Here is the schedule:
- ETA Chiangmai airport – Thu 20 Nov 2008 (1st flight in the morning. Upon arrival at airport, we will head straight up to the mountain resorts. If you cannot get a flight, you have to arrive on the 19 Nov 2008). To include travel insurance with airfare.
- ETD Chiangmai airport – Tue 25 Nov 2008 (Arr time in Chiangmai, around 12 nn. If you stay in Chiangmai city for shopping, eating and massages, you may link up with Kenneth Tan. I will fly off from Chiangmai on 25 Nov 2008).
Other details:
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If you bring your own tent, great. If you do not bring your own tent, we can rent from the resort for a fee. You have to pair with your own partner. Or else, you have to sleep in or outside my tent.
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Food – all the way will be vegetables and fruits, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No meat. Rice – yes. You will notice your bowels change, after this trip.
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Toilet – Yes. Hot water – No.
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Drinking water – we will buy along the way.
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Cooking and fixing of tents. I am considering have someone to come with us, to fix the tents and organise the cooking.
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Swimming pool – no; aircondition – open air and a light jacket needed; shopping in the mountains – very traditional but yes and limited.
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Television – No; radio – use your mobile phone.
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Mobile telephone – works well 90% of the places we go to.
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City shopping – Join Kenneth Tan in Chiangmai city, on or after 25 Nov.
More details as we go along. Meantime, please go into airasia.com and plan your arrivals and departures. Find a sleeping partner too.
Terence Seah
51% confirmed:
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Terence Seah – I shall meet you in BKK airport. Bkk/CM FD3240 and CM/Bkk 3290 flights booked. (1)
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Annie Loh & Daisy Yeo, flights booked. Plse supply fight numbers.
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Susan Tan & James Tan – tent mates, 20/11 FD3502 and 29/11 FD3507. (2)
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ChristinaCL Chan – SG/BKK/CM 20Nov FD3502 eta CM FD3240/16:30. Etd CM/28Nov08. considering a queen size bed installed, with solar hot water
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Helen Wong & Julie Yeo – 20 Nov : Sin/Bangkok Tigerairways TR102 (0710/0830). 20 Nov : Bangkok to Chiang Mai AirAsia FD 3234 (1250/1400). 29 Nov : Chiang Mai to Bangkok AirAsia FD 3239 140/1250), 29 Nov : Bangkok to Singapore Tigerairways TR 105 (1440/1805)
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Karen Thio -
Mike Tan & Alicia Soh – tent mates, 20Nov FD 3502, FD 3240. 29Nov FD 3235, FD 3507 (2)
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Anne To – 20 Nov SIN/BKK/CM FD3502, FD3240. 28 Nov 2008 – CNX/BKK, BKK/SIN (1)
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Janet Chan – not confirmed.
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Norlinda & Bira Bira – tent mates, tickets bought.
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Gingko Tay -
Charles Chua not confirmed.
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Pauline Chew -
Rene Leong & Cecilia Wee – 20Nov FD 3502, FD 3240. 29Nov FD 3235, FD 3507 (2)
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Gingko Tay -
Pauline Chew & Ella Tan – 20 Nov 2008: SIN to BKK FD 3502 Dep 1100 Arr 1215. 20 Nov 2008: BKK to CNX FD 3240 Dep 1520 Arr 1630. 28 Nov 2008: CNX to BKK FD 3239 Dep 1140 Arr 1250. 28 Nov 2008: BKK to SIN FD 3505 Dep 1645 Arr 2005
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Max, limited to 16 Pax only.
Hi Terence,
Thanks for organising this trip.
Can you tell us what we expect to see and do during these 5 days, what’s the itinery and how much should we budget?
Hi James,
Are you sure u are keen?
Food – all the way will be vegetables and fruits, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No meat. Rice – yes. U have to pull a cow along, haha.
yo Terence, Noticed the dates has been shifted. M so glad. Also nid not carry my own tent…. phew!
Now I can have both, meaning, the rough & the cushy; 90% confirmed. Let me tie up some ends …. & of course, find a seat in some flight haahaha
KennethT… 90% ON! will talk with you offline :D
Cheerio! ChristinaCL Chan
Hi Terence
Got in to check the seat availability on AirAsia. The Promo fare seats are taken pretty fast. Can you please provide us with your flight number to enable us to sync with your schedule. Believe the individuals will book SIN-BKK return and BKK-CM return.
Looking forward to breathing this negative ion air up in the mountain and a healthy diet meal. Hopefully I will shred off my excess.
Thanks & Regards
Helen
Kenneth Tan
Can I have your private email. I need to get some info on chengmai from u . My email is karenthio@hotmail.com
Thanks
karen
Hi guys!
To those going by AirAsia straight to Chiang Mai without spending a night or two in Bangkok:
Singapore – Bangkok FD3502 ETD 1100 ETA 1215
Bangkok – Chiang Mai FD3240 ETD 1520 ETA 1630
And, coming back, again without staying on in Bangkok:
Chiang Mai – Bangkok FD3239 ETD 1140 ETA 1250
Bangkok – Singapore FD3240 ETD 1540 ETA 1630
OR
Chiang Mai – Bangkok FD3235 ETD 1440 ETA 1545
Bangkok – Singapore FD3507 ETD 1850 ETA 2005
I know that it could be a long wait between the connecting flights but I think it is essential to allow more time from the immigration checkout, retrieving your luggage and getting to the domestic departure check-in.
These flights are daily and should not be subject to cancellation (it can happen) and you can book them now.
For those wanting to spend a day or two in Bangkok, you can choose more flexible and better timings.
An for the costs of the ticket, it will cost you $250 Sin/Bkk/Sin, plus Bkk/CM/Bkk $140.
For flights (including taxes), the total will be $388. Note, this cost do vary, depending on flight times.
I am thinking of calling a meeting for those who are interested to come up to Mae Hong Son/Chiangmai. Give me a few days to figure a date.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
I am keen on this trip but have to find someone to pair off. Pls keep me updated on pt 7.
Calling anyone who is keen on this trip…. pls drop me a note and we can discuss further. Thk u!
Hi Terence
Yeah,my leave has been approved!
Mike and myself are keen to join this trip. Shall we go ahead and book the airfares or wait for your
meeting? Hope that your meeting will not be this weekend
as we will be at in Spore.
Cheers
Alicia
Oops amendments to #9
– we will NOT be in Spore.
If u guys having a meeting let me know I can bring AIG Insurance forms for all of you.The 6 days coverage(includes 3 hrs before departure and 3 hrs after returning to Singapore).
Rate at S$28 per person for 6 days with maxiimum coverage of S$250,000 for Classic Plan , S$38 per person for Superior Plan with max cover of S$500,000 and At S$55 per head for Premier Plan for max cover of Unlimited amount.If u are away from 7-10 days the rates are S$35,S$51 and S$74 respectively.
Let me know if u want to avoid the hassle of another trip.
If you already have a comprehensive existing Life Insurance Plan than you don’t need this.Let me know if you find this information useful and need further input and help.
IF YOU NEED EXTRE PROTECTION(pun on word) CALL ME!)
CORRECTION
Line shud read as “Let me know if u want to avoid the hassle of another trip to town to buy your travel insurance”
EXTRE shud read as EXTRA.
SORRY for the careless typo error.
Hi Patrick,
I am glad you have shifted from corporate membership to individual membership. Please continue to use “I”. And, you are invited when I organise the coming meeting for MaeHongSon participants.
Terence Seah
helo CEO Terence
I hv been quiet all this while bcos was still searching for my soulmate!
All my buddies are reluctant to go…with many hiccups..no comfortable beds lah,mabok lah,cant sleep lah & just simply don like camping..sigh :(
Phew!…i finally got a fairy…her name is Bira!…haha
Neng Bira…jangan permainkan janji setia kita utk berbulan madu ok!…hehe
Pls keep us posted when is the meeting..cepat lah…the sooner the better..cudnt wait oredi!
AnneToh and another member are also interested, want to find out more on the itinerary.
Yeah!..we are finally realising our long awaited dreams!
Hi Terence
Noted you are calling a meeting, please include me. I need to find a partner before I proceed with the necessary follow up.
Is it possible that we book the same flight and same timing fly from Singapore Airport ? All the time I travel by conducted tour, so not familiar in this way of travel, like where and who to meet at Bangkok/Changmai, etc.
Annie Loh
Susan Tan
Knowing that you are looking for a partner. If you are yet to get one, may contact me at ‘anniellk@yahoo.com.sg’.
Annie Loh
Hi Terence,
Janet Chan and I are keen. She’s still awaiting clearance from new wk schedule. Pl gv us a day or 2 more. Btw, how rough is this trip? I had recently hurt my shoulder again.
Hi Terence.
Thanks for the encouragement.Touched!
If you guys need any maps and brochures let me know…maybe can hijack from T.O.T.(Tourist office Thailand) for free of course!
Hi Terence
Forgot to indicate Mike’s surname – should be Mike Tan.
Annie Loh #15 – no worries, we will take care of each other during the trip. See you at the meeting.
Cheers
Alicia
Hi Terence
sorry I am not in for this event. I just need kenneth’s email to check some info from him. Thanks
Karen
Nov…the month I can’t take leave…:-(( but the weather in CM is fine.
The nites are easy to pass…chat, see stars, chat, see stars. But how do u pass the days? 4 full days!! What is in the plan? …jus curious :-))
20 Nov thurs…arr CM…travel up to mountain resort
21 Nov fri
22 Nov sat
23 Nov sun
24 Nov mon
25 Nov tues…early morn, travel down frm mt resort, dep CM
Terence!
Finally, I managed to log in again! Since I did not hear fm u on how I should manage my password which was messed up when trying to change it, I created another profile for myself. Hope this has not messed up your admin though.
Please do keep me in the loop once you have decided on the date for the meeting.
Many thanks!
SusanTan, I think it is important I moderate the expectations for this trip. James, you can be sure it is vegetables for morning, lunch and dinner. If we find a wild duck, let’s consider it a treat.
ChristinaCL, well I adjusted the dates because the feedback is “too may days to take leave”. Also, an opportunity for everyone to have some buttock massages and North Thai food recommendations by Kenneth.
AliciaSoh, MikeTan and AnnieLoh, I can guarantee you can easily see 22 shooting stars every night.
JuneL, now that the dates are fixed; I shall release the itinery in Sept. For those coming, enjoy yourself; dont be too bogged down by the itinery. In short, we travel every day to a different scenic spot. You dont need a tent; as we can rent it at the resort. I suspect everybody will be too tired; and fall asleep at 9pm.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
I’m not much of an outdoor type of person. But your trip does sound very exciting & interesting, and i do need a break, and i have to clear block leave, so i will consider coming. Count me into the meeting. I need to find out more before i can make a firm commitment. I hope you can understand, you see, i’m allergic to eating 3 vegetable meals a day, and the wild duck too!
Cheers, Lydia.
Alicia
Nice to have your concern.
Terence
Hope that every night, we can sing tringle, tringle little stars together.
Hi guys!
May I suggest that you try to fly together to Chiang Mai and avoid getting lost or worse…
Remember, two can travel as cheaply as one. Your hotel, food and even travel experience can be shared together.
I’d suggest that you fly to CM on the 19th November, stay the night and then meet Terence and others who will be at the airport, taking the first? morning flight from Bangkok (FD3232 or FD3238 which arrive at 7.55am or 11.10am respectively). Terence: I think you need to give your flight details for them to decide.
On arrival at CM airport, once you clear customs make your way to the taxi ranks at the left exit of the airport lobby. Licensed taxis will be there to take you to the city, which will cost around B120 (when I was last there in January). This is the best way to get to your hotel in the city.
If you need a hotel in the city, book online with asiarooms.com or any other site. I suggest you can stay at Suriwongse hotel which will be around S$50 for a double including a big buffet breakfast. If you need any cheaper hotel, then you can book direct with the hotel/guesthouse. I have some options if anyone is interested.
Those who want to stay on in CM after the camp-out are welcome to join me. I have not decided the hotel I’ll be at but I am considering the following:
Chiang Mai Thai House: Budget hotel just a walk away from the Night Bazaar, some eco swimming pool and reasonable rates without breakfast.
chiangmaithaihouse.com
Raming Lodge: Budget boutique also close to the night Bazaar, with Lanna-style rooms, good buffet spread.
raminglodge.com (Can be booked through Asiarooms).
Eurana Boutique Hotel: Beautifully-landscaped boutique hotel just inside the Old City, splurge without draining your pocket. Great for couples and those requiring more comfort and pampering.
Looking forward to meet all the participants at the meeting!
#26 KennethT, thanks for the info. I would like to be in BKK for 1 to 2 days on the return trip so, SIN/BKK/CM/BKK/SIN.
I have yet time to take a peek on the flight schedule from Airasia.
Hi Terence, yup, Kenneth is right, we need to know what time you will be in Chiangmai & what time should we move out/up the mountains.
