Monday- Time to go home

Lesley and I had organised a massage first thing at the hotel before getting on the plane. Unfortunatley they only had one girl on at 8am, so I grabbed the first spot for Thai Massage whilst Lesley had breakfast. Then Lesley was in at 9am for an oil massage while I had breakfast. Just becasue we booked it before 10 am we got a further 15% off the $22 hour massage - bonus. back to the room for a shower and get changed. We grabed Chinese in the restaurant downstairs before checking out. We then go the Taxi driver who thought he was the Thai speed racer!!!! we got up to 140km in a 60 zone!!!! We didn't tip him!!!
Unfortunatly with airasia you only get 15kg on the domestic flights, so we were a little over weight - a smidge :)
We did everything the same as on the way here but in reverse!!!
Thank you Michael for picking us up!!!

So the finally tally was:
Lesley......4 shoes, 4 bags, 2 jumpers, 17 tees, 1 levi's, 3 sweaters, 5 watches, 2 belts, 30 pairs on earrings, 4 rings and 3 brooches.....not bad!!!

Maria......4 shoes, 4 birkenstocks, 5 belts, 8 tees, 2 lamps, 25 pairs of earrings, 4 brooches and lots of other stuff :) pretty good!!!

I wanna take this opportunity to thank Lesley for this great experience, it wouldn't of happened without you!!!
And even though we bought lots of material stuff, it was a lesson of how amazing our lives really are here in Brisbane.....family, love ones, health, food, shelter and friends especially to share our lives with. Not having to struggle each and every day for survival. We are truly live in the lucky country!!!

Please see here for the total gallery photo's

Sunday - Indra Regent Square

I started packing my bag in the morning to see how much space I had left and realised I didn't have the tops for the lamps I bought at MBK. So we went back to MBK it took us about 20 minutes to find the shop and they knew straight away that they had forgotten to give me the tops, so there was no problems. On the way out we discovered whole other sections we hadn't even seen, spotted some great Kustom Kulture tee's that were only $6 each - Bargain what a score!!!! We grabbed some snacks for the trip back from the food shop, did a bag drop back at the hotel then on to Indra Regent Square, for you guessed it more shopping! We had a look around the shops int he Indra Shopping centre and scored some great leather handbags. Grabbed a light lunch and booked dinner at the Biyoke Sky Tower (tallest Building in Thailand). We walked outside through the markets and grabbed Dad some sarongs that he wanted (only $2.60 each.)

We headed back to the hotel to have a shower and get changed and do a bit of packing. It had started raining, it seems that the taxi's don't like the rain as all the taxi's disappeared and took us ages to get one (for the first time). We were going to go to the Pat Pong Night Markets after dinner, but decided it wasn't worth it as the stall close in the rain. We had a lovely dinner on the 83rd floor with an all you can eat buffet ($22 each the most expensive meal of the trip). It was a lovely view even in the rain. Back to the hotel and watched a movie before heading to bed.

Sat 10th May Weekend Markets

We jumped into a taxi to the closest skytrain at Victoria Monument. jumped on the skytrain for just under a dollar to the markets. Now let me explain the markets, thousands and I mean thousands of stalls crammed into little cells with a 7foot high roof, no ventilation thousands of people with very high humidity, there is no real structure to the rows. This place goes for miles, you would never find your way back to a stall if you tried.
Now this place is for the real bargain hunters you have to be in the mood for this, I think Lesley and I only saw about 10% in 3 hours, it is full on!
There ended up being a fair bit of vintage stuff to our surprise, I got a couple of pairs of shoes fro $10. We spent 20 minutes in one store looking at vintage shirts for the boys, but couldn't decide and they weren't that cheap. So we didn't get any too risky!
You can get cold drinks on your way around a coke 16cents, you will need a fan on your venture and a wash cloth and you will be soaked within 15 minutes.
We decided at 1pm we had had enough and looked for the way out, that took 30minutes just to get out of the markets. There was a little shopping centre next to the skytrain terminal, so we ducked in there to wash up and grab something to eat and drink. Lesley found a pretzel place she loved and I grabbed another KFC burger.
We then grabbed a taxi to the next Siam Towers shopping Centre. Very up market alot like the shopping centres here. There was a Thai boy band performing on the centre stage and the girls were screaming there heads off, so we got out of there quick smart! We popped outside to the local boutiques/shops and had a look around.
we then decided to go back to MBK to get some other stuff we had seen. We decided to treat ourselves to a Thai Massage for Lesley and reflexology for me.
Got back around 9.30 and headed to the Tailors in the hotel (that we hadn't been able to catch) we were there for about 30 minutes and gave up in the end as it was too hard and too expensive. We headed up to the coffee shop for a light dinner before heading to bed!

