Boogie Boogie Bangkok

I titled this post Boogie Boogie Bangkok because Bangkok is indeed a fun place.  Amidst all the chaos that comes with a crowded city and traffic jams, there are a lot of things to do here.  In contrast to a rigid city like Singapore, Bangkok is a carefree place.  There are few rules.  The most important thing to remember is to respect their religion.  Whether you are going to the temple or a shrine or talking to a Thai, you must be respectful of Buddhism.  I know some people feel afraid because the Thais are dark-skinned and poor, and they want to rob you.  Relax.  Because of their religion they are the most peaceful people.  Again, there are no guns here.  I have not heard from anyone who has been here many times to have been robbed.  So enjoy your time here.

This trip was initiated by a couple of friends.  My high-school friend, Eric has a serious medical issue that requires surgery with a specialized piece of equipment.  Bangkok has a hospital that has that equipment and he wants to explore treatment here.  With the help of an American friend who has lived in Bangkok for 30+ years, we were able to get an appointment with the doctor who oversees the equipment.  My other friend, Jimmy and his daughter wanted a weekend getaway so they separately asked me if I was interested in going to Bangkok.  Everything came together nicely.  I flew from Phuket to Bangkok, met Eric, Jimmy and his daughter Sharon and Walter, my friend from New Jersey.  It was one of the best weekend I ever had.

First, Eric's appointment with the specialist went very well.  Walter picked him up at the hotel, accompanied him to the hospital and sat in on the conversation.  The cost?  An incredible 300 Thai Bahts or about US$8.70.

We stayed at the Novotel Hotel at Siam Square.  Eric and Sharon have stayed here and they like the location.  It's in the middle of all the shopping and activities in Bangkok.  It is closed to the Mahboonkrong (MBK) and Siam Paragon and other shopping malls nearby.  The whole area is a hive of activity.  It was a long holiday weekend (International Labor Day, May 1) and everyone and their friends were out.  Besides restaurants, there are also many, many restaurants with very good food.  I have not heard many people say they don't like Thai food.  It gives you a full spectrum of taste: from very spicy curry to very flavorful desserts made from coconut milk.  There is also an abundance of tasty tropical fruits:  pineapple, watermelon, papaya, guava, durian, coconut, mango, etc.  The hot and humid weather in Thailand is just perfect for tropical fruits.  They are picked ripe and therefore, very sweet and flavorful.  Not only that, they are very cheap.

L-R, Top: rambutan, mangosteen, cantaloupe, papaya, dragon fruit. Bottom: jambu, pineapple, mango

Chinatown

 We visited Chinatown in the evening.  If there's anything that defines Bangkok, it's street food.  The main street of Chinatown is lined on both sides with all kinds of street vendors selling local noodle soup to pomegranate juice to seafood.  Some of the restaurants also sell shark fin and bird's nest soup. Click here to read more about Bird's Nest.  It's a delicacy among Chinese and supposed to provide high nutritional value.  For whatever reason, bird's nest soup are cheaper here in Bangkok than in other places like Hong Kong.  Most of the Chinese in Chinatown come from the Shantou and surrounding areas.  My parents came from that area and I can converse easily with the Thai Chinese who still speak that dialect.  We had an excellent seafood dinner at one of the restaurants.  We ate inside but some of their tables spilled out into the streets.  It's part of the scene in Bangkok.  Tables on sidewalks and the street, next to waiting taxis.

Delicious Thai food:  Morning Glory (vegetables), Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai at Bah Khun Mae Restaurant

 In the morning we took a taxi to the Wat Rakang Kositaram.  Wat means temple in Thai.  My friends are Buddhists, although not devout.  There are many temples in Bangkok, just like there are many small churches in Europe.  This one is small and is mostly for the locals.  They made some offerings and prayed.   I waited outside in the temple grounds and took a few pictures.  After the visit, we behind the temple and took a ferry across  the Chao Praya river to the other side and took a taxi to the Erawan shrine.

Wat (Temple) Rakang Kositaram

Chao Praya River

The Erawan Shrine is located at a corner in a busy intersection in the Central Business District (CBD) area.  If the name sounds familiar, it's because in August 2015 someone left a backpack with explosives;  it killed 20 and injured 125 people.  No arrests have been made so far.  Many worshippers from all over the world come here to worship.

Thai dancers at the Erawan Shrine

Tapioca Dessert

Later we had lunch at an excellent Thai restaurant near the hotel.  Eric has patronized the Bah Khun Mae restaurant many times and highly recommended it.  We were not disappointed.  The Tom Yam soup and Pad Thai, two popular and favorite Thai dishes, were just excellent.

Walter volunteered to take us to Ayuthaya that afternoon.  I was there on my last trip to Bangkok but I don't mind going again.  It's a long day for him.  First, he lives outside of Bangkok and had to drive to the middle of town to pick us up.  Then it's about an hour and a half-drive to Ayuthaya.  Ayuthaya was the old capital of Thailand before Bangkok.  We walked among the ruins.  We saw the elephants taking riders on a ride but we did not go for a ride.  I did that on my December 2015 Trip.

Temple ruins at Ayuthaya

Dinner at riverside restaurant

In the evening Walter took us to a surprisingly good restaurant by the river.  It was a surprise because the front of the restaurant did not look anything like a restaurant but when we entered the alleyway, it opened up to a patio overlooking the river.  The food was excellent and as always in Thailand, very cheap.

Dinner at Ayuthaya

On our last day we visited the popular Chatuchak outdoor market.  Many years ago this used to be a makeshift market with tarpaulins, poles, canvas, etc.  The government must have recognized it as a fire hazard and decided to build a permanent market that is opened only on the weekends.  There are thousands and thousands of stores that selling anything from food, to pets, to furnishings, clothes, etc.   It is fun just to see the variety of things that they sell.

Slabs of Chinese BBQ pork

Coconut ice cream with sago palm fruit.

Shopping is fun in the shopping centers around the hotel.  Being a long holiday weekend, there were people everywhere.  For me, it's all window shopping.  I have enough junk.