Trip Report-Gpanda
Dec 26th, 2005, 04:26 PM
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I spent much of Monday looking for some wood crafts to bring home -- scouring OP Place and River City. Half expected to see Andy, but now discover he was in my part of town at Gaysorn.
(I did see an ambulance racing down the street with a tall <i>farang</i> in hot pursuit ... naw, couldn't have been.)
I had a fantastic massage at Face before the GTG. The spa is a standalone teak building, and I had a Thai Herbal Compress, which involved a great deal of pounding with a warm bag that had the distinct aroma of cannabis. I'm not sure my description really conveys the whole affair, but it was amazingly pleasant.
Did meet up with Isis, her companion, and Guenmai at the Face bar for drinks and chitchat.
For some inexplicable reason, it's pissing rain this morning (it <i>never, ever</i> rains in Bangkok in December), but that's not likely to stand in the way of final shopping duties.
Cheers to all,
(I did see an ambulance racing down the street with a tall <i>farang</i> in hot pursuit ... naw, couldn't have been.)
I had a fantastic massage at Face before the GTG. The spa is a standalone teak building, and I had a Thai Herbal Compress, which involved a great deal of pounding with a warm bag that had the distinct aroma of cannabis. I'm not sure my description really conveys the whole affair, but it was amazingly pleasant.
Did meet up with Isis, her companion, and Guenmai at the Face bar for drinks and chitchat.
For some inexplicable reason, it's pissing rain this morning (it <i>never, ever</i> rains in Bangkok in December), but that's not likely to stand in the way of final shopping duties.
Cheers to all,
Dec 26th, 2005, 05:04 PM
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don, that was him....that is why he is so tired that he could not leave that seedy hotel for a decent dinner....he did, i can report, secure a retainer of 35 B for his "fantastic" services....that's about 25 B more than he leaves for a tip for a dinner....
Dec 27th, 2005, 02:39 AM
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Bob, not a whole lot to report about the GTG beyond what I'd said in my previous post. 4 people for drinks, a quiet time.
I'll also report on a couple of eating spots. I went to Cabbages and Condoms (a 5-minute walk from the Sheraton Sukhumvit) for dinner one night. The weather was delightful, so I sat in the open-air garden, which is a lovely spot for dinner. I'm a sucker for those spots in cities that are isolated havens of peace and tranquility in locations where you know that the craziness of the city is just on the other side of the wall. Cabbages and Condoms is a fine example, and it made me think of places like the Rodin museum or the Hiiragiya ryokan. I had beef in a thick coconut curry (rendang, I think), and it was delicious. It was servcd with coconut rice, a welcome decadence.
Also returned for dinner at You and Mee in the lower level of the Grand Hyatt, and that is certainly one of my favorite places in Bangkok. An especially welcoming place for a single non-Thai diner, and the food (mostly Thai noodle dishes) is superb.
Other eating spots were the food court at Central Chitlom, the buffet at the InterContinental, and the Greyhound cafe at Gaysorn Plaza. All were trouble-free with lots of choices, but nothing especially memorable food-wise.
Off to Boston tonight, where I will undoubtedly have some explaining to do, in no particular order, to my boss and my cat.
I'll also report on a couple of eating spots. I went to Cabbages and Condoms (a 5-minute walk from the Sheraton Sukhumvit) for dinner one night. The weather was delightful, so I sat in the open-air garden, which is a lovely spot for dinner. I'm a sucker for those spots in cities that are isolated havens of peace and tranquility in locations where you know that the craziness of the city is just on the other side of the wall. Cabbages and Condoms is a fine example, and it made me think of places like the Rodin museum or the Hiiragiya ryokan. I had beef in a thick coconut curry (rendang, I think), and it was delicious. It was servcd with coconut rice, a welcome decadence.
Also returned for dinner at You and Mee in the lower level of the Grand Hyatt, and that is certainly one of my favorite places in Bangkok. An especially welcoming place for a single non-Thai diner, and the food (mostly Thai noodle dishes) is superb.
Other eating spots were the food court at Central Chitlom, the buffet at the InterContinental, and the Greyhound cafe at Gaysorn Plaza. All were trouble-free with lots of choices, but nothing especially memorable food-wise.
