BANGKOK - SHORT BREAK

Spent 4 nights (Oct 7 - 11) in Bangkok, just for the fun of it.  I'm claiming the airfare as part of my staff welfare entitlement.

The Thai Airways flight was punctual.  It was raining cats and dogs when I arrived.  Fortunately, I had ordered a hotel car to meet me at the airport.  Even then, due to heavy rain and even heavier traffic, it took almost 3 hours to arrive at the hotel.  

View from hotel window

View from hotel window

View from hotel window

View from hotel window

Because it was raining so heavily on the day that I arrived, I bought a pair of clogs from Charles & Keith.

Just snacks

Thai milk tea from ChaTraMue

A vending machine that dispenses durian pudding.  Sadly, it wasn't in operation when I tried.

Dim sum from 7-11.  Very tasty.

Happy Chicken Rice 240 Banthat Thong Rd Pathumwan

Unpretentious little place.  They serve up the bestest Thai chicken rice, in my opinion.  EVERYONE should go support it!

Warm beancurd in ginger soup from Tao Huai Jae Noi (Little Sister Tau Huay)

Bought a very good braised duck from Tang Sui Heng on Banthat Thong Rd Pathumwan.  They've been around for more than 50 years.  I'm especially impressed by how thinly the duck meat is sliced. #功夫

My Thai friend, Kai, suggested I stayed at the Mercure Bangkok Siam.  So I did.  It is located right next to the National Stadium Station, walking distance to MBK shopping mall, and just one stop to Siam Station.  I spent a lot of time exploring the malls because of the heavy rains.  I'm not complaining because there's a lot to see.  Remember, I haven't visited Bangkok in 10 years!  

Visited Central World, of course.  Picked up several items from Puthawan.  Love the aromatic bookmarks from Karmakamet - such a gorgeous shop!  The perfect time and place to start my Christmas shopping.

Oh, and went by to Big C supermarket to watch customers buy stuff in cartons.  Hmmm ... I only bought Mama Instant Noodles, and dried tang hoon.  

Enjoyed a superb buffet breakfast at Siam@Siam Design Hotel Bangkok on my second morning.  I also tried some sort of pork burger from McDs but it wasn't great.  

The highlight of the trip was a day out with Kai, whom I haven't seen in 10 years!  More on this in my other post.

xx