Our Itinerary

Here's a quick blow-by-blow of our trip thus far:



March.05.2012

-7:30am. Up early for buffet breakfast.
-8:30am. Dave drops Eli off at cooking class run by entrepreneur/Chef Ms. Vy.
-Dave wanders: Japanese covered bridge, Tan Ky House, Handicraft workshop, Assembly Hall, Trade Ceramics, markets, and the An Hoi Island
-Dave picks up Eli; she has no food for Dave, so he eats a yucky tomato tofu dish
-3p. More wandering, then swim in pool.
-4:30p. Eli off to second cooking class.
-6p. Dave to eat cooking class food!
-9p. Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City by plane!

March.04.2012
-6:30am. Up early for buffet breakfast.
-7:30am. DMZ tour with South Vietnamese soldier: best was his experience, second best were the sites (see blog post)
-1p. Car breaks down!
-6p. Arrive Hoi An! Check in to lovely Vinh Hung III Hotel.
-Wander Hoi An's charming touristy district. Walk miles to a closed vegetarian restaurant.
-9p. Dinner at Karma Waters Vegan restaurant. Funny talk with vegan European couple who look malnourished.

March.03.2012
-6:00am. Dave up to find transport to Hue.
-8:00am. Find amazing Buddhist vegetarian restaurant (gray robes!). Eli happily eats Pho for breakfast.
-9:00am. Sleeper bus from Da Nang to Hue. Nice stop at China Beach
-11:00am. Bus gets flat tire!
-1:00pm. Arrive Hue. Found a veggie restaurant!
-Whirlwind tour of historical landmarks via bike: imperial city, garden houses, mausoleums, downtown area. (Eli returns to hotel; Dave keeps going :-)

March.02.2012
-7:30am. Buffet breakfast on boat, fairly basic.
-Meander through amazing, misty scenery of Halong Bay, visit fishing village
-12p. Back on bus to Hanoi.
-5p. Logistics + dinner.
-9p. Fly Hanoi to Da Nang.

March.01.2012
-7am. Bus Hanoi to Halong Bay.
-11am. Board Galaxy boat for 2d/1n tour of Halong Bay (they are nice and upgrade us!)
-Sites: Surprise Cave, kayaking fishing village and sites, more boating
-7p. Dinner ok (very cool garnishes for non-veggies), then silly karaoke (we go to sleep!)


Feb.29.2012
-4:30am. Up for transfer to BKK.
-6:30am. Air Asia flight BKK to Hanoi.
-Hanoi sites:

Feb.28.2012
-Final day in Chiang Mai / hanging out
Feb.27.2012
-Trek Day 3

Feb.26.2012
-Trek Day 2


Feb.25.2012
-Trek Day 1
-8am pickup, drive 4 hours.

Feb.24.2012
-Last day of working! OPD am.
-Eli wanders around Nimmanhaemin neighborhood (near hotel) - lunch at Khun Churn.
-Dave off in early afternoon. Gets pants hemmed on street for $1.
-5pm stupid meeting for trek - no one else shows up and we waste time. Lots of mosquitoes outside.
-6 pm Chabad in Chiang Mai - overrun by Israelis! Meet some nice Brits and then connect with an American expat who turns out to be a friend of about 30 of Eli's friends. Very cool.

Feb.23.2012
-Dave to work - OPD am
-Eli works from the hotel in the morning, then off to Warorot Market for buying Thai ingredients to bring home (pickled daikon, Khao Soi curry powder, herbal teas, etc.). Favorite market in Thailand.
-Eli and Dave meet at a Wat.
-Terrible massage experience for Dave by blind masseuse. He might still be sore. Eli has good foot massage.
-Veggie Buffet dinner at Gap's House ($3 each). Yummy curries and fruit for dessert. Extra charge if you don't clear your plate! Not a problem for Dave!
Feb.22.2012
-8am. Dave to hospital for antibiotic lecture (in English!)
-9am. Eli picked up by Lanna Cooking School. High hopes for a class covering northern Thai cuisine. Class turns out to be a super-dud and super-expensive, but at least she learns how to make Nanglet, the delicious rice cakes!
-Dinner at Salad Concept - trendy salad bar full of Thai and expats. Yummy dinner for $1.50.
-iberry!!! Amazing quirky Thai ice cream parlor - Eli eats black sesame ice cream and pomegranat sorbet and Dave has coconut almond with a brownie. Such a fantastic find.

