Thanks for the correction, Bob. I must admit to not being a big mall shopper so I haven't spent much time in the ones in Bangkok> I thought Graysorn was the name of the new one being built but you're right -- it's not.

gloria---you should venture over to gaysorn some day....great upscale people watching....you would enjoy it...a couple of good eating places also and very close to the crafts center--next door in fact

I have been to the craft center. I just get an instant headache in malls. I did go to the Emporium last trip and lasted about 20 minutes. Oriental Place is about as big a mall and as crowded a mall as I can deal with -- and since it's usally empty I'm sure you see what my tolerance level is.

gaysorn is small and not much bigger than OP, except more floors...

never crowded...

what kind of stores? i may try it.

Gaysorn has high end stores with beatiful items. It's much more accessible to the casual shopper than River City. It's where I saw some Burmese bells that were great. I got cheap and unsuccessfully tried to find them elsewhere. There's a good cigar store in the basement with better prices than at the Oriental or other hotels. The mall is definitely worth a stroll, especially because it's easy to get to.

thanks -- although I will definitely pass on the cigars.

No cigars? My "theory" is that they act as a mosquito repellent. Therefore, I smoke them to preserve my health (better than Deet).

Gpanda, it isn't that cigar smoke repels mosquitos, it's that they develop lung cancer from second hand smoke before they can bite you.

gloria...the first two floors are over the top designer type places, like prada, and other world renoun designers...on the 3rd and 4th floors are individual shops some of which are very nice and affordable...there is now a section on the 3rd floor in the middle of sort of open-air shops and they have beautiful thai products: soaps, shoes, silks, etc...don't stop on the fist floors as they will not interest you...go all the way to the top and work down...buy gpanda one cigar so we can shut him up...

Sawasdee kah everyone,

gpanda, that cigar store at Gaysorn is where son frequents, and has met some very interesting Thai folks, such as a senator, a Thai aristocracy lady who can smoke two Cubans in an afternoon (!) as well as many business owners. It is quite the place for meeting the uppercrust. We have gotten a number of dinner invites from meeting people there.

The new mega mall is going to be called Siam Paragon. Yes, it will be opening soon. The photo I took last time was of bare steel. I shall take a photo today to show you all the "before and after" of this huge shopping complex. And by the way, all the other shopping haunts are doing renovation of their own in preparation for the opening of Paragon. BKK will look very new and modern!

The new airport had its opening the other day. I should bring the BKK Post and Nation newspapers to BOS with me, as I am keeping both of them. The reports are sooooooo interesting!! I doubt that CNN or FOX did a "full report" on the event.

Yesterday we had two appointments regarding publishing projects (son's, with me coming along as the editor) so that took up a portion of the day and kept us watching the clock. We had lunch at the Loft (excellent as always). I opted for italian, having an insalata caprese and slice of pizza. The pizza wasn't all that great, but flavorful none the less. The caprese was really delicious. It's one of my favorite salads.

The only shopping we did yesterday was at Pantip. What an amazing place. I was searching for a couple of items and found only one of them. Ah, but the thrill of the chase is always fun.

Dinner last night was at the Plaza Athenee, Raintree buffet, lobby level. What an assortment! There was something for everyone. I think the price for the buffet was 980 baht per person. We then went upstairs to the 4th floor to have a look at the pool area at this hotel. Very nice! Bob, you would like this one, I think. Then we went to the 3rd floor, to a French restaurant called Reflexions, no not to eat again, but to sit at the bar for a nightcap and listen to a great female jazz singer. It was a nice way to end the evening. We had quite a downpour during dinner, but did not get wet as we were inside. I'm glad it didn't rain like that when we were running about in the city.

Speaking of rain, one member of our group had to go to Chiang Mai and said that the city was really wet and messy right now.

Son says to tell everyone about a place he tried for dinner the other night (the night I had chili with orgy7 and GF). It is the D-Sens restaurant, located at the top of the Dusit Hotel close to Silom. The French meal was very expensive, food was OK, but the best part of it was the men's room. Now I have to admit, I never go to places like that, but he says I have to at least put the word out there, that this is the most amazing one in town. It has to do with the urinals, glass, and a view, with water streaming down. That's all I'm going to say on line. We are going to try to go there, just so one of the guys can take a photo!!! I'll be sure to check out the ladies room to see if it compares.

