Quiltville Goes to Thailand! (And China!)

We are going to THAILAND on the tail end of a trip to CHINA in October, 2017!

The world is an amazingly diverse planet, and when I started to travel, I learned that I knew and understood far less about life than I thought I did.

When it comes to learning about life, there is nothing more enriching than traveling. Whether it’s the people you meet or the things you see, traveling provides more valuable life lessons than any school education, mainly because instead of being told something and accepting it at face value, you are experiencing it for yourself.

You can stay inside and read about the rain forest and imagine what it’s like, but there is nothing like standing in the midst of the rain forest when the rain begins to fall, and you FEEL those raindrops kissing your face.

I've been there.  I've done this.  I am forever changed by it.

I am SO excited about 12 days in Thailand and everything this trip will open up for me and those who travel with me.  This will be a life-enriching experience!

My love of traveling to distant shores began in 1989 with my first trip to Japan. 

I have been traveling with quilters on cruises and land tours for the past 8 years and there is no better company dedicated to seeing things through a quilter’s eye than Craftours.com.

I want to share with you just a few of the things we are going to see on this trip, and hopefully tip you off the fence into coming with me!

The dates are October 29-November 9, 2017. Our itinerary is packed with amazing activities and the package includes:

• Round-trip airfare from USA to Bangkok.
• All flights in Thailand.
• Daily breakfast & some lunches and dinners.
• First-Class Hotel accommodations in Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai.
• Professional guide & Craftours escort.
• Private deluxe motor coach & driver.
• Sightseeing in Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai.
• Visiting the Fabric District & Flower Market.
• Shopping in the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
• A visit to the ancient city of Ayutthaya.
• Fantastic photographic opportunities.
• Visiting a local fishing market, the train market, and the famous floating market.
• Thai Cooking Lesson.
• A visit to the famous White Temple.
• Enjoy local villages and take in local scenery & wildlife.
• Traveling with our special guest, Bonnie Hunter!
• And much more!

Bankok’s Fabric District!

(Oh boy!)

North of Bangkok's main shopping district is the city's huge garment district. Known to locals as Pratunam (literally, "water gate"), the area is a warren of narrow alleys and sheds lined with small stalls selling clothing of all types.



You can find just about anything to wear in the garment district, whether it's beachwear, t-shirts, formal dresses and even suits. It doesn't stop there. You'll find many shoe shops and tons of accessories, from belts to bags.  I can’t wait to explore!

Bankok’s Flower Market!

Bangkok Flower Market (Pak Klong Talad) is the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower market in Bangkok. The market has all kinds of popular flowers and flora-related items, including roses, forget me nots, orchids, lilies and more. Most of them sold in packs of 50 or 100 flowers in each, and prices are amazingly inexpensive.

I spent part of my early married life working as a floral designer in a flower shop.  My favorite place was the walk in cooler where all the scents of the flowers combined.  I can't wait to see the flower market!

Part of the Old City, Bangkok Flower market is located on Chak Phet Road near Saphan Phut or the Memorial Bridge. Shops and vendors are housed inside two to three-storey shop-houses on both sides of the main road. The market lies just south of Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) and has access to a river pier, so it makes for a great one-day trip when combined with other historical attractions in the Old City.

Weekend Market!

Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest market in Thailand. Frequently called J.J., it opened in 1982 and covers over 35 acres, with upwards of 15,000 stalls. It is estimated that the market receives 200,000 visitors each day.

Our fitbits are going to be on overload!



Most stalls are only open on Saturdays and Sundays, though Jatujak Plaza, the western section, is open daily. In the north west corner is the J.J. Mall, with three floors of assorted oddments as well as eateries. The market offers a wide variety of products including household items, clothing, Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, collectables, foods, and live animals.

LIVE ANIMALS?!?

Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1351 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese, Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the capital, also called Ayutthaya.

Imagine a sprawling, sweeping metropolis filled with over a million inhabitants. This was the city of Ayutthaya during the 1600s, when it was the glittering capital of Thailand. The one-time “Venice of the East” was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. The city was burned to the ground, leaving behind only some monasteries and the remains of other buildings.