Off to Boston tonight, where I will undoubtedly have some explaining to do, in no particular order, to my boss and my cat.
Dec 27th, 2005, 03:49 AM
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Rizzuto Have a safe trip home. Wish you and my son (whom you met in BOS) could have connected in BKK... oh well, next time.
You made it to several of my favorite food spots, namely Central Food Loft, Greyhound, and buffet at the IC. I need to make it to Cabbages sometime. Had not heard of the restaurant on lower level of Hyatt, but sounds nice. We've been to the cigar shop in Hyatt several times, also nice!!
Andy, if you feel a cigar fix coming, you might see Brad at Gaysorn on Thurs afternoon around 4. He arrives late Wed night but will be out and about, reconnecting with friends on Thursday.
A very dear friend who works at another cigar shop (Dunhill) says they will move from their location by Four Seasons to Gaysorn first floor. This is another place you might find son. But you can't sit down and smoke your cigar and have a glass of wine at Dunhill... too bad... not quite the same as Classic Cigars.
Please send the lovely BKK weather to the S. Caribbean for my cruise New Years Eve!!
Have a great time, everyone!
Carol
You made it to several of my favorite food spots, namely Central Food Loft, Greyhound, and buffet at the IC. I need to make it to Cabbages sometime. Had not heard of the restaurant on lower level of Hyatt, but sounds nice. We've been to the cigar shop in Hyatt several times, also nice!!
Andy, if you feel a cigar fix coming, you might see Brad at Gaysorn on Thurs afternoon around 4. He arrives late Wed night but will be out and about, reconnecting with friends on Thursday.
A very dear friend who works at another cigar shop (Dunhill) says they will move from their location by Four Seasons to Gaysorn first floor. This is another place you might find son. But you can't sit down and smoke your cigar and have a glass of wine at Dunhill... too bad... not quite the same as Classic Cigars.
Please send the lovely BKK weather to the S. Caribbean for my cruise New Years Eve!!
Have a great time, everyone!
Carol
Dec 27th, 2005, 02:50 PM
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Carol-already been to the Gaysorn Cigar shop. They spoke fondly of Brad. The Dunhill shop was also open.
Picked up at ROS by minivan to go to the Bai Pai cooking School (BaiPai.com). t's a little south of the normal tourist places. The building is one of those open air ground floors with second floor partially enclosed. The weather was very pleasant so no need for a/c. This could be a problem in the hot moths.
There were ten students in class. Our menu was green curry paste, egg custard, cold beef salad, spring rolls and chicken in green curry sauce. Each item would be demonstrated, tasted and then undertaken by the students. There was a long table for instruction and then separate cooking stations for each student. The class flowed very smoothly.
The class was fun, but noy overly technical. The actual hands on work was relatively simple, but still engaging. Mrs. Panda does not cook, so I'm the "chef" at home. These dishes will be integrated into our Cambridge menu, with the exception of the deep fried egg rolls ( there's a munincipal ordinance against deep fried food).
Meanwhile Beth and Liz (S's W) took a cab yto the Jim Thompson outlet. There was a horrible traffic jam and their spirits flagged. They shopped and several items were purchased for decent prices. They ate at the Gallery Cafe and enjoyed it immensely.
After rendezvousing back at the ROS some cigars were smoked (Montecristo #4's) and then we wandered over to tailor to see how son's shirts were doing . They fit perfectly. Son does not yet have the "bumps" and deformities with which I've been blessed. Beth and I went to get some passport photos next to 7-11 around corner from ROS. S and W bought a silk shirt and trousers from another tailor in River City. Bob, we did not know they were going to buy and did not tell them of JS Thai. They went somewher else.
Next Joe Louis Puppet Theater.
Picked up at ROS by minivan to go to the Bai Pai cooking School (BaiPai.com). t's a little south of the normal tourist places. The building is one of those open air ground floors with second floor partially enclosed. The weather was very pleasant so no need for a/c. This could be a problem in the hot moths.
There were ten students in class. Our menu was green curry paste, egg custard, cold beef salad, spring rolls and chicken in green curry sauce. Each item would be demonstrated, tasted and then undertaken by the students. There was a long table for instruction and then separate cooking stations for each student. The class flowed very smoothly.
