Our original plan was to take a trip to Greece(and Rome) in September/October. However, we are also planning on hunting for a place to buy in Jacksonville,Florida after we are done with this assignment in Maui. And, it looks like we will be here until end of August!
So, it was time for some decisions to be made. Not that I am complaining about extending our contract here, but it is interfering with our vacation plans, (even though technically nothing is set, it is all just plans),so Bill came up with the bright idea!
We will be taking couple weeks off at the end of our original contract( May 15th) and we'll take our vacation then! So since we are in Hawaii already, we decided a trip to Asia is in order, rather than going all the way to Europe. Japan, China, Thailand??
And although I'd love to go to China and Japan,we settled on Thailand, for many reasons:
1-Money Matters, it will be an extremely affordable vacation from our initial assessment. Right now the American dollar is about 37 Baht, so our moneys will go a long way.
2-We are interested in the Thai food and the Thai culture.
3-We only have two weeks, so it is a quick vacation to two cities or three.
4-It is only about a 15 hour trip from Honolulu counting a stop in Taiwan, and we should be able to get it for about $850 on China Airlines, an affiliate of Delta, so we get our frequent miles.
5- I need a good massage!
6-Well, what it comes down to it, Thailand sounds like a great deal to us, even though it will be hot, so we'll focus on northern Thailand.
As of right now,tentative plan includes spending 10 days or so in the Northern Thailand around Chiang Mai, and few days at Bangkok. I'll be posting our planning progress.
WooHoo, Thailand in two months!
Comments (20)
Candi, that sounds like a great trip. I'll be following your planning!
Posted by sheri | March 5, 2009 7:51 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 19:51
It sounds like a good plan, Candi.
So, you can start the planning! It's half the fun of a trip, isn't it?
Posted by nancyhol | March 5, 2009 9:32 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 21:32
Nancy, I do love planning our trips, and it sure is half the fun. Unfortunately I only have couple months to plan this one. Oh well, the price I am willing to pay for our life style.
Posted by candi | March 5, 2009 10:13 PM
Posted on March 5, 2009 22:13
How exciting! Thailand is on my wish list too, can't wait to hear what you think about it. A wonderful place to photograph, I bet! And the food...
A friend of mine who went a few years ago said that the people are very kind. She loved it.
Let the planning begin!
Posted by Annie | March 6, 2009 5:52 AM
Posted on March 6, 2009 05:52
Candi, this sounds like so much fun. And not terribly expensive!
I'd love to visit Thailand and it seems that now is the perfect time for you and Bill to travel there.
I also love trip planning, I'll enjoy hearing how your plans are unfolding.
Posted by sandrac | March 6, 2009 9:31 AM
Posted on March 6, 2009 09:31
My niece and her husband were in Thailand recently; I think it was a last hurrah trip for them as they are now expecting a baby. Have fun with your trip planning and with your vacation. Does buying property in FL mean an end to the nomad life?
Posted by Marcia | March 6, 2009 3:19 PM
Posted on March 6, 2009 15:19
Annie and Sandra, thanks, I am very excited.And I am enjoying planning the trip.
Marcia, where they in an organized tour or on their own?
And nope, noe end to nomad life yet, just easing our way out of it:) It is going to be hard to get a permanent job and normal life.
Posted by candi | March 6, 2009 8:16 PM
Posted on March 6, 2009 20:16
That sounds so exciting! My Mom traveled to Thailand several times for work, and loved visiting the hill tribes the most. If you like textiles, there are such beautiful traditional weavings and embroideries still being made.
Posted by Amy | March 7, 2009 7:16 AM
Posted on March 7, 2009 07:16
Hi Candi, how wonderful to hear that you're going to Thailand. I've heard some great things about this beautiful country and it is actually on my short list as well. I'm going to enjoy hearing more about your plans as they develop and also about your experiences whey you both return.
Have fun planning!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | March 7, 2009 8:03 AM
Posted on March 7, 2009 08:03
Sounds like a great idea to go to Thailand. I'd love to go there and experience their food.
Posted by Cindy Ruth | March 7, 2009 10:04 AM
Posted on March 7, 2009 10:04
Fabulous plan! I know many people who have been there and they all love it - the hospitality and friendliness, the food, the gorgeous landscape. And the ticket doesn't seem bad at all! Good luck and have fun planning!
Posted by Chiocciola | March 7, 2009 12:28 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 12:28
This is so exciting. It sounds like wonderful a trip!
My brother and his Thai wife were in Thailand last May. If you want to hear some recent opinions about traveling inside the country, I can put you in contact with him via email. The food is cheap and oh so delicious.
Posted by Maria I. | March 7, 2009 12:48 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 12:48
Thanks all, I am excited and beyond!
Maria, if your brother would be kind enough and doesn't mind, I do need some recent recommendations on places to stay.
Posted by candi | March 7, 2009 1:16 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 13:16
I think you will love Thailand. We decided on Malaysia for very similar reasons. We thought of Thailand at first but decided to go to Malaysia because of some unique plants. We were not disappointed.
Are you going to be traveling independently? We met a lot of people who had been to Thailand on their own and loved it. They did hire drivers but not a group tour.
I think Thailand is also cheaper than Malaysia. Even so, Malaysia didn't cost a lot. If I don't count our splurge resort or airfare - we spent maybe just a bit over $2k total for the two weeks.
Posted by marta | March 7, 2009 1:53 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 13:53
OOOH! I have always wanted to go there. Lucky you!
Posted by jgk | March 7, 2009 4:24 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 16:24
I am so excited for you...both for your trip and that you will be staying in Maui longer. Does hunting for a house mean that you will be settling down in Jacksonville, Florida?
I work with someone that just went to Thailand last fall. I can ask her for recommendations. Not sure where she stayed but I will check. I also have a couple of friends who have lived there for a short time. I will check with them to see if they have recommendations on the area around Chiang Mai and in Bangkok. I hear the food is incredible! Good shopping also!!
Posted by girasoli | March 7, 2009 4:25 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 16:25
Candi--what fun and I know the massage will be wonderful :-) I would love your life.
Posted by Jane | March 7, 2009 5:30 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 17:30
Whoo-hoo, about ten weeks to go!
Marta- we thought about Malaysia,but then Palaces and elephants in Thailand were calling! And yes, we are traveling independently, although I am am having a little hard time figuring out all the logistics, I think planning Europe is easier, but hey, I love challenges:)
Girasoli, I'd love any information/recommendations your friend has.And re Florida, we are still going to travel for a while longer, but we are going to go even slower(if that is possible).
Posted by candi | March 7, 2009 7:05 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 19:05
I just sent a couple of emails asking about recommendations. I flew China Airlines once many years ago to Hong Kong. From what I remember there were no problems but it was many years ago.
I forgot to mention before...even though we don't change time here this weekend, you will need to change your blog settings from UTC-10 to UTC-11 Nome time. Don't ask me why but after a couple of time changes, Kim and I figured out this little quirk in the blog settings.
Posted by girasoli | March 7, 2009 10:28 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 22:28
girasoli, thank you so much for your work.
Re-blog settings, I still have my settings under Mountain Time UTC-7,opps, perhaps I should change that, huh?
Posted by candi | March 7, 2009 11:05 PM
Posted on March 7, 2009 23:05