Thailand is often called the "land of smiles" not only because visitors love its natural beauty and historical riches, but also because of the country's friendly people and fascinating culture.
This trip to Bangkok was not completely leisure, C was going there to bring stocks in. <strike> So it's basically doing coolie job for me to lug her bags of stocks.</strike>
We stayed at Best Bangkok House Hotel, nothing best about it! We only booked that because C saw that the reviews were good and it was relatively cheap (since this was more of a "business" trip than leisure.) Anyway, we only need a place to have a bath and sleep and it was adequate. Only complain is that there is no way for use to slot any other card into the card slot when we leave the room and they super-glued the keyring so that we cannot remove the key! (SMART ASSES!)
It was quite far in the street, and there were 2 freight forwarding companies around. Can you imagine the narrow streets with the delivery trucks coming in and out during the day on the weekdays?
This trip to Bangkok was not completely leisure, C was going there to bring stocks in. <strike> So it's basically doing coolie job for me to lug her bags of stocks.</strike>
We stayed at Best Bangkok House Hotel, nothing best about it! We only booked that because C saw that the reviews were good and it was relatively cheap (since this was more of a "business" trip than leisure.) Anyway, we only need a place to have a bath and sleep and it was adequate. Only complain is that there is no way for use to slot any other card into the card slot when we leave the room and they super-glued the keyring so that we cannot remove the key! (SMART ASSES!)
It was quite far in the street, and there were 2 freight forwarding companies around. Can you imagine the narrow streets with the delivery trucks coming in and out during the day on the weekdays?
After we dropped off our luggages and freshen up, we headed to the Foodcourt at Platinum Mall.
One thing we've learnt is that when you buy drinks in BKK, their cups are all filled with ice to the brim and the ice are all tightly packed. Talk about maximizing profits,.. I guess they do it better in BKK.
Street Food!!!!
Afterall, coming to places like BKK, its all about the street food! so off we go to buy from pushcarts after pushcarts of street food.
Love at first smell, we had no idea what this was, we just found it very fragrant and it has the aroma of chai tao kway (fried raddish cake). We bought 1 to try and immediately, we loved it! Not only does it smell like chai tao kway, it has a strong hae bee (dried shrimp) fragrance. The soft texture with the slight crisp exterior with the spicy/ sour sauce it was poured over. Oooo lah lah~ DEVINE!
We were actually very curious in wanting to ask what is that but C's brother was telling us when it comes to street food, the less you know the better. Which I completely agree... So we left it that way but our bubble was burst when we were at Chatuchak market as we saw some stalls selling some stuff and also had this dish and we matched and crossed items off and we were left with 1 particular item, SQUID EGGS/ ROE!!!
But it didn't stop us from eating it; maybe just lesser in quantity.
We were actually very curious in wanting to ask what is that but C's brother was telling us when it comes to street food, the less you know the better. Which I completely agree... So we left it that way but our bubble was burst when we were at Chatuchak market as we saw some stalls selling some stuff and also had this dish and we matched and crossed items off and we were left with 1 particular item, SQUID EGGS/ ROE!!!
But it didn't stop us from eating it; maybe just lesser in quantity.
We happened to chance upon this pushcart while walking back to the hotel. And since the weather was so damn hot, we decided to get 1 bowl to try. Unlike the ice Kachang in Singapore, you get to pick and choose what you want to have inside the bowl, you also get to choose the flavour of the syrup on the ice.
First you pick what ingredients you want in the bowl, then he uses a wooden shaver thingy to shave a whole block of ice into a bowl. And I guess he has been selling for years, so he knows when to stop. He tips the bowl of shave ice over the the ingredients to get a rounded shape. He will drown the ice with your choice of syrup(s) and lastly, its topped with some condensed milk. *Beware, they are very generous with the syrup and can be a little too sweet for some*
We happened to see the same seller selling outside the massage place after we were done with our massage, so another bowl we bought!
First you pick what ingredients you want in the bowl, then he uses a wooden shaver thingy to shave a whole block of ice into a bowl. And I guess he has been selling for years, so he knows when to stop. He tips the bowl of shave ice over the the ingredients to get a rounded shape. He will drown the ice with your choice of syrup(s) and lastly, its topped with some condensed milk. *Beware, they are very generous with the syrup and can be a little too sweet for some*
We happened to see the same seller selling outside the massage place after we were done with our massage, so another bowl we bought!