Today's weather looks overcast, just as it has been nearly everyday since we arrived here in BKK. This is the rainy season, but that does not mean that you are going to get wet!!

It's time to head for Nari Phand. I'll check in with everyone later.

Carol

bathroom sounds like a take off of the penn restaurant in HK....P--- over the city as they say....

Carol - I would be interested in any other impressions you had of the Plaza Athenee - we will be staying there for 3 of our 7 nights in Bangkok (the other nights are at the Penn) - we are not planning on dining there however, other than for breakfast. I thought that I would give the Athenee a try because the location seems to be excellent and the price (we will be staying on the "Club" floor) was right.

If there was any kind of a report on FOX or CNN on the airport opening, I missed it so I look forward to seeing your copy of the Post.

When I first started reading your bit about the D-Sens, It seemed like you were planning on checking out the mens room...

Bob -- thank. I'm not a designer (Pravda etc) kind of gal. The little shopping I do in thailand is only for thai products or art stuff. But I'll check it out if I have the time.

I will be visiting Bangkok next week for a short vacation with a friend of mine. We will be staying at the Crown Plaza and don’t have any specific itinerary apart from a day trip to the river/temple etc..

Any suggestions on must do/ Night club/market/pub?

Also is patpong a safe place to go for 2
club/market/pub?

Also is patpong a safe place to go for 2 girls?

SANGI ya should probably creat a new thread, so that we may be able to help ya out better and not clutter this thread up.

gloria---go for lunch and eat at senses restaurant on floor 2...very nice and moderate...

This is my third attempt at posting my live from BKK report for Saturday the 1st of Ocgober. I hope for better luck this time.

Yesterday (Saturday) was a big shopping day for me, as I had no one else in tow. I could move at lightning speed (LOL) and go from MBK to Pratunam, to Nari Phand, to Gaysorn Plaza, etc. There are four bags of stuff to try to fit into my suitcase now. I may need a duffel bag!

Last night's dinner was at a great Thai seafood place called Somboon Seafood. We went with Thai friends, who say that this is the best seafood place in the city. I did not note any other falongs in the place, only Thais. Six of us ate for about 4000 baht. There must have been 10 dishes in the center of the table for sharing! All of it was very fresh and tasty. Somboon has about five locations in the city, if I read their business card correctly. The one we tried was around Surawong Road.

Craig, I think you will like the Plaza Athenee. It's very luxe. I really enjoyed the buffet there, plus the bar and restaurant on the 3rd floor were very nice.

Bob you had it right about the mens' room at D-Sens. I don't know if we will be in the neighborhood again, so that one of the guys could snap a picture. I am doubting it. I will have to trust son's judgement on this one being the best in the city (and he has seen a lot of them).

Sangi, I don't go to Patpong area so I will not comment on it. You might want to start a new thread with that as the topic. You will get feedback, I'm sure. BillT likes the night bazaar there. I happen to prefer the Suanlum Night Bazaar myself, but each of us has our own opinion about things here in BKK.

Gpanda... I stopped by the cigar shop at Gaysorn, and they remember you!! I had not been there even once this whole trip, and we used to meet there regularly, nearly every afternoon around 5. If you were looking for one of our group members, you could usually find them there (or at the Brunswick).

Gloria, I agree with Bob that you might like the 3rd floor at Gaysorn. It is not a big mega mall. And it is usually very quiet so it is easy to get around and do your looking and shopping without bumping into crowds of people. MBK can be very crowded!! I don't think it would appeal to you at all, but for almost everyone else, MBK is an experience that we do over and over again.

I hope I can successfully "post my reply" this time, as I had two long posts that disappeared into cyber space. Discouraging!!!

I'll be back on line again tomorrow morning.

Carol

Carol-- you're right about me and MBK. It was not for me but I can absolutely understand that if I wanted to do a lot of shopping or was a different kind of person it would be fabulous. I have actually suggested it to some of my friends but after one visit I've stayed away ji

everyone wish carol a speedy trip home as she leaves tomorrow...see you in boston!!!