And so the journey begins

Welcome back on my blog.  It's been a while since I wrote my last travel report, but for this trip I decided to start again.  I'm traveling to Cambodia to visit the school project I've been supporting for a few years now (visit www.theangkortreeproject.org for more on that) and Thailand to visit my family for Loi Krathong (the celebration at the end of the raining season).

Aircraft ready to board

At Brussels Airport I got the chance for the second time in my life to use the eGates for EU-passports.  The gates didn't work well this time, I put my passport twice in the device and each time I was being refused, I was following the instructions, but still I thought I was doing something wrong...  Until the police officer came to assist me: the guy behind me was so anxious that he wasn't waiting behind the red line, but was actually blocking the first gates behind me from closing.  That way the eGates couldn't let me pass the border.  The rude police officer made the guy very clear that the red line was there for a reason and not just for decoration.

I learned something for those who are fond of priority boarding.  If you choose a seat rather at the back of the airplane, you're likely to be called for boarding with the first flow of passengers as they now board per zone in the aircraft.  The disadvantage is that you'll be disembarking the aircraft as one of the last passengers.

As usual I traveled with Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi.  There are actually two possibilities to travel from Brussels to Bangkok, one with a 2h30 overlay at Abu Dhabi, the other one with an overlay of 4h30.  Since I recently became Etihad Guest Silver again, I decided to choose for the latter option as to be able to take maximum advantage of the lounge facilities offered at Abu Dhabi Airport.

I'm always very satisfied when flying with Etihad, even though I notice every time that they are cutting back on their on-board service to get their finances in order.  I noticed that the café service has been cancelled and only the hot meal is being served, together with drinks.  There's also just one drink round, whereas before you would get two rounds (one with your meal and one during the café service).  Still, for the price of my ticket I get great service and I shouldn't forget that I'm actually just paying to travel from point A to point B and that for the biggest part of the trip I'll just be sleeping or watching movies (this time I saw Alien Covenant, The House and Good Will Hunting, a film which made me think about my own life).

The Al Reem lounge at Abu Dhabi made up for the missing café service: a small buffet with warm and cold food, as well as a range of delicious sweets (such as bavarois and baklava) and a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks made it a more than enjoyable stay.  There was even a shower in case I wanted to freshen up in between flights.

Al Reem Lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport

Leaving Brussels at 10h55, I arrived on time in Bangkok at 9h10 the next day, a very comfortable time to start the day.  I got my luggage, changed into some lighter clothes at the airport and took the Airport Express City Line to Phaya Thai, where I changed to the BTS Skytrain to my hotel on Silom Road.  Working for Eurostar gives me some great advantages, for example: I can stay at luxurious Accor hotels for a very low price.  That's exactly what I did this time (and for that matter almost every time I travel to Asia): I booked the Novotel at Silom Road.  Arriving at the front desk, a silent alarm went off with all staff hearing my name.  With twenty "our apologies" and thirty "we're sorry's" I was for some reason immediately taken to the Priority Check-In desk as my key was prepared there and my room was ready (funny, because while I was queuing at the "normal" front desk I overheard staff saying to other guests that they were too early and the rooms were not ready yet).  I got many many many many many "thank you's" for being member of their loyalty programme as well as for coming back to their hotel.  I paid and got my room on the 17th floor, with a nice view towards the north of Bangkok.

In the room they had something new this time: a smartphone with free unlimited 4G internet and free unlimited national and international calls.  I was even allowed to take the phone out of my room into the city for the duration of my stay.  This added value actually impressed me a lot and probably is a good reason to keep coming back to this hotel.

I took a quick shower and brushed my teeth and went out for a foot massage.  My legs were swollen and my feet were sore after 14h of airplane.  So I walked down Silom Road towards Soi 2 and 4 (well-known for their gay venues) and entered a massage salon which looked serious (by which I mean: the not-happy-end-kind of spa).  Well... I must say, I had a great massage.  A typical Thai foot massage always ends with 5 minutes back, neck and shoulder massage.  Since a few weeks I have had some heavy aches in my spine and after the masseuse gave me 3 neck and 6 back cracks, all the pain was completely gone.  Obviously I've tipped her abundantly.  Actually, I would call this a real happy end!