Friday, January 5, 2018

Top Food and Places in Bangkok, Thailand

Vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbacOHEupGk 

Travel Period: 5D4N

Travel Mode, Time & Cost:

SG - DMK, Don Mueang - SG
Flight: Air Asia
Flight Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
Cost: SGD 417.50 inclusive of hotel / pax (Booked via Air Asia Go)

Accommodation:

Mandarin Hotel managed by Centre Point

Remarks: Definitely one of the better 4-stars hotel I had stayed. Good service, free shuttle to hot picks location, sufficient amenities and facilities.

Visa:

Malaysians / Singaporeans travel visa free.
You can check your visa requirements here: https://airasia.traveldoc.aero/

General Remarks:

i) This is definitely a shopping city, perfect for the ladies (But honestly, this trip, my man bought more than me, if you care less about brands)

ii) Great for massage and spa

iii) If you love Thai cuisine, this is just perfect. From pork skewers to tom yum goong, it is love. Be prepared to get spiced up!

iv) Generally, everything here is relatively cheap where you can enjoy maximum satisfaction with any budget.

v) Taxi in Bangkok is cheap especially if you are a group of 3 or 4. Opt for meter taxi but you can give in to fixed rates if you find them reasonable. (i.e Pratunam Market to Sam Yan is about 100 baht) or, for a guarantee rate, just use Grab Taxi / Just Grab(higher frequency) if you are leaving from a tourist hot-spot.

*SGD 1 = THB 24.39 as of January 2018.

P.S Sorry for some of the low quality photos as they were cropped from my video as I was too busy filming.

Food:

1) Wang Lang Market
Transport: Wang Lang Pier / Meter Taxi (less than 100 baht from Sam Yan)
Remarks: Good for down-to-earth local foodies! The market is not that huge so you can walk around and you'll be able to find these stalls. You can pay attention to the crowd which mostly consists of locals.

Wang Lang Bakery - Stuffed Bread (Over 50 varieties) : 50 baht (SGD 2.05)
Boat Noodle (Pork / Beef) : 25 - 35 baht (SGD 1 - 1.50) / bowl (Love their pork broth!)
Teriyaki Pork : 40 baht (SGD 1.70) / small packet
Local Fruits (Pomegranate, Jackfruit, Pineapple, Mango): 20 baht (SGD 0.80) / unit or pack
Custard Puffs : 20 baht (SGD 0.80)/ box , 50 baht / 3 boxes (I prefer the Chocolate puffs, clearly)
2) Artbox, Suanluang Square
Remarks:
1) Please check the dates and venue from their Facebook page as Artbox is a moving market.
2) You'll find many interesting and new, modified version of food. Some of it are good, some of it are merely for Instagram.
3) Price will definitely be on the higher end as compared to local market / road side stalls.

 Fire-torched Australia beef with salt & pepper : 180 baht (SGD 7.40) - The caption is cause my dad loves this. (so do I)
 Fun-filled baos, which nice to see but just okay to eat: 20 - 35 baht / bao (SGD 0.82 - 1.40)
3) Phan Khom, 7th Floor, Central World
Transport: BTS to Siam / Chit Lom.
Remarks: It was a random walk-in, but the food surprises. I don't really recall their prices but they are reasonable, definitely cheaper than the long-queued Nara.

Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimps : 200 baht (SGD 8)
Note: This was from Chatuchak Central Food Market. Huge, but tasted bland.
Pandan Fried Chicken : 150 baht (SGD 6)
 Coconut Pudding - TOO GOOD TO IGNORE : 50 baht (SGD 2)
4) Chatuchak Weekend Market
Transport:
1) BTS to Mo Chit (Walk about 5-10 minutes to the market)
2) MRT to Kamphaengpecth Station (In the market)
Remarks: For food you bought facing the roads, you can always buy them and bring them to stalls that has seats which usually serve main dishes.

Pork Skewers / Pork Sausages (Located at Chathuchak Food Market Central, sidelined stores with no seating) : 10 - 20 baht (SGD 0.40 - 0.80) / stick 
You can also find rather good pork skewers at Siam Paragon Food Market (Basement) for 20-35 baht (SGD 0.80 - 1.40)/ stick
Mango Sticky Rice & Mango Shake (Located at Chathuchak Food Market Central, sidelined stores with no seating) : 50 baht (SGD 2)/ each
Coconut Ice Cream (Located right outside of MRT Kamphaengpecth) : 60 baht / cup / 3 toppings
5) Supermarket / 7-11 / Grocery Store
Remarks: Superb quick breakfast drink/meals whenever you're rushing / always hungry. You should try the frozen pork gyoza if there is a free-to-use microwave in your hotel.

