brad,when will you be in bangkok in oct? i might be next door in penang.

Its the same type of cameras they used when SARS was around, they used them at BKK (the old airport) then as well as Singapore etc. That was my first visit to the far east and i was terrified i was going to be quarantined for 10 days if my temperature was a little high!

It's pneumonic plague, not bubonic (though they are related), and it came from wild civets, through a dog to a human in western China. No rats involved, just fleas. (It's fleas, not rats, that spread plague bacteria.)

Hi Carol - just checking in. How about finding a new restaurant for Jeane and I to visit in February? We are flying UAL via ORD and have the flat bed seats on all 4 legs (ORD - NRT - BKK and BKK - NRT - ORD). I am checking frequently to make sure that United does not change our forward-facing seat assignments in the upstairs cabin. They've done it once already...

Sawasdee Kah, dear fodors friends.

(Craig. I flew "backwards" upstairs and it really wasn't any problem at all. But do watch UA, as they like to shuffle the seating around!!! AAARRGGGHHHHHHH

Well, today was a delightful first day in Bangkok. I started off with the breakfast here at Adelphi. It is simple, but tasty, and it keeps me going and going.

Maeng and I went to the weekend market and stayed for about 3 hours. It was hot and sticky and crowded. Just the way I remember it!! haha Shopping was good. We brought many bags back to my apartment to sort thru and look at. Then Maeng went to work and I took a nice snoozy nap.

At 7:30pm, Maeng called me to say that Dr Jack had just arrived at he Pickled Liver for dinner. I headed over there for MY favorite dinner. Garlic shrimp and a cold beer; and some wonderful conversation with Jack, and also with Maeng.

I think I will sleep pretty well tonight once my head hits the pillow. Tomorrow we will go to MBK and then off to Pahurat market. I'm looking for some specific items, but will also see what is new and different. Maeng says there is a new area added to Pahurat! I'll be anxious to see what is offered there.

I will be shipping a bunch of things home this trip. I'm doing some buying/shipping in Chiang Mai for Brad, so will add some of my purchases to the shipping crate! Means I can buy more!!! Yippeeeee!!

Sandra, the request for an --01 numbered apartment is done! I hope you are as happy at Adelphi as I am. And I do hope you get to meet up with Brad sometime in October. Ken, you should pop over from Penang! You guys could have a mini GTG in Bangkok!

Craig, Brad is recommending a new restaurant find. The name, I think, is Indigo. He will jump in and tell you more about it, I am sure. He is raving about it, saying it is the best meal yet, and reasonable. But it is in a rather out of the way location. Harder to find, maybe.

Soi 8 has a new hotel (not a big mega chain) under construction. It is going to occupy an old building, so it is a major remodeling project. I will stick with Adelphi, even though this new place will be even closer to the skytrain escalator. I may have to check it out though, when it is finished. Also a new coffee shop or two, right in the area of soi 8 and Sukhumvit.

Exchange rate today at VASU was 33.92. I noted one of the walk-up exchange places (Bangkok Bank maybe?) was 33.52. A small difference, but if you are exchanging very many $$$, it can make a difference!

Do enjoy your day. I'm going to hopefully enjoy a good night's sleep shortly.

Carol

Ken,
I'll be in BKK from about 10/7 to about 11/8. I haven't booked yet, it depends on whether I attend a Trade Show in BKK in early November. I might be interested in Penang?

Indigo was probably the best meal I've had in BKK this year. It is down a small sub-soi that is opposite Molly Malones on soi convent. It is at the end of this small soi, on the right. It was recommended by a foodie who's an American expat living in BKK.

brad - can you be a little more specific on the indigo location for us directionally challenged wanderers?

So, I've had a two hour oil massage, a beer (okay two large ones) and am hungry as a lion, standing at the end of Soi 8 next to the tut-tut scam artist near the BTS Station. What then ....

http://www.foodtourist.com/ftguide/Content/I546.htm
Try this...

Degas,
Take the BTS to Sala Daeng. As you go south on Silom on the skytrain, arriving at Sala Daeng, Patpong will be on the right side of Silom and soi convent will be across the street on the left side. (Every taxi, tuk tuk, motorcycle taxi driver knows soi Convent.)

As you walk down the soi (away from Silom) you will see Molly Malone's on the left. Across the street is a narrow soi heading 90 degrees to the right. It is not very long, and Indigo is the last place on the right.

Its a little out of the way, but you'll find it. And its worth the effort.

What kind of food, Brad?

It is French. We were going to go to Le Normandie, but the set menu with wine was going to be about $550 U.S. for 2.

A friend recommended Indigo as the best alternative.

thanks brad - its on my to do list!

Degas, I noted your question about the French place. So, does this mean you are currently in the city??? If so, come on over to Maengs and we'll meet up!! I'd love to put a face to yeat another fellow fodorite. And I'll be most happy to introduce you to Dr Jack. I think you two would get along smashingly!

I had a great sleep, so this morning I'm bright eyed and busy tailed and ready to take on MBK and Pahurat market!!

My day is just getting started, so you all in the States are ready for your dinner and evening. Enjoy it, where ever you happen to be.

Carol

Carol you are making me so jealous! I wish I was in BKK now but have to go to Mongolia first. Maybe near the end of the month if all goes well.

Thanks for the info, Brad.

Degas, I'll be gone by that time. I only have 12 days on the ground here. I know... too short!

Shopping was good at MBK today. I had some specific requests from home, and then I'm always looking for new items, which I managed to find. I found some really cute beaded bagss at Pahurat Market, so filled up a rather heavy bag full. It pays to be a returning customer because you tend to get better discounts. A number of vendors remember me from my past shopping with them.

Maeng and I did not see any new area at Pahurat. We actually made a beeline to the beaded bag place, and then got a taxi back to Adelphi because we had too many bags to try to carry through the very crowded narrow aisles at Pahurat. There were other items I might have searched for, but not with too much to carry in two hands already! lol

I am dining in my apartment tonight. I stopped at Via Vai and ordered a Caprese Salad and a pizza. It's delicious! I'm playing on the computer, watching TV, writing in my travel journal, and eating pizza, all at the same time!

Carol

Carol I really wish i could go to BKK as much as you do. Still, i will have to live vicariously via your travels...

Carol, any chance you will be checking out the new Anantara serviced apartments on Rajdamri road?

Or the Ariyasom Villas on 65 Sukhumvit Soi 1? They are both interesting new places....

we have had very good luck off of soi convent in the same area you describe....8 degrees restaurant is or was there and is great moderate italian....also next door to it is a very good thai place---upscale...can't remember the name....not sure if they are down the same alley or the next one, but right in the same area...

Have fun Carol! Happy Travels!