Visiting Bangkok’s Grand Palace Area

One of the visited locations in Southeast Asia is the Grand Palace area in Bangkok.

Clicking sights on the above map will provide names and information on many sights of interest

The Grand Palace (Thai: พระบรมมหาราชวัง ) is a complex of buildings at the very heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (later Thailand) since 1782. The Grand Palace grounds take up 2.35 million square feet in the middle of the city and include the palace and a number of temples that include the Emerald Buddha, considered to be the most important image of Buddha in Thailand.

Any visit to Bangkok should first focus on the Grand Palace area. The Grand Palace is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and requires an admission fee (about $15). Occasionally, the Grand Palace will close for special ceremonies, diplomatic official visits and state functions, but this is rare. Check with your hotel or a Bangkok official visitor center if you’re told that it’s closed.

Visiting Buddhist Temples – When you visit Thai temples, you should dress appropriately. Women should wear skirts longer than knee length or long pants. Long pants should be worn by men. Both, men and women should cover their shoulders. Wear casual shoes that are easy to slip on and off as entering a temple usually requires you to take off your shoes and leave them outside.

The area covers several square miles in central Bangkok and there are additional temples of interest just across the river. Ratchaworadit Pier (Tha Rat) Best place to hire a water taxi, and catch passenger ferries crossing Chao Phraya River to Tha Din Daeng.

The Reclining Buddha

Standing Watch Above The Rhine

People, places and captured moments selected from The Intentional Travelers photo collection. Marksburg Castle on the Rhine River Marksburg Castle, a majestic fortress located above the town of Braubach in Rhineland, Germany. This castle holds the unique distinction of being the only hilltop fortress on the Rhine that has never been captured or destroyed. Originally…

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The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

The History Behind The Celebration Of Easter Without question the holiest site in all of Christendom is located in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem. It represents the location where Jesus was crucified and where his body was laid to rest. Today there is a high level of certainty that the location has been actually identified.…

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Sint Maarten, A Caribbean Port of Call

General – This island is divided into two parts, Sint Maarten is the Dutch side while Saint Martin is the French side. It is a favorite cruise destination because the cruise port can handle numerous large cruise ships at one time.

The cruise ships dock at the Dutch Sint Maarten while the French Saint Martin is smaller with a decidedly different character.

Cruise dock shopping village

Where You’re Docked – The cruise ships dock on the Dutch side close to the town of Philipsburg. The cruise ship docking area includes a large shopping village with several food and drink outlets. The Dutch town of Philipsburg is less than half a mile away walking along the water. The town on the French side is Marigot and is decidedly French in character with a number of good bistros and restaurants.

Transportation – From the cruise dock there is a boat shuttle service that goes directly to the Philipsburg dock for about US$5 one way or US$8 for a day pass. It will require a taxi or a minibus to reach Marigot and you should be cautioned that with several large ships in port traffic can back up badly late in the day returning to the cruise ships, so allow plenty of time for the trip back. Taxi service is reasonably priced with a trip to the other side of Philipsburg costing less than US$5. A minibus to Marigot should be about US$15.

Philipsburg and its beach

Money – While the two half’s of the island have their own currency the U.S. dollar is welcome on the Dutch side but Euros are usually required on the French side. Giving a 15% gratuity is common practice also.

Port St Maarten has a web site with a schedule of ship arrivals here.

Attractions

Loterie Farm where you can hike, relax in a pool cabana or take a zip line through the treetops on the 135 acres of forest and farmland located near the foot of Pic du Paradis.

Marigot – A sleepy town on the French side noted for good traditional French food, shopping and beaches.

Shopping is great throughout the island thanks to its duty-free status, but the best bargains on jewelry, china, electronics and more are found on Front Street in Philipsburg.

Pic du Paradis Mountain take a taxi up to the top at 1,492 feet it offers an incredible view of all of St. Martin/St. Maarten, as well as the nearby islands of Anguilla, Saba and St. Eustatius. Also known as Paradise Peak, you can visit Loterie Farm (found at the base of the mountain) and hike up to the top, or you can take a taxi to the end of the road and walk about 10 to 15 minutes to the summit overlook.

National Nature Reserve of St. Martin. Established in 1998 it was created to preserve the island’s five main ecosystems: coral reefs, mangroves, seed plant herbariums, swamps, and dry coastal forests. Located on the east coast of the island, the waterfront marks the western border of a triangular area that starts from Anse Marcel beach in the north, then reaches out to the east of Tintamarre Island, and back down to Oyster Pond Lagoon. Free but requires some extended hiking.

The main attractions on this island are the beaches with over a dozen great choices.

Top Beaches:

  • Philipsburg – The main town on the Dutch side features a large beach right in the town.
  • Maho Bay Beach – Located at the end of the main airport runway. People seem to like to stand in the jet blast as planes land and takeoff. There is also a nice bar on the beach.
  • Orient Beach – A beautiful beach near Marigot on the French side. Topless and nude bathing is common.