The class was fun, but noy overly technical. The actual hands on work was relatively simple, but still engaging. Mrs. Panda does not cook, so I'm the "chef" at home. These dishes will be integrated into our Cambridge menu, with the exception of the deep fried egg rolls ( there's a munincipal ordinance against deep fried food).
Meanwhile Beth and Liz (S's W) took a cab yto the Jim Thompson outlet. There was a horrible traffic jam and their spirits flagged. They shopped and several items were purchased for decent prices. They ate at the Gallery Cafe and enjoyed it immensely.
After rendezvousing back at the ROS some cigars were smoked (Montecristo #4's) and then we wandered over to tailor to see how son's shirts were doing . They fit perfectly. Son does not yet have the "bumps" and deformities with which I've been blessed. Beth and I went to get some passport photos next to 7-11 around corner from ROS. S and W bought a silk shirt and trousers from another tailor in River City. Bob, we did not know they were going to buy and did not tell them of JS Thai. They went somewher else.
Next Joe Louis Puppet Theater.
Dec 27th, 2005, 03:25 PM
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Andy, I am enjoying your reports - I was not aware that you and I are both the primary chefs at home. How did you come upon Bai Pai? Are there other cooking classes that you have looked at or done? Was the experience at Bai Pai worth the time and the money?
Dec 27th, 2005, 07:08 PM
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i'm thinking that without a/c i might have trouble???? i would like to do another cooking class in thailand....
how much was the class by the way...prices seem to vary considerably...
keep the reports coming....your adoring public needs a panda update at least daily...
how much was the class by the way...prices seem to vary considerably...
keep the reports coming....your adoring public needs a panda update at least daily...
Dec 27th, 2005, 07:54 PM
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Yes, Gpanda....I mentioned that it smells of paint. Remember the second time I was in there I mentioned that it was for over 5 hours and I was as crazy as a madhatter by the time I left....paint fumes. But, since it's not complete, it needs to be visualized into the future a bit, too. I thought it was architectually interesting. Isis and I were talking about it at the Bangkok GTG the other night.I wrote a long post under my Siam Aquarium thread on Paragon and how it will open in parts over a 3-year period and what all will be included in it...even a serviced apartment building, a bowling alley, an opera-sized theater and movie theater just to name a few things...so visualize...Plus, when it opened a few weeks ago, only 80,000 square meters had been completed out of the 800,000 square meters. When it's totally complete, it should be great and right now it has the best Asia book store that I've been in. I've been to that store three times already....picking up books. The market is great,too. I can get items there that I can't get at the same grocery store here in Emporium although this one in Emporium is quite good, too. Happy Travels!
Dec 27th, 2005, 10:54 PM
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Craig-I read about the cooking school on this forum. I forget who. It cost about $30 per person. It's fun and a little informative. If you're looking for an immersion in Thai cooking, this is not sufficient. However, if you want an amusing 1/2 day, it's nice. In February whem you're coming, it should be cool enough, but it's your call.
Guenmai, the fumes were our dominant experience at Siam Paragon. Once they're finished and things have calmed down, I suspect it will be much better.
Booked tickets at Joe Lois Puppet Theater onlime. Not necessary. The auditorium was about 1/5 full. Took a cab to Suun Lum Market and followed the signs to the JLT. We ate dinner at the Thai restaurant in front of theater. Food was good. Green curry with chicken was outstanding and very similar to what S and I had made at the cooking school. I could discern the flavor from the Kafir lime leaves. The chise broccolli salad was so spicythat we could not finish it and we are eaters of very spicy food.
The Theater was unbelievable. each puppet is manipulated by three puppeteers. They move in such tight coordination it seems like an intricate dance. Very impressive. I had the very peculiar thought of me, Bob aned Don (Rizzuto) trying to do this. Not pretty.
The story is based on an Indian Epic. The first was a demon with a magic finger. This was exquisite. I kept shifting my focus from the puppets to the puppeteers. The second story was the abduction of a princess by Hanuman, the monkey god. This was bring the house down good. The puppets went through the audience interacting with almost everyone. They were sufficiently prescient to minimize their contact with me. The interaction with the few children was magic. This is a must see if it's still open. I hope they move when construction begins.
