BKK-August-Sept
 

From reading some post here, it seems some of you will be in Thailand in Aug-Sept. I will be in Bkk and CM Aug 23-Sept 5. I would love to get to together there with some other Fodorites, if we can work it out. My real interests are textiles, clothing and other Thai hand crafted items. This is my 9th trip in the last 7 years.

simpsonc510 will be there during that time...she will sign in soon...also guenmai i think

Hi - I will be in Bangkok from 24th to 27th August (at the end of our 5 week trip). Would definitely be up for trying to meet up. I know Carol (simpsonc510) arrives a couple of days after we leave too so will be there whilst you are there

Right now our schedule is BKK Aug 23-26, CM Aug 27-31, back to BKK Sept 1-5. Hope we can work it out.

Simpson and I will be there. I'll be there from around Aug 27th-Sept 4th, I think it is. Happy Travels!

Sorry I'm late to reply. I've been shopping all day (out of town) with a couple of girlfriends.

YES, I'll be in BKK from Aug 28-Sept 7 (with a quick trip to CM for one day, or maybe an overnight in there sometime) and I would love to meet up with other fodorites. Let's plan something!

Carol

That should be August 30 (arriving the late flight on the night of the 29th) and leaving on Sept 7.

I'm excited to think about meeting up with some of you that I "know" from posting on Fodor's. I will be staying at the Centre Point Silom while in BKK. I think guenmai set up the Emporium Suites for her lodging last time she was in BKK? Maybe we can email each other to set up something. My email is [email protected].

Hi stitchintime - we will be in Bkk from 14th to late on 24th August (Phuket before that) We are also staying at Centre Point Silom this time - so maybe we can meet - even over breakfast!!!! Just say if you'd like to connect.

Regards, Mary

I will be staying at the Grand President on Sukhumvit soi 11. It might be nice to "compare" our apartments...

stitch.. meeting other fodorites is really a treat. This is such a nice group of people!
Carol

just curious why everyone chooses only centre point silom....why not some of the other centre points?? because of the skytrain??

Bob
I think the Centre Point Silom is the best known of the group from the standpoint of this forum. Because of the discussions here, regarding staying on the river, the Centra Point Silom gets named a lot because of the location, view, and the better price than the Penn, Oriental, ROS, etc. Plus, it's really nice to have an apt rather than a room!! I love having the fridge, sink, hotpot, microwave, countertop, and cupboards. It makes my stay much more enjoyable when I can have a little snack without having to dress to go out. Call me lazy...

Carol

I stay here because it is so close to the skytrain and river taxi. We hardly use taxis or drivers any more. We will hire a driver when I know our shopping bags will need a ride home. Alot of our shopping is done around the New Rd and River City area. My sewers are on New Rd, so you can see why I stay here. I love the apartment concept, especially for the price. Having the grocery store and bank just steps away is a plus too. I have looked at a couple CP apartments, but this one is best for me.
Mary W, how about breakfast on Aug 24? We will be getting in BKK at 1:40 am on the 23, so I don't think the 23 would work for us. You can email me at [email protected]

Bob - re choice of Silom - Usually I split my time in Bkk between the centre of town and the river (at the start and end of a trip) and usually treat us to the Pen - but this year we are staying for the whole time in one hit (and can't afford it to be the Pen unfortunately) - I spent ages trying to decide between Centrepoint Silom and Luan Suan - I thought it would be good to be up near Central - but when I worked it out it was still a distance to walk each day to go to the supermarket, shops etc. I opted for Silom because its a bit bigger, an area I like and know well and there are a number of things I would normally do around there - and easy to get up town. Also easy for eating like Tongue Thai which if I'm uptown I probably wouldn't come down to do.

all good points...i plan to look at several more of them this fall...the pics of wireless don't look all that nice although i love the location...

guenmai, stitchintime:

What do you think about doing lunch along the river, maybe at the Oriental. The food is good, the view is nice, and eating outside (inside if it's not nice outside) might be nice. I like sitting under the "roof" rather than in the direct sunlight.

