Bangkok - Four Full Days

Sometimes people only have a few days in Bangkok because they are traveling to other Thailand destinations.  My neighbor was in this situation.  I helped her come up with the most reasonable plan for her visit to the Thai capital.

Arrival Day + 4 full days + Departure Day

Arrival Day

*Check into the hotel

*Relax

*Get to first rooftop bar by 5 pm

*Enjoy a drink and maybe an appetizer until sunset

*Leave rooftop by 6:30 to go have dinner elsewhere

*Try a mall food court for the best street food in a clean environment

*Get a Thai, oil or foot massage to end the night

*Rest at hotel for an early start in the morning

First Full Day (needs to be weekday, just not Monday)

*Leave hotel by 7 AM to go to Benjakitti Forest Park for a nice stroll. If you could leave by 6 AM, even better. You will reach it by BTS (skytrain) and MRT (metro). Easy.  

*Back to hotel. Another mall for lunch. Or if you see a nearby restaurant to try, go for it.

*Take it easy in the afternoon. Shopping, coffee shop, etc..

*Big night. Go to King Power Mahanakhon skyscraper for rooftop experience. Take BTS. Must leave hotel by 4 PM. Important to be up on rooftop by 5 PM. Take sunset and wear suncreen. Sunset is at 5:48. 

*Leave by 6:15. Go to Chinatown. BTS, then switch to MRT. Chinatown gets going at 7 PM. Walk the main road, Yarowat Rd. Snack, eat, enjoy. MRT/BTS back.

Second Full Day

*Sleep in.

*Massage

*Lunch - maybe another big mall

*Rest, shop, do your own thing

*Rooftop bar - arrive by 5 PM, depart by 6:00

*Jodd Fairs night market (one behind Rama 9 mall). Take MRT there. You will get there by 6:45. Eat, drink, explore. 

Third Full Day

*Grand Palace + Wat Arun + Wat Pho. Must start early. Leave hotel by 7:30 AM. BTS to Sathorn Pier. Get on the Hop On Hop Off boat. Go to Wat Arun, then boat back across to Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha). Walk to the Grand Palace after Wat Pho. Enjoy the undergound near the entrance to the Grand Palace.  You can rest there before going behind the palace walls. When done with the Grand Palace, walk back to the MRT to catch it back to your hotel.

*Rest all afternoon.

*Massage

*Rooftop Bar - 5 PM

*Dinner somewhere

Fourth Full Day

*Jim Thompson Home Museum (where I met Kade) - get there by 10 AM. Take BTS, then short walk.

*Lunch at Siam Paragon gourmet food hall. Go up to bookstore Kinokuniya on 3rd floor. Look out back window (behind shade) to see temple.

*After Siam Paragon, walk across to Siam Square to see stores and do some shopping.

*Rest back at hotel

*Rooftop bar

*After rooftop, go to Erawan Shrine, then walk the area to see the other five shrines.

*Have dinner at Central World food festival or at restaurant inside Central World.

Next Day

*Departure

Europa

* 2016 e-mail to a friend who was considering a trip to Prague

I wish I had my old Prague contacts. All I can say is Prague has always been on a list of places where I would like to return. I also loved Budapest and Salsburg, which are nearby.  In addition, if you have the time, I would highly recommend Krakow (plus concentration camp), a city in the Ukraine (just across the Poland border) named Lviv, and the Baltic nations. To me, Estonia was very beautiful and perhaps the most surprising of my stops. Let me know of your plans as they come together. I too have thought of Europe, since South America is having its problems. I want to go to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo! Who knows when and how? 

We did go to Amsterdam in 2018, and this year we enjoyed Copenhagen. There's a strong possibility we will go to Stockholm and Oslo in 2027.

Best Hotels

I've been to all but one of the Bangkok ones.

 

Top 100 Coffee Shops

#61 Fika and Co. Cafe

Bangkok

World's Top 100 Coffee Shops

Dreaming

This is just a snippet of what this person shared. He talked about feeling anxious and worried, plus he seemed to be dwelling on what others might think. I decided to give him my two cents.

