The Travel Thread

[jack]

get a lobster roll at faneuil hall market and people watch.

busker friendly!

[Steve Durand]

Bjam,
If you're going to visit Maui I could give you some tips. I lived there for 7 years.

Steve

[fodroy]

I'm going to Thailand in May. Anyone been there? Have anything to say that isn't in the travel guides?

[Caravan Ray]

I'm going to Thailand in May. Anyone been there? Have anything to say that isn't in the travel guides?

Yes - several times. Thailand is probably the coolest country on earth - I love it over there. Wonderful food, wonderful people.
The south is beautiful, particularly around Krabi and Pha Nga (though having said that - I haven't been there since the tsunami - I don't know how much damage they suffered). Probably best to avoid places like Pattaya and Phuket. The north around Chaing Mai and Chain Rai is also great - jungle treks are good, but elephant riding sucks. Bangkok is also great - but best in smallish doses - it can get overpowering.

Take as little luggage as possible. Take no clothes. Buy everything there. Seriously. You can buy exactly the same clothes you buy in the West on the streets on Bangkok for a fration of the price. It all comes from the same sweatshops, and there is probably more chance your money will end up in the hands of the poor bastards who actually make the clothes and not lining the pockets of the cocksuckers at Nike or Ralph Lauren. (I also like the idea that as I swan around town in my $2 Ralph Lauren Polo gear - I am actively de-valuing that brandname to every person that sees me).

My best tip - leave Thailand and head over the border to Lao PDR. Ventienne is a great city. It is similar to what Thailand may have been like 50 years ago - but with French restaurants. And lots of cool communist era Russian stuff everywhere. Get drunk in the bar at the Lane Xang hotel bar - wear a hat and sunglasses - pretend you are a spy and talk into your sleeve a lot - hours of fun! Then go and eat curry on the banks of the Mekong. And get drunker.




...of course, if you really want a good time, just head down Patpong Rd, go around the back of the Mr. Happytime Soapy Bodyslide Parlour and ask for the one-armed midget they call Bobo. Give your credit card and passport to his trained monkey, then just wink and say, "Caravan Ray sent me...". He'll know what to do. Then sit back and enjoy the ride (best to make sure all of your hepatitis shots are up to date beforehand).

[Billy's Little Trip]

wear a hat and sunglasses - pretend you are a spy and talk into your sleeve a lot - hours of fun!

LMAO!, I just peed a little.

[fodroy]

Awesome. Everyone who's been there has said it's great. I'll mostly be in the deep South of Thailand. We're not even going north of Bangkok. I'll be in Bangkok for a couple days. I'm glad we're not going to be there any longer. I'm not a fan of being a tourist in cities.

I can't really choose many places to go since this is part of a study abroad program. It looks like I'll be in Krabi for a day. Mostly I'll be in Surat Thani. I'll be in Phuket for a couple days.

I'll keep my eye open for this Patpong Rd. Hopefully mentioning your name will get me some kind of a discount.

I've heard that elephant rides are cool, but whatever. I mostly just want an elephant to pick me up with it's trunk.

[Caravan Ray]

Awesome. Everyone who's been there has said it's great. I'll mostly be in the deep South of Thailand. We're not even going north of Bangkok. I'll be in Bangkok for a couple days. I'm glad we're not going to be there any longer. I'm not a fan of being a tourist in cities.

I can't really choose many places to go since this is part of a study abroad program. It looks like I'll be in Krabi for a day. Mostly I'll be in Surat Thani. I'll be in Phuket for a couple days.

I'll keep my eye open for this Patpong Rd. Hopefully mentioning your name will get me some kind of a discount.

I've heard that elephant rides are cool, but whatever. I mostly just want an elephant to pick me up with it's trunk.

Krabi is cool (especially because you pronounce it 'kra-pee' - which is of course, hilarious). I haven't been to Surat Thani. The most important thing is to work ouot where all the German and Swedish backpackers are this year - and go somewhere else.

Bankok is also a great place to stock up on pirated software

[Billy's Little Trip]

Krabi is cool (especially because you pronounce it 'kra-pee' - which is of course, hilarious). I haven't been to Surat Thani. The most important thing is to work ouot where all the German and Swedish backpackers are this year - and go somewhere else.

How do you pronounce Phuket?

[Spud]

I am not sure if you are asking how ONE pronounces Phuket or how HE does, but ONE pronounces it poo-kett (as in kettle).

SPUD

[j$]

I'm going to Thailand in May. Anyone been there? Have anything to say that isn't in the travel guides?

Stay out of Boyztown. No, really.

[Billy's Little Trip]

I am not sure if you are asking how ONE pronounces Phuket or how HE does, but ONE pronounces it poo-kett (as in kettle).

SPUD

poo-kett? Poo picked and fastened together in a bunch? heh, funnier than what I thought it was.

[Caravan Ray]

I am not sure if you are asking how ONE pronounces Phuket or how HE does, but ONE pronounces it poo-kett (as in kettle).

SPUD

Hmm... I've been pronouncing it wrong. Phuket!

[Freddielove]

From J~ who lived there for six months.

Take a river cruise, cheesy but cool.
Take a river Taxi.
Go to Thammasat University and check out the market next to the school.
Check out the people exercising at Sanam Luang.
Go to at least one Pata department store.
Gotta go to Chatuchak market, try to find the same store twice, you will get lost.
Go to The Irish Xchange and see Lee Shamrock play, close to Patpong.
Patpong also has a great night time market, for more than just prostitutes.
Go to a toast restaurant at MBK.
Get a picture taken in a Thai outfit at MBK.

[Paco Del Stinko]

BJam - This isn't in Boston proper, but should be easy to reach. I have seen this 3 times since 1980 or so, and it's great fun. Any of you Boston fellas might want to take a date there too.
http://www.legranddavid.com/show_schedule.htm

[HeuristicsInc]

Niv's Annapolis comment reminded me of this thread so I thought I'd bring it back again.

Annapolis, MD

49 West - a coffeeshop/live music venue. It has a small back room where the bands play, usually acousticish, folky, blues, etc. but sometimes other things too. A friend, Adrian Bond, who plays ambient electronic guitar plays there often (in fact the 27th of this month for one). Also the venue room has a bar with good wine.

Ram's Head - Another live music venue, a lot larger. I have seen Thomas Dolby, Over the Rhine, Adrian Belew, lots of others here. Sound is usually good. They make their own beers (good) and have their own restaurant (good). There are a couple of other locations also.

Carroll's Creek - good seafood place, a bit fancy. I believe this is really in Westport. Nice view, right over the water.

Galway Bay - good Irish restaurant. Good food, good beer list.

Joss - sushi. This was the favorite place of an ex of mine.

India's - good Indian food.

Cantler's - It's in the middle of nowhere but the crabs (a MD speciality) & Maryland crab soup are great.

O'Laughlin's - I haven't been there in a while since I moved farther from this area, but this was the only place I found around MD to get decent Buffalo wings (the owner is from Grand Island, right next to Buffalo). This place is a little north of Annapolis, in Arnold.
-bill