The best date sounds like either the 2nd or 3rd of September (that's either a Saturday or a Sunday), if I read schedules correctly. I will be making a quick trip to CM but can probably work around either of these days.

On a different subject, Bob from BOS, advised me that there is a wonderful Thai craft market at the Ambassador Hotel on Saturday the 2nd. He says they always find great things there, and for good prices as well! He says I should get there early and wait in line. It's worth the time! It's located on soi 11, almost right next door to my Grand President apartment. Would you be interested in seeing this craft market???

Is there anyone else who might be in the city at that time? Bella and MaryW, really sorry we won't meet up this time...

Carol

Carol,
Either day sound good to me, which ever works for Guenmai. Lunch or craft shopping is fine with me. Sunday is usually a slow day in BKK, maybe we want to consider something then???
Bella, MaryW and I are meeting for breakfast at our Centre Point Silom on August 24. Why don't you consider joining us??
My email is listed in earlier post, if you want to contact me.

stitch
I wish I could join you, but I'll still be in HNL on that date.

Sunday the 3rd of Sept would be OK with me. Let's see what guenmai has to say. And I think lunch along the river, at the Oriental, might be nice.

Carol

if you meet at the craft show you could always adjourn across the street (sukhumvit) to the sheraton grande and go to lunch at one of guen's fav's: basil???

We could also go across the street on soi 11 to Ming's new place and have a bowl of chilli or some garlic shrimp or pad thai!! (I think I'll be eating there several times since it's so close to Grand President)

bradinbangkok is telling me that I probably will be needing to go to CM on that Sunday! I guess maybe Saturday the 2nd will just have to do. I should be done with the craft fair by lunch (maybe a later lunch??).

What do you thing, stitch and guenmai?

Carol

Sorry, I haven't been online, but I don't have a computer at home...anyhow,the first Saturday in September sounds fine to me. However, why not somewhere different instead of the Oriental? Like Sonnies on Sukhumvit soi 39...or Tamarind cafe on Sukhumvit soi 20...there are so many places. Something different. It would be nice to see the other apartments,too. I know the marketing director who could probably set up a tour and show everyone different apartments in my building. Happy Travels!

guenmai
So Saturday works for you as well. That's good. It is really the best option for me, since I will probably go to CM on Sunday, although I won't make that decision until I get to BKK.

I'm going to definitely be at the craft sale at the Ambassador in the morning on Saturday, and I'm not sure how long it will take me, so a later lunch (or maybe just late afternoon cocktails) and conversation would be ideal.

I like a variety menu. I've never tried Sonnies or Tamarind. What is on the menu there? I enjoy trying new places but have to consider my food allergies.

Carol

Carol, Guenmai, anything is fine with me. I will work my schedule around our meeting. I will leave the decision up to yall (I'm from Texas). Tell me the place and time and I'll be there.

guenmai
I don't know that I'd have the time to look at apartments with a marketing director. I just meant that it might be nice to see each other's places for an idea of what is available. That's all.

Looks like Saturday will do for a GTG, but I'm hoping something after 2:00 ish is OK.

Carol

Carol and Stitch...Carol... I could do a quick walk through with you. The advantage of the Marketing Director is that you can see different size apartments. As for the restaurant, Sonnies is a western style Japanese restaurant.It's not a true Japanese restaurant. There are fish/chicken/pasta etc...dishes on the menu. They're big on pasta although I ordered fish with a miso-style gravy and mashed potatoes...delicious. We would definitely need a reservation for Sonnies. Tamarind cafe was voted the number 1 restaurant in Bangkok by Bangkok 101 magazine. It is vegetarian and owned by a female,French chef from Tours I think it was with a Hawaiian cook. I'd have to reread my trip report where I wrote all of this. The vegetarian steak and gravy with mashed potatoes, I think it was ...is the most popular dish and it's absolutely delicious. I'm sure you can find something on the menu. I have food allergies,too and have had no problem with either restaurant. Plus, the food is light which is good since it's so hot in BK. If you want, you could drop by the apartment and see the place and then we could walk to a restaurant. I'm flexible. It's just so far all the way over to the Oriental and takes so long to get there. At least Sukumvit is on the skytrain line. Or we could go to the bar at Face and have a drink if you want. At least that's right off the skytrain line. Happy Travels!