 

Bangkok Explained

Most Beautiful Countries

These were my replies.

Bangkok Massage Parlors

I will post vintage photos.

 

Walkable Cities

 

Cruise Ship Rant

Buenos Aires

This is a message I sent to someone in early 2016. Kade and I were very impressed with the Argentinian capital.

Thoughts on Europe

January 2018 e-mail

Bought our tix today for Europe: May 25 - June 25. Italy 14 days, Paris 9 days, 1 day Luxemborg, 5 days in Amsterdam. Flying Asheville to Florence, Amsterdam to Asheville. Have agenda in Italy loosely planned out, but have to make final decisions in coming weeks - rooms, tours, train tix, etc..  

Eating well and varied is at the heart of this journey, as is people watching, exploring neighborhoods and finding great spots for photos. Will do some touristy things, of course, but in a relaxed manner.

Monet the person intrigues me.  I know the gardens would be beautiful, but who he was, how he lived and what inspired him appeals to me as much as anything - same for eccentrics like Tolstoy or my Uncle Watty!!!!

Happy Little Birthday

Jesus in Bangkok!

Deva Manor

Deva Manor – A Little Known Thai Historical Palace

European Girls Love Thailand

Young Westerners, in general, do.

Moscow - 1965

Medical Checkup

I chose this hospital in Bangkok. This is the video that motivated me to try MedPark.

Lablae Durian Market

Uttaradit Province

Three highly-prized durians at the Lablae Durian Market - source

Lablae Durian Market: Hunt for Famous Varieties

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Welcome to Durian Country

Durian: King of Thai fruits

Eagle's Nest

In the Spring of '95, I was at the base of the Eagle's Nest with Uncle Jim (Vann) and some other tourists. Unfortunately, we could not go up there that day because I believe they said the fog was too thick. At that age, I knew little about the Eagle's Nest and the Berghof. I enjoyed the movie Valkyrie when it came out. Powerful. Tom Cruise plays the colonel who joined other conspirators to try to assassinate Hitler. There's a fabulous scene in the movie where the colonel is taken up to the nearby Berghof to get a signature from the Fuhrer. Got me thinking about that missed chance to go up there.

Returning

China is luring overseas Chinese to "come home." There are now good jobs with good pay. Back in the late 90s, Ireland was doing the same for Americans of Irish ancestry to return. They provided incentives. Russia has this same idea, with some focus on Old Believers.

-2009 email

Old Believers in North America

Old Believers making a comeback in Russia

Kyoto On My Mind!

This was back in 2012. I was reaching out to a Japanese friend.

Thinking about it. Kade would be visiting her family in Bangkok, and I would likely be traveling by myself in Japan: maybe 1 week Tokyo, 4 days Kyoto, 2 days Nagasaki. My plan would be to stay in ryokans unless I could find someone who wants to rent out a room - a young person obviously - and perhaps would like to spend some time with me and practice English. It's been 12 years since I was in Tokyo, but I am longing to go back. Let me know if you know anyone there, and be thinking about a ryokan in Kyoto. I stayed in one before - near an onsen - and really liked it. Kyoto is a fabulous city. After finishing this e-mail to you, I plan to reach out to some other Japanese friends/contacts. My main interest in visiting is to eat lots of good food and see cultural sights, and just re-live what I experienced before.

 Look forward to hearing from you!

 Allen

Bangkok Ideas

- message to someone traveling to BKK

I have been helping an Asheville lady plan her upcoming Thailand trip. She and her husband went before on a group tour - this time going by themselves. They knocked out all the essentials that first trip, and are now looking for new half-day experiences (listed below). The other half of their day will be relaxing at their 5 star hotel, and getting massages. Bangkok can take its toll. They will be there three weeks, and another week in Singapore.

These could also be things you'd like to do in Bangkok...but make sure to also do the big things: Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, Jim Thompson House Museum, Wat Saket, Wat Arun, the Amulet Market, etc..

