Let us know about the new haircut!

I'm enjoying your report. Lots of new places to try.

I'M THINKING A WIFFLE....

Ok Bob, what's a wiffle???? I just did a google search and all I saw were references to wiffle ball games.

DH is almost done with his shower and the laundry load is nearly done washing so it's just about time to get breakfast (6:30 to 10:30 7 days a week) and then head out. I think I'll look up OD, a male hairdresser at Central Chitlom department store, who has done my hair a number of times. I'm sure he will charge more money than Yah, but I know he will do a great job. Gloria, thanks for the nudging I needed to do this drastic haircut! lol

More later...
Carol

A buzz cut (sometimes known as a wiffle or crew cut) is the American name for a type of haircut named after the sound of the electric razor... etc etc : wikipedia

I don't know much about you Carol - but I'm sure it would suit you.

OMG, I did it!! It's short, it's curly, and it's certainly wash and wear! OD says I got a new me for the Chinese New Year. It will take some getting used to, for sure. Not a buzz, but a bob cut.

Maeng finally cooked for us tonight. I had her garlic shrimp and DH had her nachos. Both were excellent, of course. Maeng is such a great cook. The menu at the Pickled Liver has a variety of items on it, so there is something for everyone.

We visited with one of DS's other expat friends here in BKK. If you are around soi 4, drop into the Tequila Pub (by the Rajah Hotel) and say hi to the owner, Jack. Nice guy!! Retired navy doctor. Lots of interesting stories to share.

Gloria, I went to OP this afternoon after my haircut. The Teena Page shop was closed so I had to window shop. I don't think I'll have time to get back down to the river this trip, so no Teena Page this time (unless I would buy something at Paragon Exotic Thai). OP looks like a very nice upscale place to shop for Thai items (but I did see some of the same items that are sold on the street along Sukhumvit for a whole lot less....)

Busy day today... time to sleep!

Carol

Carol, I look forward to seeing your new bob!

Carol-
That sounded like a yes vote on the Pickled Liver? If so, would it help to ask for Maeng and drop your name, or is that too presumptuous of me? Also, where is it located?
Thanks.

That's a definite YES for the Pickled Liver. It would be great to ask for Maeng, and YES, tell her you are one of Carol's internet friends! She'll be very pleased.

The location is along soi 11, Sukhumvit. You walk into the soi, on the left side, past the Zanzibar restaurant. You will see an alley going back a little ways (maybe 80 to 100 feet, with Indian restaurants. Walk into that alley. It makes a U turn. The Pickled Liver is located in the far corner before the alley comes back out into soi 11. It's on the left, next to Cheap Charlie's. It's very much a British Pub sort of place, and worth the visit IMO. Maeng will be very happy to see you.

Carol

ok carol, maeng made my favorite garlic shrimp for you???

go ahead, make me jealous. lol.

Yep, Ken, it was delicious!!! I thought about you. Maeng mentioned you. She said you and Brad were both her "naughty boys" at Tawandang... lol She is such a dear dear person.

Now tonight I think I'm going to try to find a good cashew chicken, maybe at Kinaree, just down the street from the Adelphi.

Absolutely NO plans today. NONE. NADA. A good day to relax, stroll, maybe head over to Central World Plaza and Pratunam area. DH will be playing pool again, I'm sure. (smile)

Carol

Carol

does gpanda have a hairstyle named after him like i do??

Thanks, I'll put the Pickled Liver on the list (just in case I'm not full enough after all the rats I'll be eating at Rojo - lol).

Oh, Bob, you'll make him jealous. Now stop that...

DH and I are back at Adelphi for a bit of a break. We spent most of the afternoon at the Central World Plaza. That place is HUGE. It has a whole new section to it/on the back side in the direction of Siam Paragon. I didn't realize it is now so much bigger than it was before.

We had a great lunch there. If you go into the Isetan store, there is a Jim Thompson Cafe right by the Jim Thompson boutique on the first floor. I had a really nice salad of avocado, papaya, crabmeat, lettuce, and a sweet sort of viniagrette dressing. Delicious!! DH had steamed veggies and rice. He said it was really good too.

We plan to walk down to Kinaree tonight. It's maybe a 3 minute walk into soi 8 from Adelphi. Hope it's good. I want cashew chicken.

Carol

Carol-- I'm making a list of some of your restaurant choices for next trip. You'll LOVE the freedom of the new hairdo but if you're like me it will take a few weeks to get used to!

Are you ever in chicago? If so, I'd love to have lunch or dinner one night. I work downtown and live on Lake shore drive about two miles north of the Drake.

Gloria, I get to Chicago fairly often. Would love to meet up sometime.

Put Kinnaree on your list of must-do Thai restaurants in Bangkok. We just finished dinner there. It was truly delicious and enjoyable and memorable.

The setting is similar to Face, in a house setting. You can dine inside or outside. There is also a bar outside.

We loved everything we ate. We tried a crispy noodle dish and chicken satay w/peanut sauce as appetizers. The crispy noodles were a wonderful surprise!

