Travel Tips - Cambodia - Thailand - December 2003

Wednesday December 31, 2003

Versaces Tailors Bangkok - Chiang Mai's Cheese Lady - The Gondola - Pattaya Expats - One Day Tour - Thailand To Cambodia... The Drastic Attitude Change

VERSACES TO SUITE YOU

Tailor made suites are a great value purchase when visiting Bangkok. Competition is steep and pricing competitive.

Beware of shops offering a package of suits including shits and ties for $99 including shits and ties. The come on is the package will most likely consist of old material that didn't sell with designs that may not be compatible with your tastes.

Versaces Tailors on the corner of Sukhumvit Road, Soi 7 at the Nana Sky Train exit is a worthwhile stop. The shops focus' on quality. Owners brothers Mike & Bob speak excellent English.

When making a purchase plan time for the fitting and another couple of days for final fittings. For the travelers convenience the shop ships garments to your home. Tel: 650-3420

THE CHEESE LADY

When you travel around you hear some incredible stories how a product from the first world gets into the 2nd and 3rd.

The Bill Heineke story about needing cheese to satisfy the demand in his then Pizza Hut (now the Pizza Company) chain is the first cheese story in our experience. Another story surfaced about six years later.

In Chiang Mai Thailand Kurlab Karbkum took over the Art Cafe restaurant with her then American husband. They learned how to make cheese to supply their demand in their growing restaurant business that features a menu of Italian, Mexican, Thai and Western food.

The Dacheeso (Thailand) Co., Ltd. cheese factory and BAKERY followed. During our visit Kularb was particularly proud of her bagels. She pointed out a whole-wheat bagel that turned out to be delicious with the Dacheeso cream cheese.

At the Art café we tried the chili, spaghetti, cheesecake and banana split. The cheesecake was excellent but of course not New York cherry cheese.

Kularb is so dedicated in making the best Mexican food she can that she went to America and worked in a Mexican restaurant several weeks for free to learn how to improve the taste and preparation of the Art Cafe Mexican menu.

The Art café is located on the corner opposite the Thapae Gate at 291 Thapae Road. 053-206365. The Dacheeso cheese factory and bakery are located in the Hondong area of Chiang Mai at: 140/129-131 Moo 10 Amornivet Village Chiang Mai Hondong Road. Tel: (053) 274-521.

LA GONDOLA - CHAING MAI

In our quest for Italian food in Chiang Mai led us on a path to the La Gondola restaurant on the Ping river where we safely celebrated Loi Kratong. There was plenty of heavy food to satisfy our hungry palates.

SMALL WORLD…. The La Gondola's Thai Owner Suwannee Roncoroni was the original owner of Kularb's Art café.

La Gondola is located on the ground floor of the Rimping Condo, 201/6 Charoenraj Road Tel: 053-306-483

LOI KRATONG FESTIVAL

Beauty was on the menu at the Loi Kratong Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand and proved to be one on the events highlights. Complimented with excellent food and the excitement of throngs of people that came to celebrate.

At the La Gondola restaurant on the banks of Ping river we watched foreigners joining in the festivities by purchasing and trying to launch hot air lanterns…. with some... going up in flames.

On the street it was every man for himself. "It was like being in a war zone," said Daniel Goodwin a traveler from Long Island, New York in the Untied States.

Illegal firecrackers were being fired in the streets. Some were thrown into a persons walking path or at their feet. Not a safe situation for a tourist.

PATTAYA EXPATS CLUB

The Pattaya Expats Club meets every Sunday at 'HENRY J BEANS' Bar & Grill, at the AMARI ORCHID RESORT, at the north end of Beach Road. A Buffet is available from 9:30 AM. Meetings start at 10:30 AM, and try to finish by 12:00 noon.

American Drew Noyes is the clubs president and MC. The club usually has a guest speaker. In many cases a Thai that has some expertise regarding Thai Laws and business practices.

BLUES FACTORY - PATTAYA

Business is booming at the Blues Factory in Pattaya, Thailand. Management did away with Go Go girls and went strictly music entertainment. The bottom line numbers are up 2 ½ times.

Monday is ladies night. All ladies receive a free drink on entry. A weekly raffle enables ladies to win anything from soft toys to Thai gold.

Rock legend Lam Morrison and his band play every night except Monday.. The Blues Factory House Band performs every night except Wednesday.

The Blues Factory is on the Walking Street.

LOVE YOU TOURS

In Chiang Mai Love You Tours travel agent Ann said the one-day hill tribe tour is most popular. Most travelers are in a hurry and on a limited time schedule. The tour visits three hill tribes. That translates a lot of time traveling in a minibus and less time walking.

SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA

A number of hotels are sprouting up in Sihanoukville that cater to an upscale traveler. Several have been built at Ochheuteal Beach that is the most popular beach for tourists.

A 194-room hotel is near completion on Sokha Beach. Word is the establishment is projected to open in March, 2004.

CHIVA'S FULL MOON PARTY HAPPENING

The Full Moon party at Sihanoukville Cambodia's Ochheuteal Beach is happening says CHIVA SHACK owner CHIVA.

It was reported that Chiva stopped the party when the girls that taught him how to conduct the event returned to their native countries. Obviously the ladies have trained Chiva well. The just turned 15-year-old (in December) entrapaneur has expanded and triple sized the area of his business since March.

Chiva excitedly pointed out that above his two bars are dormitory type LODGING facilities for his customers. He claims that some visitors stay for several months. Chiva Shack is located at the far end of Ochheuteal Beach past the golf course. A flaming fire is lit nightly.

BANGKOK, THAILAND TO POIPET/SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - THE ATTITUDE CHANGES

For travelers that prefer to see a country by land there is a noticeable change in attitude when a foreigner crosses the Thai border and enters Poipet, Cambodia.

"What a change," a mid-thirties German tourist exclaimed as he noticed the extreme poverty of the people and the trashed streets of the town after passing through Cambodian Immigration.

The German kept asking us what was going on and if we knew anything. He was in the dark after sitting and waiting for two hours to move on.

When he purchased his ticket in Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia he was sold with a smile. When he reached the transfer and departure point for the minibus to Siem Reap he encountered an abrupt and somewhat rude behavior. From here tour agents interview, disperse and assign passengers to a minibus and guesthouse in Siem Reap.

In part the agents rude behavior has something to do with their lack of training and experience dealing with foreign travelers. For many agents this may be a first time experience.

As a result of their lack or training they have a way of interviewing travelers by using something similar to interrogation methods.

When you are sold in Bangkok you are told with a smile that you will arrive in Siem Reap at 3:30pm that afternoon.

In reality the interview/interrogation session in Poipet ended at 3:30. We departed shortly after and we arrived in Siem Reap at 10:30pm.

When pressed the agents at AB Travel in Bangkok, Thailand said with a smile that when they send a traveler on a through ticket to Siem Reap they didn't know what to expect after the Poipet border crossing.

Ethics and integrity appear to be qualities that are not taught in some Cambodian employee training sessions. The background of the travel agents boss/manager may indicate they have no previous history in management or the areas they teach.

For an example of the mentality and qualities of the type of individual that is responsible for training young Cambodians Go to: www.lovefm.ws Go to: DJ Profiles - Press: DJ Banana

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