Friday 9th May - A Day at MBK

MBK is the major shopping centre in Bangkok - 7 floors in total.
It opens at 10am and shuts at 10pm.
We got there about 9.30 and hung out in MacDonald's and had a cold Milo.
Then we were off!!! by the time we had finished the first floor we needed a cheap bag with wheels, we went a bit nuts with Ed Hardey Tee's but they were only $7 each. Lesley had found the cow boy boots she was looking for and I had found the Birkenstock sandals in 4 colour (only $7 each). we had lunch at KFC - a while new experience- everything is served with cutlery, real plates and in a real glass.
Lesley loved their fried rice, I tried the spicy crispy chicken - probably not the best idea in Thailand, I couldn't feel my lips after two mouthfuls, and got a chicken burger instead. Lunch was around $2.05 for a combo meal.
We kept going up, filling up the big bag as we went, had a little break around 5pm for a 20 minute sit down and ice cream sundae. we then continued up, skipped most of the Technology floor and finally finished at 9.30pm had a great dinner at Sumo's Restaurant (Japanese, Thai and Italian) for about $4 each.
Then joined the very long queue for a taxi, but it moved quickly and we were grossly entertained by a couple of old English guys with young Thai girls on their arms. YUCK! Back to the hotel to compare our bargin shopping.

So in total we spent approx 11 hours shopping in the one centre- needless to say we slept well!

Shopping Trip to Thailand with Lesley

Thursday 8th May.
The Thailand trip that Lesley and I booked back in December was finally here!
We got the plane from Coolangatta Airport with AirAsia not knowing what to expect in the way of services available on the plane.
We were delayed by an hour on the plane before we took off as they had to restart the computer in the cockpit.

Luckily we had both taken a book as there was nothing....no music, no video's and you had to pay for all food or drink in Malaysian Ringet, Aussie Dollars or US Dollars. Luckily the promo seats we had booked gave us one meal with water and a comfort pack (blanket, eye mask and pillow.
Lesley and I had changed most of our money over to Thai Baht, so we didn't have too many options with the $10 we had left. But we managed.
A poor guy near us had his first every epileptic fit - he was going on a 6 week Asian tour with his mate. Luckily there were two Aussie Nurses on board who knew what to do, as the hostesses didn't have a clue.

9 hours to Kula Lumpar got our luggage checked it through to Bangkok, you do not get allocated seats for the small journey's, its first in first served. We had just over an hours wait at the budget terminal (very budget) as we watched other passengers line up for there flights. By the time our flight was called we knew what we had to do and got infront quickly. The Small plane to Bangkok was lovely and new and it only took just over an hour to get there. One of Lesley's friends had told us that we shouldn't pay more than 500B for the taxi, so when we got told 1100B - No Thank You! We waited in the public queue and got one for 450B.
Checked into the very posh Radison Hotel then grabbed dinner at the Thai Restaurant there for a whopping $8 each (mine came in 1/2 a pineapple!
Finally crashed at 12.