However, please bear in mind that we nid to fly from SG not BKK so flights to CM might not be as early as yours hor.
Thanks, ChristinaCL Chan
Hi ChristinaCL and Kenneth,
Yes, I am waiting to hear from others who have expressed interests. Very likely, I will decide immediately, after the meeting next week. will advise in a while.
Terence Seah
Hi Christina
Read your note that you will be in Bangkok for a day to two. I plan to stay in Chiangmai city for 1 day and half and back to Bangkok for 1-2 day then back to Singapore. If you like, we can travel together.
Regards
Helen
email : helen862@singnet.com.sg
Hi Terence,
I am interested on this trip but need to find someone to pair off. Count me into the meeting.
If any of you are yet to get a partner, can contact me at “thiethie@pacific.net.sg”. TK
Hi Terence, 100% confirmed going. I will work weekends to ensure I get to go missed it 2 years ago, not gonna let this happen again! hahahaha
waiting patiently for more…..info!
#30 Hi HelenW, have we met? ..oops dun humtum me cant recall which Helen leh :D
It is better to travel light gg up the mountains but if wanna do shopping after need luggage space. So 1 big problem is where to off-load the luggage bag before gg up the mountain??? Any solution?
TQ
Christina
We have yet met as I only attended the D&D this March. No worries, somehow we will figure it out. I think we can leave it with the hotel concierge (for safekeeping) where we will check it in Bangkok. Otherwise, just pickup a suitcase from there. It is a free and easy trip (no more compulsive shopping) for me (recharge energy).
Do you have any idea of the hotel you want to stay in Bangkok?
Regards
Helen
Hi Terence,
Will you be at Kukup this weekend?
If so, we have meet up together with those who are going
for the Chiang Mai trip.
I’ve a few queries to consult you before deciding yes or no.
See you soon.
james
Hi James and MaeHongSon adverturers,
Yes, I am joining the other KukupBirds. We can discuss the ChiangMai trip then. Let’s find some time.
Terence Seah
Hey!
What about those not going to Kukup??
Anyway, for those spending a couple of days in Chiang Mai, I’ll be planning a super all-meat dinner for the meat-starved campers!
We can have German sausages, schitzels, pork knuckles… and yes, German brew at the Hausmunchen German Restaurant in CM.
And, if you’re still game, an American-style double cheese, 200gm pure beef patties hamburger at Mike’s Burgers! Slurp it all down with fresh fries and coke!
What about a real “Kai Yang” northern-style grilled chicken eater with “som tam” green mango salad and sticky rice?
Make’s the vegetarian trip more bearable, don’t you think?
Hi Kenneth, kind of tight for time. Can you pick a date during Sep 1 – 3, time and place. You are important too. So, I let you choose. We will firm the flights after Sep 3.
Terence Seah
helo Terence…
After u finish kukuping with the kukubirds/bees…pls dont forget..we suppose to have meeting on our trip ok :)
To all …enjoy your trip!..don makan until no place to release hor!…haha..ooppss!
Btw…my fairy Bira..pls say something..u agree to be my partner rite?..hhmm?
Just wanted to say..new word ‘kukuping’ is invented recently by our very own YewKwong!….haha :)
Norlinda,
Very difficult to believe you are considering coming to MaeHongSon. Take you as 50% coming. But, if you come, I think you will enjoy it. And I like kukuping by YK.
Terence Seah
#37 Kenneth, not that I’ll be meat starved I can get by with veg BUT it’s the German sausages & pork knuckles! I’m game too for your other 2 offers but pleeease not on the same day. After being on veg for 4-5days (seems like we fasted) nid to break fast gently mah… how about first eating some dates! you know.
Also, since both yourself & Terence said that CM also can shop I might just stay on in CM to enjoy the country and its culture :D
#34, Hi Helen, I’ve checked apparently it is juz too much hassle to stopover BKK. I was in BKK more than 20yrs ago, that’s why wanted to make a stopover. Anyway, I still prefer CM so I think I’ll give BKK amiss this time. Thanks for asking.
Cheerio! ChristinaCL Chan
Hi Terence,
Please include me in the forthcoming meeting for Mae Hong Son participants.
Thanks!
ChristinaCL and others thinking of Bangkok,
Chiangmai is another city; and there is a lot you can see, buy and eat here. I would recommend you do everythhing you want to do in Chiangmai; you will enjoy the time saved. Just transit at Bangkok airport will do.
Next time, I shall bring you to other parts of Thailand eg Chongburi, which is near the sea, near Bkk and just like Saturn. Another time, it can be HuaHin, ChaAm, You can cycle and scooter here. So for this trip, just enjoy Chiangmai and MaeHongSon.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence #38
This is still your game: You’re the one planning the camping trip in the mountains. So you have to be the one deciding on the dates, flights, itinerary and ground arrangements.
I’m only the Chiang Mai “facilitator” (it looks like some politician has borrowed this word from me) and responsible for those who intend to stay back after the camp. But only to direct them to the sights, shops and food!
I’ve committed myself to be in CM from the 25 Nov to 1 Dec. So, anyone is welcome to be with me on these dates.
My only interest in attending your camp meeting is to meet those who intend to be in CM, to get feedback on what they expect to do or see and give some advice on hotels, etc.
So please make the meeting for the campers and would-be campers. I think you all should make your flight arrangements soon.
#45 Terence, advice noted. TQ
I have had decided to gallivant CM! :D
The itinerary that was put up is too brief. To me the day 2 day is unimportant but it might not be so for others. Most importantly the date/time to gather in CM is crucial. I am sure there are queries. Perhaps you might nid to set aside 2 date(s) for the meeting in case some are unable to make it.
If possible you might want to squeeze in 1 during the sessions at Scorebot/31Aug. Oi Cheng has a CD of the photos taken during Nov06 trip tt I missed ;( I am sure Oi Cheng will be glad to share it, hor Oi?
The scenery on/from/of the mountains are so serene, beautiful! breathtaking!!!!! After viewing it, it might give comfort to those who are hesitant.
The journey is not as tough as it seems; we aint gonna scale any mountains lah! :D
Cheerio! ChristinaCL Chan
#46 Dear KennethT, I believe we hear you :D you’ve kept your promise…..thanks for being there at CM mountain-base heeheeheheh and m keeping mine, too tt is I’ll join u in CM if u’ll have me? hahahahah
ok, seriously… you think we should book flights now instead of wait till Oct?
sincerely, ChristinaCL Chan
Hi Terence,
When and where is the briefing for the Dream trip?
I would like to attend too.
Any objections to bringing canned food and Chinese sausages up there? I have never lived without meat for more than 2 days lah.
Hahaha!
Dear Charles
Bringing canned meat and sausages is like carrying coals to Newcastle! Chiang Mai has their version of a sausage called “sai ua” which is in a long spiral rather like the German bratwurst. It can be spiced and really delicious; nothing like the Chinese “lap cheong” you were considering.
Just let me know a day in advance, and I’ll buy one for you. You can disguise it as a pillow and take it along, no one will suspect until it gets shorter and shorter.
On the way to Mae Hong Son, if you’re passing Mae Sae there are many muslim restaurants selling “khao soi” (something like a laksa)… this may be your last chance to catch some meat before…
Haha! I’m only joking; I envy all who will be travelling with Terence and I’sure you’ll all have a great time!
Hi Kenneth,
Thanks for your tip, but are there any other possibilities for food other than bringing it yourself? Nothing fancy, but even eggs would be fine. Like you said, I don’t want to be bringing coal to Newcastle.
Unlike Treence’s advice, I don’t need to change my bowels, I like them the way they are.
I will look to your recommendations for your CMai all-meat dinners though.
Any other tips? Thanks and cheers
Hi terence & Kenneth at #6,
This is the info about the cost you mentioned for the Air
Asia flight:
Date Flgt From/To Time Dep/Arr TktCost TtlCost
20/11 FD3502 Sin/Bkk 1100/1215 S$45 S$238
26/11 FD3505 Bkk/Sin 1645/2005 S$36 S$244
20/11 FD3240 Bkk/Cnx 1520/1630 BT850/$36 BT3563/S150
26/11 FD3239 Cnx/Bkk 1140/1250 BT700/$30 BT3234/$135
total cost for the 4 legs of the flights or whole return
trip would be S$767, inclusive of taxes and surcharges.
Do we have other airlines giving similar or better offers?
Looks like with misc fees, budget airlines are not that
budget anymore.
For a new visitor to Chiangmai, how many days do you recommend we stay in the city itself, after our mountian trip?
Btw, I’m also looking for a tent partner. Any volunteer?
james tan
Hi Terence
I am confirmed to go together with Cecilia Wee (new member yet to register).
Waiting for you to finalise meeting time and place to book my flight asap.
Hi Kenneth,
Appreciate your time to be the ‘facilitator’ in CM. I intend to stay for a couple of days going round by bike if you can help to arrange. Your meat offer is overdose to me. I will see how.
Cheers
Rene
James #52
I think you may have made a mistake… I’ve just checked and the RETURN flight Sin-Bangkok is S$241 total.
The Bangkok-Chiang Mai leg is Baht3,240 return.
So the total airfare including taxes but not including insurance, check-in luggage or priority boarding is S$377: S$241 plus S$136 (Baht3,240).
I would advise all confirmed travellers to book their tickets early. The flights I checked above are for 19th November departure and return on 27 November (for those who want to spend a day or two in Chiang Mai.
Rene #53
There are several bike rental companies and you can cycle freely in the Old City. There is also a mountain bike company which takes people out of the city but quite expensive to my mind.
No worries! My menu is not an entire meat diet… it will be a combination of delicious, authentic food from all over the world: Thai, Italian, German, even Jewish! Yes, you can get all these in Chiang Mai!
So book your tickets and come join me!
This is the recommended flight schedule (approx $388, tax included):
OUTWARD Thurs, 20 Nov:
Singapore – Bangkok FD3502 ETD 1100 ETA 1215
Bangkok – Chiang Mai FD3240 ETD 1520 ETA 1630 (Ideally, we should go straight up the mountains. We may stay in CM for one night, before going up the next morning. Also, a good opportunity to meet, for those who come late due to late flight arrivals).
RETURN Tues, 25 Nov:
Chiang Mai – Bangkok FD3239 ETD 1140 ETA 1250
Bangkok – Singapore FD3240 ETD 1540 ETA 1630
Please make sure the outward schedule is acceptable to your leave schedule. I am not likely to change this schedule. The return schedule is up to you, if you stay in Chiangmai.
We had some discussions and clarifications during the Kukup trip. For convenience, as some of us are meeting up for the CPF and retirement discussions, the next meeting is scheduled Sun, 31 Aug at 6.30pm, at 18 Bali Lane.
Budget from 20 – 25 Nov 2008:
Airfare: Depends on your booking time. $388, if booked now.
Insurance: we try to get group insurance.
Van plus gas, for the duration: approx $120
Rental tent, on twin sharing, for 5 nights, include entrance fee to campsite: $50
Cooks plus tent builders: approx $35 per pax
Vegetables plus drinking water: will try to give a number later.
Tour guide (legal reqirement): approx $40 per pax for 6 days.
Hot water: Not available
Coffee or tea (in a cafe): between 15 – 35 baht each
A bowl of noodles: 25 – 50 Baht (got meat).
Drinking bottle: approx 7 – 10 baht).
A good estimate is $220, exclude airfare & Chiangmai city. Hope this helps you to make a decision.
Dont forget, you will meet squirrels, small wild animals, cliffs, fogs, cold mountain water and an all fresh vegetable meals. Good factors include a likely 18C temperature, with nights at likely 15C, definitely no rain. We are going into well established National Resorts Parks. There is no need to do tracking; but if you like, distance can be 100 – 200m.
Some joys include massages in the towns, Chinese community in the mountains, tea plantations, unusual and edible lunches, excellent and refreshing views and mornig sunrise and evening sunsets . No schedule will be given. SMS and phone calls available via your mobile 90% of the time. Receiving SMS is Free.
Basically, I am trying to prepare you mentally. Please drop out if you are expecting comfort. But, you will experience something which you will not enjoy with usual tour groups. So, find your sleeping partner now. Dont forget to test for snoring.
Take this as an opportunity to know new friends.
Terence Seah
Hi Kenneth,
Thank you for the info. This time my fare is same as yours.
The airline must have computed my original fare for 2 persons,
which explains why I’ve to pay double. Thank you.
I shall book the flight out on 20/11 (Wed) and returns on
27/11 (Wed).
Two days for the Chiang Mai trip itself enough???
I shall take your suggestion to have meat and vege dishes.
And thank you for the bonus of having an international
spread thrown in.
Look forward to this trip and seeing all the kakis soon.
james
Hi Terrence
Thanks for the info @55. We will be at the meeting,18 Bali Lane 31 Aug @6.30pm. Will book airfares after that.
