2014 - Shanghai Seminar & FIP Bangkok

Even though I didn’t sleep very well, I was still up and out of bed at 5:30am and had a coffee before meeting Jane, Sylvain and Trudi for breakfast.  After brekkie, I went to BITEC with all good intentions of attending sessions but found myself falling asleep so went back to the hotel and had a nanna nap, and then did some housekeeping – washing, notes for Shanghai and reading.  I went back to BITEC later in the afternoon for the FIP Officers reception and then MEPS Meet and Greet.  I had organised this with the Thai Military contact – Sherry.  A green Army bus took us from BITEC to Army House, a really flash Officers Mess, where we were treated to a semi-formal sit-down dinner with about 5 courses, complete with Thai dancers and the Army Band playing and singing for us.  I think something got lost in translation in the email!  It was supposed to be an informal get together with nibblies and the odd beverage or two.  Anyway, it was a very good night, a...

I must have been really tired as I managed to sleep in until almost 6am!  I had a couple of coffees before meeting Jane and Sylvain for breakfast at 7:30am.  The First Timers meeting started at 1pm and both Sylvain and I were required to represent MEPS.  So, we left the hotel early in order to get lunch at BITEC first, which was included in the registration cost.  I had fried rice with pork and it was very yummy! I'll be going back there for sure.  We all got a food pass which was preloaded with money and you used that to pay for meals and drinks in the food court of the BITEC.  After the First Timers there was a little bit of a wait for the Opening Ceremony (OC).  There were not as many speeches this year and more entertainment which was ok but not the best OC we've had.  For the first time, the Welcome Reception was held after the OC and there was no alcohol served! And the food was not real flash either.  Consequently, people didn't hang a...

We had a really early start as the tour agent was picking us up at 7am to take us to the Floating Markets. That meant I was up at 5am for breakfast at exactly 6am. We left on time and had to pick up Regis and Richard at their hotel which was about 20 mins away. We didn’t just do the Floating Market; our first stop was at the Railway Markets.  This is a series of market stalls set up right beside the railway line, with every possible food and some other knick-knacks.  We didn't spend too much time there thank goodness as it was a bit crowded and quite smelly.  When the train comes (once a day), there is frantic activity to move the stuff off the rails and far enough to the side to be out of the way. It was then onto the Brown Sugar Market where sugar is made from the coconut flower.  They also show you how coconut oil is made.  It was a very interesting stop. Our final stop was the Floating Markets.  It is not really a floating market, rather you, the buyer...

Although I was lying down with the lights out for about 3 hrs, I didn't get much sleep - maybe an hour or so all up.   I met Jane and Sylvain at breakfast, and we discussed our options for the day. We eventually decided to call the travel agent Sherry had put us onto and organised a 10am pick up to take us on the Ayutthaya tour for 2250 Baht (AUD70). Our first stop was at the Bang Pa-In Palace, also known as Summer Palace, which dates back to the 17 th Century. There are several different buildings, places and lakes that make up the complex. We were then taken to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the old temples in Ayutthaya province.  The main attraction is the Historic City of Ayutthaya which includes the Strangled Buddha, reclining Buddha and the Bronze Buddha. Lunch was had at the Krungsri River Hotel restaurant for an extra 1000 Baht.  Although this seems quite expensive, it was an all-you-can-eat buffet complete with dessert.  It served Thai, Chinese and It...