In furtherance to my past reviews during different visits
here and
here, we visited again, this time playing tour guide to the Mother-in-Law who has not visited Bangkok, Thailand. The places we visited for this trip were more touristy, for the purpose of introducing her to the popular spots here in Bangkok City.
BANGKOK AIRPORT MIRACLE FIRST CLASS LOUNGE
Sanabim, Don Mueang, Bangkok International Airport, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
Website: https://www.loungeclub.com/en/our-lounges/lounge-detail/BKK1
Miracle First Class Lounges are available throughout a few concourses of the large Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport. We rested there for a while before continuing our journeys, enjoying some light refreshments, charging the phones while relaxing over some magazines and gulped some alcoholic drinks.
ACCOMMODATION
We had a hard time deciding between Novotel Hotel, Bangkok Palace Hotel and Pathumwan Princess Hotel - location was key and we wanted a spacious hotel close to a BTS train station, for the convenience of the MIL.
PATHUMWAN PRINCESS HOTEL
444 MBK Center, Phayathai Road, Wangmai, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2216 3700
Website: http://www.pprincess.com
We settled on Pathumwan Princess Hotel in the end, based on positive reviews and gorgeous photos. Plus, it was located right next (attached to, in fact) to MBK Centre so shopping was a stone's throw away. Service was excellent, as were facilities.
SHOPPING
One must find time to shop in Bangkok, whether browsing popular night bazaars or staying in cool comfort of air-conditioned, modern shopping centres.
MBK (MAHBOONKRONG) CENTER
444 Phayathai Road, Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Website: http://www.mbk-center.co.th/en
One of the biggest shopping centers in Bangkok - 8 floors packed with 2000 retail shops of fashion, accessories, mobile phones, and restaurants etc. Be prepared to spend at least half a day here and loading your arms with many shopping bags at the end.
PLATINUM FASHION MALL
644/3 Phetchaburi Road, Khwaeng Thanon Petchaburi, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Tel: +66 2121 8000
Website: http://www.platinumfashionmall.com
Another iconic shopping mall located in Bangkok City, 4 floors of more than 1300 shops selling fashion apparels and accessories, by way of retail and wholesale.
CENTRALWORLD PLAZA
4,4/ 1-4/ 2,4/4 Ratchadamri Road, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Website: http://www.centralworld.co.th
A large lifestyle mall in Bangkok, CentralWorld also houses many IT stores so computer parts lovers, this is one place you might definitely want to check out. Once known as "World Trade Center" and once the third largest shopping mall in Asia, check out this place if you are intending to shop for more than fashion and accessories alone.
ASIATIQUE THE RIVERFRONT
2194 Charoen Krung Road, Khwaeng Wat Phraya Krai, Khet Bang Kho Laem, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10120, Thailand
Tel: +66 2108 4488
Website: http://www.asiatiquethailand.com
I love this huge waterfront square so we revisited here for the shops and bazaars, and restaurants. There are also theaters offering performances such as Cabaret shows, Thai Boxing and Muay Thai shows- check for showtimes so you don't make a wasted trip all the way here.
CHATUCHAK (OR "JATUJAK") WEEKEND MARKET
587/10 Khampaeng Phet 2 Road, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Website: http://www.chatuchak.org
This is a 35-acre bazaar, home to 15,000 market booths divided into 27 sections, selling everything from home accessories to fashion apparels, fashion accessories, collectibles, food items etc. If you are here on a weekend, do not miss out on this bazaar that brings out an important Thai cultural introduction.
PATPONG NIGHT MARKET
2 Khwaeng Suriya Wong, Khet Bang Rhek, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Website: http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-market/patpong-night-market.htm
Located in the Silom area, Patpong Night Market has much to offer as well - a flea market with 2 long rows of shops offering souvenirs, imitation bags, collectibles and fashion apparels. Located on the sides of the bazaar are rows of restaurants and bars if you wish to dine or chill out.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Besides shopping and eating, some of the must-visit attractions in Thailand include the Bangkok Palace, Temple of Dawn, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Chao Phraya River, Floating Market and Cabaret Performances.
TEMPLE OF THE RECLINING BUDDHA (WAT PHO TEMPLE)
2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakom District, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2225 9595
Website: http://www.watpho.com
The Temple of The Reclining Buddha
CHAO PHRAYA BOAT RIDE
Website: http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-waterway/chao-phraya-river.htm
The Chao Phraya River is the principal river in Bangkok, a major urban river with low alluvial plains flowing through Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand. Also known as "The River of Kings", this waterway forms the lifeblood of Bangkok - a riverboat ride on these russet brown waters brought us lovely sights of solemn temples, churches, civic buildings, floating boat markets pedalling their vegetables or snacks, dilapidated houses along the riverfront in contrast to majestic modern buildings, etc.