Kenneth – We would like to extend 2 days @CM. I have been
to CM, 4 years ago, mostly trekking. What are your recommendations if we extend two days @CM? Thanks for being
the facilitator.
James #56 – 20/11 and 27/11 fall on Thurs leh.
Cheers
Mike and Alicia
Cheers
Alicia
Hi all,
I have made bookings for the flights.
Leaving on 20/11 and returning on 27/11.
Kenneth, my 2 days in Chiangmai at your mercy.
james
For Chiangmai participants who have NOT booked the flights, remember that flights are NOT refundable, and NOT changeable.
Try to book two persons on same flight. You should include insurance, if you like.
Terence Seah
This is SO SO interesting!!! But I need to bathe in the morning and just before I go to bed!!! 15-18 deg C with no water heater!!! I remember those times whn I was up one of mountains in CM…..BBbbbbrrrrrrrr
Dear kakis,
Pls book your flight early. The fare has gone up by $9 since
the post yesterday. More expensive as the days drag on.
Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)
20 Nov 2008 FD 3502 Dep 1100 Arr 1215
128.00 SG
Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore (SIN)
27 Nov 2008 FD 3505 Dep 1645 Arr 2005
122.00 SG
Bangkok (BKK) to Chiang Mai (CNX)
20 Nov 2008 FD 3240 Dep 1520 Arr 1630
1781.55 BT = S$74
Chiang Mai (CNX) to Bangkok (BKK)
27 Nov 2008 FD 3239 Dep 1140 Arr 1250
1619.98 BT = S$68
So pls decide fast and book immed.
Note: I’ve found my tent buddy. Thank you to all.
james
James #61
Alamak, no wonder lah!
I thought why my total not tally with Terence $388?
Dear Terence/Kenneth
Our (Mike Tan, Alicia Soh, Cecilia Wee and I) flights are confirmed as flws:
20 Nov 2008: SIN to BKK
FD 3502 Dep 1100 Arr 1215
20 Nov 2008: BKK to CNX
FD 3240 Dep 1520 Arr 1630
29 Nov 2008: CNX to BKK
FD 3235 Dep 1440 Arr 1545
29 Nov 2008: BKK to SIN
FD 3507 Dep 1850 Arr 2210
Cheers
Rene
helo helo…help help!…
apa macam… i thot we book tikets together after this sunday’s meet at scorebot?
alamak…must book our own ah?…
Rene…i was just reading the thread & saw yr name..was thinking to call you ..so that we book together..me & Bira…can fly together, play together & sleep together!…haha
Weiwei, Nor,
Jetstar got offer now leh.. book b4 Aug31 n travel btwn sep n nov for bkk, i.e. 20/11 sin to bkk and 29/11 bkk to sin only $277 inclusive all taxes lor.. not 2 bad a deal lor.. can choose seat sumore…
Dolly #64
Yes, there are other ways to get to Bangkok and JetStar can be a good alternative. 20kg luggage allowance, seats, also Terminal 1… better than Tiger.
Please note that you have to give sufficient time to catch the connecting flight to Chiang Mai, i.e. exit the International arrival, collect your luggage and clear immigration, then go to the Dosmetic departure on the 4th level.
Thankyou missy Dolly for the info, tonite i must discuss with my sleeping partner Bira…
Aiya..wish u going then u can do everything for us!..hehe
very spoil lah..now donno how to do my own..hhhmm
But..ting!…my partner Bira wud know..she always fly everywhere..maybe got secretary..lagi bagus!
Kenneth..I was wondering…whether we can wait until after our meeting this sunday…boleh tak?..mai kancheong leh..maybe got better offer?…haha
Hi Nor,
Tell you a secret. I have secretary to book my flight, but cannot tell you who. Envious?
Kenneth, what I know is that Jetstar got 2 flight to BKK daily leh..
Hi Dolly #64,
Jetstar offer of $277 seems more ex than AirAsia at $250
(both all inclusive), so I would suggest not to delay.
I went to Cambodia last month and my fren supposed to book
for me. However the booking was just 1 day later than the original plan and I’ve to pay additional $30.
So for budget airline, the earlier you book the cheaper.
Terence – Susan Tan n me will be tent partners.
james
Guys and Gals, it may be more expensive to get your tickets from Singapore to Bangkok and then to Chiangmai. But, I am confident you will get a ticket even if you do so in Sept or Oct. But, please do not feel pressured to buy your ticket now. If you do buy now, do make sure you take travel insurance.
I saw a Carefoure advertisement today. If you need a soft base, consider buying your own sleeping bag. I think it is priced at $14. If you work around Suntec, please visit for us travellers and advise.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
Would the tent operator be able to provide/rent the sleeping
bag or better still provide a mattress?
This way, we can travel lite and maybe save the space of
another piece of luggage on AirAsia which is charged at
$2.50 per piece.
james
Hi James,
What do you mean by “another piece of luggage” on AirAsia which is charged at $2.50 per piece? Are you talking abt excessive luggage after the initial 20kg?
Hi James #71,
Yes, the tent providers usually have sleeping bags for rent; but some campers prefer their personal sleeping bag. Really, this is up to the individual.
For those not familiar, a sleeping bag is usually for ONE person only.
Terence Seah
Terence, thx for the info. Do we need to reserve the sleeping
bag with the operator before reaching CNX?
Ann, if you book AirAsia online, you will be given option of
carrying onboard “No luggage”, “1 pc”, “2 pc” etc as ea
check-in pc is charge.
james
Hi Terence and Dream Team
I will be going to CarreFour (very near to my office) later on. Will QC the sleeping bag that is on offer and describe to you.
If you are happy, I can buy it for you. Dont worry, no service charge :)
Warmest Regards
Caroline Gee
Dear Terence, 200% on board! depart SG/BKK/CM 20Nov FD3502 eta CM FD3240/16:30. Etd CM/28Nov08.
Terence, you had initiated ‘solar hot water’ nxt 2 my name. Wonder wat triggered tt thought? How abt ‘solar eclipse’ how’s dat? =)
Dear Kenneth, will tag along wherever you go but restricted to CM only & except to the temples teeheehehehe
Cheerio! ChristinaCL Chan
helo Miss LinaNg…
apa macam..don like that leh…can share yr secret?..or u be our secretary boleh?…u got the potential!..hehe
btw…ask Juliet to come along lah…
calling all the boys…how come so few?..AndrewYeung,CharlesWee,DeniseWee,JohnHowe,AaronHow & BoonLiang & ChinBoon,not forgetting TimLiu!…come with us lah..sure fun!..so many girls without guys tak fun lah…haha..who jaga us?..only Terence &James…kesian :)
Nor, tarikmatkasih, me in and out of Thailand 3 times over the last 5 weeks so like yr ending of a posting with “kesian”, it’s “sibeisian” for me.
Jokes aside, at the moment, things are still in a flux for me so much so that I cdnt sign up for the recent k-kup trip where I was told, I missed the ogle of drooling over gals parading in k-cups……….
HI Terence,
I don’t seem to be able to find the details on the side trip that you mentioned about. The one that Kenneth was planning, with proper hotel accommodation.
I would like to join you, but would need to find a tent-mate, first.
Pls let me know when is the meeting.
Cheers, Lydia.
Hi Terence & Dream Team
Just came back from Carrfour.
The info on sleeping bag is as follows:
Price: S$14.90 (usual S$22.90)
Size: 190x75cm
Weight: 1.35kg
Material: 80%Polyester 20%Cotton
Temp: +8deg to +12deg (dont know what it means)
For S$14.90, can buy lah,
Warmest Regards
Caroline Gee
Sorry Terence & Dream Team
Special offer for sleeping bag is valid for 26 & 27 Aug only.
As I am going home now, the offer to buy the stuff is now closed.
Caroline Gee
Hi Caroline, thank you for the offer to buy the sleeping bad. So nice to have you living near Carrefoure.
Terence Seah
Carly…
That is so sweet of you..but so fast offer sudah tutup?
now u see,now u dont?..apa macam?..so sad our dream to masak lontong tak jadi ah? bad timing hor?..hhhmmm
Anyway..im going to call all the other girls to go again also..
helo helo..Lina,Ahnee,Suzchang,Dolly,Lily,Molly,OC,Gwyneth…come lah, don let me be mountain tortoise alone leh?..hehe
without u gals..wont be so much fun..
Luckily got Bira ,my guardian angel!:)
Alamak forgot to call RonaldLee,DanHuang,StevenChan.boleh pegi tak?
Nor Sayang,
I not go lah.. 1 2 go BKK la and maybe planning Haikou/Sanya holi if time permits lor.. U enjoy ok.. cheers.. Dolly
Hi Terence,
While awaiting good news from JC, I went ahead and booked my tickets laio.
20 Nov 2008 – SIN/BKK FD3502 Dep 1100 Arr 1215
BKK/CNX FD3240 Dep 1520 Arr 1630
28 Nov 2008 – CNX/BKK, BKK/SIN
Regrets, cldn’t make it for meeting on 31 Aug.
Thanks Norlinda for your invitatn to Mae hong sian and chiengmai.
I will suffer from traveling sickness to the rugged mountains and not use to sleep in the open.
Too pampered in my water bed.
All of you enjoy yourselves and had a good time. Don’t forget to take more pictures of the scenery.
Norlinda,
I am gonna to miss you as a travelling partner this time round. You know lah, I got motion sickness, cannot take the long bus ride to the mountain…I also have phobia climbing up & down the mountain, susah lah… dat jadi lor. You enjoy with Bira, ok. :)
Ah Nee
ANee, dont bluff lah, you wont miss anyone……having given your vow to the lamp-post outside oxford hotel, you will forever be in the shine with so much limelight that you wont hv 1 dull moment, or time to even sieve thru the customer list, that good biz.
Dont you hear, as I write, voices calling out “I want the wonder Nee, you can have my wanton mee………” Heehee.
Hey! #66 Nor, #79 Lydia #85 Ann
There seems to be many references to a meeting on this trip.
Is there one planned? And when and where? I can’t find any references elsewhere to it.
Now I would like to meet those who’re planning to remain in Chiang Mai and there’re quite a number of you. I’d like to give you an idea of the hotel/guesthouse you can book, what tour/activity you can plan for and how I can help you.
James, Mike and Alicia: Don’t worry, you won’t be at my mercy; there’s lots to do and all you need to worry about is whether you have the time to do them all.
Terence: Is a meeting confirmed?
Hi Kenneth and all participants to the MaeHongSon/Chiangmai trip,
Yes, the discussion is ON on Sun 31 Aug at 18 Baloi lanean after the CPF and retirement chat. Time: 1830 hrs. Kenneth, I will take abt one hour. Yours 2nd leg in CM can be on anytime, that Sunday. Before or after my session.
Terence Seah
Hi Norlinda,
You see I already need a Secretary to do my internet booking, so how can I be your Secretary. To tell you the truth, I have never bought any travel ticket through the internet. But if you really want me to do it, do be prepared, you might end up in another planet! Hehe
Hey #89 Kenneth & #90Ter,
How, any minutes of mtg or recording? Possible for a re-run at the 9 Sep gathering?
Thanks,
Hi Annto,
The briefings are really to help you make a decision if you will join the group. We still need time to plan a program. Meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do ask on this forum, and either me or Kenneth can address them.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
#8 has a queen-size bed? Can I also put a request? Btw, if available, what is the cost for the 5 to 6 days?
Hi Susan #94,
A queen-size bed delivered all the way to the mountain top would cost $3,500. You can sell it off to the villagers, after your night stay. Aiyah, everybody will be treated the same, sleep inside the tent.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
Will I be able to make a small profit just to cover my expenses. If Yes, can consider the investment, haha…..
thank you for your quick response.
Sorry Nor,
Would like to but don’t have dat much leave left. You enjoy and tell us about it when you are back ok?
HI Terence,
Can u pls start the meeting on Sunday earlier, say 5:30, as some of us need to rush off for the dance jam @ 6:30.
Thanks.
Wow!..just 2 days din chat..so many news..hhmm
Annto..yes!..that’s a wise decision..must book quickly hor..
must join the kancheong spider!:)
We (Bira & me lah)also got our tikets oredi!..
Lina..tku for your offer…but i courageously learned with my fren’s help to book cos so scared might end in outer space!…susah lah!
So, EO Terence…Bira & myself confirmed going & will be at the meeting at Scorebot…so 6.30 or 5.30?..cakap betul2 leh! :)
Rene..our flights are the same as yours..im also coming back 29th so that can continue our fun with the rest!..
but missy Bira balek 25th cos she got anak kucing to jaga!…haha…sori Bira…main2 saja kok!..
Steven@86…don be so spoil lah..sometime must pegi mountains..maybe ada pot of gold tau!..boleh jadi orang kaya tau!
