I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand’s vibrant capital city a couple of weeks ago; my last visit to the City of Angels (otherwise known as Krung Thep) was approximately one year ago.

What’s new in Bangkok? Besides a number of new boutiquish hotels and upscale Italian Restaurants popping up on the scene, not much has changed.

As usual, traffic jams are horrendous in the greater Bangkok metropolitan area, especially in the inner city. As an example, to get to the Emporium Shopping Center from the President Park Hotel, located on Sukhumvit Soi 22/24 – a distance of little over one mile - it will take up to 25 minutes by taxi. The way to get beat the traffic is to take a motorbike taxi for 20-30 baht; the motorbike taxi will weave in and out of traffic, and get you there in a quick and efficient 5 minutes

What else is new? The BTS Skytrain fares have increased somewhat. The minimum fare about a year ago was only 10 baht (approximately 30 cents USD) and it has since increased a whopping 50% to 15 baht (approximately 46 cents USD) – this fare increase has had a significant impact on the average Thai person’s pocketbook but for the tourist, the fare increase is no big thing!

A change for the better - The President Park Hotel, with their improved signage has made it a lot easier for their visitors to get to their Fitness Center. I admit to have gotten lost in prior years. Although getting there is still like negotiating a rat’s maze, all you have to do is follow the clearly demarcated yellow line. Sort of reminds me of the famous Elton John song, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

From my room in the Mayflower Tower, it will usually take 8-9 minutes to reach their “Feel Good Factory” (Fitness Center) Congratulations to the management for the much needed improvement!

One of the great things about BANGKOK is that one can get a full beauty treatment – haircut, facial massage & scrub, manicure & pedicure and foot massage - for a very reasonable price. As is my custom, I usually get my treatment the first or 2nd day after I arrive. Even though there any number of beauty salons that are less than 200 meters away from the President Park (Sukhumvit Soi 22) - the hotel that I have stayed the last four years - I always return to The Arena Beauty Salon, an establishment located a good 15 -20 minutes away by taxi on Sukhumvit Soi 16. While the Arena may be not as convenient as other salons, it is hands down my favorite. Whenever I walk through the door, the owner, Khun Mahuttida, who speaks reasonably good English, always greets me with a warm smile and welcomes my return; she values my business.

On my last visit, after Mahuttida gave me a very close haircut, trimmed my eyebrows and mustache, she had me go into the back room and lie down on a reclining chair. Before you know it, four of her girls were working over me at the same time. While one gal was giving me a facial massage and scrub - applying all sorts of exfoliating creams to my face - the other three were busy giving me a foot massage, a manicure and pedicure respectively. Talk about getting the Royal Treatment. Walking out the door about 90 minutes later, I felt like a new man. Total damage 1350 baht (38.00USD)

As I strolled down the street towards the Sukhumvit, I was greeted by many lovely THAIgers who called out to me – “Handsum Man, come here.”

What is the most practical gift that one can buy their friends & family when they are on vacation? If you answered T-Shirts, you have answered this proverbial question the same way I have. In fact, on my most recent trip to Thailand and Malaysia, this is exactly what I planned to do. Needless to say, it took awhile to find the right T-shirts - I wanted to buy something that was both tasteful in design and of fairly high quality. See T-Shirt story

Then I got to thinking, while I am it, wouldn’t it be nice to buy Alfie, my sister’s precocious toy poodle, a T-Shirt too? After all, I’ve seen small dogs in the United States outfitted with T-shirts during the hot summer months and sweaters in the cold of the winter. What initially started as somewhat as a lark in my mind, the idea of buying Alfie - who I affectionately refer to as my dog nephew - a T-shirt, became a serious quest.

So here I was in Bangkok, Thailand on the final day of my 30-day odyssey trying to fulfill my mission - finding a T-shirt for my dog nephew, Alfie. While working out early morning in the hotel’s fitness center, I asked one of the trainers “Where is the nearest store that I can but a T-shirt for my sister’s toy poodle?” According to him, there was a dedicated pet boutique just around the corner from the hotel, President Park, on Sukhumvit Soi 24. Sounded ideal, as I didn’t relish the idea of running all over town trying to find Alfie’s gift.