As much fun as shopping can be, my focus is always on the history and life of the people, not only in modern times, but I  especially LOVE the places that are centuries old. I can't wait to see Ayutthaya.

The White Temple!

Wat Rong Khun, more well-known among foreigners as the White Temple, is a contemporary unconventional Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997.

Chalermchai Kositpipat isThailand's Gaudi. (I’m rembering Sacrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain from our 2016 Mediterranean cruise!) 

The White Temple is just part of a complex of buildings the artist designed and he estimates will take 90 years to complete.

The Kok River

The Kok River flows in Southeast Asia. The river originates in the Daen Lao Range, Shan State, Burma. It flows eastwards across the Burma-Thailand border, coming in at the Thai border town of Taton. It flows to Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai Province.

Most of its length in Thailand is in Chiang Rai Province where it passes Mueang Chiang Rai District after which it bends northeastwards and flows through Mae Chan, Wiang Chai and Chiang.

I have loved boat rides down the Amazon river in Peru, Looking for monkeys from a boat headed up river in Belize, Floating  along in a gondola in the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, with further boat adventures along the Cinque Terra, and to the Isle of Capri.  I’ve been fishing for Halibut in Cordova, Alaska –and I’m looking forward to a longtail boat in Thailand!

If you read the list of activities at the top of this post, you will notice that there will be a Thai cooking lesson!  Oh, my goodness!  Thai food is at the top of my list of things I love – bring it on!  Let’s eat it together!

Even though we will not be sewing at sewing machines on a land tour, there will be time for handwork projects.  Bring your own, and plan on a fun tutorial and project from me that we can work on as we travel within Thailand either by comfortable coach, or air. (and boat!)

For 12 days we will get to know each other, sharing these experiences and make memories that won’t soon be forgotten.  Our eye for color and design will ever be on the lookout for things we can incorporate into our quilting.

Spouses and friends are also welcome – this is not for quilters only, but we are traveling WITH quilters so those who are traveling by themselves will find themselves quickly included with people they instantly have things in common with and we will find new friendships being formed as we explore together.

More information on my Craftours Thailand Page HERE.

To make your reservations call Craftours at 815-663-4046, toll free at 877-887-1188 or submit your reservations online.

For additional questions regarding airfare, transfers, insurance, pre-night packages, or our convenient payment plan, please call our toll-free number or use the contact form.

Craftours Small Print:

This itinerary, pricing and escorts are subject to change. Insurance is available and highly recommended. Single rates are available upon request.

Please consult the Terms and Conditions, as they apply starting with the first payment. A 3% discount applies off the cost of the tour, if the tour is paid in full by check with in 7-10 business days of invoice date. Gratuities are additional and will be collected with final payment. All prices listed are in USD.

Our accommodations with Craftours have always been TOP NOTCH. This is going to be one amazing trip!

Just before the Thailand Tour, I’ll be exploring the wonders of China with ANOTHER group.  You can find information about our China trip HERE.

And if you are feeling VERY adventurous, maybe you’ll join me for BOTH!  I’d love to have you!

Quiltville Quote of the Day!

Vintage hexagon quilt shared during our recent workshops in Prescott, Arizona.

Be daring!  Get out and explore the world.  Don’t let the opportunities pass you by!

Don’t forget—Quilt-Cam is happening on Facebook Live this afternoon at 2pm Eastern.  Set your watch, your alarm, write a post-it note, and an alert on your phone!

If you have liked and follow my Quiltville Facebook Page, and are in Facebook at 2pm Eastern in your news feed, a pop up notification will let you know that I have gone live and you can click it to watch.  

You can also just come to my page, refresh the page at 2pm until you see the feed as the top post on the page.  It will also be embedded after the fact into a blog post after we are done.  It will be archived under the Quilt-Cam tab at the top of the blog.  There are many ways to watch even if you can’t participate live.

See you then!

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