A Japanese Christmas and a Thai New year.

[mrs.dr.ron]

So my 5 cents worth so far.
I liked the Kimpton room, but the bathroom has an extremely slippery floor when wet, Ron slipped and landed on his bum ! I did not like the dogs in the restaurant on the ground floor, and I an not taking little dogs - there were great Danes and large bull dogs, barking at each other !! And I like dogs !!

The Westin, we hadn't stayed there in ages, the ex lounge was great - good food and wine, lovely staff. We were on the 23rd floor but the traffic noise and especially the trains - you need ear plugs to sleep ! And the bathroom is dark, so putting on make up was a challenge !!
We are now at the Sheraton Royal Orchid on the river - we used to stay here a lot in 70s to 90s, and not much has changed, we were upgraded to a suite at the front of the hotel with great views of the river. But the room is in need of a refurb, the curtains are ripped and the bathroom is very dark. The lounge is a bit of a zoo at happy hour !!
So that's my 5 cents worth I am off to Icon Siam shopping. !!

 

[drron]

A minor hiccup on arrival at the Westin as I had 2 bookings. One for the first night, the second for the next 6 nights after I made a mistake with the date of our flights. I had requested when booking the extra night that it be combined with the other booking and with a second email at the beginning of December. They answered back that it was done but it wasn't. I didn't just change the original booking as to do would have added another $A43 a night,
We were uograded to the executive floor and of course club access. As we could choose to go to the restaurant if we wanted to I chose the extra 1000 points as the amenity. So to the room.










The view including an obligatory car park.





And soon it was sunset.

 

[drron]

And more of the sunset.






Now it was New Years Eve and if I had thought about it should have gone to the Royal Orchid Sheraton on the river first. You certainly don't get much of a view of the fireworks. There was however a quite noisy party on the roof of the Four Points.

 

[drron]

New years day and we went over to Terminal 21 to book our pedicures and manicure. We go to the same place every time we visit Bangkok. It took Mrsdrron a while to get me to join her but now I really like the pampering. Was also good to see my favourite staff member back after Covid. Had been missing the previous 2 post Covid visits. She is a Lady boy there is no doubt being taller than me. But also a snarky manager on one occasion came over to me as she was about to start and said do you mind if HE does your nails. I said no SHE is the best one who has done my nails previously. So from very little conversation we now usually have a good chat.
So with appointments the next day we just walked around. They still had their Christmas decorations up.










Then down to the supermarket. You always find some interesting things.







And we love the small packs and veggies they have. Great when only 1 or 2 of you. This butternut squash for example.

 

[drron]

Back to the Westin and their decorations.








Then the sunset.










Diner was snacking in the Exec lounge. We really enjoyed the mango and sticky rice.

 

[drron]

After getting our nails done we decided to have some lunch. It was nearly 2pm but the food court was packed with long lines at the best stalls. We ended up having a coconut ice cream and then went looking for somewhere else to eat. Fuji another of our favourite restaurants only had a short line so that's were we ate. Yes second day in Bangkok and we go Japanese.
Fried squid.


Salmon roe.


Eringi in garlic sauce.


Enoki in a blnket.


And salmon sashimi.


No wine or beer because between 1400 t0 1700 Thailand restaurants become alcohol free zones.

After lunch I went for a walk. I wanted to check out the Marriott Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park. We normally have stayed at the Marriott Mayfair Apartments Langsuan but they closed at Christmas so we needed somewhere else for 2024 end year. So I walked down Sukhumvit Road to the Phrom Phong BTS station. Always interesting to see how English is used.


And Cannabis shops everywhere.


A nd then a new Mall which looks fabulous. The Emsphere. Still a Christmas tree outside.

 

[drron]

There was still a Christmas Market.





And I liked the name of this food outlet.


And a very good supermarket.






Next is Benchasiri Park.

 

[drron]

Then the Emporium Department store.




I walked down Sukhumvit Soi 24 to the Marriott. Decided it looked pretty good so likely will stay there next Christmas/New year. Then back to the Westin. Crossing Sukhumvit road. Note the motor cycles getting a head start and the fellow pushing his food cart across the road even though none of the pedestrians have started to cross the road. No wonder that in the week ending January 4th 194 people died on Thai roads. 85% of accidents involved motor cycles.

 

[drron]

The next day I decided to walk up to the four Points and continue around that area. However following the road where we can see the Four Points only leads to their loading dock and it is a dead end. So walked a few narrow lanes with the first following a Klong.


Then a Health Clinic.


I came acroos an access road through a building which had become a market.


On the other side from the market stalls was a Lawson's convenience store. They must like strawberries and cream.




Came out onto a major roadway with modern buildings and reflections.

 

[drron]

Quite a few upmarket Apartment blocks often with lovely grounds.










Then came across a lane with many Grab riders.


Thought there must have been something there so walked down to take a look. It was a large market both general and food outlets.


It's name.


But easy to find because over the road from the lane is this building.

 

[drron]

A few of the food outlets had some limited English. I found that google translate often has difficulty recognising Thai.














Takoyaki.


I liked these bowls.

 

[drron]

I came back to this place.




Because it had Khao Soi one of my favourites of northern cuisine. 70 baht for a small bowl. So I sat here.




Yummy.
I then continued my walk. Noticed a market across the road so aimed to come back to that. But there was a major klong ahead so I kept going towards that.


A park that was closed off.


And buildings that lined the Klong.

 

[drron]

That is the airport line above the roadways.
Down in the Klong was a canal ferry.








Then I took my life in my hands and crossed the road. Even though it was a pedestrian crossing with a walk sign motor cycles, tuk tuks and the occasional car came through the red lights.

 

[drron]

More funny English.


Someone rich lives down here.


With gates to match.


This sign was over the Eye hospital.


And a decent looking restaurant next door.


I got back to the market but they were nearly all packed up.


A funny sign for a hotel.


A flower stall was still going.


I then came to a little oasis in the middle of the high rises.

 

[drron]

Good facilities.












And orchids on the trees.

 

[drron]

Now heading back to the hotel. A nice house with large grounds but you wouldn't want to scale their fence.

 

[drron]

Then went through a seedier part of town.








And if you don't get what you want in the bars this might have t do.


And finally back to the Asoke intersection.

 

[Seat0B]

I’ve seen this very frequently in Japan, but not elsewhere before this photo of yours!

 

[drron]

I took it for that reason. Then googled Lawsons and found that they are owned by Mitsubishi which probably explains it.

 

[drron]

Sometimes when I go for a walk I set out with definite aim. Sometimes I just wander around and sometimes a bit of both. So I set out to visit a large market not all that far from the Westin. Instead of going the direct route I set off down a side street. At first like a lot of other Bangkok streets.


Though I didn't expect to see this sign.


Over on the View from My Office thread I was talking about cheap food in Bangkok so I was going to find some really cheap meals. I did find that Google translate isn't that great translating the Thai that street vendors use. For example for this sign -


It would only translate the middle line which read 2 dishes for 50 baht. Just past this group of vendors a mass of people were coming out of a laneway. I decided to investigat. It was another pretty large covered market and mainly food vendors. So here are a few. Pretty cheap here but the standard was not as good as yesterday's market. So I didn't eat here.





Little Taiyaki.