USA Blog Update

To view the USA blog trip I recommend using the Blog archive to the right side of our Blog (select 2008, April and May) the select from the bottom up (latest entries are located at the top, oldest at the bottom)

or Click on the following links

• USA Trip, Houston - 29th March
  
• Houston - 4th March
• Denver - Day 1
• Denver - Day 2
• Denver to Moab
• Arches National Park
• Moab to Cortez
• Cortez
  
• Cortez / Mesa Verde - Kayenta
• Monument Valley
• Kayenta to Grand Canyon
• Grand Canyon
• Road trip to Vegas
• Las Vegas - Day 2
• Las Vegas - Day 3
• Back Home

Back Home

18th April

Last day of the trip.

Packed up, checked out of Circus Circus. Had breakfast at Roxy's Diner. Then headed off to the airport for our LA flight. For such a big tourist place this airport was shocking! Domestic Airports in the states are not good and neither is the signage or the service! Believe it or not there is even pokies at the departure gates and the baggage claim!!!

We flew into LA, grabbed some dinner (thank god we did as there was hardly anything past security). and waited the 5 hours for our Brisbane flight. As the flight was so late 11.30pm Mikey and I actually got some sleep to our surprise for about 4 hours.

We landed in Brisbane, declared everything- which they were fine with and got a taxi home to our two kitties.

There no place like home!

Las Vegas - Day 3

17th April

Caught the bus up to the top of the strip and started at the Luxor (Pyramid Casino) then the Excalibur, then the New York New York with the Roller Coaster (wasn't such a good idea for me!) we then went the MGM and lunch at an eatery.

Luxor

New York, New York

Paris

We had seen tourist walking around with M&M world bags, so we went there next- 4 levels of Merchandise and chocolate. Watched the 3D movie and then visited Coke World next door. We then wen to the Miracle Mile shopping mall to have a look at the Betty Page shop. Then back to the Toby Kieth Bar to get a Tee shirt (as it was shut the other night). Walked a bit further to Margarittaville and Mikey got a Jimmy Buffett shirt. Back to the hotel to shower and change to head off to "O".

M&M World, Yum

Ate at the Grill downstairs, then got the bus to the Bellagrio. Mikey stayed outside and watched the great Fountain display (No Photos just a video).

The Cirque de Soleil show "O" was simply amazing, there is too much going on though on the stage, you don't know were to look. The whole stage is a swimming pool, with the stage floor going up and down depending on whats happening. Lot of synchronised swimming, diving, trapeze and high diving, it was truly amazing! Will defiantly see the Cirque when they come back to Oz again!


Las Vegas Gallery

Las Vegas - Day 2

16th April

Today was the day to get familiar with Vegas.

Mikey had doughnuts for breakfast from Krispy Kreme then we headed to the Stratosphere to get tickets for "Bite" the show that evening. We had Lunch at Roxy's dinner which was very entertaining (40's/50's Music and the staff sing) and the food was good.

We then found out about the 'deuce' bus $5 for 24 hours up and down the strip as many times as you like. We headed down town, to see all the old Casino lights and signage.

We then headed up the other end of town to the Bellargio to book tickets for "O" Circ de Soleil for tomorrow night - just as well we did, as these tickets sell very fast.
The Bellargio was beautiful inside, with amazing indoor fantasy gardens.

We then got back on the bus, headed back to our hotel, changed and headed back to Stratosphere for the sunset view up the top (there's even a Starbucks at the top, they are just everywhere in the states!) We watched the view of Vegas change over the hour as the lights came on. We then headed down to the Chinese Restaurant for dinner (average) and checked our email, played the pokies for 45 minutes waiting for the show (started at 10.30pm) We saw Bite an exotic vampire show, it had dancing, stripping, magic and trapeze. We then walked back to the hotel in the very cold windy night!

Las Vegas Gallery

Road trip to Vegas

15th April

Departed Grand Canyon early as we had a 5 hour drive to Vegas. We stopped atKingman for lunch at Arby's and stopped at Walmart for some CD's and an extra bag to come home. The highway takes you through the Hoover Dam (which is nuts, they are building a bypass, the road currently reduces to one lane each way, with lots of tourist crossing the road) Wivenhoe is bigger, and the traffic was very slow.