Feb.21.2012
-8am. Late wake up because Dave has morning off.
-Explore Chiang Mai's responsible trekking options: Trekking Collecting, Eagle House, and Chiang Mai Green. Lots of Pros/Cons.
-12p. Eat at wonderful cafe, The Freedom House that supports Burmese refugees with a phenomenal school. Really amazing Burmese/Northern Thai food!
-1p. Dave to hospital for journal club and rounds. Great cases!
-1p. Eli to Chilli Club cooking class. Amazing class - takes 6 hours, including decorations! Highly recommended.
-7p. Dave tries to find dinner spot while Eli's still cooking. Not so great. Cafe Compassion super expensive, other places have no veggie food. He eats greasy MSG veggie meal eventually, before Eli brings home class leftovers.

Feb.20.2012
-8am. Dave to Chiang Mai hospital for first day.
-Eli goes exploring: celadon, craft shops, cooking schools, resale shops, trekking options. Find $.80 veggie lunch.
-5p. Dinner = Yummy vegetarian street food (thank goodness for school-aged girl who helps us order)
-Early-to-bed!

Feb.19.2012
-Rent motor-bike (what?!?!? No, not a typo)
-Bike to Doi Suthep: amazing temple, but there's this weird pollution/haze/unknown ozone layer...so no view
-Bike 70K to Thai Elephant Conservation Center outside of Lumpung for elephant bathing, demo, and hospital viewing (more on the blog)
-Bike back through Lamphun along gorgeous tree-lined roads
-Amazing dinner at Whole Earth restaurant
-Check in to Green Palace (not palatial, but close to hospital and cool neighborhood)

Feb.18.2012
-Up late for Chiang Mai exploration: Wats, amazing paper shop, and others
-INCREDIBLE vegetarian lunch buffet at Khun Churn
-Royal Flora (see blog)
-No need to eat dinner b/c of Khun Churn. Wandered through the Sunday market.

Feb.17.2012
-7am. Dave up for early rounds, brings American-style breakfast (yummy sweet-breads) for team
-10am. Last outpatient clinic with Dr. Somnuek
-Eli has last cooking class in Bangkok.
-Eli picks up dress at seamstress. Success!
-4:30p. Flight BKK>>>CNX (Chiang Mai) on Thai Airways (no bag charges for Dave's 24kg pack!)
-Check in to Dozy House (thanks Agoda) - lovely new spot run by female entrepreneur)
-Look for dinner: many vegetarian options in Chiang Mai! Mostly fail because it's 9pm. Mediocre dinner with likely addition of oyster sauce and MSG. Oh well.

Feb.16.2012
-8am. Dave to work.
-11am. Eli explores Silom area. Tries to have David's wedding ring re-made, but price ridiculous! Wandering...attempts to get a foot massage but for unknown reasons unsuccessful. Massage therapist at lunch? At 3 pm? Buys treats for Dave's team.
-5pm. Dinner with Dave's main Dr./Professor at delicious restaurant near the train station. Amazing vegetarian feast! Highlights = fried morning glory, pomelo salad, and apple custard ice cream for dessert. Yum.

Feb.15.2012
-9am. Eli to cooking class.
-3pm. Eli to home of one of David's professor's - to cook with their chef. Not so successful due to language issues, but most amusing afternoon. Watch her make Tom Yum Koong (coconut milk shrimp soup) and Broccoli with Oyster Sauce.
- 5pm. Eli to Jim Thompson Outlet (maybe for the 3rd time?!). Buys fabric for mom. Also finds sticky rice steamers at random shop.
-Walk through Baumungrad Hospital through middle eastern neighborhood (one day after the bombing in Bangkok)
-Dinner with nice expat family (second time... guess we passed the test!). Yummy Middle Eastern food.