I vote for Tamarind over Sonnies, since Japanese is not my husband's favorite. Even though I'm staying at the river, I don't mind coming over to Sukhumvit. We also have the option of Crepes and Co in that direction. Yummy!! It is up to yall.

Stitch...Type in Siam Ocean World...in the Search box and then scroll down to Dec 24th. This is my trip report. This is where I describe Tamarind Cafe. We could meet at my place and walk over to the restaurant. My building is connected to the Emporium Shopping Center which is connected to the Prom Phong skytrain section. Once you get off the sky train and enter the mall, you don't have to leave the air conditioning since there's a passage way that leads to the lobby of my building. Plus, the Bangkok Bank is right there, a few steps from my building, if you need to exchange money...very convenient. Since you all are from Texas, the heat probably won't bother you if we walk or we could all pile into a taxi. Sukumvit 20 is mid-way between Prom Phong skytrain station and Asoke skytrain station and then 300 meters into the soi. It's a very cozy, laid-back, funky place which is set up good for conversation. Plus, Bei Otto German bakery and Koi restaurant are in the same soi. Koi is architectually beautiful. It's the same restaurant that's here in L.A. And Bei Otto has great breads. Happy Travels!

excellent idea...crepes and co....one of our favorites and just down soi 12 (the building just afer cabbages and condoms...)....something for everyone...lite or heavy...charming place...

I'm personally not one that's keen on crepes...except an occasional one in Paris. They're on my food allergy list. But, I'll go wherever we all vote to go. Happy Travels!

I also do not care much for crepes or for Japanese food. Sounds like Tamarind would be the best choice. I don't mind at all that it is vegetarian. I'm mostly a fruits and veggies type of person (although I like my Italian dishes w/meat sauce)

Can we get in there at 2:00 or later? I definitely want to do the Ambassador hotel craft fair Saturday morning before getting together. Maybe we can find a meeting place inside the Emporium Mall...? It's so easy to get there, by way of the skytrain, whether coming from Sukhumvit or the river.

Carol

Tamerind sounds like it fits all of us. A convenient meeting place and then a skytrain ride to the restaurant is good. Maybe we can meet in the lobby of Guenmai's hotel and go from there. I will make the time of 2:00 be good for me. I may then hop on down to JT outlet store!

Okey..Dokey...We could meet in the lobby of my building at 2:30PM if you want...to give you guys a little more time.I'll e-mail one of you my apartment number. Then if you want, I can show you the place and then we can go together, to the restaurant, either by foot...about 20 minutes or by taxi... We could eat around 3:30PM. Saturday is a good day since that's the day that the restaurant opens around 10AM and is open continuously until it closes in the evening. The other days it doesn't open until around 1 or 2...weird hours. So,I could call to see if we need a reservation or not. When I went there, I just popped in without a reservation and it was no problem. It's a small cafe/restaurant...quite cozy and intimate. You'll like the atmosphere. Happy Travels!

Yeah, Stitch...J.Thompson Outlet is quite close by. I need to go to the outlet,too. Maybe we could go after lunch if I haven't already done it earlier in the week. My Thai friend will probably join us for lunch,too and we could jump on the skytrain and go to the end line and then she could flag us a taxi to Jim. Happy Travels!

Sound great! I was hoping your Thai friend could meet us too.

fyi...the craft show will take 1-1.5 hours and maybe 30 minutes to check out....last year it was quicker if you go to the charge line instead of the cash line...

carol...i have arranged a truck to meet you downstairs for your purchases...

Thanks Bob. Have you also arranged for the large size container to ship it all home? LOL

Maybe I'll go to the craft show if I can get up that early. Happy Travels!

Maybe we should just meet at the craft fair. Guenmai, you and I already know each other. Stitchintime, do you want to come to the craft fair also?
Carol

I'm not sure at this point. Since it will be my last few days in BKK, I don't know what I will need to finish. Can we contact each other while we are there? At this time, I'm thinking I will skip the craft fair, but you never can tell.