TH: The Meeting

Today is the last day of he meeting. It has been a tiring four days for me. The meeting starts at 8.30am in the morning and finish just before lunch and in the afternoon, it's my turn to be one of the trainers for the staff. 

Luckily I have been to Bangkok before, hence, I don't have much grievance if I didn't manage to discover the city. On the second night of the meeting day, I joined my office mates at Lebua Hotel (State Tower if I am not mistaken), at its open bar on 64th floor. Nice view of Bangkok. The fact that I went at night, I just see buildings with lights, without knowing much what I am looking at. 

Overall, it was an eye opener for most of the staff since this is the first time ever the office fly them out of the country for a meeting. They also have a chance to meet their counter part from other Far East area offices. 

Some people left today and most will leave tomorrow morning. As for me, I will be leaving on Sunday. Extend one more night since Izam is coming to join me for a weekend. 

~ MT @ Thailand

~~ Plaza Athenee, Bangkok

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~

MY: KUL - BKK

This is my first time flying Thai Airways. Am going to Bangkok for my firm's Far East Area meeting. This is our first meeting since the area integration on July 1 this year.

The flight was so-so with turbulence after one hour took-off from KUL. The flight was pretty empty, so I opted for last row in that TG heavy, hoping that I can relax a bit. However I was wrong. There was one Arab family with three kids. One of them crying as loud as she can 15 mins before landing.

Overall flight was not that bad. Food was great compare to MH meal box (TG still serve hot meal). But the crew was not as I expected, meaning, what you see in the advert is not what you see in flight :-) Well, I guess same goes to other airlines as well......

Landed on time in BKK and was greeted by the hotel representative. There are four of us and we are driven in a luxury Toyota MPV to the hotel, Royal Meridien Plaza Athenee, a place to call home for the next six nights......

~ MT @ Thailand

~~ Plaza Athenee, Bangkok

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~

AE: Abu Dhabi...

I spent two days in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE. If I am not mistaken, Abu Dhabi is the biggest emirates among all the seven emirates within the UAE. Unfortunately, the airport is not as great as Dubai's airport.










Stayed at Le Meridien, room 451. A very old building. I was told the building was built around 25 years ago. The lobby has that Arabic/Middle Eastern touch and in a total contrast with the room - newly refurbished "zen" concept room! One great thing about this hotel is the Meridien Village. A very nice garden with big koi pond and fifteen restaurants (yes... fifteen restaurants!! mana ada hotel kat Malaysia with fifteen restaurants!). Ironically, I didn't try any of it - I actually ended eating Burger King and my all time favourite, KFC.. :-)

Since it was Ramadan, the shops were not opened until after iftar on Friday (Yup.. I was there on Friday and Saturday). So, Friday morning, I stayed in the hotel and in the afternoon, I took a stroll along Sheikh Hamdan street (one of the two busiest streets in the city - another one being Sheikh Zayed The Second street or Electra street).

Abu Dhabi is more structured compare to Doha. It seems that the city has been developed to follow the [shall I say] New York style - grid development. It is not as hectic as Dubai, but more chaos compare to Doha. Taxi is easy to get, unlike Doha where no guarantee for a taxi even if you have booked for one two hours earlier!

Friday, I took a taxi to Marina Mall, a huge mall at the opposite end of where I stayed. The mall is in the Breakwater area, same area where the world renowned hotel, Emirates Palace is. I went both to Marina Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall - conclusion: Dubai is better with more up to scale malls i.e., Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall and Burjuman Center.

Overall, the trip was just so-so. At least I got a stamp "Abu Dhabi Airport" in my passport - a proof that I have been there! I would not go there for vacation - try Dubai.

There are few photos updated in my fotopages. Take a look and please, do leave a comment. :-))
~ MT @ UAE
~~ Le Meridien, Abu Dhabi

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~