One day

Benjakitti Forest Park (AM) plus Ruam Sab food market (early lunch). Just make sure you go to the forest park and not just stay at the original Benjakitti park. Forest park is new, and next to it. Take a water bottle each. Sometimes they're sold near the parks, but don't count on it. You might even find a coconut seller (for the juice) selling near the park. Never more than 50 baht!!!

One day

Vanilla Sky Rooftop, plus the Japanese restaurant next door for dinner. Maybe Nana Red Light district to extend the night??

One day

Belga Rooftop (drinks and dinner) - views, drinks and food are all exceptional.

One day

Char Rooftop - based on our experience, I would limit my time there to only drinks, and I would get there right when they open. Must experience before it gets dark. After a drink or two, walk 15 minutes (or take taxi) to Krua Nai Baan, the restaurant my friend jeff recommends. Would be cool to do it, since from Char Rooftop you will be looking out at that area where the restaurant is. Once done with dinner, walk back to the BTS to go to your hotel. 

One day

Octave rooftop and Sabaijai restaurant. - I would arrive at Octave Rooftop one hour before sunset (5:50 pm), go to bar on rooftop, get drinks, stay for sunset and a bit after. I would leave at 6:30 to walk to Sabaijai. It's a 22 minute walk, so a bit over a mile.  You could also take a taxi from Octave all the way to Sabaijai. When done, walk or taxi back to the BTS to take it to the Grande Sheraton.

One day

Mahanakhon Sky Walk, and dinner back at your hotel. BTS.

One day

Siam Square late afternoon (walk around), then go inside Siam Paragon mall for an easy dinner. You could choose the food court level, or find a nice restaurant on the upper floors. Siam Square is ideal on a weekend, since popular with teens and college kids. You could flip this around and have lunch at Siam Paragon before crossing over to enjoy Siam Square. This would leave your evening free.

One day

Emquartier mall walk-around, plus dinner. After that, go to Flamenco Sky Lounge for drinks and dancing. Emquartier will have a dazzling array of food options. You could also try latin american/spanish nibbles at Flamenco.

One day

Jodd Fairs night market - arrive at MRT Rama 9 station. There's a big mall there. Behind it is Jodd Fairs. You will have dinner there. Arrive 5 pm at latest, stay till you're ready to leave. 

One day

Bamboo Bar & Veranda restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Reservation needed. Dress nicely. Mrt/bts there.

One day

Khao San Rd plus road that runs parallel to it (Soi Rambutri). Only tricky day so far. Would likely need taxi. You can eat dinner and go clubbing there. We need to talk through this.

One day

Vertigo restaurant and Moon Bar at Banyan Tree Hotel. Would need a reservation for dinner. Request outside, rooftop. Dress nicely. If unable to get a reservation, you can still go to the Moon Bar. Again, get there before sunset for the views. Mrt (30 min) or taxi (8 min) there. 

One day

Yaowat (Chinatown) - arrive early evening by BTS/MRT. Walk around and have dinner, then find the cool bars. Consider going to Wat Traimit first. In that case, get to Wat Traimit by 4 pm. Closes at 5 pm. Walk after that. Mrt home.

One day

Hi-So Rooftop - dinner and drinks. Get reservation. Eat dinner. Mrt.

One day

Terminal 21 conveyor belt sushi, then walk to Soi Cowboy red light district, pick some clubs and go in for a peek. Only trust the beers. You can go club to club.

One day

Go to Above Eleven Rooftop, but only if you intend to go to Havana social club for dancing. You should get to Above Eleven right when they open, order a drink and some sushi, then move along to Havana.

One day

Go to Central World mall (chitlom bts stop) for dinner at the outdoor beer garden. When done, you could go back to the hotel or you could take the BTS to Nana plaza for another red light district.

Deadly Roads

Yes, there are a lot of car accidents on Thai highways and interstates. In the cities, more motorcycle accidents. But although there are a lot of motorcycles, I bet bangkok has more cars on its roads than LA. And this is with a metro, skytrain, overabundance of taxis! There are a couple of Thai holidays when it's really dangerous to be on the roads: Thai New Year and another. So then you have to deal with drinking and driving. On the plus side, people are at least buckling up now. When I was first there in 2000, it seemed people were not using seat belts, whereas we were using them starting in the late-80s. In Japan and Hong Kong, was more like the US regarding car safety.

