This was to be a super holiday. It represented the combined forces of a birthday, Christmas, and anniversary and New Years. Each place we visited offered some new experiences. First on Phi Phi island, we explored the islands and enjoyed the snorkeling (with underwater photos). Then in Bangkok, we splurged and stayed at the Peninsula Hotel and with our friends Jim and Ceecy, we enjoyed a quiet New Year's celebration while listening to the Peninsula program from our balcony. Then on to Chiang Mai, near the Burma-Laos-Thai border, better known as the Golden Triangle. Here we learned how to make silk and someone of the heritage of the area.

So first, how we got there - to Bangkok: GPS tracks of the United flights from Charleston to Chicago to Tokyo to Bangkok. The Garmin gps tracks are available here - right click and "Save Link Target As". Also available is a text file of the ascii tracks and waypoints from Charleston to Chicago to Tokyo to Bangkok and Phuket / Phi Phi. The major of our Christmas/New Year / Birthday/ Anniversary celebration was United Airlines and their Silverwings program that makes these trips affordable for "maturing adults" (> 55 years old).

and how we returned: GPS tracks of the United flights from Bangkok to Tokyo to Los Angeles to Dulles to Charleston. The return trip was interesting in that the flight path of UA 890 was considerably south of the great circle route - picking up a 150 mph tail wind, resulting in maximum land speeds of 774 mph. Not bad for hiching a ride on the jet stream. Click for the ascii tracks from Bangkok to Tokyo to Los Angeles to Dulles (Washington) to Charleston.

Bangkok by night

A night in Bangkok at the Asia Airport Hotel (our favorite airport hotel!) and then to Phuket by Thai Airlines, then by minivan to the ferry pier at the southern tip of Phuket and then a ferry to Koh Phi Phi Don (Big Phi Phi Island) where we stayed at the the Andaman Beach Resort a quiet, and secluded complex of bungalows away from the noise and bars of the village. Outside our hotel in Bangkok is the local Iron Chef competition - all possible types of Thai yummies

In the shopping complex, Linux was waiting as were kockboxers

Having bought a 1-2-Call Prepaid Sim card for my mobile phone, we were ready to tackle the rest of Thailand

Visit Phi Phi Island -->