For mains we had cashew chicken and spicy pork. We had a bottle of red wine with dinner. The rice (one bowl of fried and one of jasmine white) are extra. The dinner cost 26oo baht. Not too bad at all.

On the menu, there were sections for appetizers, plus the main courses were divided into beef, poultry, pork, and seafood. There was a two-page vegetarian section as well.

Kinnaree is also open for lunch. There were three "set" lunch menus, for 280 to 350 baht. Each set menu sounded very complete. One would NOT go hungry.

We were too stuffed to try dessert so I don't know what might be on that menu. The wine list was OK, not great, but we had a French table wine for 1800 baht. That was more than half the total of 2600.

I liked the dishes, shaped like lotus leaves. The utensils are pounded silver variety. There was Thai music (live). I note that this place is just a little bit noisier than Face. There are a couple of larger rooms for dining, as well as outside dining. Once the big room filled up it was not as quiet... but still very acceptable.

Prices for the appetizers were from 100-140 baht, Mains were from about 180 to 280 baht. The food was served Thai style, so everyone can share the selection of dishes.

They had froi gras (we didn't try) for 800 baht if anyone is interested.

On the menu there are little red chilis pictured beside some of the menu items, indicating spicy dishes. One chili is relatively mild, with three chilis being HOT.

On another subject, I had a phone call from another fodorite who happens to be in BKK right now. Isis Monroe and Russ are here! They are staying at Suk 11. We will have dinner together tomorrow night at the Italian place across from Adelphi (Via Vai). Can't wait to see them again. We met up here in BKK several years ago. They were staying at our favorite basic place, Patumwan House.

Isis and Russ phoned from Maeng's Pickled Liver! They were going to sample Maeng's cooking tonight. Maeng called our cell phone to let us know that they were in town, so I spoke w/Isis and set up dinner for tomorrow night. What a pleasant surprise, to meet another fodorite unexpectedly!

Enjoy your day, where ever you are.

(and yes, Gloria, I think I'm going to really like my new short curly hairdo!!!)

Carol

One more quick note:
DH and I agree that soi 8 is much for pleasant for strolling than soi 4 or soi 11, where we've stayed before, in serviced apartments. This is much quieter, less traffic, and not full of food vendor wagons which make it hard to navigate the sidewalks.

The Pickled Liver is in the same back alley as Suk 11.

On Monday night they have a No Limit Texas Hold-Em tournament. On Thursdays they have Quiz Night, which features trivia contests.

And Maeng is one of the best cooks in Bangkok.

Brad-what are the stakes for the Poker Tournament? Inquiring Pandas want to know.

Maeng was trying to tell me about quiz night but I didn't quite get the drift. Is it Thai trivia??

Hope to see Maeng this afternoon. We will visit Thai Watana (printing company) today and will have dinner with IsisMonroe and Russ at Via Vai tonight.

Carol

Carol, please say hello to Isis and Russ from me. I was so sorry that they missed the HNL gtg in Sept.

Entry to the Poker tournament is 500 Baht. They may have two or three tournaments a night, depending on how fast they go.

Quiz Night is for expats, so it is in English, and the trivia is geared more towards the Brits (soccer, music, politics, etc.)

Will do, Kathie. I'll also see if they might be at home in Sept for the next HNL GTG. Hope so.

Thanks, Carol, I hope they will be at the next HNL gtg as well. We're still planning on going, but no tickets yet.

Hi Carol,
Thanks for saving some time to meet with us on the spur of the moment!
See you tonight at Via Vai on Soi 8.
I found it last night.

Maeng is a gracious hostess at the Pickled Liver and food delicious.

Hi to Kathy and the gang.

Aloha,
Isis & Russ

Aloha Isis and Russ,

I'm so glad you got to meet Maeng. I am always telling her about my internet friends, and she has met a number of them! She is a great friend and she cooks a really mean garlic shrimp and chili (although she says she doesn't have the right ingredients for her chili just yet, at Pickled Liver).

Looking forward to our dinner at Via Vai. I'm anxious to hear all about Suk 11.

Later...

Carol

It's nearly 10pm in Bangkok, and DH and I have just finished a delightful dinner with Isis and Russ. What fun. What fun. The talk was, of course, about travel, but also about cars, motorcycles, a little dash of politics, etc etc and shopping! Thanks again, Isis and Russ, for your pleasant company for the evening. We enjoyed it very much.

Tomorrow is (already) my last full day in Bangkok. Seems as though I just got here, and it's already time to head back home on the 14th.

No specific plans for tomorrow, but I do plan to go back and visit with Maeng one more time. Isis and Russ also enjoyed her company at the Pickled Liver.

I'm yawning and my eyes are really trying to stay open so I can type a little bit but, alas, sleep is a must!

Enjoy your day.

Carol

Gloria, aren't you on your way over here in a matter of a few days? Seems like we just missed each other this time.