TEMPLE OF DAWN (WAT ARUN TEMPLE)
158 Thanon Wang Doem, Khwaeng Wat Arun, Khet Bangkok Yai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, 10600, Thailand
Tel: +66 2891 2185
Website: https://www.watarun.net
Situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, this Buddhist temple stands tall and magnificent over the river. It is a famous landmark named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn. A beautiful place to visit, because of the colourful spires of the structure and the intricate Buddha statue within.
TEMPLE OF RECLINING BUDDHA (WAT PHO TEMPLE)
2 Sanamchai Road, Grand Palace Subdistrict, Pranakorn District, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: +66 2225 9595
Website: http://www.watpho.com
Known as the "
Temple of The Reclining Buddha", this temple is one of the largest temple complexes in the city, famous for its 45-meters long giant reclining Buddha, covered in gold leaf. We usually get coins to in metal bowls around the Buddha - they believe that when you have come to the last bowl, say your wishes and they will come true.
CALYPSO CABARET SHOW @ ASIATIQUE WATERFRONT
2194 Charoenkrung 72-76 Rd Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120, Thailand
Tel: +66 2688 1415
Website: http://www.calypsocabaret.com
Having enjoyed the cabaret shows twice before - for the entertaining performance by beautiful ladyboys with their plaintive singing voices and graceful dances, we decided to catch the one at Asiatique Waterfront. Unfortunately, as Calypso was more "broadway" style, it was too lively for my liking - I still preferred the "Tiffany's Show" style, if you get what I mean.
RESTAURANTS
Thai food is a delicacy across the globe currently, especially the spicy tomyum / green curry items and other seafood delights. We definitely had our share of good Thai food here.
BAAN KHANITHA BY-THE-RIVER RESTAURANT
2194 Room no.8, Charoen Krung Rd., Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120
Tel: +662 108 4910 11
Website: http://www.baan-khanitha.com
Located by the Asiatique Riverfront, this restaurant garners a romantic waterfront dining vibe, and serves up delicious Thai cuisine. We enjoyed our Pineapple Fried Rice (served in pineapple husk, no less), Lychee Red Curry with Duck, Pad Thai, etc.
MANGO TANGO
Warehouse 1, Charoen Krung Road, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Asiatique, Bangkok 10120
Tel: +66 081 7601 469
Website: http://www.mymangotango.com
We also revisited Mango Tango for the interesting variety of lovely mango desserts. This place is so fanatic about their mango that they actually have their own "Mango" song that is actually quite catchy. Business is so good here, you are expected to leave once you finish your desserts as there would be other guests waiting in line.
MK RESTAURANT
7 Phayathai Road, Wang Mai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2836 1000
Website: https://www.mkrestaurant.com/en
We went back to MK Restaurant, but a different branch this time. I still enjoy their very-dry and al-dente textured spinach Wanton Noodles. We thought that though, the food here was not as nice as its outlet at Big C Centre, which we went during our last Bangkok trip.
YAYOI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
444 Phayathai Road, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, MBK Center, Pathumwan 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2611 7176
Website: https://www.yayoirestaurants.com/en
We decided to stray from Thai food for a while, and ate at a Japanese restaurant near to our hotel. Yayoi Japanese Restaurant provided pretty decent Japanese bento set meals, such as grilled fish set, deep-fried oyster set and deep-fried chicken set.
CHATUCHAK (OR "JATUJAK") WEEKEND MARKET
587/10 Khampaeng Phet 2 Road, Khwaeng Chatuchak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10900, Thailand
Website: http://www.chatuchak.org
Street-food for me finally! Due to hygiene fears, we don't usually eat street food, however I could not help myself at Chatuchak area, where everything looked and smelled good. So I tried everything from Coconut Ice-cream to Thai Iced Milk Tea to Fried Squid Eggs to Fried Quail Eggs. No diarrhoea or any discomfort after that, except for a very full and satisfied belly.
TIP TOP THAI DINING RESTAURANT
46-48 Patpong, Surawong, Bangkok, Thailand
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tiptop-Patpong-Silom/246298048744340?nr
This meal was taken before our shopping trip at Patpong area, a spacious restaurant lining the famed Patpong night market. Food was not bad here, really - especially the Thai Fish Cake paired with light Thai beer.
YUM SAAP RESTAURANT
1/F Big C Ratchadamri, Ratchadamri Rd., Pathum Wan, Bangkok
Tel: +66 2350 4794
Website: http://www.yumsaap.nl
Southern Thai restaurant with (some say) a Vietnamese touch. I enjoyed the Tom Yum noodles here in this vintage-looking restaurant.
Overall, another enjoyable Thailand visit. We came with 3 luggages but left with 5 - don't ask me what we bought. Hope the Mother-in-law enjoyed the trip.