Feb.14.2012
8am. Dave to Thai HIV conference. Impressive conference with audience response system, but too bad, all in Thai. Off to Ayutthaya we go! (old capital of Thailand)
10:30am Train to bus station (BTS>MRT)
11:40am Train to Ayutthaya - 15 baht, no a/c (a/c was 350 baht pp). Best value transport yet.
1:00pm Arrive in Ayutthaya. Attempt to find taxi who knows where bike tour company is. Fail. Get dropped off on random corner. Call company, and they don't know their own cross street. Dave spots bike. Perfect.
1:30-4:00pm. Take great bike tour of Ayutthaya. Dave happy to be on a bike. Eli hot and tired. Lots of ruins.
4:15pm. Eli finds natural foods store - and buys young coconut gels made with agar.
4:30pm. Minibus back to Bangkok- a/c and only 60 baht. Success.
6:00pm. Dinner at yet another mall (Siam Paragon). Eli gives Dave a tour of a fancy grocery (her favorite pastime) and Dave finds many bakeries)


Feb.13.2012
-8am. Wakeup to our beautiful room.
-Beachside breakfast buffet
-Reading, relaxing, beachside lunch
-High tea
-Krabi Airport to Bangkok
-"Home" sweet "home"

Feb.12.2012
-6:45am. Wakeup to amazing buffet breakfast...really fresh bread!
-8am. Boat pickup for scuba trip to Phi phi islands --> 45min trip --> 2 dives with a sea turtle --> see Maya Beach (really nothing too special) --> lunch on boat --> back to mainland
-Catch boat to Naparapat Pier --> Taxi to Nakamanda
-Nakamanda is gorgeous, small, and peaceful
-Dad leaves for airport (sad)

Feb.11.2012
-9am. Wakeup to beautiful buffet breakfast
-"Rest day" (as if we need it): kayaking, swimming, massage for Dad, and more swimming
-Vegetarian sushi for dinner

Feb.10.2012
-4:45am. Dave wakes up for 6:30am flight to Krabi.
-5:45am. Eli/Dad wake up for 7:30am flight to Krabi.
-Eli/Dad shepherded to Centara Resort; Dave walks to resort on the monkey trail (monkeys do not steal anything)
-Lunch: delicious Indian food
-More relaxation
-Sleep early!

Feb.9.2012
-7am. Dave to work. Crazy immunocompromised cases today.
-9am. Eli finds new grocery store (lots of samples!) and Jim Thompson outlet.
-7pm. Dinner with Elan, Liat, and Roni at authentic Thai restaurant that has vegetarian menu!
-Huge rainstorm!
-11:45pm. Meet Dad at Bangkok airport for his visit!!! So good to see him!

Feb.8.2012
-TBD
-Eli buys Thai fabric with new friend in Chinatown; then to seamstress!
-Dinner with new friends at their lovely home!

Feb.7.2012
-TBD
-Eli has two cooking classes (will blog!)
-Dave eats leftovers

Feb.6.2012
-TBD
-Dinner with two new friends, one of whom runs an amazing HIV/AIDS education program for sex workers in Thailand.

Feb.5.2012
-9:30am. super overslept.
-10am. More laundry + buy water.
-11am. Taxi to Dusit: Vimanmek Teak Mansion, Support Museum, Queen's Gallery + Throne Hall. Super hot. Lots of gold + gemstones at Throne Hall.
-2pm. Wat Benjamabophit (Italian marble). Taxi (hard to get!) to Ratchathewi (rattatouille?!).
-3:30pm. Find stale Nanglet rice cakes. Walk to Jim Thompson House along stinky river.
-4pm. Jim Thompson House. Run into a former Eat with Eli client!!
-5:30pm. Dinner at Koko. Eh, but vegetarian.
-6:30pm. Dave eats waffles. Home.