Hoover Dam

We finally reached the Hotel (circus circus) unfortunately though the check in took 30 minutes and we had only given ourselves an hour to get the car back to the airport hire company. It then took us 10 minutes to get from the lobby to our room.....through pokies, gaming tables, restaurants, shops and two lifts!

Circus Circus at night

Circus Circus at night

We got the car back about 5 minutes late in the end and caught a taxi back to the hotel, when I realised I had left my glasses in the car. So instead of just getting the taxi back and wasting another $40 there and another $40 back, we got public transport (interesting!) Luckily they had my glasses, and we decided to get a taxi back to the hotel as it had been 2 hours since dropping the car off.

Mikey saw that Toby Keith (Country Singer) had his own bar on the strip at Harrah's, so we got changed and walked up the strip (it was very cool and windy by this time), we didn't realise just how long the strip was at this point! It took us about an hour. We finally made it to I love this bar and Grill. Went to get a seat and was told 30 minute wait (the place was half empty!!! short of staff) we had a look around the merchandise shop. We finally sat down had a drink and got our Ribs (Mikey) and meatloaf (me) at 11pm. We had seats right on the edge of the dance floor and the band were great, it was very interesting to see the two step being done.
We were told by the locals that this was the best bar in Vegas. We then took the long walk back to the hotel, with dirt and sand blowing everywhere with the wind.

Ribs, yum

Las Vegas Gallery

Grand Canyon

14th April

Breakfast, then headed to the Rim again, but this time we visited the main Village area (very expensive accommodation), Guest shops, cafes etc.

Caught the free red bus (red, green and Blue free shuttle buses tour the canyon roads) to Hopi Point and walked the scenic trail back 5k's along the edge.

Had lunch at the restaurant, feed some hungry squirrels, then drove to get the desert view (East Rim) for a few different view points.

East Rim view

We then headed back to the Imax showing of the Grand Canyon, then across the road to Yippy-Ei-ya again for more yummy ribs. Today was the first time we got to speak to another Aussie!

Grand Canyon Gallery.

Kayenta to Grand Canyon

13th April

Left from Kayenta, visited the Dinosaur footprints at Moenave with a local American Indian guide.



Then went to Sunset Crater National Park with a series of Cinder cones (small volcano eruptions over last few thousand years - ask Mikey!!!)

Sunset Crater

San Francisco Peaks

Then drove to flagstaff (quite a big town I would have liked to seen more of it but we didn't have time). Ate lunch at Arbys (best takeaway so far- sandwiches and burgers) drove along Route 66, checked into Grand Canyon Village.

Then drove to the National Park ($25 per vehicle for 7 days) with thousands of other people - this was the biggest amount of people we had seen! We walked around Moffat Point a very clear day and was about 19 degC, so quite pleasant compared to what we have been to. Lots of English, German and French speaking Tourist everywhere.

Grand Canyon looking to the North Rim

Got some great Canyon shots, deer, squirrels and Elk.

Deer

Female Elk eating

Male Elk

Had a look at the Info Centre and Book Shop Then back to the Canyon rim for Sunset.

Nearing Sunset

Looking East

Looking West

After Sunset we headed back to town and found a great western restaurant called Yippy-Ei-ya. This time I had the ribs and Mikey got pork chop (he wished he had had the ribs when I gave him some of mine!) Yummy!

Yummy

Gallery of Dinosaur Foot Prints
Gallery of Sunset Crater
Gallery of the Grand Canyon

Monument Valley

12 April

Breakfast at the hotel (even in an Indian reserve there were still 3 forms of doughnut to be had!) then we drove to Monument Valley Reserve (where most John Wayne western have been made)

You can drive yourself around the Navajo Park or get taken around by an Indian tour guide (There are no sealed roads here, so if you like your car, get a tour!)

We recommend a day for this trip, you can also do a tour on horse back. This is truly a spectacular place, great views!

We finally got back to the info centre at 3pm and grabbed lunch before heading back to the hotel.

Monument Valley Gallery.