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Celebrating Street Art

Graffiti can be ugly and just vandalism but sometimes we discover real art on the streets. Browse some of our collection of street art soon to be the basis of a series of prints.

The Port Of Cozumel Mexico

Port of Call The Island Of Cozumel

This port of call is often referred to as Cozumel, but it is actually island on the southeast coast of Mexico and the actual port city is San Miguel de Cozumel. Located off the Yucatan peninsula it is part of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and a very popular cruise stop on most western Caribbean itineraries. Its real claim to fame are the beaches and the diving sites but it is also a good place for bargain shopping.

Where Your Ship Docks

Terminal de Cruceros or Cruise Ship Terminal is the major location for cruise ships but there is another major terminal located in downtown proper. With this destination being so popular there is a possibility that your ship could dock at either location.

The Terminal de Cruceros is a well developed area with excellent facilities, two shopping villages, a number of bars (the infamous Mini Senor Frog’s and Three Amigos) and a number of good restaurants. It is about two and a half miles into downtown San Miguel. It is right next to a remarkably good snorkeling area right at the terminal “beach”.

The other cruise docking pier is central to San Miguel and an easy walk to the main shops, restaurants and the actual original Senor Frog’s.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Disembarking – This port has a several developed cruise ship piers but the ease of disembarking varies by the individual ships gangway designs. For passengers using wheelchairs there can be a moderate ramp incline to deal with.

Port Characteristics – This port has a good wheelchair infrastructure. Outside the port area you may experience moderate to narrow sidewalks. Intersection crosswalks may have curbs or other wheelchair obstacles.

Transportation

If you are looking to get to locations within a few miles of the pier the best choice is a taxi. They are plentiful and moderately priced. Just make sure you settle on a fare before heading out. If your goal is to do some diving or serious snorkeling the recommendation is to book with a tour operator of which there are a number right at the pier and they usually include transportation. Taxi drivers also will offer a fixed price tour of the island and most people we have spoken with have been happy having taken this option. There are also numerous tours you can book with your ship.

Money

The local currency is the Mexican peso ($1 about 2 pesos) but U.S. Dollars are commonly accepted. One word of caution – this is a port where liberating tourists from their money is a popular past time. Be cautious of ATM’s, money changers and especially pay phones that accept credit cards cannot be trusted. ATM fees can also be unuaually high.

Attractions

Shopping – Both at the terminal and in town there are a number of bargains to be found. Mexico is famous for silver, onyx and pottery and often the prices are too good to pass up. Two items that are always a good deal are vanilla and tequila. In shopping for vanilla don’t be tempted by those large, cheap bottles of vanilla available in many gift shops. They may not contain real vanilla extract, and sometimes may contain something that could hurt you. That “something” is coumarin, an extract of the tonka bean that imparts an intense vanilla aroma and thus makes it smell like the real thing. Coumarin was banned as food additive in the U.S. in 1940 because of toxicity. Pay attention and make sure you know what you are getting.

Beaches – One good recommendation is a visit to a beach and one popular choice is Chankanaab. The cruise ships will offer tours including beach trips and snorkeling but if you are looking for a day at the beach our recommendation is to take a taxi to Chankanaab Beach Park and pay the park admission. You’ll save a lot of money over the tour cost and can go and return when you want. It’s not far and there are usually taxis waiting at the park to take you back to the ship. There is a beach bar, a couple of food options, snorkeling and beach chair rentals and the water is great. To get out to the better reefs it’s a bit of a swim though.

Looking for some history? Cozumel has San Gervasio, Mayan ruins centered on the sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel, the island´s ancient deity.

For the more adventurous there are usually tours available that will take you two hours south along the coast to Tulum, the pre-Columbian Mayan walled city. The ruins are situated atop 12-meter tall cliffs above the Caribbean Sea. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya between the 13th and 15th centuries.

For a price many cruise ships also offer tours to Chichen Itza some two hundred miles inland (by plane of course). This Mayan city is on everyone’s list of the seven ancient wonders of the Americas with the central city covering almost two square miles of temples, stadiums, courtyards and palaces.

A Cautionary Note: Cozumel has a reputation as a party town and there are no age restrictions on drinking alcohol. It almost seems to be a sport for bars to work at getting teen visitors drunk. So pay real close attention to you children if you go ashore. The problem has been bad enough that many cruise ships no longer stay in the port in the evening because of issues with drunk teens.

Cruise Hacks

Tips And Tricks That Will Help You Get More Out Of Your Cruise And Save Money – Taking a cruise is a great experience but as with anything the more you do it the better you get. After a couple of dozen years of cruising and with thanks to some fellow cruisers here are a few of our favorites.

