BACK TO BANGKOK
by Irene Butler
(For Travel Writers' Tales)

View of Chao Phraya River

Bangkok, with a population of 10 million is like many smaller cities rolled into one, each with a distinct feel and atmosphere! This is Rick's and my fifth visit to Thailand's capital, and this time around we try out two new districts we've not been to before.

Our breakfast view!

We first snuggle into the Ibis Bangkok Riverside Hotel, an older establishment with a resort feel. Breakfasting outside watching boats go by on the Chao Phraya River is a fine beginning to each day.

Eatery in Riverside District

The neighbourhood is a perfect fit with its many fine small eateries. Our favourite delight is Tom Yum (saucy rice noodles with shrimp) and Thai ice tea (intense blend of strong black tea laced with sweet syrup over crushed ice).

Floating Market – Iconsiam

A walk takes us to Iconsiam, Bangkok's latest palatial mall.

Lady Vendor Iconsiam

The whole first level is an indoor floating market with boat-shaped stalls on the central waterway which are surrounded by more stalls along walkways all selling local treats: from sizzling foods, to fresh fruits, to prepackaged everything. The levels above are like being in another world – high end shops in dazzling glass, marble, and chandeliers!

Iconsiam Porsche dealer

What!? A Porsche dealer on level four! Rick says they probably have a sky-way for test drives. The top level is a kid's “Superpark”.

Asiatique outdoor vendors

An evening at Asiatique is mega fun! This night bazaar opened in 2012 on the docks and in renovated warehouses from the former East Asiatic Company (Denmark based, founded in 1897 to conduct trade with Siam). Now, 1500 shops/stalls selling all manner of goods imaginable are in and around these old warehouses, including upscale restaurants that dish up around-the-world cuisine.

Bangcroc – a specialty

Trust us to find the most interesting open air eateries with hawker stalls loaded with tantalizing morsels. We chuckle at grilled crocodile labelled “Bangcroc”. Our choice nosh is skewers of chicken and steaming cobs of corn.

Chinatown entrance

A nice jaunt from our hotel is Chinatown. Yaowarat Road is a mega food street that bedazzles the senses with scents and movement.

Bustling Chinatown street

Being that it is almost the Lunar New Year the area is flooded with the colour red. A great experience!

It is now time to set up our second new home in the Triple-Y Hotel, which is part of the Samyan Mitrtown Shopping Complex in Pathum Wan District.

We cannot believe our eyes seeing familiar signage and a gigantic big red cup as our taxi pulls into the complex parking area.

Always have time for …

Can't be….but it is!! A newly opened Canadian coffee shop – Tim Hortons or “Timmy's” as we know it. A taste of home is a cup of brew and “timbits”.

...A taste of home

One could live in this complex without ever leaving the air conditioned comfort – six levels of restaurants/supermarket/clothing stores/pharmacies/cinema….and if craving some sunshine just walk out to the 1500 square metre rooftop garden.

Rooftop Garden Triple Y Hotel

Above level six is the hotel, then several floors of condos above. And beneath all this is the conveniently located underground link of the MRT (Metropolitan Rapid Transit).

Lumpini Park

A stroll around the nearby Lumpini Park is greenery plus! Its sizable manmade lakes are dotted with folks in swan-shaped paddle boats. Birds flit about, fish stir the water, and tortoises sit on logs, and you will not expect this….we come across several sizes of Asian Water Monitor Lizards warming themselves in the sun.

Asian Water Monitor Lizard

One of these impressive creatures nonchalantly crosses a roadway in front of us. They can grow to be a couple of metres in length, and there are about 300 currently in the lake living on dead fish/birds. They're said to be no threat to humans, although we were not about to test this by being too close.

King Power Mahanakhon Skyscaper

“That skyscraper looks like Godzilla took a swipe at it as he passed by” is Rick's take on seeing a structure with chunks of the exterior missing, which we are thinking was abandoned before it was finished. It turns out the King Power Mahanakhon is in the realm of unique architectural designs. This 77 floor skyscraper of retail/hotel/residences are in fact luxury plus and the condominiums are selling for between US$1.2-14million! The unconventional appearance is from a cuboid-surfaced spiral cut into the side of the building, for a “pixelated” look. There is a public rooftop observatory for a 360 panoramic view of the city, and a thrilling/chilling walk onto a glass floor jutting out from the building.

Bangkok greenery

Our new experiences on this trip were great fun and made even more enjoyable by the graciousness of locals. As always, Bangkok leaves us with warm and wonderful memories.

Picture Credits: Rick Butler