Historic Bangkok

Kelvinator brand

I had coffee this afternoon in one of Bangkok's historic cafes: Num Heng Li.  It's owned and managed by sisters who are well into their seventies.  They inherited the cafe from their parents.  Quite an interesting experience hanging out with them.  As good as the coffee was, the conversation was better.  They have not done many updates to the cafe over the years, so it's a real step back in time.  They even have an American-made refrigerator that is 60 yrs old and working 💪. 

They said their parents paid the equivalent of $45 US for it when they purchased it brand new.  Their ancestors emigrated to Thailand from China.

Besides coffee made the traditional way, they serve homemade coconut egg custard spread on toast.  They use duck eggs, coconut cream and sugar.  I shared about my grandmother's custard and even showed them photos of custard pies and boiled custard we've made from her recipe.

This is a shrine next to the coffee shop.

Next, it was time to walk to the Khao San Road area.

I was scouting out some other rooftop bars.

King Rama V

Found an amazing restaurant!

Thai iced lemon tea

Tom Kha Gai

(Coconut Soup w/ Chicken)

The chicken was grilled.  I ate many bowls of Tom Kha Gai on this trip.  This might have been the best!  Sadly, the restaurant (Tani) recently had to close due to a fire in the hotel it's a part of.

Mango Sticky Rice with Waffle & Ice Cream

Rama IX & Queen Sirikit

Kings are everywhere!

Made it to Khao San Road.

After walking a bit around KSR, I made my way over to Swing Bar.

I saw this shrine on the grounds of a car dealership.

This is in the lobby of The Printing House Poshtel (boutique hotel).

I kept walking.

Lisa!

This was an old shophouse business.  I was more interested in the wall decor.

A sight to behold!

Wat Suthat and the Giant Swing

I took a left here on Bamrung Mueang Road.  If you desire history and Buddhist tradition, this is a road for you.

I had a very nice talk with an older gentleman who owns this shophouse.  I liked these altars.

This was his father.  It's common in Thai homes to have altars for deceased loved ones.  Sometimes an urn with their ashes is placed there.

lobby of ChingCha Hostel

Lemon Blossom Mocktail

This was my second one.  Happy Hour!

Now it was time to go walking.  I went towards the river.

This majestic view of Wat Arun can be seen along a little public promenade.

Finally, I made it to a place I had always wanted to go.

Mango Smoothie & Wat Arun

When I was done there, I took the MRT back home.  And from many stops away, I took this image of the city from the MRT platform.  Can you see Wat Arun?  Amazing Thailand.

Bangkok's Oldest Cafes

Rooftop Bar Count

38, 39