After finishing all my other errands, towards the end of the day I stumbled into Boo Blossom, the dedicated pet boutique. Shaking my head in disbelief, I couldn’t believe how close it was to my hotel. After consulting with the young sales clerk, she suggested that I buy a little Thai style outfit for Alfie. I was quickly sold on the idea and let her choose the proper outfit – one with an appropriate Thai motif. Total damage 350 baht (10USD). Mission accomplished as I quickly handed her money, giving her a small tip to boot.

The rest in history – judging by the way Alfie was seen dancing with joy in his new Thai outfit, it was a worthwhile investment, not to mention how this gift made my sister very happy as well. See pictures.

Boo Blossom Pet Boutique - Sukhumvit Soi 24, Bangkok, Thailand
e-mail: blossom_boo@yahoo.com

Farangs, like myself, rarely hire a motorbike taxi to take us anyplace in Bangkok as it is considered very dangerous – these daredevils on wheels are known to be somewhat reckless as they weave in and out of traffic. Furthermore most of the drivers do not provide their passengers with a crash helmet. It is not unusual to see these guys driving their vehicle on the sidewalk (sometime with passengers), as they hurry to stay ahead of the traffic on clogged Bangkok thoroughfares. On more than one occasion, I have been walking on the sidewalk along the Sukhumvit, a main road in uptown Bangkok, only to have to dodge a motorcycle taxi coming directly at me. WTF? I know of many bargirls who wear permanent souvenir(s) on their bodies - usually on an arm or leg – as a result of being involved in a motorbike accident.

Regular taxis are a safer option, albeit slower option. The meter rate for a taxi starts at 35 baht (about 1.00USD) – very cheap - and increases by 1 baht per for every 3-5 minutes, while motorbike taxis are even cheaper yet, costing a mere 20 baht for a short trip but oh so dangerous. 97% of the time, I will take a taxi all things being equal. However every now and then, when I’m in an extreme hurry and traffic is really choked up, I will take gamble and roll the dice by hiring a motorbike taxi.

On my last night in Bangkok, I took such a chance - I had a farewell dinner date at 7:30PM with Khun Moongmink at a small vegetarian restaurant on Soi 26 near the Sukhumvit and it was very important that I not be late. Standing outside the President Park Hotel (Sukhumvit Soi 22/24) at 7:10PM, I surveyed the traffic conditions - even though I was only 1.5 miles away from my destination, I realized I would never make it on time by taxi. The choice was to incur the wrath of Moongmink for being late or risk life and limb by taking a motorbike taxi. Choosing the lesser of two evils, I had the bellman at President Park hook me up with the best motorbike taxi that he could find and I told him to inform the driver that I would give him a big tip if he got me to my destination, safe and sound.

Looking at my watch as I hopped on to the motorbike seat, it was exactly 7:17PM when we departed. Sure enough, the driver took some short cuts, weaved in and out traffic and got me to my destination at 7:25PM in one piece. As I hopped off the bike, I waiied the driver and thanked him in Thai, handing him 40 baht and motioning with my hands for him to keep the change. As I ambled into the restaurant, I made a prayer to the Great Buddha in the Sky for my safe deliverance.

At the President Park Hotel in Bangkok (Sukhumvit Soi 22/24), a very unique show happens every day. It is quite entertaining – nowhere else in Bangkok have I seen this type of show. As a hotel guest attempts to cross the street in the pedestrian crosswalk, one of the doorman jumps out of nowhere and carefully escorts the guest to the other side, holding out his red stop sign for all drivers of the various motorized vehicles to see. I know that this busy curve that connects Soi 24 with Soi 22 can be a very precarious crossing - at any time of the day, many cars (especially taxis) and many of Bangkok’s infamous motorcycle taxis can be observed whipping around this legendary curve.

As a veteran of navigating this famous crosswalk, I always remember to look over my right or left shoulder to make sure it is safe to cross. When I reach the center divider or the middle of the crosswalk, I have gotten in the habit of looking over my other shoulder to make sure the coast is clear before completing my passage. Of course, with President’s Parks Stop Sign men working 24/7, it makes the crossing that much easier. Sometimes, I like to just stand there and watch the show!