Dolly..u go BKK ah?..apa macam don wait for me?…hhmm i want to shop till drop leh!..hehe
Lily…so kesian,nvm lah…nx time we go shorter trip together ok:)
AhNee…ya lah..u so poor thing..like small girl lor..walk a bit also tired…climb mountain..i can piggy bag lah…but u must lose some weights hor…if not very chim leh!…haha
To all mountain kakis!..Yeah!…we’ll hv fun together..play masak2,go fishing,pluck durians..then we make greenbean bubur with real durian fruit…hhmmm..slurp slurp! sedap!hv picnic under a big shady tree!with the chirping birds,humming bees& smily butterflies!…oh!…what a beautiful life!
btw…Terence…are we also watching sunrise?..
alamak cakap banyak lah!..hehe
Hi all Dream Trippers!
The coming trip is like the Olympics! Plenty of excitement and anticipation, lots of activities and scenic wonders to look forward to…
But, like the Olympics, be prepared: This is camping and without the nearby toilet facility or police post or emergency service. I’d like to remind campers to take proper precautions, bring the necessary medication you need, mosquito repellant, insect bite cream, anti-diarrhoea, first aid kit, warm clothing, etc. Drink only bottled or boiled water, do not take food that’s been exposed with flies around. We Singaporeans have become too clean, too clinical, and can easily succumb to the slightest bit of dirt.
But, having said that, like in the Olympics, we should enjoy ourselves and not sack the coach! Take care of yourself and your partners. Adapt to the environment. And make this trip a memorable one!
See you all at the meeting this Sunday.
Folks,
The return fare to BKK has increase by another $9 today.
Singapore (SIN) to Bangkok (BKK)
20 Nov 2008 FD 3502
Departs 1100 Arrives 1215
$ 137.00
Coming Back
Bangkok (BKK) to Singapore (SIN)
27 Nov 2008 FD 3505
Departs 1645 Arrives 2005
$ 122.00
Total Package Price $259.00
Do book early if you plan to go.
Note: Sleeping bags available again at Carrefour
at $14.90 (190 x 75cm) or $9.90 (180 x 70cm)
james
Kenneth..Tku for yr advice,at least to get us physically & mentally prepared!
whatever..im ready to explore & experience this exciting trip with shcians :)
Terence..how come Bira & me u didnt update as cfmed?…we are 100% confirmed going…must tell our flight is it?..hehe
Bira….what time are we meeting at scorebot?
On the way to Mae Hong Son, from Chiangmai airport, we will stop at the town of Pai. This is a small little city. I found an URL that captures what this town is all about.
Have a look. http://www.djparadisetour.com/epai.html
Terence Seah
Good Morning Terence,
Thanks for the informaton last evening.
Dream team,
If you wanna know more of pai. Go to google.com, type “pai in northern Thailand” in the search field and you will be overflow with “trekking” information.
Looking forward to this wonder mountain.
Cheers
Rene
Nor Sayang @99
Let’s explore and experience the old charm city of Chiangmai with our feet and adventure on mountain bikes from Nov 25 till Nov 29.
I know you miss your “shopping” kakis. I may keep you company to shop a little but not till ‘you drop’ type. Ensure that we will have a different types of enjoyment minus the boogie all “nite dancing”
I will booking Guest house type hotel around S$20-S$30/nite, neighbours to Kenneth Tan. If you do not mind the minimum star with attached bath and TV only. Let me know and I will email you the website.
Cheers
Rene
Yes! Hot spring & Thai massage in Pai.
Rene..
This time round..im not into shopping(like real!)…a little bit boleh hor..Im tired of shopping oredi in Asia..perhaps will really shop when i go Paris 2010 with my daughter.The last time i went with frens….so short only…never do our ‘homework’,missed so many interesting places when i saw at cable tv!
Hey…if u booking any hotel or motel!..pls also inlcude me..i just follow u all…cos by then Bira wud have deserted me!..hehe
AnnTo…
Im glad that u are also going..will be fun go mountaineering with Rene & all..think i wud enjoy this trip..never do camping so many days..but Terence say..we eat veges all the time from am to pm?..kesian hor we all??think i beta bring some ikan bilis & sambal belacan!…buay tahan leh…hehe
Hi Terence
#103 stated we will stop at the town of Pai, are we not staying at this relaxed atmosphere with beautiful nature spots/scenic guest house/resorts ? or at least we must visit this wonderful nature scenic.
Hi All Mae Hong Son Kakis
Here is the extracts for your fun reading. Don’t hesitate, must go !
My days (one fo the traveller) at the Fern resort in Mai Hong Son. Posted on: 4:06 pm, January 09, 2008 Save
One of the best vacation spots I ever been to.
I been to Thailand many times now, from the beaches in Phi Phi Islands, and Phuket to shopping in Khon Kaen, from the beautiful rain forest of Khao Yai to watching a cultural show in Chang Rai I never had a bad moment in all my travels in Thailand, I stayed in five star hotels in Hua Hinn to a rustic cabin in Khao Yai, but none of my stays left an impression like my stay in Mae Hong Son.
I am not sure if it was the location itself or the resort but maybe it had much to do with both. It wasn’t that the place was a five star resort, damn it didn’t even have electricity, but there was something about sitting on the bench outside my room and staring out at the sea of green, it just put me in a state of tranquelity, forget all those drugs of the sixties, I was definately on cloud nine in my own garden of Eden.
In the morning my wife and I would arise to the sound of chirping birds, the slow moving stream and other denizens of the forest, forget all that new age stuff, this was the sweetest music my ears have ever been treated to, and by the way this music plays all night long, there is so much animal music in the air, you really have to listen to make out the different sounds, and it was not overbearing, I am usually unable to sleep with the lightest of sounds, but the sounds were so pleasent that it lulled you to sleep, so forget about bringing your ipods. Back to the adventure, my wife and I grabbed our gear and strolled down to the resort eating place and ate our fill of fruits and pastries giving us the energy needed to take a hike along the forest trail, the resort came with its own guide dogs to safely see you through the canope of ferns and other brush along the forest path. At the end of the trek you were rewarded with a beautiful walk-in waterfall, what a nice treat I couldn’t have planned this out better if I was mother nature. After taking a few pictures we treked back to the resort, and again took a nice sitdown gazing through all the green. Time for lunch and we visited the resorts eating place and settled down to a great noodle dish, and a ice cold beer. Back to the room where we put on our swimming suits and settled down at the pool for the next few hours. Later, we freshened up for the evening and took the shuttle into town, where we had a great dinner at one of the local restaurants, and walked through all the shops and boutiques, then headed back to the resort.
The next morning we arisen early to head into town to pay hommage to the Buddhist monks, afterwards making a visit to the Waht temple. By this time it was afternoon and very hot and sticky so we went back to the resort, relaxed by the pool and enjoyed the atmosphere of the resort for the rest of the evening.
On our final day, we got a hold of a private driver who took us to the river. We then chartered a boat and visited the hill side tribes. What an experience, but that will be a another story.
I hope someday I will make my way back to this paradise, and who says that there is no heaven on earth. This place might not be for everybody, but for those that are seeking peace and tranquility this place might be the right perscription.
Some news update on ChiangMai/Mae Hong Son dream tenting trip. Sompho (a guy) who joined us at the last Mae Hong Son trip, will be joining us again for our trip. Wife likely to join. He is a frequent, experienced camper in Thailand’s national parks and resorts. You will enjoy his company. He speaks great English.
What I shall look for next are two Thai guys to fix our tents and do the cooking. So, you just need to crawl into the tent at night. They are likely not comfortable in spoken English.
Schedule will be up end of Sept. You will then know which mountain we will stay for the night. Some of you would like to have a tent all to yourself, not advisable; altho boleh lah. You may wake up with a wild black baby bear, sleeping next to you. You just pay full tent rate. Sorry, just found out we cannot bring queen size bed up the mountain.
As a guide, 16 pax will be the max; at 8 pax per van. So, closing at this number. Airticket bought will be used as confirmation. Have fun.
Terence Seah
AnnTo..why u balek 28th…stay another day lah, till 29Nov.! its a saturdy rite?…u rest sunday then work monday!..hehe
Thank you Terence for spoiling us..no need to cook,no need to pitch our own tents!…i like that very much!Yeah!
Hi ,
Anybody planning any program for 27th to 29th either in
Chiang Mai or Bangkok?
Thought of changing my flight from 27th (Thu) to take
advantage of the weekends.
Any good suggestions would be appreciated.
susan n james
Hi Terence
I am interested but have to look for a tent-mate.
#31 Pauline and #79 Lydia, are both or one of you still keen ? I can be contacted at ellatan@singet.com.sg
Hi Terence
Have just spoken to Ella as tent-mate. We confirm going and will be looking for the flight. We will also be joining Kenneth for the Chiang Mai trip.
Tks
Terence
Julie and I confirm joining this trip. Will book the tickets later.
Dear Terence/Kenneth
Pauline and my flights are confirmed as flws:
20 Nov 2008: SIN to BKK
FD 3502 Dep 1100 Arr 1215
20 Nov 2008: BKK to CNX
FD 3240 Dep 1520 Arr 1630
28 Nov 2008: CNX to BKK
FD 3239 Dep 1140 Arr 1250
28 Nov 2008: BKK to SIN
FD 3505 Dep 1645 Arr 2005
Fares seemed lower compared to James #101 :
SIN/BKK S$90, BKK/SIN S$72, total including tax, fees, 1 baggage ea.& insurance $508 for 2.
BKK/CNX Bt 898, CNX/BKK Bt 898, total including tax, fees, 1 baggage ea. & ins. Bt6,016.52 for 2.
Hopefully booked correctly as lst time booking online.
Hi Ella,
Congras for getting a cheaper ticket.
Normally the fare increases nearer the flight date.
Not sure if this has to do with the crisis in Bangkok which
affects the no. of passengers flying in.
Terence, Kenneth, any comments?
Anyway, anybody like to visit bangkok for a day or 2 after
the Chiangmai trip?
james
Ya lah…my 2 buddies also got cheaper tikets!…apa macam..so much for being kancheong spider lor..hehe
JuneLim…sori, the other girls wanted to tag along to Chiangmai..they don want Desaru..ooppss!
It all started bcos my Chiangmai room, im alone ( no partner,being no Bira lah)..so drag them to join lah!…but not to mountain…hhmm
JamesTan…Bangkok tak mau lah..nanti shopping till drop dead..banyak susah!..hehe
Norlinda,
Today hor, your 2 buddies like “kancheong spider”, spend the entire lunch time booking the air ticket to Chiangmai…..heng ah, now you are not alone in your room, me & Suzhang will join you. Nor, sure or not? tak mau shopping at Bangkok, same what, can shop at Chiangmai till you drop, bagus right. he..he..he..
Ah Nee
AhNee..
Chiangmai got shopping ah?..aiyo susah lah…i only book 1 checked bag from BBk to SIN..can tompang yours not?
Wah!..another buddy is coming along too..she also cant tahan we will enjoy so much without her lah!..haha
sure lagi bising!
helo ladyluck…any comments?
Ho-ho-ho! MAS Angels
Your rooms are confirmed with Lina’s throw in home-cook meals – Ah Nee, no need to think what to bring, to do and to eat liao lah.
Nor, sure you will be very happy..can yack..yack..yack cos’ room is next to one another.
Su, Mr Udie will specially install a sound-proof system in the room for all of you in case the building cannot withstand the noise. hahaha! Enjoy..Angels.
Norlinda,
Must scheduled one day for shopping lah…shop till you drop. You can tompang your barang barang in my luggage..but hor, you carry hor….cos if I carry, I will bring home wan..he…he..he…… :)
Ah Nee
Dear Rene…
Thank you so v much for accomodating us!Im so glad our suites are all nearby!phew!
Alamak surely cakap2 till wee hours..who need to sleep?..we all hv to company ahnee cos she always got phobia sleeping in a strange land!
As for me…very senang,count 1,2,3..before u knew it…i toink oredi!..then even got bomb drop i wont hear a thing!hahaha
AhNee.,when u mention the word shopping..my eyes open big big the heart goes pomp!pomp!….the wallet takut koyak hor!…hehe
EO Terence..pls put up AhNee,Lina & Sue’s names & bracket it..Chiangmai only boleh pls :)
Miss Bira, where are you?ngomong dong…kok diam aja?Luckily u not joining us to Chiangmai….if not we kesian you cant tahan our rowdiness!..hehe
Hi guys!
Just a quick message to those who haven’t bought their tickets to Bangkok: Tiger Air is offering four-cent, Yes, 4 cents ticket to Bangkok. Book before 14th September and you pay just around S$160 for a return ticket! That’s a S$100 less than what I paid! Book the flight that will allow you to catch the connecting AirAsia flight to Chiang Mai.
The political situation is another problem, though…
Hello everyone… didnt login for some time so much cakap2… and more coming to the mountains, we shall have fun!
Terence, funny leh #76 I aledy confirmed with flight details how come not updated in your list huh?
#125 Kenneth, mr wanted to go BKK one but problem with luggage now the fare so low…sum yoke yoke … how?