How To Clear Money Off Your Onboard Account

If you have cruised much you have probably experienced onboard credits on your account. They can happen in a number of ways from refunds, advance payments, incentives or gifts. In some cases those credits will evaporate at the end of your cruise if not used. Rather than going on a spending spree there’s a way to quickly turn credits into cash onboard.

Most cruise ships now have digital accounts in the casinos for playing slot machines. No more buckets of coins and no more pulling handles. The usual process now is to use your onboard account to put money on your casino account. To play a slot machine you insert a ticket or your room card and load money onto the machine. When you’re done playing or want to switch machines you cash out and the machine prints out your balance on a ticket.

Even if you aren’t a gambler you should take advantage of this hack. To cash out your onboard credit simply put it on the casino play account. Then to cash out simply take the balance ticket to the casino cashier and take the cash out.

Carry A Bottle Of Wine Onboard

Even with drink packages and those drinks included fares this is still something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Many cruise companies allow each person when boarding to bring on one bottle of wine (check with the cruise company or your travel agent). For a couple that saves $50 to over $100 during the cruise compared to buying wine onboard. Don’t forget that corkscrew and your stateroom attendant can bring you wine classes. There are also a growing selection of chocolate and coffee wines available today and they’re a good substitute for that evening aperitif instead of a $12 to $15 glass of Baileys.

An Inexpensive Solution For Seasickness

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Getting seasick can take much of the fun out of your cruise and people spend lots of money on patches, pills and even acupuncture treatments. Here’s an inexpensive approach we find really works. Take ginger capsules. Before discovering this treatment my wife had a serious issue with seasickness and her doctor recommended she try this. Now, starting a couple of days before and all through the cruise she takes three ginger capsules a day with food. In over 50 cruises she’s had no issues with seasickness.

Beating The High Cost Of Phone Calls

Onboard telephone service can cost $6 plus per minute with cell service only slightly cheaper. Talking with family or friends can cost hundreds of dollars while at sea, but there are options. First before you go cruising be sure and check with your cellular service provider and find out what services are available on cruise ships and what the costs are (learn more about cell service at sea HERE). Next, plan ahead and work out options with those you would like to stay in touch with. The best approach is to set up cell phone apps and coordinate using VoIP services. All cruise ships offer internet in various packages or by the minute that make VoIP service significantly less expensive than cellular. Even ships with slower internet are usually good enough for just voice calling.

Here’s some top apps for making free VoIP calls:

  • WhatsApp – Cost: Free. WhatsApp is popular for messaging, but something most people overlook is that it supports video and voice calls. The service is popular and quality is very good. If you need to call actual phone numbers though, this app might not be the best option.
  • Facebook Messenger – Cost: Free. A great application, Facebook messenger includes support for SMS messages, voice calls, and video calls. It works best for text messages, the voice quality quality depends on how fast your Internet connection is. There is also Facebook Messenger Lite which often provides better voice service but only provides text and calls.
  • Google Duo – Cost: Free. Another video calling application Google Duo supports regular voice calls well. To use Duo everyone needs to be on the app. The voice quality is superior and it’s very simple to use. It’s free and is available on iOS devices and is often pre-installed on some Android devices.
  • Google Hangouts – Cost: Free. If you’re looking for more features like sending pictures, Google Voice number for phone calls, voicemail, and SMS texting this is a good choice but for simply making calls Duo may actually perform better.
  • Magic Jack and MagicApp – Cost: $10 to $15 per year. One of the more popular SIP/VoIP apps around, it uses a an actual phone number to make calls. The app includes SMS support, landline support, and cross-platform support.
  • Skype – Cost: Free. It’s one of the most popular VoIP apps in existence with direct support for both Facebook and Microsoft and a massive user base. You can also use this app to send text messages and to make video and voice calls. And for a fee you can call landlines. It’s also available as a desktop application but seems to require more bandwidth for good voice quality than the above choices.

Always Book Another Cruise While Onboard!

All the cruise ships have future cruising offices onboard ready to help you plan your next sailing with them. Oddly too many people just ignore this option. Maybe they would rather deal with their travel agent or don’t think there’s any real savings to be found. Perhaps they haven’t decided where they want to go on the next cruise. Actually all of those excuses don’t have much merit.

In the world of travel we seem to be bombarded constantly with bargains of the day. Save 20% today only. Book now and get free stuff. We have an exclusive discount with XYZ cruises. It’s hard to take most seriously and the truth is you shouldn’t. Usually the deals are available to everyone regardless who you deal with. There are some exceptions to this and booking a cruise on board is one of these. Common specials only available when booking onboard include reduced deposits, extra onboard credits and stateroom upgrades. Even if you’re not sure what you want often there are future cruise coupons you can buy while onboard and find the actual cruise later.

