Pre Arrival Excitement (not for ex-pats)

[xjuskk]

55555555 The way to get the attention of the ex-pats is to tell them a thread is not for them, nosey gits ! 5555555

Anyway, for me one of the best parts of my holiday in LOS is the planning of the trip and the anticipation that comes with it.

Its a gradual build up towards the big day.
It starts months in advance of arrival with the booking of the flights, then the hotels, and even though I know where I will stay, I still look at 20 to 30 hotels to see what they charge and what, if anything, they have new since the last time I looked at them. I read as many field reports as I can find to make sure I am as up to date with what's closed down and what's opened up.

About 3-4 weeks from lift off I start to buy a few bits and pieces to take with me, razors, boxers, rubbers and a few other essentials.

Its about this time that friends start to say, "it's not long before you go away again is it Lowry" this of course comes with the nudge nudge, wink wink type comments. Those comments use to make me feel embarrassed, but now I dont give a hoot, they mainly come from people that dont have the balls to go to LOS and experience all it has to offer for themselves.

Then its a gradual build up of excitement, the nearer I get to lift off, the more frustrated I feel, I just cant wait any longer!!!

I always make a point of being celibate for 4/5 days before arrival in bkk where I stay for the first 3 days of each trip. I do this as I want that first trip to NEP of each visit to be a night to remember, I must admit that by the time I have the lucky lady back in my room on that first night, and after nearly a week of celibacy, add in the weeks of anticipation and I am on a short trigger, but luckily I am able to reload the gun quite quickly at the beginning of the holiday, however, that's a different story well before the end of my normal 3 week stay, well I'm no teenager! lol

Anyway, I will be booking my flights in a few weeks, so I can start to get the juices going again soon!!

Anyone else go through this?

Lowry

P.S. So now you know why this wont be of interest to you ex-pats, I feel sorry for you guys not getting these feelings, you poor buggers, having to live there all the time, must be awful ! hahahahahah

 

[Terminator]

I only get one comment (from Thai GF):

If u butterfly.....after.....ur head in Nong Khai.
ur arms in Chiang Mai
ur legs in Khao Yai
and ur snipper in Bangkok.

So be carefull I will know.

 

[brandkast]

Yep, Lowry, you're right.

I also enjoy the planning part. It's the same for most people i think. You described it very good.

hishnick: same same my mother and mates

 

[Amaretta]

Thats feckin funny 55555

 

[Charmed]

I hate the few months wait from when booked up to when you actually leave. I know some people say book the return as soon as possible but I’m the complete opposite. Personally like to do things quite soon before I want to travel, maybe about a month before like I did for this time and my previous one.

But when I do book and it’s only a few weeks I’m totally like you. Getting excited now...only 16 sleeps!

 

[keld2682]

I´m exactly the same. Right now I´m in the phase before you go shopping things you need on the trip. For me it is 76 days left..........

I´m done with the flightbooking, hotelbooking and now I´m trying to get a grip of what is hot and what is not in Phuket this year. It is not easy because it seams to change every week. New bars open, old go-gos closing etc. Is my favorite places still in action when I arrive? Thats the questions right now. The second question is if I can sleep for about 76 days? Then it would be of to Thailand tomorrow for me!

 

[Pompal 09.]

I too always stay the first part of my trip in Bkk (usually 4 or 5 days) before heading down to Hkt. One pre-trip obsession I have is planning what I'm going to do those first few days. Not just outlines or ideas, but planning down to a T. From the moment I wake up till the moment I head out for the evening, everything is strategically planned down to the minutes. . From experience I do realize that it is almost impossible to follow any kind of schedule once you step foot into the Land of Smile, but I still do it every time I plan a trip. The first day is naturally the most special and it is usually the only day I have any kind of chance of following a schedule. I find it a relaxing pastime as I wait for my upcoming trip.

PS - I find it so funny that you mentioned you know where you are going to stay yet you scope out 20 - 30 other hotels just in case. I do that myself! 555555

 

[mrggame]

Talking about planning.

I have said to myself each time I have been to LOS that I would take a cooking course when I am there, I love most Asian food, so it seams like a good idea.

Unfortunately, when I am there, I dont seam to be able to get out of bed before lunch time, probably as I dont go to bed (to sleep) until at least 3am and often a lot later. So I dont think it will ever happen.

 

[Lisa D]

Urtheman (BM) has an afternoon cooking class at 1.30pm.
http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/general/39130-my-new-cooking-school-pics.html?highlight=playhouse

 

[Mrs.Ploughe]

Thanks for that, but it would interupt my breakfast!! 55555

 

[rightnow]

well, it depends if this is your first holiday to LOS? Sounds like it.

I doubt you will have the same feelings or checkpoints when you have been a couple of more times.

Personally, for me I know that I go once or twice to LOS per year, and that decision is very often made only within days based on arising opportunity. Quickly book an online flight and that's it, a quick call for available Hotel in BKK, done. Once in LOS the remaining destinations are booked in similar way.

Yes, the excitement as you describe is gone, it's more looking forward to the "Phew, finally 2 weeks off, relax and party" feeling.

 

[raised by chimpz!!!]

I have been 5 times in 5 years, for 3 weks at a time, I hope the excitment I get never goes away.
It sound like you now take Thailand for granted, you might get a better feeling if you tried a new place, Brazil maybe? Then in a year or 2 go back to LOS.

 

[Olli]

Yes, you might be right, I take it somehow for granted. But still I would prefer it before many other places. I was thinking while on the beautiful island of Bermuda mid last year, I wouldn't trade it for a LOS holiday.
But I'm also not jumping up and down the room with the checklist in my hand weeks before 5555

Very good and nice you still have that feeling after 5 years, quite impressive.

 

[om nom nom nom nom]

555555555 I try to imagine how this would look like.......555555 oh my buddha.

I for myself wouldn't jump up and down the room with the checklist either, but with the ticket :intello:

 

[dannieboy255]

Would you believe I booked my next trip to LOS (Phuket that is of course) within less then 24 hours after I returned home from Phuket last week ?
I just can't stand it to be back home without any goal to countdown. Now I'm all fine, knowing that by may 21, I'll be back again. I love it !
Nothing beats a 494 Euro R/T ticket with KLM from AMS to BKK, including Fast speed train ticket from Antwerp to Amsterdam. For this amount, I wont stay at home !

 

[Iloveyou]

You are not alone my friend ....the yearning is stronger than Nicotine withdrawl!
Then you tell all your mates at home you have already booked to go back, they hate you for that.

 

[Nikk]

5555 thats right!

it's amazaing how a country can make you sick and crazy.....:love3:

 

[Bill L]

Each of the three trips I've taken to Thailand have had less than two weeks lead time, mostly due to my work schedule changing and me taking advaneforum.xxxe of unexpected downtime. I book my flights w/ frequent flier miles which makes it easier to make last minute plans w/o exorbitant flight costs out of pocket. The week or two lead time can be quite exciting as I line up my lodging and plan out my itinerary. Each trip has required less and less preparation as I have my lists of things to see, do and pack refined after each trip.

 

[ralphus]

I will be in Phuket on Dec. 18th, exactly 90 days from now. Already booked my hotel (after tons of research). I have been to Samui 6 times but I have never been to Phuket...I can not wait! Samui has Soi Green Mango in Chewang and the bars in Lamai and I am hoping that Bangla Road will blow them away (literally).

Just got on the forum and the excitement is building up...

90 days to heaven

 

[Pat M]

^ WTTB...have a great trip, Bangla won't disappoint