Zanotti

Italian food in Bangkok? Sure, why not!

Here are some Italian foodies @Zanotti.

Some complimentary bread.

Lobster soup

Salad with bacon bits

Pork sausage with blue cheese

Spaghetti Carbonara

Sea bass - yes it's somewhere there. Hidden under all that sauce.

Profiteroles 

Caramel Custard - yeah, the custard is trying to run away..

Overall, I can only say the food was ok. And this really is a compliment after my experience there. Well, here's my story behind it. I had the pork sausage. All is going well while I was eating it though bit salty.. Then, I was cutting it and hello hello, there's a piece of aluminium foil in it!!! I'm not the get angry easily person so I was pretty chilled.. And we got them to changed it for me. So I had 1 1/2 pork sausage. Lol. 

Price is quite reasonable considering the atmosphere of the place which we expected it more expensive that it is. There's the lunch set while I was there and I think it was around 300 baht. Lunch time was quite packed and the place was exceedingly tight. I'm not sure it's because they had many people that day, or the tables are placed close to each other or the restaurant is just too small for its capacity.

It's along Sala Daeng road and nearest train is MRT Silom. 

Adios. Or something. I'm not sure what's the right Italian word...

Thai Om Noms

Ok, finally some Thai yummilicous foodies.

I just love Thai food. From those street food to the gourmet ones, they are all so yummy yum yum.

I don't usually take much pictures of Thai food cos I pretty much have them daily when I'm out. So, here are some food that I've managed to snap some shots of.

Klang Soi Restaurant

Home cooked Thai dishes served to you instead of you cooking it.

Grilled Eel with a BBQ sort of chilly sauce

Soup with Egg-pudding like 

Fried Long Beans with Chilli

It's all yummy yummy! Missed out a dish I think: Fried minced pork on bread.

It's menu has a long list of dishes which really gave me a headache trying to decide what I shall have.. So, my colleagues helped to order them all instead haha.

Price is reasonable so there's no excuse for you not to come here and try if you're in Bangkok!

Where?

It's on Sukhumvit Soi 49. A minute walk down the road from Samitevej Sukhumvit Hospital. Walking here from the BTS is not advisable. I've been there, done that, and soaked in sweat when I reached the hospital.. Just grab a cab and mentioned the hospital. 

Or Tor Kor Market

So, you're in Bangkok and one place you definitely gotta go to is Chatuchak. You're gonna be spending your whole day shopping at Chatuchak and your tummy will be screaming at you because you've been ignoring it. Sure there are some snacks there about in Chatuchak. But for lunch, you've so got to come to Or Tor Kor Market! 

You have to walk out to the edge of Chatuchak at the other end away from the park. Go to that corner, it's around section 1, 24, 26. You would have to cross the main road, walk a little more and you will reach the market. The place sell marketish stuff and of course, glorious food..

 Siew Yok - there is this red banner pork selling shop. It's that.

Fried oysters with egg and pork satay

Steamed fish roe aka otak-otak

Durian with sticky rice

Here's a map to the place from Chatuchak. Or Tor Kor market is at the left bottom corner.

Foodland 

For you lazy folks out there who rather not brave the sun for om noms or need a quick yummy meal after doing some grocery shopping. Come here.

Foodland is basically a supermarket. But, some of the branches come with a restaurant section. This particular one I went to is on ThongLor road, under Pan Pacific Hotel if I'm not mistaken.

Pat Thai

Fried vermicelli. Spicy!

Fried fat noodles

Fried dumplings.

Ok, this is about it. I've been to several other places as well but like I said, I don't take too many pictures of Thai cuisines... Though, I will definitely post them up if I took any other pictures! 

Farewell.

Movie in Bangkok

So, you need a break and want to catch a movie. In Bangkok.

Where to? An obvious answer would be to hit the shopping malls, travel up to the highest floor and *BAM*

Cinema. Movies. Popcorns. 

Prices range at about 180 Baht to infinity or so. I say infinity because the prices goes up to so ridiculously expensive that I stopped checking for the price. In fact, I already consider 180 Baht expensive for me. This largely results from the fact that I come from a country where a RM12 (about 120-130 Baht) is pretty much average price and I still consider that expensive. 

Therefore, I shall be sharing with you places that you can watch cheap movies! You watch the same Hollywood blockbusters but pay a much cheaper price! 

(At these prices, it's definitely not IMAX or such)

Cinemas: Lido Cinemas and Scala

Location: Siam Square (exit BTS Siam to Siam Square and walk along the main road towards MBK. Keep your eyes peeled to your left and you will soon spot Lido Cinemas. Walk a bit further and Scala greets you)

Price: Ranges about 80-100 Baht (from experience)

Magical website giving you the visibility of all cinema shows and times:

http://www.movieseer.com/th/showtimes.aspx

Here's my experience.

Both cinemas are old which perhaps translate to the cheaper prices. But personally, I think Lido is real old kinda old. Whereas Scala is well-kept vintage old. Which is why I choose to go Scala instead.  I've paid 80 Baht (for Percy Jackson) and 100 Baht (for Thor) before. Scala has only one theater so each day it will only showcase one movie. I really like how they kept the vintage architecture and maintained it so. The cinema layout is like a theater (and I think it does host to occasional live shows) and there's a moderate sized stage at the screen area. Chairs are comfy soft which I like it fine that way. But don't ask me how old it is.. A box of Popcorns is just 30 baht. While only yesterday I paid 80 baht for Popcorns at a shopping mall cinema :/ 

Here are some Scala pictures.