My son was in BKK 1 week, came back last Friday, they didnt see a thing what’s report lor. The media always blow up bad news.
Hi everybody who is on the above list to go to Chiangmai/Mae Hong Son,
I will close the number of participating pax to 16. To make sure you are on the list, you have to let me know your flight intinery asap. If there is no flight number against your name, I shall treat your coming as unconfirmed.
For those who have confirmed, please collect a map of the routing from me at the next SHC monthly Gathering at Kovan. The routing is firmed; the dates are not firmed. If you are not coming to the gathering, please ask your tentmate to collect it from you. Due to limited copies, only those coming will get a copy.
The weather will be dry, by end Oct, and expected to be cool 18C in the mountains. So come and enjoy sleeping with roots below your tent, and taking cold bath in the morning and nights.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
Daisy Yeo & myself will be booking the Air Asia flight from 20.11.08 to 29.11.08 within the next 2 days. Can you count us in the trip. Thanks.
Terence,
Susan and my flights are booked on 20/11 FD3502 and 29/11
FD3507.
james n su
Terence
Julie Yeo and I are confirmed on the following flights:
20 Nov : Singapore to Bangkok
Tigerairways TR102 (0710/0830)
20 Nov : Bangkok to Chiang Mai
AirAsia FD 3234 (1250/1400)
Hence we will be arriving Chiang Mai earlier than most of you.
29 Nov : Chiang Mai to Bangkok
AirAsia FD 3239 (1140/1250)
29 Nov : Bangkok to Singapore
Tigerairways TR 105 (1440/1805)
We will not be able to make it for your Kovan meeting.
Regards
Helen
Terence/Kenneth
Daisy Yeo & my flight (AirAsia) are confirmed as follows:
20 Nov 2008: SIN to BKK
FD 3502 Dep 11:00 Arr 12:15
20 Nov 2008: BKK to CNX
FD 3240 Dep 15:20 Arr 16:30
29 Nov 2008: CNX to BKK
FD 3235 Dep 14:40 Arr 15:45
29 Nov 2008: BKK to SIN
FD 3507 Dep 18:50 Arr 22:10
Terence
We would like to know whether we will be staying in Bangkok for one night before we proceed to Mae Hong Son?
Hi AnnieL,
Definitely not staying one nite in Bkk, before MHS.
I was also asked by Helen if she could drop her big bag in the Chiangmai hotel, before heading for MHS.
I am planning to head for the mountains. Any comments from others. Would u like a good meal and good sleep before starting the camping journey?
Terence Seah
Hi Annie,
At last, you booked your flight.
Sorry, supposed to be your tent-mates but due to some reasons, can’t pair off with you. Anyway, we will be together for 9 days!
Hope to you soon to catch up with you. Come to the Oct 15th Gather at Kovan CC so that we can catch up with each other. Maybe you can teach me some Hokkien songs & I teach you how to do fishing, must be a good catch & bring your sweetheart in and walk together so that your can go pak-hor, haha.
Hi Annie,
Sorry, that nite at the chalet, I maybe very fast & you and the other lady catch no ball. What is the her name. Could you tell me. I am very bad in remembering. Give me some time. I will try to remember her name. Sorry for that. Don worry, once you got a ‘hang’ of it, you will find these variations are easy & lead-able & sure you can make it!
Hi Susan Tan
The tent-mate I have met is a very helpful lady who guide me through the on-line booking. We waited for the Thailand protests cool down and manage to obtain a very cheap price for the whole flights which cost only S$313.31/- per person.
Linda Chang and myself are not regular social dance student, we have forgotton what fishing, sweetheart, window.etc. Should there be any opportunity, we would like to learn from you.
I will be at Kovan CC to join the Line Dancing. If you really want to learn Hokkien songs, I can teach you the latest popular Hokkien songs in Karaoke during the Oct Kovan CC gathering.
Hi Terence
If you want to proceed to the mountain in the late afternoon, I don’t mind if the tents are erected for us to rest and the dinner are also ready for us to eat. Otherwise, it is best to rest one night at Changmai. Let us know where to stay, do we need to booked in advance ?
Hi guys!
Terence: The number is already close to 16 (have you included Sompho and his wife? What about Ella and Pauline? #132: Are you really serious about having a slap-up meal and sleep before starting the camp journey?
Anyway, I don’t think it would be a good idea to stay one night in Chiang Mai on arrival on the 20th. This would reduce the time and days that you would have on the Mae Hong Son trip.
Yes, the time of the flight into CM on AirAsia FD3240 is 1630 and that means you have only a few hours of daylight and travel after you exit the airport. But Pai (if you’re taking that leg first) is about 3 hours away, so it would be good if the camp site is secured before Pai. Again, I’m confident that Terence and especially Sompho would be expertly guiding the group.
Hi Kenneth,
To maximise the joy of camping, I am currently planning to stay on a National Resort and Park somewhere between Pai and Chiangmai. We can have a good sleep and makan, before starting the morning fresh, with creeky bones and flushed faces. A stop overnight in Chiangmai means one night less of MaeHongSon.
Am trying to piece together the transport and manpower for now.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
Cecilia and I prefer to head straight to the mountain for the night than in the city.
I will be at next month gathering to collect the map from you.
Please yell if you need any help in the process of planning.
Cheers
Rene
Confirmed for MaeHongSon/Chiangmai trip:
1. Terence Seah
2. Annie Loh
3. Daisy Yeo
4. Susan Tan
5. James Tan
6. ChristinaCL Chan
7. Helen Wong
8. Julie Yeo
9. Mike Tan
10. Alicia Soh
11. Ann To
12. Norlinda
13. Bira Bira
14. Rene Leong
15. Cecilia Wee
16. Pauline Chew
17. Ella Tan
As we have reached 16 pax, all positions are closed.
ChristinaCL, are you sharing my tent?
Terence Seah
Great to be on the list! Thanks to Terence and Annie.
Am looking forward to the adventure and company and find Kenneth’s enthusiasm on Chiangmai quite infectious.
Confessing I’m the “helpful lady” who “bullied” Annie into making her own online booking. We were on the phone for two whole hours. Apologies, Annie. My objective was so you can have first hand experience doing it yourself. I hope you felt a sense of achievement despite the frustration at times. Hope too the minor issues were resolved?
Daisy
Terence
Believe most of them would arrive Chiang Mai by 5.00 pm on 20 Nov. Can we head straight to the mountain as you originally planned otherwise we will be spending lesser day (only 5 nites now)at Mae Hong Son.
You still call the shot at the end of the day ya.
Regards
Helen
Thinking again. For MaeHongSon holiday makers, I think it would be great if you learn some 20 thai phrases. I shall prepare a list of these phrases, and send it to you via email. We shall practise them at the next SilverHairsClub gathering on the 15th Oct at kovan. Hope these will help you communicate with some of the thais you will meet during the trip.
Meantime, plse look around your house and bring along a big plastic cup for drinks, noodles, breakfast, tooth brushing and taking a cold bath.
Terence Seah
Terence
Do you mean we should bring our own plastic cup, bowl and plates for our meals not forgetting the fork and spoon?
Will we be scooping water for our bath hence the need to use a plastic cup?
Suppose then we should be bringing a few rather than only one for all purposes.
Hahaha!!
Bring a large stainless steel mug… better and more hygeinic! Otherwise will have to bring a few as Daisy says: one for drinking, one for eating, one for brushing teeth, one for bathing, one for…. you know.
Forks and spoons? No, you’ll be using your hands and fingers. Train first at our local Muthu’s or Haji Maimunah’s. Maybe Steven’s eating group can plan a food foray to a banana leaf restaurant.
Noor, dear, you should have no problems!
Hi Kenneth,
Disposable plastic spoons & forks, can? I can not train to use my hands to pick up food, especially during dinner, how? I do not mind buying a pkt of each.
What do you all think?
For camping trip, bring simple. One mug, ok can be stainless or plastic, for tea, breakfast and dinner, bathing, brushing teeth, etc. Try not to bring for others, you may have to carry them home.
Terence Seah
Walah..must bring cup & bowl?..luckily i can use my hands..no need fork & sppons…u r rite Kenneth..use our hands..its so natural…
alamak my this koyak pc…when reaching midnite…very blur..don allow me to type anymore!…so continue to cakap tom …
Update on Mae Hong Son campers: If you are coming to the Oct 15 monthly gathering at Kovan, let’s me at 8.30pm for half hour. We have a brief on the itinery and a short get to know one another better.
Terence Seah
Our Mae Hong Son trip starts this 20 Nov 2008. 17 of us will be going camping, enjoying the fresh air, eating fresh vegetables daily, chatting with long necks and taking turns to watch out for hungry black bears every night.
The group ends the mountainous sector on Tue 25 Nov, while some will continue to enjoy Thai luxury in Chiang Mai with Kenneth Tan.
Terence Seah
And the 3 of us are looking forward to meet them on 25th Nov at the Chiang Mai Thai House for a reunion dinner, follow by a 5D/4N Chiang Mai Tour. heheheeee…..this is exciting…. :)
Ah Nee
Hi Everyone on this trip
Bring a set of long sleeved thermal and a track pants plus a jacket with hood for the nights up in the mountains. Should be enough to ward off the cold but if not enough, just layer up with t-shirts over your thermal. T-shirts can be used again in town as they are clean. Bring a pair of thick socks for your feet too. A small scarf for the neck would help for those who are scared of scold. No need to bring winter clothes as they will be too thick and it takes up baggage space.
The temperature is very different once down the mountain so before going down, just remove the thermal and wear your long pants and t-shirt with a jacket.
The public toilet and bath is very clean but bring a S-hook and plastic bag to put your things as there is no hooks in the bathroom so the S-hook is useful to hook onto the door.
For those who have motion sickness, bring some sour kana or whatever.
Above is based on my experience when I went 2 years ago.
Sompho is also a loud and fun guy. He sometimes look serious when quiet but he can be very naughty too. If your tent starts shaking in the middle of the night, do not be alarmed. It may be Sompho playing a fool with you. Be prepared to be awaken in the early morn to go further up the mountain to watch the sunrise. Get your camera ready to videorecord it.
Terence, hope you will pass the restaurant that sells the pork knuckles and other dishes again. The food there is C&G. The lady boss is also very friendly.
Finally, enjoy yourselves camping up the mountains. It’s an experience you will never regret nor forget.
Oh, how I miss going again this trip. Anyway, have fun everyone.
Weather report froom 20 – 24 Nov in Mae Hon Son
Thu 20/11 – 31 °C / 20 °C / cool
Fri 21/11 – 31 °C / 17 °C / cold
Sat 22/11 – 30 °C / 16 °C / cold
Sun 23/11 – 30 °C / 16 °C / cold
Mon 24/11 – 30 °C / 16 °C / cold
So we have the weather(wo)men’s words, thank you Oi Cheng.
Now, care to hear what the seismic man says?
Expect sporadic earthquakes measuring 9.9 on the Richter Scale on those days. So staying alert isnt enough, stay awake too. Wrap yourself in thick mattresses so when you’re squeezed by the earth closing up on you, there’ll be enough buffer before rescue comes.
It’s gonna be a once-in-lifetime experience at MHS……..heee.
Dear Oi Oi Cheng,
thanks for the info. Shall email to the rest.
c u sometime, somewhere :D
ChristinaCL Chan
Hi Oi Cheng,
Very nice of you to give us the weather reports in Chiangmai.
Like all the participants, I cannot wait to start our travels in this mountainous and scenic territory. One thing sure is the journey will be comfortable. But cannot promise warmth if the temperature drops.
So, we are all prepared to face the black fierce bears.
Terence Seah
Hi, in case some of you who did not received this sms from ThaiAirAsia regarding 29Nov flight FD3507 from BKK-SIN.
Pls note : (only those taking this flight)
Flight FD3507 from Bangkok to Singapore on 29Nov
will be departing at 18:35 instead of 18:50 & arriving SIN at 21:55.
Nor & Rene, sleep early tonite ya. Have a safe & wonderful trip up the mountain……till we meet on 25Nov at CMTH.
Oi Cheng, thanks for the weather forecast….hmm…what about from 25Nov – 29Nov, any idea? Guess it’s gonna be cold in CM too….blubbbbb….
Hi Suzhang
Will send you you the link for weather report. If I put the link here, my comments will go into moderation. Anyway, that weather report was for Mae Hon Son, you should look at Chiangmai only.
Ok,Oi Cheng noted…… I received your email. You are super fast !
Thanks & Gdnitz..
Hi guys!
I can say that Chiang Mai weather will be hot in the day, and cooler only in the early morning and late evening. However, do not worry too much… there is no severe cold that you’d have to grapple with.
I’m now in Bangkok and would be in Chiang Mai next week. Will keep you updated on the weather (in CM) and my mobile contact in Thailand.
Happy travel preparation!
