Brief Bangkok Visit
Aug 16th, 2009 | 12:26 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 105
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Brief Bangkok Visit
I just left Bangkok after a short visit of one week. The "official reason for the trip was to attend the annual conference of my professional association, but it was also a great opportunity to visit one of my favorite cities. I'm posting this from Tokyo where I'll spend another week or so before heading back.
After a brief visit to California, I flew out of San Francisco on Japan Airlines. There was a 3 hour layover at Narita and both flight segments were on what seemed like brand new 777s. The service in economy was very good and the flight attendants were outstanding.
Arrival in Bangkok was at about 11:00 p.m. I took AOT Limo to Swiss Lodge, a boutique hotel on a small soi off Silom. I was greeted with a wet cloth and fruit juice and check in was fast. The chilled half bottle of Australian chardannoy from the minibar put me to sleep. This is a nice small hotel with limited but very good breakfast included in the room rate. They have complementary sandwiches and soft drinks every afternoon. Best of all, it's less than 5 minutes walk to BTS. There are also numerous good restaurants in the area as well as some of the best street food right outside the door.
The first few days involved taking Skytrain to conference, which took place at Imperial Queens Park Hotel. They have good conference facilities and the hotel looked good if you like everything big.
After the conference, I enjoyed the city, with a number of nice dinners in the Silom and other areas. I took the boat trip up the river to visit the Royal Barge Museum and several wats. I had a traditional Thai massage at a spa on Silom and stopped for numerous iced coffees.
Sawadee krup. Chook dee krup.
After a brief visit to California, I flew out of San Francisco on Japan Airlines. There was a 3 hour layover at Narita and both flight segments were on what seemed like brand new 777s. The service in economy was very good and the flight attendants were outstanding.
Arrival in Bangkok was at about 11:00 p.m. I took AOT Limo to Swiss Lodge, a boutique hotel on a small soi off Silom. I was greeted with a wet cloth and fruit juice and check in was fast. The chilled half bottle of Australian chardannoy from the minibar put me to sleep. This is a nice small hotel with limited but very good breakfast included in the room rate. They have complementary sandwiches and soft drinks every afternoon. Best of all, it's less than 5 minutes walk to BTS. There are also numerous good restaurants in the area as well as some of the best street food right outside the door.
The first few days involved taking Skytrain to conference, which took place at Imperial Queens Park Hotel. They have good conference facilities and the hotel looked good if you like everything big.
After the conference, I enjoyed the city, with a number of nice dinners in the Silom and other areas. I took the boat trip up the river to visit the Royal Barge Museum and several wats. I had a traditional Thai massage at a spa on Silom and stopped for numerous iced coffees.
Sawadee krup. Chook dee krup.
Aug 16th, 2009 | 08:42 AM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
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"The chilled half bottle of Australian chardannoy from the minibar put me to sleep." LOL -Knowing the price of wine in Bangkok and the mark-ups on minibar items, I'm wondering whether it cost as much as your room!
Yes, do tell us where and what you ate. You know us - we want to know everything.
Yes, do tell us where and what you ate. You know us - we want to know everything.
Aug 17th, 2009 | 02:53 PM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 105
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You're right Kathie, those minibar charges are too much, but I find chilled Australian chardonnay irresistable (kind of like Bangkok) after a long flight. Some details on recent restuarants: BUA on soi convent for thai food for lunch. I like Sphinx on the other side of Silom for dinner. Though their Thai food seems a bit more westernized, I love their wine selection.