Off to Angor Wat and Krabi tomorrow morning. I don't know about internet access, so this may be the last post for a while. Maybe Bob can report on life in Needham. Ciao.
Guenmai, the fumes were our dominant experience at Siam Paragon. Once they're finished and things have calmed down, I suspect it will be much better.
Booked tickets at Joe Lois Puppet Theater onlime. Not necessary. The auditorium was about 1/5 full. Took a cab to Suun Lum Market and followed the signs to the JLT. We ate dinner at the Thai restaurant in front of theater. Food was good. Green curry with chicken was outstanding and very similar to what S and I had made at the cooking school. I could discern the flavor from the Kafir lime leaves. The chise broccolli salad was so spicythat we could not finish it and we are eaters of very spicy food.
The Theater was unbelievable. each puppet is manipulated by three puppeteers. They move in such tight coordination it seems like an intricate dance. Very impressive. I had the very peculiar thought of me, Bob aned Don (Rizzuto) trying to do this. Not pretty.
The story is based on an Indian Epic. The first was a demon with a magic finger. This was exquisite. I kept shifting my focus from the puppets to the puppeteers. The second story was the abduction of a princess by Hanuman, the monkey god. This was bring the house down good. The puppets went through the audience interacting with almost everyone. They were sufficiently prescient to minimize their contact with me. The interaction with the few children was magic. This is a must see if it's still open. I hope they move when construction begins.
Off to Angor Wat and Krabi tomorrow morning. I don't know about internet access, so this may be the last post for a while. Maybe Bob can report on life in Needham. Ciao.
Dec 28th, 2005, 05:57 AM
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Great report. Thanks for mentioning the fumes at Siam Paragon. That could be a big problem for me. Maybe I'll wait and go at the end of my trip in the hopes that they will have subsided by then. How did the clothes work out at Cotton House.
Dec 28th, 2005, 06:31 AM
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i for one would have no problem sharring the stage with don, but you...you might try to steal the show...
you are really a pupet on a string anyways....we just encourage beth to twist the strings around your neck...
enjoy angkor....and we are anxious to hear about krabi...
is son liking the experience??
you are really a pupet on a string anyways....we just encourage beth to twist the strings around your neck...
enjoy angkor....and we are anxious to hear about krabi...
is son liking the experience??
Dec 29th, 2005, 02:17 PM
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On 12/28/05, we took a ride with Julie's Taxi out to the Prasart Museum. In order to visit this museum, one must make reservations. Visits are by appointment only. The driver was on time and knew exactly where he was going. A good thing because the Museum is to hell and gone.
We arrived slightly early, but this was no problem. We were met by our guide and quickly began the tour. The musem consists of several small buildings set in a remarkable landscape. The are statues and water vessels placed throughout. The plants are beutiful, but not so spectacular that they distract from the overall sense of tranquility. Placed in some of the buildings are various Objets d'art (Bob, this mens pieces of Art) from Thai history. The guide lovingly described many of them, but he did not become pedantic. The presentation was well-though out and smoothly done.
At one point, the guide took us to meet Mr. Prasart who was overseeing the creation of a new garden in the back of the property. He was very informally dressed and quite nice. He noted that sevral of the workers were sifting the dirt to remove debris before using it in the garden. He also said that the garden was all natural.
We continued the tour ending up in a larger building that was called the museum. This was a multi-roomed structure that had many display cases containing display items.
Throughout the property there were many striking Buddha images. I was most taken with several statues of Burmes nuns.
At the end of the tour, we met witrh Mr. Prasart in a room clearly set aside for these meetings. Again, he was very pleasant and not forml. He noted that he liked to limit the visitors and was not interested in tour buses.
The museum was wonderful and a great treat. Only through the efforts of the pioneering Fodorites that proceeded us were we moved to0 visit this. Thanks.
Back to the ROS. S ws under the weather and S's W was completing her applications to Law School using the WiFi cconnection. Beth and I went to lunch at the Gallery Cafe. For some peculiar reason, S decided to cab to Central Chitlom Dept. store and purchase take out from the market on the first floor.
