Bangkok was a quiet witness to 10 days of awesomeness, an emotional roller coaster of sorts, the non-stop money burning and food consuming. At the end of it all..to take away one of the best gifts ever: a historical HOME GAME.
For me, it has all the elements of an enjoyable trip: Fun, Food, Friends and Football.
One of the Most Memorable Experiences. Ever.
Thank You to the Bangkok Gang. It was one hell of a ride.
I love Thai Food. It's packed with big bold flavors. My friends and I couldn't help but try something new everyday we were there. However, there were days when you just want to try something familiar and comforting (it happens when you stay for longer periods of time at a strange place.) But nonetheless, we were happy even with our "comfort food" choices in Bangkok.
While I was making this article (more so when I was watermarking the photos), it brought back many happy memories of an exotic place where the food is just as spicy and colorful as its people. The magic of food.
Crispy Catfish with Onions, Coriander Chilies and Peanuts in Lime Vinigrette Indra Square, Pratunam
Chicken in Green Curry with Asian Eggplants and Thai Basil Indra Square, Pratunam
Roasted Chicken with Sesame Sweet Sauce Indra Square, Pratunam
Tom Sum - Green Papaya Salad with Chilies and Fish Sauce Vinigrette Indra Square, Pratunam
Thai Beef Noodles with Leeks, Garlic, Sprouts and Fish Balls Rachada Soi 4
Take your pick! Must try: Strawberry Shake and the Salted Lime Shake Chatuchak Weekend Market
Grilled Pork Belly with Coriander, Onions, Cilantro and Lettuce with Chili Dip Chatuchak Weekend Market
Thai Barbeque Chatuchak Weekend Market
Papaya Salad with Peanuts, Carrots, Onions and Lime sauce Chatuchak Weekend Market
Kao Pad Moo - Pork Fried Rice with Egg, Sweet Thai Basil, Cucumber and Lime Chatuchak Weekend Market
Double Fudge Chocolate Cupcake Made By JellyJan, Siam Paragon Square
Raspberry Currant Chocolate Cupcake and Oreo Cupcale Made By JellyJan, Siam Paragon Square
Beef Liver and Intestines with Brown Sauce and Fried Chili Fish near Rajamangala Stadium
Chicken with Tomatoes and Rice Glass Noodles with Mixed Vegetables near Rajamangala Stadium
Mushrooms with Fish Balls and Kang Kong, with Seafood broth Sauce KC Place, Pratunam
Thai Scrambled Egg with Carrots, Scallion, Tomatoes and Sauteed Bamboo Shoot with Sweet Thai Basil in Thai Fish Sauce near Rajamangala Stadium
Hungry after watching a football match. A typical scene when eating in the streets. near Rajamangala Stadium
Drink of choice: Singha Beer Apoteka, Sukhumvit Soi 11
Salmon Bruschetta with Thai Basil and Tomatoes in Olive Oil Apoteka, Sukhumvit Soi 11
Dan Dan Noodles and Pancake Din Tai Fung, Central World
Lamb Chelo with Naan Bread and Vegetable Curry Uncle Ben's RCA, Bang Kapi
Sweet Sticky Rice with Ripe Mango Floating Market
14 inch slice of Pizza - Canadian Pizza - Ham, Bacon Mozzarella Cheese Pizza, Pizza by Yannee, Central World
Thai Fried Chicken with Chili Dipping Sauce KC Place, Pratunam
Rice Flat Noodles with Bean Sprouts, Scallion, Garlic and Lettuce KC Place, Pratunam
I love researching for places where locals shop. For our recent trip to Bangkok, I was swamped with information. Thailand is one of the most visited countries in South East Asia. It is known for its beaches, shopping and of course, the food. So, imagine the wealth of information I came across when I started my research. Overwhelming. Add to that, staying in Pratunam, a shopper’s heaven, we had our share of bargain worthy places to go to.
I took a mental note of Platinum when I came across it from one vlog but didn’t think much about it until we finally landed in Bangkok.
First thing we did when we landed was survey the area where our hotel was located, and I was very glad that Platinum was just a couple of minutes away.
It did not disappoint.
Platinum housed many (5,000 or so I have been told) Thai designers and the occasional Korean stuff (which seems to show up EVERYWHERE nowadays). And the best part – you can haggle since things can be sold whole sale. Yes, it has that tiangge (flea market)vibe Filipinos love. Kind of like Greenhills or Shoppesville. Bargain hunters and fashionistas would love this place.
Apart from the fact that the selection is awesome, the building was very organized. The floors were organized according to categories: i.e. 1st floor Ladies wear, on the 2nd floor—Men’s wear, on the 3rd floor- Bags, 4th –Shoes and lastly the 5th floor was dedicated for Food.
We loved it so much, we did repeats to this place. So, if ever you chance upon the Pratunam area, don’t miss this place.
Love,
Ysabs
Welcome to the Ladies' Wear Floor.
The aisles are comfy, well-lit and there is air-conditioning!
Dainty and Forward. The Fashion in Platinum is "out there " and sweet.
Quirky, one of a kind items can be found here.
Bargains are everywhere. Make sure you haggle - 50%-70% off the real price.