I returned to The NEST at the end of my stay to get a better feel for the place. The club has been hyped up in several publications including Conde Nast Magazine as the new “in place” in Bangkok. The club is especially popular with young, professional Bangkokians who are status conscious and want to be part of the scene. Taking a look at the drink menu, the club has sunk to the lowest common denominator by naming drinks with such sexually suggestive names like Blowjob etc. Now, I am not a prude or anything but you would think that a high-class club would refrain from this type of gutter vulgarity

Despite my disdain for the names of their drinks, I went ahead and ordered a Blowjob anyhow - which I affectionately renamed Blowjob by the Sea - since it was my last night in Thailand and I wanted go out with a bang. It was supposed to be a mixed concoction consisting of Baileys Irish Cream, Kahlua topped with whipped cream. When the waitress served me my drink - a tiny glass that consisted mostly of whipped cream with no more than 3 tablespoons of the liqueur sitting at the bottom - I voiced my displeasure. I was really expecting a more substantial drink in a larger glass (with considerably more alcohol) – it was like paying for a blowjob without getting blown. My date ordered some sort of fruit juice cocktail sans alcohol. Total damage 21.00USD. I sarcastically remarked to my ladyfriend that this was robbery but in a way I expected as much. Jokingly I said, “I should have ordered boom-boom in the jungle instead.”

While taking some pictures of the Bangkok Skyline, I chatted with four young upwardly mobile Thai ladies from Bangkok who were sitting together on one large love seat - one of the young ladies asked me if I wanted to take a picture of them but my date came over and voiced her displeasure, so I decided to forego the photo. The young ladies seemed to be enjoying themselves - it seems that Thais really don’t mind being ripped off as long as they go to a place which is considered high class. Would I return? Most likely no - maybe if they had an African or Reggae DJ night but hip-hop and the musical fare that the DJ was spinning is really not my cup of tea.

In summary, I was somewhat disappointed with THE NEST. While the club has some outstanding views of the Bangkok skyline and a cozy ambiance, the service is mediocre, the drinks are overpriced (which is standard for trendy clubs in Bangkok) and the entertainment fare is not up to my eclectic standards. My overall rating 5.5 out of 10!

I finally had the opportunity to visit THE NEST, Bangkok’s new rooftop open-air club and nightspot located on the top floor of the Fenix Hotel in the heart of the tourist zone. Since its grand opening earlier this year, The Nest had received a lot of publicity in various travel magazines as well as some hype from Calypso Island Chronicles

As my visit to The Nest coincided with the three day royal funeral ceremony (November 14-16) for the King’s recently departed sister, Princess Gaylani, I knew in advance that there would be no entertainment or alcoholic drinks being offered that night. Not a big deal for me! Before heading over to the club with my ladyfriend, I called up the Nest to see if they had a dress code. Apparently, they didn’t understand what I meant by dress code, so instead of wearing my usual shorts, T-shirt and flipflops, I opted to wear some slacks, one of my classy tropical shirts and dress shoes for fear of being turned away at the door.

After arriving at the club, I surveyed the scene – business was understandably slow due to the lack of entertainment that night; there were about 10 other customers, mostly couples Looking at the way the other patrons were dressed, I realized that I could have come to the club a little more scantily clad, as there was no apparent dress code. Lying down on one of the small, round comfortable beds with a small low lying white table situated in the middle, I ordered drinks - I had a pineapple juice and she had a passionfruit cocktail. After receiving the bill of $10USD for two fruit juices, I had a good laugh over the stateside like prices with my date. I wasn’t really shocked about the bill as I expected as much from this type of club. Before leaving, I took a couple of pictures of the Bangkok skyline at night.

Overall, the Nest is quite a romantic place and the view is outstanding. Upon my return to Bangkok, December 9-12, I will have to visit the Nest again to sample their entertainment and one of their intoxicating, exotic sounding cocktails.

