I arrived nice and early at Melbourne airport on Tuesday the 6th May.
Sue drove me to the airport and we had a fast trip.
Once at the airport I got my 2 suitcases plastic wrapped at a hefty fee of $20 a suitcase.
They didn’t even have a scale so if you want to check the weight first i would go elsewhere.
In the past the wrappers have given you a plastic cutter wrapped just inside so you could unwrap them….Melbourne airport….NO.
Went and bought a coffee and sat out side having a smoke.
Jetstar check-in didn’t open until 10:30 so had an easy wait.
Once check-in opened i got rid of the 2 suitcases and headed through to security.
Everything was inside my backpack so just placed in the tray and headed through the body scanner.
Then off to immigration.
Once there you just scan your passport, and wait to get waved through.
It took all of 30 seconds and i was on my way to look for my boarding gate.
Jetstar Business class
After a short wait it was time to board.
I had booked Business class so I was looking forward to getting on first.
WRONG
When I booked i used auto fill and my boarding pass said Russ Soens….not Russell George Soens as on my passport.
Please wait sir until we issue you a new boarding pass.
Almost last on again!!!
A few hours before the flight I checked the seat map, and noticed an aisle seat at the back was free. Realizing I had booked the front row- an exit row I decided to change, in case i was called upon to help open the door Lol.
Best decision .
Aisle seat in 3 F has a partition behind you, so you can put your seat back as often as you want without bothering anyone.
Finally strapped in and the drink service arrived.
Then the 3 menus arrived.
The food was fantastic.
If you want a drink of anything or snacks , you just ask and its brought to you straight away.
The flight landed in Bangkok 30 minutes early.
I actually had a good sleep.
I then found that Thailand had upgraded the sims since i was here and mine no longer had service.
I had been paying for it for the last 2 years so i could keep the same number.
10 minutes at the AIS booth and i was on my way again, to look for the hotel shuttle bus.
Easy to find a few yards away.
Had a 20 minute wait for the next van which was good as i was the only passenger.
I arrived at the Suvarnabhumi vile hotel a few minutes later.
The hotel staff ran out and grabbed those bloody suitcases.
A few minutes after check in it was shower time.
I got the plastic off one of the suitcases and luckily it was the one that had my scissors, so i was able to cut the plastic off the other one.
This hotel has a sky bar open until 1 am with live music.
The planes fly right over the top of it when landing at Bangkok airport.
The Car Saga
I joined a few Facebook groups earlier in the year to get some hints before traveling here.
I saw an ad for a car service at a reasonable rate.
I sent her a message in February and said i would be arriving on the 6th of May.
Yes, see you then 2000 baht (about $90 for the 2 hour trip)
I thought it was good to book early.
Late at night I get a message from her on the 6th March, saying see you tomorrow and here is a picture of the car.
Instantly replied in English and Thai that i wasn’t coming until May the 6th as per my previous messages.
Sorry, sorry I make mistake.
I thought that would be the end of it. WRONG
I messaged her when i arrived at the airport and said i would see the driver in the morning at 11 am.
The message seemed a bit odd, like she didn’t read my message about staying at the Suvarnabhumi vile hotel
The next morning at 11 am there was no sign of the driver.
The hotel concierge called her for me and said i was waiting at the Ville Hotel.
Apparently the driver had been waiting an hour at the airport of the same name.
After more sorry, sorry I make mistake messages the car finally arrived to take me to Rayong.
The Star Convention Hotel
I arrived at the hotel about1:30 and checked in.
Haven’t touched a bag since the baggage carousel at the airport.
The hotel staff are fantastic.
The room is fantastic.
The bed can sleep about 10 people.
They have a huge restaurant down stairs and my evening meal has only cost me about $14.
This is the cost of a budget hotel breakfast in Melbourne according to AI
I didn’t book breakfast ( don’t know why) so it costs me about $14 for the buffet breakfast.
Spent the first few nights in a very dimly lit room.
It was only when searching for the tv remote that i noticed a box on the other side of the bed with push buttons to turn all the lights on.
I found a rental
Caza V1 Serviced Apartment
https://www.renthub.in.th/en/caza-v1-serviced-apartment
The second day here I went to Residence 3 a hotel and condo opposite my hotel.
They told me everything has been booked out by the chinese till October.
I went back to the hotel and a young concierge asked me how i went.
He suggested Caza v1 serviced apartments.
He called them for me and said i would be coming over to have a look.
After calling a GRAB i was there a few minutes later.
The rice cooker in the video has been swapped with a microwave already.
I have also only just discovered that you can get an escalator from the hotel to the IT mall downstairs.
I have been walking up and down the ramps outside the hotel.
My Retirement visa
With a few days left at the hotel, I sent off all my documents to Bangkok to get a retirement visa.
I even scored a discount on the price (works out about a months rent)
It will take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive so i can finally relax and start budgeting.
Now that the 2 biggest costs are out of the way, i will be able to start recording my spending.
Not that i have too, but it will be good for a reference.
Its been raining all day and I am now going to spend the day inside instead of going in the pool.
I haven’t been in the pool yet, and may not even get the chance.
Starting to think maybe i am no longer a pool person.