Cute bags in the Bag Floor
My friend Ida looking through Messenger Bags. Fell in love with one of them :)
The crowd gets thick around the afternoon. Visit while early.
WG Ysabs's upcoming trip to Bangkok has finally moved me to put
pen to paper, or at least put fingertip to keyboard, after months of silence
in which I vowed to write a killer blog entry once every two weeks (as
convenient excuses go, I've been busy!).
Bangkok has many attractions, least of all the astonishing mix
of ethnicities you'll find there. It doesn't lack in age-old temples, new clubs,
scrumptious street food and bargains.
Pick up a city map and don't be afraid to do some exploring on your
own. I rode trains, ferries, cabs and tuk-tuks, those illustrious three-wheeled
rickshaws, by myself without any trouble. I discourage getting a tour guide for
touring Bangkok; maps and trains are still the cheapest way to get around.
Here are my favorite destinations in and near Bangkok:
1.
Ayutthaya
Just a few hours outside of Bangkok, it's a must-see for ancient
history buffs like me. Here you will find ruins of the trading
kingdom of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the morbid staple of travel
magazines -- a detached head of a stone Buddha. Best stops are Wat Mahathat
and Wat Yai Chaimongkol (a giant reclining Buddha set in stone).
Wat Mahathat
Monk ambush, Wat Arun
2. Wat Arun, Temple of Dawn
My favorite
stop within the city limits. This temple will beguile you with walls of gold
luster and semiprecious gems, of antique porcelain etched with every paisley and floral
print imaginable. I enjoyed scaling the steep stairs to the temple's peak and writing
on the prayer wall, while exchanging
pleasantries with a monk who very kindly offered to pose in a photo with me (whee!). The
temple complex offers endless opportunities for viewing Buddhist art. Mandatory
attire: Covered legs. Entrance fee: THB50.
3. That Massage Place on Soi Kasemsan 2
On my way
back from Jim Thompson's house, I passed by this massage place on Soi
Kasemsan 2.Immediately, my eyes
darted to the blackboard in front advertising two-hour massages for THB400 (or
somewhere near that price) and I went in. After two hours of equal parts
painful and delicious ministerings from the masseuse who put us both in awkward
positions no two women had business being in, I was in heaven and I floated back to the hotel on a cloud.
4. The grounds of Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Golden
Buddha
While the massive golden Buddha is
itself a draw, the temple complex is a revelation. The complex is surprisingly
wide with a smattering of temples, hallways, statues and turrets of tinted
porcelain. If you're lucky like me, you might even catch some quiet time in a
secluded spot. Entrance fee: THB100.
5.
The evening stalls on Rajdamri Road
Everyday at 5pm I hung out on the porch
of our hotel on Rajdamri Road, and waited for the storekeepers to appear like clockwork and start setting up their stalls and peddling their wares. I bought my
undeniably red, heart-shaped rug here. An open letter to the noodle
vendors on Rajdamari: When we say 'a bit spicy,' we don't mean 'let loose an
arsonist inside our mouths.'
6.
Damnoensaduak Floating Market, Ratchaburi
How can I avoid talking about this tourist trap. I can't. I
imagined this to be an authentic piece of Thai culture, but reality came
crashing down with masses of foreigners on canoes and OTT prices. If there is a floating market somewhere where locals actually come to
buy -- I want to see it! A tip: don't make purchases while on a canoe because your driver gets a cut from the profit; you
can always walk around later.
7.
Marble Temple
A thing of beauty.
8.
The Long Table
For nights when you want to just kick back and relax (or as we say it in Manila, chillax), the Long Table is
a good option. The more laidback cousin of Vertigo & Moon Bar and Lebua Sky
Bar, the Long Table offers stunning views of Bangkok with the added distinction of having the longest table in Bangkok at 25 meters
long. Yup, like you'd want to hang out somewhere because they have the longest table.
9.
Sukhumvit Soi 38 Food Stalls
This guy makes the best pad thai in the city
First off, Bangkok has the best streetfood in the world (or what I've seen of it so far). Come to think of it, their street food is better than their restaurant food. In Soi 38, you'll find the best passion fruit shakes and
pad thai in the city.
10.
Chao Phraya River Cruise
Get a glimpse of rural Thailand. The buffet lunch/dinner's not bad
either. It's best do this on the way back from Ayutthaya. Go up on the deck and
enjoy the view! Best done in the evening.
Runners-Up
Maeklong
Train Market (missed this one, oh the horror!)
Wat Intharawihan
Mom and I at Wat Intharawihan
This temple features a standing
golden Buddha, the tallest in Bangkok at 32 meters high.
Bargain hunting at Chatuchak (weekends only) and Pratunam Markets
Not a fan! There's nothing like my
native Manila when it comes to shopping deals.
The King's summer palace that the King never spends his summers
in, or so the tour guide says. Enjoy the scenery and the animal-shaped hedges. Mandatory attire: Covered arms and legs.
Khao San Road
Missed seeing
this! My Thai friends were leery about taking me there. I heard it's a
backpacker's paradise with cheap accommodations, bars and some disreputable
sections.
And last but not the least, No-prescription
Pharmacies
Buy every restricted drug without a prescription to your heart's desire!
Have other recommendations? Feel free to leave a comment.
