exactly a First-Class seat, but Willard enjoys the convenience (and air conditioning!) of the Skytrain service.
Dscn4244.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 47.6 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard is planning on shopping at Mah Boon Krong (MBK) a huge mall that has 5 floors of small and meduim sized stalls and shops that sell virtually anything! It also houses the Bangkok branch of the Tokyu department store, a huge foodcourt, cinemas, bowling - you name it really!
Dscn4232.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 57.1 kB Date: 12/17/2006	It's a good job Willard doesn't suffer from vertigo! This is the view down from the top floor - this isn't the whole place, you understand, there are three internal atriums like this in the building....
DSCN4223.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 56.4 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard is shopping for Christmas presents, so he heads to the arts and crafts section, and negotiates expertly for some of the wonderful wooden products on offer.
DSCN4224.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 67.3 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard finds some very reasonably priced silk goods too, and picks up presents for Ken and Pat.
Dscn4241.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 354 x 640 Size: 30.9 kB Date: 12/17/2006	...MBK is full of the Christmas spirit!
DSCN4250.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 34.7 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Back at the Sheraton, Willard relaxes in the bedroom and takes stock of his purchases.
DSCN4251.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 27.8 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Of course, there's another flat screen TV in the bedroom, just in case you can't manage to stagger all the way to the living room!
Dscn4252.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 28.5 kB Date: 12/17/2006	The really nice thing about a suite at the Sheraton Grande is the walk-in wardrobe, with plenty of room for all of your clothes (even Willards!).
DSCN4257.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 72.2 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Bangkok! Wow, I'm back in Bangkok! Every time, I think I'm gonna wake up back in coach. When I was home after my First trip it was worse, I'd wake up and there'd be nothing - no champagne, no room service, nothing...
DSCN4260.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 66.9 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Time to get back into the jaccuzi! Plenty of space for Willard!
Dscn4264.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 45.1 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Perhaps just a few more cocktails, orange daiquiris this time...
DSCN4267.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 89.8 kB Date: 12/17/2006	But it's a lovely tropical pool, plenty of foliage to keep Willard close to his arborial roots.
DSCN4268.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 46.6 kB Date: 12/17/2006	And if the sun gets too much, you can just hang out in the Sala, and lounge (by the bar...)
DSCN4269.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 38.2 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard retires back to the suite, and the butler serves afternoon tea to prepare us for check-out.
DSCN4254.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 31.5 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard just has time to run a quick bath...
DSCN4256.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 41.0 kB Date: 12/17/2006	.....and marvel at the endless supply of toiletries that the hotel has thought of!
DSCN4272.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 46.5 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard hands back his room to the hotel (who needed it to upgrade another lucky SPG Platinum tonight!) but kept his account open and retired to the lounge to work on his website and have a snack.
DSCN4273.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 45.9 kB Date: 12/17/2006	The lounge at the SGS is all about Jazz, and the hotel flys over some of the best jazz musicians from all over the world, but the Saxaphone on the bar looks like an instrument Willard would really like to play!
Dscn4274.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 38.1 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard arrives back at Suvarnabhumi and checks in for the last time at the First Class counter for his Lufthansa flight home.
DSCN4280.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 40.9 kB Date: 12/17/2006	The new Thai Airways lounge at Suvarnabhumi is huge (and it should be, since it serves all of the Star Alliance carriers at the airport)
DSCN4275.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 29.6 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard explores the lounge and finds the First Class section - whilst his current ticket doesn't, sadly, allow him to enter, he vows that on his next trip through Bangkok, this is where he will be.
DSCN4276.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 32.4 kB Date: 12/17/2006	But the Royal Silk lounge still offers him a full range of creature comforts, there are chill out cubicles for long haul travellers on long connections to lie back and rest.
DSCN4277.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 31.8 kB Date: 12/17/2006	....and plenty of comfy seats to relax with a drink and wait for your flight to be called.
DSCN4281.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 26.2 kB Date: 12/17/2006	On the way out Willard calls in at the bar at the entrance to the lounge, what a shame he doesn't have time for a last drink.
DSCN4283.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 52.9 kB Date: 12/17/2006	And what a long walk to the gate! Suvarnabhumi prides itself on having the longest Airport shopping mall in the world, however, sadly, the design of the airport demands that you have to walk the entire length of it in order to get to any of the gates.
DSCN4284.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 23.8 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard isn't entirely happy at the initial seating arrangements in this completely packed business class cabin on the Lufthansa flight back to Frankfurt.
DSCN4285.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 26.9 kB Date: 12/17/2006	But Willard soon finds a better place to sit (with the agreement of our seatmate, who turned out to be another Flyertalker, on a last minute status run to renew his Senator card) and finds a suitably Willard-sized in-flight entertainment system.
Dscn4287.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 36.4 kB Date: 12/17/2006	But when the turbulence starts and the seat belt sign flicks on, it's safety first for Willard - who doesn't want to end up flying round the cabin!
DSCN4288.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 36.3 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Back in Europe, Willard hangs out at the Senator Lounge in Frankfurt and waits for his connection back to London.
DSCN4293.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 45.3 kB Date: 12/17/2006	But it's a long wait, and by the time he finally gets to the gate, Willard is feeling the effects of the long flight and many, many timezones.
Dscn4294.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 31.6 kB Date: 12/17/2006	A special courtesy Lufthansa offers to it's premium passengers regularly, a bus to the remote stand......
DSCN4295.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 640 x 480 Size: 29.2 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Willard makes it onto the Airbus 321 to London, and finds that the business class cabin is nice and roomy, and even, thoughtfully, provides him with somewhere to sit.
Dscn4302.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 480 x 640 Size: 39.2 kB Date: 12/17/2006	Whilst waiting for our landing slot, we circle London and Willard gets great views of the city. Willard knows he's back home in England.
Dscn4305.jpg View Now BKKKBV06 - "From Thailand with Love" - Whistle-stop tour of Bangkok and Krabi	Dimensions: 409 x 640 Size: 48.5 kB Date: 12/17/2006	And back home he is. Willard wishes all of his readers a very Merry Christmas, and hopes for many, many First Class flights in the New Year! The End of "From Thailand with Love", but Willard Bear will return in "OctoSheepie"