The end.

Non-Thai Dessert

After You

Here's a short blog-review thing on After You. 

After You is a dessert shop in Thailand as Snowflakes is to Malaysia. Though with fewer branches.

They sell Shibuya Toast which is basically toasted thick butter bread with ice cream topped on it. I like how it's toasted real nicely that the outsides are crisp and insides are soft. It's also real thick that bread. So, monstrous eaters like me always attempt to fit that thick bread in my mouth.. And, unless you're a big eater, do share your Shibuya Toast as to attempt to finish one piece is quite a feat especially after you've had your main meal.

After You is frequently packed with young urban city folks, especially at night times. People (speaking for myself as well..) would wait outside the shop to get a seat in the place and a fancy piece of Shibuya Toast. After You also offers other desserts such as sticky date cake, apple crumble, chocolate cakes, etc.

The pricing wise, in my personal opinion, is on a wee high side. It's about 150 baht average and some are priced higher. 

Banana split

I think this is the caramel toast

Strawberry toast

Where can you find this shop?

Thong Lor

Siam Paragon

How to get there?

Thong Lor - I've been to this branch twice and both times it was packed! So, have patience or try to come earlier. Anyway, you can either grab a cab to this place or if you're like me, a cheapo, you can take a train then walk. Do note that is a pretty long walk.. 15 min or so.. Anyhow, here's the route starting from BTS ThongLo aka point A. 

Okay, it may probably take a little bit longer than 15 minutes..

Siam Paragon - Simply jump on a BTS and stop at BTS Siam. And, Siam Paragon is just there. Since you're here, you can window shop/real shop around that area. 

The End!

If you'd like to learn Thailand's history..

If you happen to be at Phra Nakhon district (it's in Bangkok, don't worry) or nearby you should totally go to these places below. 

Bangkok Corrections Museum

Yep, the name explains it all.

It's a bit eerie and pretty old. Anyhow, I couldn't enter as it's not open on weekends so I could only peep in from outside. Yeah, I've a day job so no adventures on weekdays for me :(

It's at a corner of Rommaninat Park.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok_Corrections_Museum


Rommaninat Park

Since the museum was not open, I strolled around the park. Pretty average sized park.

Here are some random pictures I took.

Park gates

Front grand doors at a portion of the park I slipped in ;)

Photoshoot at the other side, facing the park, of the grand doors above

Outdoor gym

After my lovely stroll, I moved north.


Monuments of sorts

I walked past this huge temple, Wat Suthat.

I didn't went in there so here are some pictures from the outside.

One of the several entrances

The Giant Swing

At the end of the temple is a roundabout. On this roundabout is this iconic monument.

The Giant Swing.

Yes, some chap did swing about in it awhile back.

Then, I continue walking way up north to check out another monument.

The Democracy Monument

Yeah, another monument on a roundabout ish road.

However, please be aware that many protest organizers in Bangkok like to have their protests here. So, kindly avoid this place during the protest period. Unless, of course, you're joining it..

Then, I turned east trying to figure a way home when I bumped into this place..

Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall

If you have hours to spare and enjoy learning about Thailand's history and culture, here's the place to be!

For just 100 Baht, you can join 2 tours/exhibition for a total of 4 hours. While there is a guide to bring the group around, do note that he will be conducting it in Thai. Not to worry though! Because, with a deposit of 1000 Baht, you can borrow a pair of headphones for English explanations as you go to the different rooms etc. 

Here are some snapshots of the insides (yes, feel free to take all the pictures you want!).

When I was there, I received a brochure together with a Muse Pass Ticket which entitles me to use their shuttle service to these places:

Museum Siam, Discovery Museum

Loha Prasat

King Prajadhipok Museum

Unfortunately, after my 4 hours spent at the exhibition hall, it was getting pretty late so I headed back home, for real. The pass was valid for a certain period but I didn't get to go back to this place within its validity :( Bummer..

Do go if you have a chance and tell me bout it :) 

Here's some info on the exhibition hall.

Opening hrs: Tues-Sun and public hol 10am-7pm

www.nitasrattanakosin.com

www.facebook.com/nitasrattanakosin

Boat ride

So, I had to go back in 'style'.

Ok, not really, at all.. It was more like I was feeling broke and didn't want to take a cab back. So, my route back home was this:

Walk - boat - train - walk

All those modes of transportation are fairly normal for me, except the boat part. 

Some things to note about the boat.

1. The boat goes around on the river. The river has an exquisite smell.. 

2. Turnaround rate at the ferry is pretty fast.

3. Speed is fast.

4. Cheap!

5. If you're sitting at the side of the boat, pull up the plastic sheet-like curtain. Why? Well, unless you want to be splashed with the exquisite smelling river water then I greatly advise you to do so..

6. Ferry piers have no name signs/names are in Thai. If you can't read Thai, I would advise you to get someone to write down your destination on a paper before boarding the boat. Then, befriend anyone sitting nearby you and tell them to let you know if it's your pier-stop.

Here are some lovely boat-view pictures.

Three cheers to travellin' like a local! 

Hip, hip, hooray!

Ok.

The end.

Late start

Yay, my first post! 

So, I'm starting this blog to document my adventures. 

Maybe no one will read this ever but hey, what the heck, let's do this!

Thanks, Sarah, for the encouragement ;)

Ok, a little bit of background.. I'm a Malaysian and I've been in Bangkok for few months now. So, I shall be posting stuff to 'clear' my backlogs.

Yeehah! Let the adventure begin!