Real food connoisseurs will tell you anything that is cooked with charcoal is the best!
Smoky, charred, sweet, meaty all rolled into 1 when you eat the Moo Ping (Moo=Pork, Pink=Grill). Just 10 Baht (which is about SGD 0.40), is dirt cheap for such delicious meat! There are really no words to describe it, you just got to try it when you see it! we unknowingly kept it overnight as we bought too much food... C's brother and I were ungry and we ate it, guess what?!?! IT STILL TASTE DAMN GOOD! And no, we did not have diarrhoea *\o/*
Smoky, charred, sweet, meaty all rolled into 1 when you eat the Moo Ping (Moo=Pork, Pink=Grill). Just 10 Baht (which is about SGD 0.40), is dirt cheap for such delicious meat! There are really no words to describe it, you just got to try it when you see it! we unknowingly kept it overnight as we bought too much food... C's brother and I were ungry and we ate it, guess what?!?! IT STILL TASTE DAMN GOOD! And no, we did not have diarrhoea *\o/*
Boiled pig's ears... sounds like Fear Factor right? It isn't...
It is actually not bad. It is slightly chewy, some parts were softer as there was no soft bone. With the sweet & spicy sauce and the crunchy refreshing cucumber. Put them all together, you get a really fantastic dish. If you're game, try it. Then again, its hard to tell where to get them as this is from a street vendor who moves about but you should be able to find her after coming out from the Pratunam market (walking towards Platinum Mall).
It is actually not bad. It is slightly chewy, some parts were softer as there was no soft bone. With the sweet & spicy sauce and the crunchy refreshing cucumber. Put them all together, you get a really fantastic dish. If you're game, try it. Then again, its hard to tell where to get them as this is from a street vendor who moves about but you should be able to find her after coming out from the Pratunam market (walking towards Platinum Mall).
Number One Massage
After a long day of shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall and Pratunam Market, Head to Number One which is tucked along Petchburi Soi 15 which was also very near to our hotel. There are a few massage shops on the same stretch, But Number One is easily the most popular. Nicely decorated with clean furnishings and they seem to have an army of masseurs ready to be called upon, you do not have to wait for long before you are ushered to your seat for foot massage or upstairs if you are all set for a full body massage.
AND, AND, AND... they wash and scrub your feet before you start any massage!
Petchburi Soi 15
Tel: +66 2 653 9967
Daily: 9am – 1am
Rates:
Foot Massage: 200 Bht / 1 hr
Head Massage: 200 bht / 1 hr
Thai Body Massage: 200 bht / 1 hr
Facial: 500 Bht / 1 hr
Oil Body Massage: 400-500 / 1 hr
Pedicure / Manicure: 150 – 300 bht
After a long day of shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall and Pratunam Market, Head to Number One which is tucked along Petchburi Soi 15 which was also very near to our hotel. There are a few massage shops on the same stretch, But Number One is easily the most popular. Nicely decorated with clean furnishings and they seem to have an army of masseurs ready to be called upon, you do not have to wait for long before you are ushered to your seat for foot massage or upstairs if you are all set for a full body massage.
AND, AND, AND... they wash and scrub your feet before you start any massage!
Petchburi Soi 15
Tel: +66 2 653 9967
Daily: 9am – 1am
Rates:
Foot Massage: 200 Bht / 1 hr
Head Massage: 200 bht / 1 hr
Thai Body Massage: 200 bht / 1 hr
Facial: 500 Bht / 1 hr
Oil Body Massage: 400-500 / 1 hr
Pedicure / Manicure: 150 – 300 bht
There was actually much more dishes just that we were starving and we only realised that we have not taken the pictures after we were almost done with our meal.
We also bought Pad Thai, Pork Noodle soup, Grilled Prawns (that wasn't very fresh), Salt baked fish, chilled Thai noodle salad, Pad See Ew (which essentially is fried kway tiao), and 3 young coconuts. *I think thats about it for our dinner....
We also bought Pad Thai, Pork Noodle soup, Grilled Prawns (that wasn't very fresh), Salt baked fish, chilled Thai noodle salad, Pad See Ew (which essentially is fried kway tiao), and 3 young coconuts. *I think thats about it for our dinner....
End of Day 1.