- 2019 e-mail

Docked

I remember being in Pattaya one time when a US Navy ship docked. All the young seamen were making their way to Walking Street. Our tax dollars go into hookers' pockets! Lol One guy had on an Alabama football cap. I yelled "Roll Tide!" from across the road and he hollered it back. 😆 I later read articles that the sailors are briefed on the potential dangers involved in picking up hookers and are given condoms by Uncle Sam.

- 2022 e-mail

Tasty

Kade's Travels

Good Food

"Good food is the result of non-consensual sex with invading armies." - Anthony Bourdain

Romania: Romans, Mongols, Prussians, Germans, Turks, Austrians, Hungarian, Bulgaria and the Soviet Union conquered them.

Yep, interesting quote indeed. I would add that the food is also influenced by the environment. Hence the abundance of dairy - cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, and more varieties of cheese than I know what to do with. And then there is the meat. Don't get me started... It's heavy food, but I love it! So much awesome bread, incredible soups. Perhaps a little on the bland side at times (what wouldn't be after Thailand?) but pretty good.

BTW, did you know that Romania makes excellent wines that are absurdly cheap? A good bottle of red? $5 max. Crazy.

Hope you and Kade are doing well. We're enjoying hanging out in the Romanian countryside. Will soon take a trip across country to Budapest in Hungary before heading to Thailand and then Korea (for work) in June/July. Life is good.

Kababs are popular, I bet.  And probably lots of potato, beet and cabbage dishes.  Some of the foods I've had in Central Asia and Russia are similar. Yes, Thai food is pretty exceptional....yet, as we know from traveling, good food can be found anywhere.

Interesting about the wines.  Nearby are Georgia and Moldova, and I'm sure their wines are priced like that.  Great if you live there and like wine!

- chat with Australian friend in 2012

Double Landlocked

Speaking Thai

Peterhof Palace

Kade and I went there by boat from the city center (near the Winter Palace), and walked from the dock up to the fountains. Very nice experience.

Catherine Palace, like Peterhof, was occupied by the invading Germans, then looted and burned by them when the Red Army advanced. The Amber Room panels completely vanished and have never been found. The Russians rebuilt both palaces to their exact likeness (decades of work), and artisans even redid the Amber Room. 

Palaces

If you visit Russia, the Winter Palace (Now the Hermitage Museum) and the Summer Palace (Peterhof, built by Peter the Great) are quite spectacular. There also are numerous other palaces turned museums that are at least half-day trips and are stunning in their own right. Finally, if you like crown jewels, royal antiques, carriages, art, etc., the czarist collection in the Kremlin museums is dazzling. 

While it's on my mind, research the Yusupov Palace and Stroganoff Palace (of that dish name) - both in St. Petersburg. The Yusupovs were the Astors or Rockefellers or Vanderbilts in Czarist Russia days. And, it was at the Yusupov Palace where Rasputin (the wild Siberian monk) was poisoned and later shot right outside. This palace is perhaps the most fascinating "home" or "palace" I have ever seen.

- 2012 message to my brother 

Best Food?

What Say You?

Bangkok's Newest Hot Spot

Chiang Mai Itinerary

These were the plans my cousin and I had. We didn't end up getting massages every day. I just created a time slot for that possibility. Honestly, I can get a massage every three or four days - that's about it.

Wednesday, June 14

*Arrive in the afternoon

*Check-in

*Massage near us

*Chiang Mai South Gate Market - opens at 5 PM

*Walk to Tha Phae Gate, then down Loi Kroh Road and back

Thursday, June 15

*Explore Warorot Market (Kad Luang), near river, sample food - 25 minute walk or 10 minute songthaew ride

*Afternoon massage near us, or rest

*At 5 or 6 PM, explore smaller night markets near Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (CMNB): Anusarn Night Market, Pavillion Night Market, Kalare Night Bazaar and Ploen Ruedee Night Market. Chill Square food court at Anusarn Night Market is a nice place for dinner. Kalare Night Market also has a great food center. From hotel, it's a 20 min walk or 10 minute ride to the night markets

Friday, June 16

*sleep in

*lunch - the best laap we can find (laap ton yang restaurant). The restaurant is a bit out of town - 18 minutes from hotel.