Next time you cruise go and have a chat with the “future cruise” staff. You might be surprised…

Know Your Excursion Options Before You Cruise

This is important for a couple of reasons. First, deciding on tours before your cruise and booking can save you money. Cruise ships need to plan ahead for each cruise in order to schedule resources and often offer a discount for booking shore excursions ahead.

Next, a little research can allow you to go ashore on your own, do what you’re interested in and save a lot of money. A day at the beach is a great example. Instead of paying $50+ each for a beach excursion, you can catch a taxi, rent beach gear, have lunch and take a taxi back to the ship and save as much as 50%. See more HERE.

Bring Along Your Own Cabin Upgrades

While the newer ships are catching up with the times some older cruise ship staterooms are missing some important features. Get in the habit of packing a few essentials to avoid dealing with stateroom shortcomings.

A Nightlight – Newer ships now usually have a nightlight in the bathroom but you should’n’t expect older ships to have this feature. There are a number of motion activated, battery operated nightlights on the market and they don’t take up much space. Our favorite is one that recharges off a USB power port.

Power Strips – Traveling with cell phones, tablets and laptops requires a lot of charging and older ships are seriously short on power outlets. Adding a power strip to your suitcase can reduce that charging logjam. Our favorite is a compact strip with a small extension cord and a couple of outlets and two USB charging ports (at Amazon HERE). One word of caution – sometimes ships have rules about extension cords and multi outlets and while there are situations where it could be an issue, the voltages involved with charging phones and tablets are low and not a proble. Just in case get in the habit of storing these in a drawer during the day to avoid problems.

Never Enough Hooks – Like coat hangers there are never enough hooks in rooms when you travel. On a cruise there’s an easy fix considering you’re likely to be there for a week or so. There known as Command Hooks from 3M. They install on any smooth surface in seconds and come off clean. We never travel without a pair in our suitcase.

Clothespins, Hooks and Laundry Soap – Rinsing out a few things while cruising can help you pack lighter and can save you money too. Packing a couple of travel packets of laundry soap like Sink Suds takes up no room (at Amazon HERE).

Plastic Clothespins can help not just with hanging up some rinsed out items but come in handy keeping that beach towel in place on your pool lounger.

It’s amazing how important these items can be, so make up a small package to add to your suitcase before your next cruise.

Save While Dealing With Wrinkles And Dirty Clothes

A Wrinkle Release Trick

You can buy and carry a commercial wrinkle release product or you can make you own for just pennies. We carry a small 30ml spray bottle when we travel with just a small amount of ingredients inside. When we need to use it we just fill with water, shake and mist the wrinkles. Here’s the recipe:

To a 30 ml Bottle add the following ingredients

  • 1 Teaspoon rubbing alcohol
  • 1/4 Teaspoon uncolored fabric softener
  • Shake

Once you get to your room and start unpacking, just fill the bottle with water, shake and spray. If you run out, just plain water can also do almost as good a job. Just mist lightly and hangup the clothes to dry.

A Commercial Alternative Offers A Bit More

Downey Wrinkle Release All In One: Wrinkle Remover, Static Remover, Odor Eliminator, Fabric Refresher, Ironing Aid. Removes most wrinkles without using an iron. Great for college students, business travelers, and last minute touch ups. A pack of twelve 3 oz spray bottles from Amazon for less than $20.

Save On Laundry While Cruising

Some ships have self-serve laundries but most don’t and sending laundry out can be expensive. The first thing to reduce laundry expenses is to travel with clothes that are easy to rinse out and dry quickly. Polyester and poly-blend shirts and tees are getting very popular for casual wear. They’re light weight, breath to keep you cool and many brands promote the moisture wicking features of their product. Our favorite characteristic of these poly-blends is they’re easy to rinse out in a sink and dry super fast. Like us, if you spend a month or two traveling and cruising these are a must.

Our Favorite Inflatable Travel Hangers

These rugged hangers pack flat and inflate providing a broad shape to prevent those puckers that flat hangers can produce on shoulders of blouses, shirts and T’s.

Soap Packets For On The Road

Handy packets of mild laundry detergent to rinse out clothes in a sink. There are a number of choices but these are easy to carry and get the job done.

More About Wine

You can also save on wine by giving yourself a bon voyage gift of a bottle of wine to have it in your stateroom when you board. All cruise companies have an online Bon Voyage shop for buying gifts and keeping a bottle or two in your room allows you to take a glass with you when you go out in the evening. Your cabin attendant can also have a bottle transferred to your dining room.

On most ships it’s often much cheaper to buy the bottle than wine by the glass. If you don’t finish the bottle the ship waiters will mark the bottle with your room number and save it for another night, even if you’re having dinner in another onboard venue. Because there’s no prohibition against carry drinks with you be sure and get your glass filled before leaving the dining room. Bring glass of wine with you to the lounge or show to avoid paying by the glass.

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