Kenneth
Hi Kenneth,
Am in Bkk now, and shall meet the MHS team soon this afternoon. Weather wise, glad the rain is disappearing. I would love to join you for the Chiangmai market adventure, except go to run off earlier. Maybe next year.
Plse remember to count the total number of MHS returnees. A few may have met the black bears.
Terence Seah
Terence
Do send my regards to Sompho. I heard his wife is joining him this time. Met her when she came to Singapore with Sompho.
U have a fun time! Mm..macadamia nuts.. remember?? buy some when you see them hor?! Ha ha ha!
Wow, we finally landed in Bkk airport yesterday at 4.30pm. The good news was that both Helen and Julie had their bads forced open, and Helen lost her camera.
Within 1.5 hours, we drove in one pickup and one minibus to our Homestay residence while the others sneaked into 7 pre-prepared tents. SusanT enjoyed the green curry while Nor found the chicken sedap. After dinner, we floated 7 oil-fired lanterns into the skies to clear our sins. Got into bed around 10pm. I could hear the girls talking loudly outside the house, and waiting for breakfast. We leave for Pai from this base camp at 9am. Have fun in Singapore.
Terence Seah
Terence,
I wonder how Norlinda uses her load of make-up inside the tent, no mirror leh. I am sure now, she is thinking of her “keropok” and “sng buey”. Tell her, I will bring her favourite “ginger”, “sng buey” & titbits when we meet on 25th Nov at the hotel. Wow! 3 more days to go….she gonna tell us lots of mountain story……. :)
Ah Nee
Ah Nee, Nor has prepared a number of stories to tell you. She has also over-bought a suitcase, so waiting for you to help carry them back home.
Terence Seah
From base camp, we head for Huai Nam Dang, a scenic Swiss look-alike National Park, with mist all around us. Plenty of photos taken by everybody.
Then, we head for two Wats. Here, Susan Tan played with the puppies while the rest of us watch from a distance and sipping mountain coffee and drinking freshly squeezed oranges. Wait to tax us at the Sin airport, as we had queued for the preserved strawberries.
Had thai dinner out, altho we were rejected by the first restaurant due to our oversize group size. Finally slept in tents and broken down huts, after downing some whiskies and sharing our hearts out to one another. There were no shooting stars. Woke up this morning with a slight drizzle. Now having breakfast of coffee, porridge and bread. Will head for Mae Hong Son at 9am.
Have fun in Singapore.
Terence Seah
Terence, thanks for giving us a brief summary of what you guys did there….. wow, didn’t know you still can hv internet access. :)
Seems interesting so far, but you sounded so kesian when you mentioned “slept in tents and broken down huts, after downing some whiskies and sharing our hearts out to one another”. Hope no one ends up sleeping next to a black bears when they woke up..ha.ha..
Oh, remind Nor not to buy too much as she has only indicated 1 luggage coming back. Tell her we think of her & always wondering what she is doing everyday & everynite.
Have fun at Mae Hong Son !
After a good night sleep in Pai, we had homemade breakfast comprising toast bread, chicken porridge, sweet corn, omelette, dragon fruit and honey oranges.
We packed and stop at a viewpoint, overlooking the mae hong son mountains. A cool 19 degrees. Great mist. Some of us had thai tea and sweet purple potates. Rene and Cecilia was eagerly taking pictures of the scenery, while Annie Loh was smiling all over to have her pictures in different poses.
Next, we sat on rafts in 20 cm deep river waters, and climb into caves. I don’t remember who but almost everyone called it quits when we reached the second level. ChristinaCL almost dropped into the water and her raft almost tilted 20 degrees. Safe and sound, we moved on to a Fish Cave, and fed the huge fishes with oranges and eggs. Strange, these fishes lived inside the caves.
Continued the journey, and head for mae hong son city, all stayed in a large house. Here, Nor enjoyed screaming when she saw a small small frog in her new shoes. And Cecilia enjoyed seeing her bedroom door full of ants. None bit her.
Had street shopping and eat local noodles and rice for dinner. Very tiring. No one snored, while some ladies had to have black label whisky to jumpstar their beauty sleep.
Huge compounds, some of us are going for the morning walk. Breakfast at the local fresh market soon. Have a refreshing Sunday morning.
Terence Seah
Wow wow…..what a yummy breakfast, comprising toast bread, chicken porridge, sweet corn, omelette, dragon fruit and honey oranges….so the campers are not on vegetables diet afterall. I can imagine you guys & gals are having a wonderful time up at the mountain…..breathing in fresh air, beautiful scenery, breezy & cooling….feeling like at the top of the world. Terence, how I wish I am there. :)
Ah Nee
For breakfast, we went to MHS fresh market. Had our caffine, soyobean drink, half boiled eggs, coconut dessert, pig’s organs and porridge. Daisy Yeo bought some lady’s fingers lookalike, and decide to chew them raw. We saw skewered frogs but no one tried them.
Slightly full, we moved on to the Karen long neck village. James took pictures with the Karen girls, only to hear that the aroma from some of the girls could be due to them not having taken a bath for a few days. I doubt it though as there is plenty of fresh water in the mountains. Alicia was playing with the kids, and giving away the stationeries she brought along. Bored with the company, Pauline manage to persuade a one-legged bird to eat her sweet potatoes and bananas. Then, she decided to befriend the village cat. A real animal lover.
We headed back to the city and had beef or pork noodles. A popular no-airon roadside stall, We enjoyed the noodles, must be one of the most tasty beef noodles in town. Some had two bowls, as the servings were tiny.
After a 30 min rest stop at a WAT, we scrambled around the city to look for a birthday cake and buy some bottled water. We made reservation at a thai restaurant and pre-ordered our dinner. Got back to our residence to take our bath.
Dinner was northern thai-styled Tom Yam prawns, a slightly spicy water vegetable, boiled vegetables with fresh green chilli dip, pandan chicken, and stewed black bear which Cecilia caught during the trip.
After dinner, the young guitarist played the birthday song for Susan. Mike gave the congratulatory speech, and we continued singing the same song in different languages. The 18-candle cake came, and we relished it as our dessert. Took a short walk along the street market, and then drove back home. Continued our drinking sessions back in the house.
As the lights went off, we tucked ourselves in bed. And all of a sudden, a loud commotion in one of the rooms. Rene shouted “Help help” and Nor was screaming while the other room-mates were smashing the walls with don’t know what. I think someone called me, but I was so tired to hear anything else. Vaugely heard during my sleep a cockcoach had been killed. There were some cheers and words like “die already, die already”.
Today is Monday, and we woke up early, and waiting for breakfast before leaving for the mountains of Bua Thong flowers.
Terence Seah
Terence,
I had been following your comments on the trip and was actually feeling a little envious at all the goodies to eat and the lovely scenery, etc., BUT, the incidence of creepy crawlies, though hilarious, made me glad I didn’t go along, hehe.
Anyway, it’s nice that you are all having the ‘times of your lives’. Tell us more, especially the scary bits.
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Hi guys! Greetings from Chiang Mai. I’ll be at Chiang mai Thai House tomorrow around 11.40am. Please hang around and wait if you’re early; or go to the nearby laundry to do your clothes.
I’ve booked the restaurant for dinner and look forward to seeing you all.
Kenneth
Monday is the last day for the MHS group to go sightseeing. After breakfast, we headed south to see the “Bua Thong” flowers. The entire place is covered yellow at this time. The boys and girls plucked the flowers and put it on their hair for picture taking. It was a beautiful sight, especially when the weather is a cool 18C and the sun shines hard on us. Here, we bought local Macadamia nuts by the kgs, ate grilled chicken eggs and freshly BBQ sweet potatoes.
We then drove to a local village where we had pork legs stewed, with vegetables. Som tum with rice fields craps, fresh vegetables with chilli dips, kai yan chicken and sticky rice. After lunch, every one queued for the toilets.
Drove another 150 km towards chiangmai, and stopped at a conniferous plantation to take a breather. No time wasted, we headed for base camp, where we had fresh vegetables, chilli dips, and chicken and tohu soup. Many of us settled for a thai body message in our homestay, before retiring early for the night.
Today is Tuesday, and soon we will have breakfast. We leave at 8am, and have made arrangements to meet up with Kenneth for the second segment of this North Thailand tour.
Whew, what a relief to get rid of everybody. I shall be off to the airport soon. The 5 days in the mountains were enjoyable time together, and a great learning experience.
After you Kenneth.
Terence Seah
Terence
I have smsed you Kenneth hp in Thailand as requested through Susan last night. Hope you received it and in touch with Kenneth.
Hi Terrence and all SHCians,
Hope you all have a good journey, and haha, and Terrence, I like your “queue” for toilets part. cheers.
Terence,
You are so lucky to get out of Bangkok before the closure of the airport. I wonder how the others are going to fly back if the airport is closed.
I guess many of you are concerned with the SHC travellers in Chiangmai. Now they are having lunch with Kenneth in Chiangmai; and are also concern with the situation in Bkk.
They have the airasia callcentre number; and Kenneth will contact me if help is needed. Generally, the concern is that when they connect to Bangkok international, they have to get out of the domestic airport.
The Thai government is likely to declare a state of emergency now. If you like to read the Thai newspaper, try this. http://www.bangkokpost.com/. We keep in touch.
Terence Seah
Hi all SHCs reading in
I’m now posting from a small internet cafe in Chiang Mai… yes we are a little anxious about the situation in Bangkok and trying to make the best of it.
The group will be heading back to Singapore this Friday and Saturday; and, if the situation does not change, will have to consider other ways to fly back.
It was fortunate that Julie Yeo left this morning on a direct SilkAir flight to Singapore. So i trust that she’s safely home.
Meanwhile, I trying to keep the rest entertained and in good spirit… and hope for the best.
Be in touch, Terence, and thanks.
Kenneth
Kenneth and all the others.
Hope you can find a way of returning. The airport is definitely closed and all flights into and out of Bangkok have been cancelled.
Perhaps Terence or Kenneth can commandeer a dragon boat to row all of you home? Hee. Just trying to lift up your spirits a little. ;-)
I’m sure all of us are praying in our own way, for your safe return. In the meantime, just have fun and don’t let this spoil your trip.
Take care
This is Ah Nee, Suzhang, Nor & Lina calling from Chiangmai.
We are all safe but stranded here. We went on an elephant ride and bamboo rafting today..trying to enjoy ourselves.
Luckily we are here in a remote jungle in Chiangmai and not Mumbai…. Suzhang
“Bo bian liao”. What to do? Have to extend our stay here for another few days. I hv already inform my office of my emergency extension. In a way, it’s a blessing in disguise as I dont hv to go back to office lor…. Ah Nee
Looks like I am forced to tour Chiangmai. Anybody interested, I can be the next tourist guide. Missing all of you…. Lina
As usual, I am calm & cool. Luckily no cockcroaches here..he.he.. I am enjoying my keropok…. Nor
Lina, Ah Nee, Nor & Suzhang signing off.
Hi to all the campers!
Enjoy while U may. I don’t envy U all meh!What an adventure!
Will pray for your safety & speedy return to “Home Sweet Home!” Let’s be assured that you all always in my prayers.
Amen.
Hi Ah Nee, Nor, Suzhang, Lina and all the others.
Glad that you are all safe and happy. Enjoy your extended stay but give the elephants a chance lah. Don’t work them too hard hor or they might develop hernias from the overload.
Nor, where got cockroaches in the jungle? But lots of other creepy crawlies, like spiders and centipedes and millipedes and slugs and leeches and……so BEWARE! Hehehe.
Hi Friends
Positively, you are lucky to have the extended holiday over the weekend. CJ and myself couldn’t get seats on Silkair there for the weekend with Kenneth. He said weekend night markets is interesting and now you can go on my behalf.
Can also take up cooking lesson during the extended period.
Kenneth’s recommendation of food places good right?
Take care everyone!
Hi Lina, Ah Nee and all,
Hope you all have travel insurance then you really can enjoy the extended stay even more. However if you don’t want to wait for the flight to BKK I will suggest to take the Tour Bus to Phuket which is comfortable too.
From there you can then book another Tour Bus to Penang or KL to fly back to Spore, so you have two trips covering 2 other destination.
You may not know how long the seige is going be, so better book your bus tours early before the buses get all fully booked.
Just my two cents worth of advice but also I did want to take that bus journey when I was in Phuket just to have a look at the travel along the way.
Take care, enjoy yourselves but dont overeat too much durain sticky rice, or more of the delicious Thai food that Kenneth has a long list of. I know he will be glad to overstay as he has a valid reason to.
Cheers
Hi Lina, Sue, ANee, Nor & all,
There r options of returning back to SG. Can try from CM-KL-SG or CM-Tapei-SG (which I felt that chances are beta lor) – Not 2b worried so much abt insurance now, most impt is to get back to SG 1st as we wont know what is going to happen next right?
