Jan 14 - Arrival
Throughout the trip we visited interesting sites during the day and night markets in the evening. These markets exist in every city, and offer food, clothing, exotic animals, jewelry, $20 “Rolex” watches, and varied artwork. In Bangkok the Patpong night market coexists with saloons and an active red light district. The Chatuchak weekend market covers more than 35 acres with more than 15,000 vendors.

Jan 15 - Dinner at Pinsuvana's
We were treated to a special welcome party and dinner at the Pinsuvana home , with a sumptuous meal prepared by Malulee with assistance from their chef son. You remember from our 45th reunion, where she led a cooking class on Thai cuisine, that Malulee is a widely recognized chef and cookbook author in Thailand. This was a gala affair with much good fellowship. Topping it off, the Consul General and the Public Information Officer from the U.S Embassy attended with their spouses.

Jan 16 – Royal Grand Palace
The sightseeing and shopping started in earnest. We began by touring the Royal Grand Palace , a sixty-one acre complex that is the nation's landmark and the most praised monument in Thailand. It is a grand display of Buddhist temples and Thai architecture.

Jan 17 - Bancock Sights
After this great start to the trip, we continued with sightseeing in Bangkok and its floating market. We completed the afternoon with a demonstration of traditional Thai dancing.

Jan 18 -Ayutthaya
We went to the ancient capital and UNESCO World Heritage site of Ayutthaya via river boat and visited many temples and the interesting ruins of this formerly great city.

Jan 19, 20 - Chaing Rai
The next day we flew to Chiang Rai , a smaller city in the north near the famous “Golden Triangle” where Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet by the Mekong River. Later in the day, hosted by Becky Weldon-Sithiwong, the curator, we enjoyed a catered dinner and a tour of Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park . This is a cultural center, botanical garden, and nature park sponsored by the royal family of Thailand for the people of northern Thailand to preserve the traditions of northern Thai culture and to encourage and promote the work of local artists and artisans. It was a truly remarkable place.

Jan 21 to 24 – Chaing Mai
After Chiang Rai we visited Chiang Mai , a larger city, with its own temples, museums, and markets. Highlights included Royal Flora EXPO 2006 , a huge exhibit of floral displays, and the Savanna Safari and Predator Prowl rides at the Chiang Mai Night Safari , featuring large predators and other exotic animals in natural settings.

Jan 25 - Phuket
Next was Phuket , a southern coastal city which was devastated two years earlier by the tsunami. It is an area of beautiful beaches and clear waters, but filled with tourists. There was little evidence of the tsunami's damage, which is a tribute to the resiliency and initiative of the Thai people.

Jan 27 to 28 -Bangkok
We returned to Bangkok for a final flurry of sightseeing and shopping.

Jan 29 – Jim Thompson Museum
One of the most impressive of our final activities was our visit to the Jim Thompson Museum , where we were treated to a lecture on Thai customs and culture by Bill Klausner, a Yale Law School graduate and tennis buddy of Adul's. Mr. Klausner, a long-time resident of Thailand, is the President of the Board of Trustees of the Jim Thompson Foundation. Thompson was an American based in Thailand at the end of WWII who returned after the war to revitalize the Thai silk industry. He disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1967, but his company continues to offer some of the finest silk fabrics in the world. Several of our group spent the afternoon shopping for these silks. Others played tennis at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, where we all gathered for dinner . This club, where Adul is a member, is a private club located in Bangkok. It includes a large clubhouse, tennis courts, and an eighteen hole golf course, all in the middle of downtown Bangkok. We were treated to another evening of good food and conversation.

Jan 30 – Cambodia Angkor Wat
The following morning those who were extending the trip flew to Siem Reap in Cambodia, where we toured Angkor Wat and many of the other sites in this area of past Khmer glory.

Jan 31 – Angkor Wat Temple Dawn
A highlight of this part of our trip was the pre-dawn walk along the causeway at Angkor Wat to a prime viewing spot to see the sun rise behind this extraordinary temple.

Feb 1 – Angkor Wat Final
We ended our tour of Angkor Wat.

Feb 2 - Bangkok Thailand Farewell
We returned to Bangkok and the Sky Train to the airport.