Feb.4.2012
-8:30am wakeup. Oops overslept.
-Ratanakosin: Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaeo (Emerald Buddha), Dave eats $1 bagels at Au bon Pain, Silpakorn & Thammasat Universities + lots of walking.
-Meet Napatt & Oil (Thai med students): Wat Pho (reclining Buddha), rain!, Museum of Siam, boat across river, Wat Arun (broken porcelin + steep). Taxi to Emporium, buy mangosteens.
-6:30pm dinner with nice expat family in Sukhomvit.

Feb.3.2012
-8am wakeup.
-10am-12pm OPD clinic for Dave.
-Eli blogs, does laundry (80 cents per load) and drinks green tea latte.
-2pm Chinatown via BTS to MRT. CRAZY. Went to Wat Traimit - huge golden Buddha. Eli eats tamarind candy. Walked Sampeng Lane.
-6pm in Sukhumvit for Chabad. Services + Dinner = lovely, met nice expats, ate too much Challah + salads.
-11pm return home. Past bedtime!

Feb.2.2012
-8am wakeup
-9am Dave to work.
-9:30 am Eli in taxi to Bangkok Thai Cooking School, class from 10am-3pm. 8+ recipes. Excellent.
-3pm Eli tries to get home. Takes bus and makes it home at 5pm
-5pm Dave comes home, leftovers for dinner from various cooking schools.

Feb.1.2012 (Happy birthday Eli's dad!)
-7:30am wake up
-9 am Dave to work. Yay late start.
-9 am Eli tries to go to Dusit Park. Unsuccessful. Ends up at Zoo. Sadness for animals.
-12 pm Eli discovers Terminal 21 mall. Wants to move in. Japanese toilets, a/c, veggie food and green tea ice cream _ free Internet and boutiques. Amazing.
-1-4:30pm Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy Class. Calm and delicious.
-6:30pm Dinner at Terminal 21 Food Court. Veggie food is cheap + sticky rice + mango for dessert.

Jan.31.2012
-5:30am wake up (we're making progress!)
-8am Dave to hospital, feeling weak
-7:45 am Eli to May Kaidee Cooking School; preps veggies early, attends class from 9am-1pm. Food coma.
-Visit Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy in Sukhumvit, sign up for class.
-5:30pm Find whole wheat baguette for David. He is happy.
-6pm Veggie Indian Dosa dinner.
(forget 5 year anniversary! oops)

Jan.30.2012
-3:20am wake up! (not on purpose) Dave studies, Eli reads. More sleep.
-7:30am Dave to hospital
-9:30am Eli to Bangkok Food Tours, until 2pm
-12pm Dave eats mushrooms that give him food poisoning.
-2pm, on - Eli searches for cooking schools, takes riverboat taxi + BTS, home at 5pm
-4pm Dave home; sick
-early to bed

Jan.29.2012
-7am wakeup. Jetlag!
-Walk. Walk. Walk. Victory Monument>>>Siam Square>>>MBK (cellphones + lunch)>>>Chit Lom Place basement = gourmet grocery = carrot passion fruit juice>>>Chatachuk Weekend Market = hot, crowded and tired>>>Eli has blisters>>>BTS to Victory Monument>>>attempt to eat without shrimp. somewhat successful. Crash.

Jan.28.2012
-We lose a day!
-6pm (2 hours late) land in Narita.
-No time to hang out in Tokyo airport. Tears.
-Run to gate, 6:30pm flight to Bangkok.
-11:30pm, land in Bangkok. Hot!
-$10 taxi ride to TropMed House. Lost for 20 minutes. Frustrated driver.
Jan.27.2012
-5:45am Dave & Jim to synagogue for Shacharit. Eli does not go.
-9:30am leave for ORD!
-12pm flight to Narita
-flight delayed...at least we can watch movies. Mechanical problems. Oy.
-3pm flight finally takes off
-somewhere over the pacific, Eli gets food poisoning. double oy.

Jan.26.2012
-8pm STL - ORD, spend the night in Lincolnshire
-Eat homemade apple pie and gf cookies
-Spend quality time with Dave's dad. Dave works quickly to finish work.