Meanwhile, pls take care… Dolly
Dear Ah Nee, Lina, Sue, Nor and all,
Hi, do be optimistic, because things will be looking up soon. Take care, and enjoy the extended stay, and look foward to seeing you ladies in Singapore soon. Warmest regards.
“……….things will be looking up soon……….”.
Sure, eveyone, even the scrawny dogs and famished cats in back alleys are all looking up for divine intervention. Kids make the mistake of spelling monarchy as anarchy but if things there dont pan out nicely and good sense prevail, it wont be a spelling mistake but a painful change that makes history…………..
Hi guys!
I’ve read all your comments and thank you for the concern. Today, I feel relief as all of us have confirmed a flight back home… It’s going to be like Chiang Mai – Phuket – Singapore OR Chiang Mai – Kuala Lumpur – Singapore OR direct to Singapore by SilkAir. And spread over the next week… I leave for KL on Monday and some others on Thur and Fri next.
Everything is normal here in Chiang Mai and we are spending our time shopping, eating and a bit of sight-seeing. All the usual touristy things.
Suggestions of going to Taipei or taking a bus are not practical in terms of costs and time. Thousands of stranded tourists are trying every available means to get out of Bangkok. They are even coming up to Chiang Mai because the flights are still available from here.
This is the only sign we have of the upheaval in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport: the small groups gathered at the airline offices in town, all trying to change or get info or book their flights. But, we’ve managed to secure the reurn flights for all of us. So, thanks to all who’ve wished us the best again.
See you at the next monthly neeting!
Kenneth
Kenneth and everybody, look forward to seeing all of you home and at the next mthly gathering.
Terence Seah
Hi everybody,
We will have 5 more days here in ChiangMai. We are planning to go Chiang Rai and Nor is going to Phuket for a tour with this new extension.
There are lots of things to do and enjoy here. We may try Oi Cheng’s suggestion of learning Thai cooking. We will be going for spa, manicure, pedicure, body massage, shopping & eating etc. We intend to explore the weekend market and Chinatown. We can cover from North to South and East to West these few days.
Money no enough! The best part of our trip is Lina’s recommendation of getting cash from the wall…ha.ha… this makes our stay more meaningful without any worry. :)
So guys, please do not worry for us. If anyone keen to help us return earlier, please send us an aircraft ASAP.. he.he.. :)
Ah Nee
Many of the CM travellers are still in Chiangmai. Glad everybody have planned to bypass Bangkok airport. If you see any groups of Red or Yellow T-shirts gathering around, stay away from them.
Meantime, I had planned to get into Bangkok today; but as there are no flights into Bangkok, I guess I shall stay in Singapore this weekend.
Terence Seah
Hi Ah Nee, Susan, Lina and Nor
So far only hear from you all, how about the others? How and when are they coming home? Hope they all managed to get seats and be coming back same time.
Take care everyone and enjoy and make the most of your time while still there.
Thoughts with all of you!
Hi all
Glad to know that all of you are safe and sound and enjoying your extended stay.
Ah Nee and Daisy, do you need extra baggage to cart your things home or not huh….am sure you have been shopping like crazy ya :0)
Hope to see everyone back home safe and sound soon. Take care
Hi guys!
I’m back in Singapore last night having flown to KL and then back on AirAsia. Thankfully, everything was smooth… Helen Wong and myself took the same flight to KL but she was on a later connecting flight to Singapore and I did not see her again after she tried (unsuccesfully) to change to my earlier flight.
Yes, the situation in Bangkok seems to be deteriorating and we are all glad that we are not stuck there. The rest of the team will be making their way back via different routes this coming week. All of us should be back in Singapore by this week Friday.
I’d like to use this post to make some suggestions to those still in Chiang Mai:
Get to the Chiang Mai airport at least two hours earlier. There is a long queue of people at the counters and immigration clearing.
If you’re travelling via KL, note that the KL budget terminal (LCCT) is very crowded… so give yourselves plenty of time to find your way around. You have to claim your luggage and then go to the International Departures section (of the LCCT terminal) to wait for your flight back. The whole place is like the Pudu Central bus station: packed with people, disorganised, long lines with queue-jumpers and a totally chaotic situation at the departure gates (doors actually). You have a long walk to and from the planes parked on the tarmac.
Finally, keep healthy and keep a lookout for each other. I am relieved that all of you have secured a flight back. And, like all the others posting, wish you a safe journey back home.
Hi Kenneth,
It was a holiday for everyone, meant to be enjoyable. Instead, everyone had to be involved with making plans to come back home. Thanks for helping take care of the group in Chiangmai.
Terence Seah
Thanks Kenneth for the info.
Lina, Ah Nee, Nor, Daisy, Pauline and myself bought another AirAsia direct flight ticket back home arriving noon tomorrow, 3Dec.
We are glad to be able to come home sooner than expected with all these chaotic situation.
See u all soon.
Hi Helen
This is Nor. Thanks for your internet coupons which is very helpful in time of need. Glad to know you are back safely in Spore.
See you soon.
Rgds,
Nor
Hi everyone
This is Ah Nee. We are missing home already. Longing to go home sweet home. Glad to be able to fly direct tomorrow.
Ah Nee
Hi there!
Rejoice and be glad to be home soon! Nothing like home sweet home, rite?
To think just less than 2 wks and U are missing home. What about Terence’s plan of retirement.(continuous 3 mths away from home and in different countries?) I just can’t imagine.
hi Cat..this Nor
Yes u r rite..we missed home so much bcos we din expect to be away longer than planned..i missed my daughter so much that i cried whole nite when they announced our tiket cancelled!..so funny hor..like a small kid..but finally our prayers are heard & we’ll be home real soon ;)
Now having lunch & will be doing our last minit shopping b4 bye bye Chiangmai..yeah!
Hi Nor!
Dun worry, I’m sure yr daughter’s well taken care of. U better rest enough and take plenty of veg & fruits lest U fall ill.
I’ve praying for U & the rest. Over here, we SHC members are having our fingers crossed until U all come back safely!
Cheers!
Hi Everyone out there
Have a safe journey home. Catch up with you at the Dec monthly meeting.
Perhaps you can share us your experiences, anxieties, and how you cope with them at the Dec meeting. It will be something we can learn from you.
Meantime, look out for each other and take care.
Hi to all SHC Chiangmai returnees,
We look forward to your safe return. Happy homecoming!
Wow, can’t wait to hear all your thrilling adventures ..first-hand too.
Cheers,
Hi Kenneth and all,
Pauline, Daisy, Nor, Ah Nee, Susan Chang, Susan Tan, James Tan and myself caught the direct flight from Chiangmai by Air Asia and arrived safely home at noon today. The rest will be coming back tomorrow. Thank you Kenneth for all the care and trouble you took for us. And thank you to all the well wishers.
The flight we came back in is an extra flight put up by Air Asia. It was only half full. Glad to be back.
Hi Lina and all those back in Singapore
I heave a sigh of relief that you’re all back safely and that the rest would be home tomorrow. Would they be taking the direct flight as well?
AirAsia has my respect and kudos for arranging the extra direct flights to Singapore… not what I can say for our national carrier.
Look forward to seeing all of you at the monthly meeting or future SHC functions.
Welcome back!!
Hello everybody :)
I am back here in Singapore, what a frightened experience I have been through……I don’t think I want to travel again, not for the near future. Wow…… I can’t forget the overcrowded commotion at the Air Asia office…..so many foreigners (including our group), enquiring about cancelled flight, next available flight etc……
I am very touched by our fellow SHCians’ concerns over our safety and health during our ordeal at Chiang Mai, thank you guys & gals, will be meeting up with you all soon. Cheers! :)
Ah Nee
Kenneth,
We have informed the rest about the xtra flight Air Asia had put in, but the rest have not responded. So I guessed they will stay put on their scheduled flight (Chiang Mai vs KL-Sin) arriving tomorrow at 9.00 pm. We have forfeited our booking on 4 Dec, we booked again on this direct flight back to Singapore.
Ah Nee
Hi Kenneth,
The rest who are coming back tomorrow have a 5 hr transit time in KL. So they fly off at about noon and reach S’pore about 9pm! It will be a long day.
While at Chiangmai airport, we met this UK couple who actually intended to spend only 3 days in BKK, but ended up staying there for 10 days, due to the airport closure. In the end, they travelled 8 hrs to Chiangmai by taxi to catch the plane to S’pore.
Not only have we to forfeit our ticket on 4/12, but we had to forfeit our room for tonight too! Still, it’s good to be home.
Thank you Kenneth and all,
We are glad to be back. We have indeed learnt alot through this trip….we count ourselves very blessed to be in Singapore and are much, much, more fortunate than those in Chiangmai and also in the remote area of Chiangrai and Loas. There were many beggars and less fortunate people in the street there than you can find in any part of Singapore.
While walking at the night bazzar at Thaepe Gate the other night, we saw 4 blind young men sitting cross-legged on the street buskering. It was cold. Using only unwanted stuff like pail, gong, wooden hammer, harmonica, they sang and played beautiful Thai songs at the night bazzar. I presumed they were there only on Sunday night. Nor & myself stood there dumbfounded by their performance and it bring tears to our eyes. Though we don’t understand what they were singing, the song they sang sounded sad. :( We were truly amazed by their innovative way of making a living.
The one I admired most was this guy who made key chains with personalized name on it. He is not only like a professional craftman, he is very innovative too. Both his hands are equipped with different gadgets… in fact he has practically everything for this trade…. things like calculator, cutter, a tube of glue, plier, electronic screw driver, magnets to hold all the metal screws, coin purse and another pouch for his notes on his hands. It was amazing.
With so many happenings around the world the last few days, I really count myself very blessed and also to be able to come home safely.
The most interesting part of our trip was when we saw 2 stars, jupiter and venus with the crescent moon on Monday night. It’s exactly a smiling face shining from high above. Count ourselves lucky too…to be able to witness this while in Chiangmai. :)
Here’s wishing the rest a safe and smooth journey home tomorrow.
Hi Terence, Kenneth, Oi Cheng, Cat Ho, Mary Chan & all others following this thread,
Even though, the situation is not favourable to us over there, having to run to Air Asia office to snatch air tickets back home to be with the family, I really enjoyed myself in mountain and shopping in Chiangmai, eating the local food and oso roaming the street at times don’t know what to do and where to go. I like the weather which is really cool.
At last, we are bk home in SIN this afternoon.
Thank you very much for the concern. Shall see you all in the next monthly meeting.
rgds,
susan tan
Hi all the campers!
Welcome back to S’pore! Am glad U’re all safe and sound!
It’s a pity I won’t be able to meet U guys at next mthly meet because I’m going for a holiday.
Heave a sigh of relief for U guys.
Glad to know u Guys(including Gals) are back safely.Just like N.S. … not a pleasant experience but you’ll be a wiser battle hardened travel warrior and I trust most(hopefully all) of you were covered by travel insurance.Can you claim successfully to be reimbursed for extra costs incurred.I hope the weary travellers will share their knowledge with the rest of us after they have settled down to their routine schedule
For those who have advance bookings via Bangkok I have been reliably informed that the airlines are targeting a return to normal schedule by Saturday or Sunday (06Dec or 07 Dec)at the latest.This will come about after they clear their backlog of stranded passengers.Hope this information will be useful for those who may have travel plans to or via Bangkok
Hi all you ‘strandees’, hehe.
Glad to hear that you are all safe and sound.
Welcome back.
Dear all SHCians who came back safely,
Welcome back to all from BKK to Singapore, our home, and to those coming back, am praying for a safe journey for them to come home. cheers.
Hi all
The two parties, consistly of ones staying in CMT and
Tappae’s House will be leaving as per schedules flights,this morning’s flight.
We are aware of addtl flights, thanks for the concern.
Most of us are very ‘chao tar’,roaming ChiangMai city
day and night these few days, it’s challenging, exciting….
Cheers
on behalf of the rest in CM
Dear Friends
Welcome home!Really glad to have u all safely back.I can imagine all your loved ones crying and vice versa.Family ties and love unify all.And we will also get to hear the events from u all people this coming monthly meeting.
Have a great day, JanetH.
Hi everyone reading
We are finally back in Spore yesterday noon..its so great feeling that we touched down safely to a peaceful,clean & green city!
I guess the rest are still in KL for the connecting later to Spore..they must be very tired by now..so kesian..i wish them all in good health …u r so near home oredi.
I have great experienced with all during this trip up in mountain ,town & stranded adventure..it was not really scary, only just missed loved ones when its declared closure of BBK airport
Well…all hv been said & life is back to normal now..but i really enjoyed myself very much while up camping.
Alamak thot this trip will be no shopping…in the end i got extra baggage charge!..all bcos of longer stays in CM..every nite went out roaming the streets at nite bazaar!
I wanna specially thank Terence & Kenneth for so patiently ‘entertaining’ & taking care all of us during our times together.
Not forgetting the rest for having good/bad times together..thank you so much for the frenship..now we know each other better..