Tofusan Organic Soy (Black Sesame) : 35 baht (SGD 1.44) - Thick, smooth black sesame soy texture which is filling and tasted awesome.
6) Lek Seafood Restaurant
Location: Below Chong Nonsi station
Remarks: Our steamed fish was not as fresh as we hope it will be but other than that, it was good.

Steam Lime Fish : 400 baht (SGD 16.40)
Tom Yum Goong : 250 baht (SGD 10.25)
Stir-Fry Sambal Lala : 190 baht (SGD 8) 
7) After You Cafe
Location: Full list of branches here. (i.e Siam Paragon, Siam Central)
Remarks: Best Shibuya toasts! A mini one is good for twin-sharing if you already had a fulfilling meal.

Ferrero Mini Toast (Iced tea is complimentary) : 190 baht (SGD 8)
8) Plaeng Nam Bird Nest, Chinatown
Location: 47 Plaeng Nam Rd, Bangkok
Remarks: Generous portion of bird nest with the friendliest lady boss.

3rd Grade Bird Nest in Coconut : 250 baht (SGD 10.25)

8) Fuji Japanese Restaurant, DMKLocation: Don Mueang Airport, Departure
Remarks: Prepare to queue during peak hours as it is the only Japanese restaurant at departure. Food was good (I only tried cooked bento, not sashimi) with reasonable price.

Grilled Salmon and Pork Bento (comes with a bowl of salad, rice and ridiculously salty miso soup) : 280 baht (SGD 11.57)

Places (Leisure Visit):

1) Chocolate Ville
Transportation:
1) Just Grab - 250 baht (SGD 10)/way (1.5 hour)
2) Meter taxi + Tollway - 500 baht (SGD 20)/way (1 hour)
*Both rates are to and from Sam Yan.

Remarks: Good place to chill and snap some Insta worthy pictures. Definitely one of the prettiest place in Bangkok. The food served by their only outdoor restaurant is good but relatively spicy from most food I had in Bangkok.

Open-space dining at Chocolate Ville
 Table / Barrel(s) for 2 are usually located by the lake (Lovey duvey couples)
Chocolate Ville toasts as appetiser are rather good.
2) Asiatique
Transportation:
1) BTS to Saphan Taksin , free boat shuttle. Be prepared to queue during peak hours (6pm - 8pm)
2) Meter taxi from Sam Yan - 120 baht (SGD 5) Do bear in mind the traffic at that area is bad.

Remarks: Good for chilling and eating. You may go for a ride on their ferris wheel at 400 baht (SGD 16.40) but there's nothing to shout for. Don't bother shopping here, Chatuchak and Pratunam beats it hands down in terms of price and variety.

Get your angle, position and camera ready!

Places (Shopping):

1) Pratunam Market
Transportation:
1) BTS - Ratchathewi (Walk 10-15 mins)
2) Meter taxi : 80 baht (SGD 4) from Sam Yan

Remarks: Good for wholesale purchase (3 pieces and above) to get better deals. Otherwise, it's alright cause it's already a deal. Walk further in for super dirt cheap bargain [i.e One denim jacket for 100 baht (SGD 4)]
 2) Platinum Mall
Location: Opposite Pratunam Market / Big C Supercentre (So put them in one day)
Transportation:
1) BTS - Ratchathewi (Walk 10-15 mins)
2) Meter taxi : 80 baht (SGD 4) from Sam Yan

Remarks: Similar to Pratunam Market but air-conditioned. There will also be less super dirt cheap bargain which you may find in Pratunam.
3) Chatuchak Weekend Market
Transportation:
1) BTS to Mo Chit (Walk about 5-10 minutes to the market)
2) MRT to Kamphaengpecth Station (In the market)

Remarks: Huge selection and variety from clothing to hardware to your needy pets. Love to buy snacks for my dog here!
4) Big C Supercentre
Transportation:
1) Meter taxi to Big C - 100 baht (SGD 4) from Sam Yan
Location: Opposite Central World / 5 mins walk from Platinum Mall

Remarks: There is nothing you can't buy here. (i.e Tom yum paste, tom yum instant noodle, pocky, pretz, seaweed, peanuts, lays and even something for your pup; etc) Buy your bulk here and no where else will be cheaper.

P.S Stolen picture from Google.
5) Siam Paragon
Transportation:
1) BTS to Siam
2) Just Grab to Siam (From experience, I will never ask any taxi drivers / tuk tuk cause once they hear you are going to Siam Paragon as a tourist, they just assume you are rich and they will charge you a ridiculous amount of fixed fare.)
3) Meter Taxi (if you hotel provides the service to call their regular meter taxis for you - Mandarin Hotel does!)

Remarks: All your luxury/ unnecessary needs. They have a slightly atas (high-end) supermarket (i.e Jaya Grocer / FairPrice Finest) which you can buy some good stuffs too!

Your life may not turn out to be the song you want; but as long as we are here, we still can dance.