After lunch, Beth and I cabbed down to the Four Sisters shop at soi 49 off of Charon Kreung. This shop displays items in the Gallery Cafe and Beth wanted to see the entire collection. We walked up to the Lek Gallery on Charon Kreung a few stores up. This has some unbelievable images, all out of our price range.
Walked up to OP Place. Beth looked at all of the handbags in the place, but bought none. We then went to tyhe world famous cotton house. Beth saw a pre-made top that shew liked, but it was slightly too large (not a problem that Bob or I ever have in Thai shopping). The saleswoman was urging Beth to have one made. Beth looked at the wide selection of fabrics and chose the one she liked. Unfortunately, there ws not enough cloth on the bolt to make the top I silently noted that this seemed to be a peculir mrketing ploy, i.e., display cloth of a type without sufficient stock to actually make an item of clothing. Instead of openly noting this, I inquired of the sales woman whether she knew Gloria. Alas, she did not. However, woman sitting behind a desk visibly perked up and said she knew Gloria. Her name was Reed. The whole tenor of our shopping dramatically changed. Reed said that she thought there might be more of the cloth that Beth liked at the other store and she also immediately dropped the price by 20%. Beth was measured and we took a river ferry back to the ROS.
Pool, cigar and sauna. Dinner at the Gallery Cafe. We had to get up vewry early the next morning and did not want to make dinner an excusion.
Up next, AW et al..
We arrived slightly early, but this was no problem. We were met by our guide and quickly began the tour. The musem consists of several small buildings set in a remarkable landscape. The are statues and water vessels placed throughout. The plants are beutiful, but not so spectacular that they distract from the overall sense of tranquility. Placed in some of the buildings are various Objets d'art (Bob, this mens pieces of Art) from Thai history. The guide lovingly described many of them, but he did not become pedantic. The presentation was well-though out and smoothly done.
At one point, the guide took us to meet Mr. Prasart who was overseeing the creation of a new garden in the back of the property. He was very informally dressed and quite nice. He noted that sevral of the workers were sifting the dirt to remove debris before using it in the garden. He also said that the garden was all natural.
We continued the tour ending up in a larger building that was called the museum. This was a multi-roomed structure that had many display cases containing display items.
Throughout the property there were many striking Buddha images. I was most taken with several statues of Burmes nuns.
At the end of the tour, we met witrh Mr. Prasart in a room clearly set aside for these meetings. Again, he was very pleasant and not forml. He noted that he liked to limit the visitors and was not interested in tour buses.
The museum was wonderful and a great treat. Only through the efforts of the pioneering Fodorites that proceeded us were we moved to0 visit this. Thanks.
Back to the ROS. S ws under the weather and S's W was completing her applications to Law School using the WiFi cconnection. Beth and I went to lunch at the Gallery Cafe. For some peculiar reason, S decided to cab to Central Chitlom Dept. store and purchase take out from the market on the first floor.
After lunch, Beth and I cabbed down to the Four Sisters shop at soi 49 off of Charon Kreung. This shop displays items in the Gallery Cafe and Beth wanted to see the entire collection. We walked up to the Lek Gallery on Charon Kreung a few stores up. This has some unbelievable images, all out of our price range.
Walked up to OP Place. Beth looked at all of the handbags in the place, but bought none. We then went to tyhe world famous cotton house. Beth saw a pre-made top that shew liked, but it was slightly too large (not a problem that Bob or I ever have in Thai shopping). The saleswoman was urging Beth to have one made. Beth looked at the wide selection of fabrics and chose the one she liked. Unfortunately, there ws not enough cloth on the bolt to make the top I silently noted that this seemed to be a peculir mrketing ploy, i.e., display cloth of a type without sufficient stock to actually make an item of clothing. Instead of openly noting this, I inquired of the sales woman whether she knew Gloria. Alas, she did not. However, woman sitting behind a desk visibly perked up and said she knew Gloria. Her name was Reed. The whole tenor of our shopping dramatically changed. Reed said that she thought there might be more of the cloth that Beth liked at the other store and she also immediately dropped the price by 20%. Beth was measured and we took a river ferry back to the ROS.
Pool, cigar and sauna. Dinner at the Gallery Cafe. We had to get up vewry early the next morning and did not want to make dinner an excusion.
Up next, AW et al..