I am looking forward to another camping experience…perhaps to Nepal?..rite Alicia/Mike?..im sure Rene & Cecilia wud be in the lists too!…
Dear MHS and Chiangmai buddies,
I just received an sms from Rene that the last batch of our
trippers are all back home safely.
Thank god that all 20 of us are back home and able to kiss
our own soil again.
Thank you to Terence and Kenneth for organising this very
eventful trip, with many challenges travelling across
mountains and rivers, thereafter rewarded with various
feasts and days & nites of shopping frenzy.
This is going to be a marvellous experience that I’ll
remember for a very long long time to come.
Cheers and congrats to all !
sincerely,
james
To all MHS and Chiangmai buddies,
Gee, I am glad everybody is back. A great start to a holiday, altho ending with a tiring and not so pleasant ending. As most of you have travel insurance, I am wondering if the costs of extended stays and flight delays, caused by the protesters at the airport, are claimable. If you can, share your feedback from the insurance company. Something worth learning from for future travel.
I enjoy your company, and looking forward to the next one.
Terence Seah
Hi All Chiangmai trippers,
I have already went to the airport yesterday afternoon to claim for my refund of return trip from CM-BKK-SIN. Even though it was a long queue, is it worth waiting for. The staff told us that the claim may take 6-8 wks to get back the money.
Pls try to get it done asap.
susan tan
Hi Susan, welcome back!
Just read your message that you could get back “cash” for the cancelled flight/s; and have some questions:
Do we need to go to the AirAsia airport office, fill out a form or present any document?
Do they refund the money paid or do they credit the amount to the next trip booking (valid for three months only)?
Those with travel insurance: Are any of you guys able to make any claim for costs, hotel and delay?
I think your experience will help those who need to make a claim on their insurance.
Regardless, welcome back to all CM trippers and I hope you’re none the worse for your experience. I heard that the KL LCCT terminal was a chaotic mess. Anyway, you survived!
Hi All
This is from AirAsia’s website:
Disruption of Flights to/from Bangkok due to Airport Closure
The Suvarnabhumi International Airport will be re-opened and AirAsia will recommence all its commercial flights to and from Bangkok via Suvarnabhumi on Friday, 5 December 2008.
All affected guests of cancelled flights between 26 November and 4 December 2008 due to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport closure will automatically receive credit shell which can be used to book new AirAsia flights. The credit shell is to be redeemed within 3 months for their future travel to any AirAsia destination (except AirAsia X). Guests with membership login account numbers are able to utilize credit shell for internet bookings.
We would also like to caution guests that as AirAsia Call Centre has been overwhelmed with calls, guests may face difficulties getting assistance. For updates, please check this page. airasia.com
Hi Kenneth $221 and all MHS trippers,
Yes, Susan n me went to the airport T1 on Thu. It was hell of a difficult to get tru their hotline at all and we also thought the best option is to have a face-to-face talk with the staff. Expect long queue if you a going down these 2 days. We waited for 1.3hr to be served. Airport is the only place we know Airasia has an office and the only venue listed in the Yellow Pages.
Although Airasia website said they give flying credits, we got cash-back tru credit reversal to our credit card in 6-8 wks times.
As for insurance, Susan has NTUC and we too went down to one of their branches in AMK. After going tru the policy & speaking with the staff, Flight Delay is the only claim we can make and the max limit is $1000 for this policy.
As insurance bought tru AirAsia with AIG, again, after speaking with their hotline 188-4193000 over the phone, I can only claim Flight Delay as compensation. This is limited to only $600, which is lower than NTUC. I’ve to download a Claim form from Airasia website and send to an address in Shenton way. While the NTUC has a processing time of 2 wks, I don’t have any answer to the AIG policy. No claim against any other expenses like food, hotel or new air ticket were possible.
Later, while talking to an AIA agent, she confirm that plan bought under the airline mass coverage may have limited coverage but individual plan bought direct from AIA have extended coverage like hotel stay etc.
One other thing I learnt from dealing with budget airlines like Airasia is that their service is rather bad (in SG and CNX) and their fare is not that dirt cheap. For ex, fares in Feb 09 cost $335 for Airasia (stopover at Bkk) whereas a direct flight by Silkair to Cnx costs only $370.
Moreover, Silkair is a full service carrier and their refund/cancellation policy is more generous.
Hope this answer yr queries.
rgds,
james n susan
Hi Kenneth #221
Spoken to Susan a while ago, it is possible to ask for refund in ‘CASH’ (for the return segment) at T1 terminal although the queue is super long but not as chaotic as LCCT terminal. Bring all the necesary documents, eg passport,boarding passes, letter from AirAsia on flight cancellation. May take 6-8 weeks to process the claim.
I will also process my travel claim from AIG, claiming
for Flight Delay. If you need a pdf copy of claim forms, my email address is : sphalicia@gmail.com.
Thanks for your hospitality during our stay in CM.
Cheers
Alicia
Hi Chiangmai trippers,
Heard from my son that there was an article on the 2nd or 3rd page in the Wanbao (Chinese New Paper) few days ago about those stranded in Thailand and needed to extend their stay. The reimbursement for accommodation is equivalent to S$87.00 per day. I have also checked with one of my friend and he told me that he also came across this article. I do not know how true is it? I am trying to get my son to grab a copy of the newspaper. If anyone of you have, pls share with all affected.
susan tan
There is an article in the Saturday’s Straits Times 06.12.2008, on Part C (World Money Sport) page C17 titled Govt subsidy for stranded tourists by Kor Kian Beng.
Quote:
“An official of the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports told The Straits Times that it had a scheme to compensate stranded toursits for their extended stays. Each tourist, said Ms Wiparat Tharateerapad, the ministry’s director of international relations, could get a subsidy of up to 2,000 baht (S$86) a day for their accommodation and food bills.”
“Ms Wirapat said the scheme covers all licensed hotels. The Thai Hotels association has some 600 members all over Thailand.”
Unquote.
This scheme, however, is not known to many tourists but most of the employees in the hospitality trade too. The AirAsia staff, the tour agent and the hotel staff whom we checked with were also in the dark. Convinced by a British tourist who benefited from this scheme, we went to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, ChiangMai on 04.12.2008. We were informed that this scheme is only applicable to certain selected hotels in ChiangMai. The British guy was one of the lucky five at the hotel he stayed (only 5 tourists were subsidised at this hotel).
The info in the ST article and that by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, ChiangMai do not seem to tally.
Wondering whether the hotel we stayed,
Tapae Place Hotel,
2 Tapae Road
Soi 3, A. Muang,
Chiangmai 50100
Website: http://www.tapeplacehotel.com
Email: info@tapaeplacehotel.com
is licensed ?
Dear frens,
I made an inquiry on the claim with the Tourism Authority of Thailand earlier this morning regarding the hotel claim (food is not covered) during our extended stay in Chiangmai
The staff listed soem big hotel names of which ours at Tapae Place and Chiangmai Thai House are not part of.
However, she mentioned that the T.A.T can look into the claim on a case by case basis.
The procedure for claim is to write to the hotel concerned, who in turn will write to the Thai govt to claim on our behalf as the T.A.T does not pay direct back to the guests.
I’m awaiting a formal answer from them. let’s keep oru fingers cross.
rgds,
james
Dear buddies,
Reply from Tourism Authority of Thailand regarding claims for our hotel and meals.
Hope this answer to those who raise the queries.
———————————————————-
Dear Mr James Tan,
We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to you and your group due to the closure of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport recently. We have received an update from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports on 1st December 2008, on the reimbursement policy of accommodation and meals for stranded visitors.
We regret to inform you that for visitors whom have returned to their home country and had paid for their accommodation, reimbursement is not allowed by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
The support of accommodation and meals for stranded passengers of up to Baht 2,000 per person per day, are to be given in kinds by the hotels. There will not be any form of monetary transaction/reimbursement of this support between visitors with the hotels and Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The reimbursement on the cost of accommodation and meals for stranded visitors are between hotels and Ministry of Tourism and Sports, after the hotels had rendered the services of accommodation and meals to the stranded visitors.
We understand the inconvenience caused and expenses incurred to return to Singapore, and sincerely apologise that we are not able to assist in the reimbursement request. However, we will feedback this matter to our head office and for relay to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and in the event that there is a change in the reimbursement policy, we shall contact you again accordingly. We apologise once again for the inconvenience and distress the incident may have caused you.
Yours sincerely,
Porntip Makornpan (Mrs)
Director
Singapore, Indonesia & Philippines
Hi guys!
It looks like that you can only claim if you’re only stranded in Bangkok… the TAT has a list of hotels that you can check into and claim a total of Baht2,000 per day which should cover the hotel and food. I think we can forget about getting any compensation for our “extended” stay in Chiang Mai. Good try, James!
Coming now to the refund for AirAsia’s cancelled flight: I think Susan and Alicia have made it quite clear that we should go to the AirAsia office at Changi Airport and submit our documents like passport, flight confirmation, flight cancellation letter (if available?), etc. We should then get a refund (a credit to our credit card account) in six to eight weeks.
If you have travel insurance: Please check with your agent or company about any possible claim. Some policies may not be claimable as the Bangkok crisis could be labelled “a civil unrest” which may be excluded in your policy.
The AirAsia (AIG Malaysia) “cheap” policy bought with the on-line ticket doesn’t look like it will cover more than trip delay. I must get an insurance expert to study the fine print. Maybe Patrick can shed some light on this.
For me, I am just grateful that I am back safely and that the rest of the group are also back. Any compensation or refund is a bonus to me and will not cause me any distress should I not get it.
Hi Chiangmai trippers,
Last night, I received a cheque (S$1200 for both Ah Nee & myself) from AIG in settlement for the claim we have made due to the flight delay becos of the closure of Bangkok airport.
Under their Policy on Travel Delay, they will pay $75 if flight has been delayed due to strike or industrial action for at least 6 consecutive hours up to a max. of S$600 during the policy period. As the events leading to the closure of the Bangkok Int’l airport do not fall within the ambit of strike or industrial action under the concerned policy, there is no cover under the policy. However, in view of the extenuating circumstances, AIG actually settle our claim for travel delay on a without prejudice basis. This shall not be cited as a precedent for future claims as per AIG.
I was surprised AIG settled so quickly. Hope the rest will receive theirs in due course.
Nor, hope you will be receiving your cheque soon from NTUC, then you we can all go for our Xmas & CNY shopping. :)
Have a great weekend !
Good morning everyone,
When I first filed for the claim, I am very doubtful that AIG will pay. Hence I never expect much from that insurance claim. Well, it surprised me that they not only paid, but payout very fast and no question asked. I understand that NTUC will pay up to $1,000……,how come AIG’s claim is fastest than NTUC? Nor & Susan Tan, apa macam, you all can’t wait to go Xmas shopping right? I am glad that my claim has been settled, so guys & gals, remember to buy your Travel Insurance whenever you travel hor! Wish those who are going to Fraser’s Hill a pleasant & enjoyable trip. How I wish I can join you all, if not for my office retreat scheduled on the 6 Feb 09. Have a nice day. :)
Ah Nee
Hi Ah Nee, Suzhang,
I’m glad your claim can settle so fast. Congratulations.
Although I’m the earliest to sbmit, my claim has hit a snag.
AIG is asking for the Policy no, which, when I checked the
Airasia booking no, there was no such no. stated.
It was a very frustrating Airasia writing to them an calling
them numerous times with on an automated response that
“due to overwhelming response, we are unable to service
your request”. Swear never to travel on this budget airline
again.
Do you have this Policy no? Do you encountered any snag?
rgds,
james
Hi James,
The Policy No. is on the Policy Schedule, ie. your Airasia insurance coverage print out form. Or have you thrown it away? You should be able to print out another one from your PC, unless you have deleted it. I still have my Policy Schedule with me. Ah Nee filed my claim a couple of days after theirs, so I expect to receive mine soon.
There is a 24 hour emergency assistance number, 63386200. Wonder if this helps. Good luck.
Hi James,
The claim is simple, Ann To, Suzhang & myself went personally to the AIG office at UIC building which is a stone throw away from MAS building. The claim form should includes the following documents attached to it:
1) Policy Schedule / Policy Number (by AirAsia GoInsure).
2) AirAsia Travel Itinerary.
3) AirAsia Boarding Pass if you still have them, if not photostat your passport with the return back to Singapore chop with it (this you have to go personally to the AIG office as the AIG staff will have to authenticate it).
4) Press Release report on Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International airport closure.
We submitted all these documents and everything went on smoothly. Hope you also do the same, if you still have problems, you may want to call me, see if I can help you.
Cheers! Ah Nee
Hi Ah Nee,
All the documents you mentioned have alrady been provided
to AIG except for the Policy no which I don’t have as I
didn’t not received it.
I guess the only way to confirm this is to go to Airasia
office at the airport. Called their hotline 1 min ago still
no luck to get tru.
Can you give me yr contact no.? I can be reached.
I’m on my way to T1.
james