*rest or massage

*Kad Kongkao Walking Street market (Friday only) - starts at 5 PM, 17 minute walk from hotel, go to Wat Pan Ping first

Saturday, June 17

*San Patong Buffalo Market (Sat only, right at sunrise) - 40 min drive

*Mae Hia Fresh Market - sausage, aeb ong aw w/ sticky rice - 15 minutes from hotel

*Massage or rest

*Wua Lai Walking Street (Saturday only) - walk, eat and shop, plus tour Wat Sri Suphan (silver temple). Temple closes at 6 pm.

Sunday, June 18

*Ton Phayom Food Market (sausage, nam phrik, fried pork rinds)

*Wander around the Old City - find edibles

*Massage

*Thae Pae Sunday Walking Street - eat in courtyard of Wat Muen Lan

Monday, June 19

*Grilled mixed meats for lunch (Kum Sang Dao restaurant) - arrive at 10:30 AM

*Rest - time for edibles?

*Massage

*Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (CMNB) - opens at 6 PM

Tuesday, June 20

*Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's most famous temple, lunch nearby

*Rest or massage

*Langmor Night Market (near Chiang Mai University)

*Try a cannibas cocktail and buy edibles

Wednesday, June 21

*Sleep in

*Lunch - the best bowl of Khao Soi (Khum Hmon Somm restaurant) Should get there by 10:45.

*Old City Walking Tour (Lonely Planet) by ourselves (start at 11 or 12) - 5 hours

*Chang Puak Gate Night Market (opens at 5 PM) - dinner served by famous Cowboy Hat Lady and nearby Sukiyaki stall

*Massage 

Thursday, June 22

*Do your own thing (khao soi again?)

*Massage

*Dinner at Kiti Panit (nicer restaurant)

Friday, June 23

*Check out

*fly back to Bangkok

Other options

*Doi Ithanon National Park - highest peak in Thailand and a few waterfalls

*Elephant sanctuary

*bat cave

Some foods we will try

*Nam Ngiao

*Gai Neung

*Tandoori pork belly

Steaks & Seafood

All I can say is that I likely had my best steak experiences ever in Buenos Aires, and I def had a Top 5 seafood experience in Chile. - 2016 message

The Best Steakhouses in Buenos Aires: A Beefy Guide to Eating Steak in Argentina

La Olla

Makes A Difference

When you travel to a place for a period of time and certainly live there, it's wise to learn the local language.

Malasian Cuisine

Vladivostok

source

This is Russia's largest Far Eastern city, Vladivostok. It's on the Pacific coast, across from Japan and very close to North Korea and China. Lots of money is being pumped into this once-closed Soviet Naval city with hopes it can capitalize mightily on the vast economic edge Asia is projected to have in the 21st century. It's also has the distinction of being the end of the line (or beginning!) of the vaunted Trans-Siberian Railway, simply the longest railway in the world. Built by one of the czars, it was one of mankind's greatest engineering feats, akin to US trans-continental railroad.  It opened up Siberia and the east to further Russia (and later Soviet) expansion.  - 2013 message

Princess Dara Rasmi

Dara Rasmi

Click here for more images.

Dara Phirom Palace Museum, Chiang Mai

Big Adjustment

When you arrive in a place that has a twelve hour time difference, it takes two weeks before you start feeling like your normal self. If people have the time and money, I recommend they go to Thailand for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

Here are notes from the first couple of days of a trip we made.

May '22 

Slept five hours: 3 pm till 8 pm. Now up for dinner. Still adjusting to time difference. Was on metro this morning at 6:15. Walked five miles. Yesterday walked 8 miles. Muggy.