Sawatdii Kha, Khun Carol...Great to see that you're having such a great time in BKK and it's great that you were able to hook up with Isis/Russ. I thought they'd fallen off the planet or something since it's been so long since they've posted. Smiles. I'm glad they're OK. I had a GTG with them in BKK about 2 years ago...along with Rizzuto.
Well, have a safe flight home and you'd better bottle that sunshine and warmth. I'll send you some, from L.A. It's going to be 85 today. Smiles. Take care. Happy Travels!

have a good flight home...

My last day in Bangkok is just beginning. One last trip to visit Maeng (she's such a dear). I've bought enough stuff to keep me happy for a while, so no urge to go shopping. But if Maeng suggests yet another secret market, I just might have to go there... lol

guen, I'm like you. I have wondered about Isis and Russ, hoping they were OK and still traveling a lot to S E Asia. Sounds like they are doing just that.

I think they might miss the HNL GTG in September; something about Reno and an air show? I hope the dates don't conflict so they can attend the GTG! Such nice people.

Carol

Sorry we're missing you Carol - we leave Thursday. May have to wait til 09 to try Kinaree which sounds great.

Craig and Jeane

Thanks so much, Carol, for such great suggestions for food. DH goes into withdrawal if he doesn't get pizza or pasta at least once or twice when traveling (says he has to shoot up Ragu and snort parmesan ;-)!). So we will probably try Vai Vai. Had pizza in Rio, Cape Town, and Port Douglas, so we have to try Thai pizza now! And for me - I love finding little local places so I will definitely want to look at Maeng when we are there in June.

Have a safe trip back to the wonderfully snowy and cold midwest :-P! Not sure what part of Illinois you are from, but here in the northern Chicago suburbs you have missed really awful weather! So I have to live in the warmth vicariously. Thanks for sharing your trip.

Craig and Jeanne,

Yes, sorry I'm missing you. Maybe next time?

Jen.. brrr about Chicago. I'm in Illinois, but about 3 hours south and west of OHare airport. I'm near the Quad Cities area.

Jen, you will like Via Vai. It is a very short stroll down soi 8, and right across from the Adelphi Suites where I'm staying. DH and I each get our own pizza (and put any left overs in our fridge); but we first share a caprese salad. The fresh mozzarella here is really tasty!

Can't wait to return to BKK in two months!

Carol

Hi Carol,
Thanks again for you and the DH's company last night! We had a wonderful evening. Thank you for your taking the time to meet with us on your vacation time. Mahalo.

Envy your curly hair and especially like the new hairdo.

Carol, thanks again for your writing style; it's interesting and we've learned so much travel tips from you. As you know we are again planning to stay at the Patumwan House after we return from our upcoming South India trip.

We are here at MBK using the internet on the same floor of the movie theatre. It has good rates.
You mentioned it in one of your posts of long ago.

There is another Italian restaurant near the Emporium area, down a street (Soi 33 ?) across from the Emporium. If you have not been there yet, Guenmai knows the name. I think the name was something like Basilica. Hi Guenmai!

We do hope we can make the next HNL GTG but not sure exactly what our plans will be in Sept. 08. Hope we can!

Hope to see you all again.

Aloha,
Isis & Russ

Isis
Maeng said she saw you again today. She gave me a tour of Suk 11 area. Yep, it's charming. Not my sort of place, but I can understand the appeal for some.

Maeng cooked dinner one last time for us. I had garlic shrimp and safron rice. Maeng gave us sticky rice w/mango for dessert. Such a dear dear person.

Isis, thank you for the lovely mirror! I did not expect anything! Your company was all that was "required" and it was really lovely. I do hope you will be available for the HNL GTG on September 20. Tell Russ he can see planes anytime!! haha

Time for sleep. I'm really pooped so hopefully I'll catch about 5 hours of shuteye. Then, an early taxi and flight home (first class again... yippeeeee!)

Goodbye Bangkok, until April!

Carol

have a very safe trip home, Carol!

Enjoyed your reports enormously and look forward to more in April! :)

Hey Isis! Great to hear from you. I think I know what Italian restaurant you're talking about. I don't remember the name of it, but it's probably the same one that you're talking about. Is it past the Novatel Lotus? My Thai language school is on two sub sois off of that street so I've walked almost the whole street. I'll have to try it the next time I'm in BK. Happy Travels!

It's good to see you post again, Isis. I do hope you and Russ can make it to the HNL gtg in September. We're planning on being there!

And do tell us about your travels in SE Asia - what is on the itinerary for this trip?

I'm home once again! The trip was a little rough, even though I was in first class. I managed to catch a nasty head cold, which made it difficult to get comfy or sleep much. Today is better, thank goodness. Jetlag has really played havoc with my sleep/awake pattern.

Isis and Russ, thanks again for the lovely evening! I hope you are enjoying southern India by this time. Your S E Asia trip sounded wonderful. I hope you will post a report here.

April will be here before we know it, and I'll be back in BKK.

Carol

new plan for carol....move to bkk, have the shop send over your work by air freight or fax and you can do it between shopping trips....they pay you a usa salary and you live bkk prices....