Thailand is known around the world as ‘The Land of Smiles’ because Thai people are naturally friendly and usually greet strangers with a warm smile. Funny thing - when passing through immigration, the female officer did not make any eye contact with me, nor utter one word let alone flash a smile as she processed my passport. Looking around at her colleagues, I noticed the same type of behavior. Oh well…

When buying a can of been of beer at a local 7-11 in downtown Nan (Northern Thailand), I found it highly peculiar that the female clerk inserted a plastic straw in the bag. After all, who drinks beer with a straw? Asking my tour guide later on, he informed me that Thai people often drink beer with a straw. Who woulda thunk?

From what I have seen, Thai people in Bangkok are considerably more relaxed and less stressed than their counterparts from the San Francisco Bay Area (and the USA in general). You can see it on their faces and by observing their body language.

Sunday evening in Bangkok is a relatively lively affair compared to San Francisco. Passing through Bangkok after 7:00PM, I observed many young people congregating at such popular fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut and the like. Small streetside cafeterias and food stalls were also quite busy, as many Thai people prefer to eat out because it’s so cheap rather than do their own cooking. Shopping centers and malls also seemed to be doing a fairly brisk business despite the global recession. Shopping after all is one of Thai people’s favorite activities. Compared to Bangkok on a Sunday evening, San Francisco is like a ghost town.

My associate in Bangkok, Ms. MoongMink, is preparing a day’s outing for me upon my return to Thailand’s capital city. As a lover of flowers and plants, she will be taking me to a number of different places – one of Bangkok’s premier flower nurseries; Khru Waan’s two acre garden oasis, the largest private garden in Greater Bangkok; and to Seri Thai Park, Bangkok’s beautiful water park located in the heart of the city. I’m really looking forward to this all day excursion, as I will be seeing a part of Bangkok that most tourists never see. Here’s a report filed by Ms. MoongMonk on Seri Thai Park.

Seri Thai was opened to the public in 1987 as part of a flood prevention project initiated by His Majesty the King Rama IX. Once known as Bueng Kum (Bueng in Thai = a big pond) or Bueng Ta-thong, the vast public reservoir was renamed Seri Thai Park in honor of the Seri Thai or free Thai movement, on the occasion of 52nd anniversary of the end of World War II. The park covers an area of 145 acres; one section of the park was allocated for the creation of Bangkok Forest Park as a commemoration to King Rama IX’s 50th reigning anniversary. The forest park consists of 3 parts, namely Thawisuk, Rom-Sai and Charoenkarn, all of which are partly planted with perennial plants and allocated for flowers and fruit trees garden, both Thai and foreign species, as well as an island pavilion which is populated with 10 species of palm trees.

By the way, I will be arriving in Bangkok on Nov 12 – only 2 weeks from now. Don’t forget to subscribe to my RSS feed to ensure that you receive all my updates, reports and commentary on my whirlwind 30-day adventure to Thailand and Malaysia.

BANGKOK has a reputation for its eclectic mix of east and west. In this bustling cosmopolitan city, you’ll find Buddhist shrines and temples seamlessly blending in with modern skyscrapers and gaudy shopping centers, a variety of art galleries and cafes, an exciting (and sometime erotic) nightlife in addition to an abundance of excellent restaurants of every persuasion - Thai, French, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Middle Eastern etc – not to mention the tasty Thai dishes that are served up at many of the streetside food stalls. No wonder, Bangkok was rated as the top city destination in the world by readers of Travel and Leisure.

But beyond all this glitz and glamour, there is a part of Bangkok that few tourists ever see. Tucked away in many of the small residential gardens throughout the city are pockets of natural beauty and greenery. If you’re in Bangkok, you may want to follow the lead of my associate, Ms. Moongmink – this lady’s genuine passion in life is flowers. Last Sunday morning, Moongmink stepped out of her tiny apartment after the rains stopped and took a stroll through the alleyways of her neighborhood armed with her trusty pocket camera. Look at some of the beautiful and exotic flowers that she photographed along the way! During her little outing, she had to deal with some nasty barking dogs – fortunately they were behind barred gates. I guess their bark was bigger than their bite!