Now just woke up. 3 AM here. The most amazing deep sleep. So ate dinner at 8 pm, went back to sleep at 9 or so. Slept 6 hours. I am doing what my body desires. This morning I will meet a Milwaukee friend 15 metro stops plus 9 skytrain stops from here. I can cover it in one hour. I am meeting him at 7:30 AM at a swimming pool for coffee, breakfast and laps. He likes to be done by 9 AM. After that I will do some walking, get my second massage, then have lunch. Probably about 1 or 2 pm, I will jump on metro to return home. Kade will have been out with her mom.

Was at the swimming pool at 7:15 AM.  Got a 90 minute massage in the early afternoon.  Enjoyed a big bowl of coconut ice cream before falling asleep at 3 pm.  Slept till 8 pm.  That would be 3 AM to 8 AM back home, so body is doing the familiar.  In the morning we are going to a nearby market to check out the durian, eat breakfast and buy foods to eat later for lunch and dinner.  No other plans.  Lol 😂

Monkey Wrench

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2019 planning

A monkey wrench was thrown into the Granada stop. Appears to be almost impossible to get tix to the Alhambra, which is maybe the premier spot in all of Spain. Too late getting tickets unless we opt for more expensive group tour. I would be perfectly satisfied seeing the Alhambra at a distance, from two sunset vantage points, then doing all the other things Granada has to offer. Then there's Ronda, a place I definitely want to see, but a bit of a logistical mess. Not as easy getting in and out there as it might look. Today I have been really studying up on this, and it has caused me to rethink order of cities. Right now, with a final decision needed, I can see this revised route:

April 28, Sunday, arrive in Malaga, then take first bus to Granada, stay four nights. If unable to tour Alhambra, consider a nice hike in Sierra Nevada. Monday is also a slow day (religious day?), and many things closed. So would mean two full days really in Granada.

May 2, Thursday, Granada to Seville by train, stay five nights.

May 7, Tuesday, take bus to Ronda, stay three nights.

May 10, Friday, return to Seville by bus from Ronda.

May 10 or 11, Seville to Southern Portugal (Algarve) by bus

Once in Portugal, explore Algarve for two full days, then take a train to Lisbon. Spent time there, in Sintra and hopefully Porto.

If we get tired of Seville, can add a day trip to Cordoba and another to Cadiz.

The Arctic

 

I sent this article to a friend in 2014.

Alaska is going to be an even sweeter deal as the Arctic ice melts and gives countries with territorial claims an opportunity to search for oil and gas reserves. Russia has the biggest piece of the pie, Canada second, we're maybe next, then Denmark. The Russkies already have planted a flag on the seabed, and they have arctic military bases and more icebreaker ships than anybody. I think they are also already shipping and receiving goods to/from Asia through the Bering Straight more months out of the year due to the melting ice. It's a faster route that way than going through the Suez canal, which I think has been the main way for decades.  - message to friend in 2020

December 2020

I sent this out in April '22.

With the faster melting of ice, it will open up the region for shorter sea trade routes and mineral exploration. - April '22

Russia Deploys All Eight Nuclear Icebreakers for First Time to Keep Arctic Export Routes Open

Chinese Girls

Harvest Season

Triangle Cushion

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The Ultimate Guide To Using A Thai Triangle 3-Fold Pillow

Kade and I bought one of these in the Thai riverside town, Nong Khai. We ended up bringing it to Asheville, NC (USA).

Cyril

I checked out a Russian cultural atlas from the library and I'm learning how the Russian Orthodox Church got established.  Way back in 800 or so, two missionaries from the Byzantine empire (modern day Turkey) were called to come to that Slavic part of the world in order to translate scriptures and work on perfecting an alphabet. One missionary was Cyril, which is how the cyrillic alphabet was derived. At the time, the ruler of the Slavic people (pre-Russia) believed that the Byzantines were highly educated and cultured and they had a belief system that would keep the barbaric tribes from warring. - 2009 email

Click here to learn more.

Monument to Cyril and Methodius in Moscow