Chilling out in Bangkok.

[drron]

Now to the food. With the amusee bouche the scallop was nice but the beef bland.


They obviously forgot something when i was given my second glass of champagne as now I was served the mixed nuts. By yhis time I was on to the Medoc.


The duck salad was nice.


I had the Massaman beef. It didn't seem to be the major part of what was served and rather bland.




I was on to the Gamay now. I thought you could have either the cheese or sweet. In fact everyone was served both. The cheese before the sweet; I liked the cheeses but the sweet was too sweet.




Mrsdron had the barramundi but said it was just all right. She didn't fare well with the wines. She had a glass of the Sav Blanc but there was no refill as they had only loaded one bottle. So she had the choice of 2 J chardies or the Y chardy. Was not impressed so went back to champagne. Not exactly a good wine selection.
I had the Shephards pie for the second meal and it was reasonable. Mrsdrron passed.


for the journey I read two thirds of Joe Aston's The Chairman's Lounge. Now I have been hard on QF but reading this book my opinion of QF sank further. Absolutely amazing what has gone on in the last view years.
Whilst reading I listened to som music. Amazingly they had my favourite album of the 50s and probably of all time.

I can still sing Jamaica farewell. That actually won me the first prize on a music quiz on a cruise. You got a bonus point if you could sing the first first verse. I got 3 bonus points for singing the whole song.
Next was my favourite album of the 60s. The Doors with the Doors album featuring the song which I hope is played as I exit the world.

I also listened to - Led Zeppelin, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. They didn't have any of Queen or the Beatles.

We left Sydney right on time And arrived into Bangkok 40 minutes early.

 

[I love to travel]

So to the flight on a TG 359.
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As we couldn't do seat selection or online check in we were in the last row of J. Not good as basically no overheads available for rows 19 and 29 due to safety equipment and crew storage so our 2 carry ons I put into the row 18 overheads and kept an eye on them until doors were closed. Soon offered champagne as a PDB.
Now to the menu and wine list.
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Looks a great menu

 

[drron]

In a first for us we pulled into the satellite terminal. I got on well with the FA and she was in charge of the second door. The J pax all headed for the front door but the FA said stay here this door will open first. So I and mrsdrron were the first pax off. Not that it mattered as you have to get a train to the main terminal. Three pax had passed us. As we got to the escalator down to the station there was a train waiting. Of course when the first passenger from our plane reached the bottom of the escalator the train left. So the whole of our plane was on the next train. so we were to the rear of the pack as we came to the immigration queues.
But a little local knowledge. We turned left and walked 120 metres to the priority entrance. We qualified as J pax as well as being over 70. Absolutely no one else there so straight through and of course being HLO it was then out into the terminal. The hotel limousines have become too expensive. AOT have a hopeless website and I couldn't book them. There are literally hundreds of transfer ads but many are part of a group. Looking at reviews many have 5 star reviews but only from 1-5 people. So I chose The Exclusive transfers as though only rated 4.4 it was from over a thousand reviews. I sent them a whats app message as we were going through the baggage hall. I was afraid we might have a long wait due to our early arrival. Got an immediate message back that the car would be there in 7 minutes with a picture of the car and numberplate. In fact he arrived in 5 minutes so vey happy with the service. If we had to collect a bag there would have been no wait for us.

The care was clean, the driver courteous and unusually for Bangkok didn't exceed the speed limit. Held up a little due to an accident on the freeway. Despite that it was a little over 40 minutes and we arrived at the IC. Went straight to the front desk and the agent said we could check in at the Club lounge. Even though there were 2 in the Ambassador line I declined. It was a good decision. The agent we had was excellent and efficient. She even explained how to use my F&B vouchers without me asking. I guess she had looked at my account because 2 were expiring during our stay.
Then straight to our room.






As it was past 2am in Sydney it was straight to bed and sleep. We awoke at 0930. Just as well the club breakfast goes until 1100.
Again as usual as well as things from the buffet I had eggs Benedict. There were good.


After breakfast we went to the supermarket in the new Gaysorn Mall across the road to get a proper bar of soap and deodorant. Some things you just can't bring when travelling HLO. We both miss having a pair of scissors.
The mall was certainly decorated for Christmas.




Then back to the room and the views.

 

[drron]

I certainly picked the right title for this TR. We have been doing a lot of chilling on this trip. Off to bed before 9pm and not getting out of bed until after 9am. We must have needed it badly. In some ways it has been an annus horribilis for us with Mrsdrron's memory problem diagnosed as post traumatic amnesia so likely now to be permanent. Then of course my adventures in Hokkaido.
However Thailand is also a place we have been to at least a hundred times first visiting in October 1973. Easy to remember as it was the student uprising and tanks in the street on our way in from the old airport. We have certainly seen some massive changes.
So most days have been very quiet. The highlight of the first day was the evening drinks in the club lounge. Also a Christmas theme as you enter.




It was just on sunset.

 

[drron]

This is our third stay at this IC. The first was late January this year. But the staff already know us because when they came to take the drinks order the staff member said a Sav Blanc for Mrsdrron and a Botanicals ( a G&T ) for me. So the canapes for the night.


From that I had the mushroom soup and the snapper. Their soups are excellent. Then there is the buffet.

 

[drron]

So breakfast again and this time a mushroom and cheese omelette which was very good.



After breakfast I went for a walk around the local malls and ending up at a Christmas Market outside Central world. And just like Europe there was no snow here. But come back in the evening and you could get mulled wine or hot chocolate.







Throughout the day they had young folk performing on this stage.

 

[drron]

Most of the stuff here would not be found in the European markets.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

Now to the food stalls which are here all year.


















Now walking back along the elevated walkway to cross the road and then down the other side of the road to the Hotel. Ratchadamri road can be a car park at times.




But notice in the top left corner. Cars on both sides are doing U turns into the oncoming traffic. I would never drive in Thailand.

 

[drron]

Now at the spot where U turns are possible. insane.

 

[drron]

This year there is way more Christmas decorations and the carols are being played every where. Here is some of the decorations. The first is in the Gaysorn Mall. You walk through this to the Gaysorn Village and from there you can enter the Intercontinental. To confuse matters a new Gaysorn Mall has been opened next to the Hyatt Erawan. Officially it is called Gaysorn Amarin but is also known as the Gaysorn Village. This is the centre of the Gaysorn Mall.


This one is in the front of the IC.


And the lobby of the IC.




But to break up the Christmas theme this day was Qatar's National Day. There was an official lunch at the IC so the qatar flag was flying.


After a little rest it was time for our day's highlight - evening drinks in the club with a few nibbles.




I had both the Thai dishes. Their Tom yum soup is excellent.


Mrsdrron had the lamb which was very good also. Just a small portion though. No pics.
Back to the eggs Benedict for brekkie.

 

[drron]

I had two F&B vouchers expiring the next day each worth $US20 plus the Ambassador credit which is "up to" $US20. The ambassador credit was given as 600 baht but the reward vouchers came to 685 baht. So we applied them to lunch at So Cal.




Mrsdrron had the beef tartare which she enjoyed.


I had the "bloody mary" prawn cerviche. Unusual but I did like it.


I also had the grilled octopus which was excellent.


Mrsdrron had 2 glasses of Sav Blanc and I had a Chang beer. After the deductions it cost us 170 baht -$A8.

 

[drron]

After lunch I went across to the Gaysorn Amarin for a better look around,


I wonder what they serve at this beer garden.


Then up to a large food court on the first floor. More outlets than a year ago.






You can go from the 4th floor across to the hyatt and then down to the Erawan shrine.






then back through the Gaysorn village. An unusual name for a perfume.

 

[drron]

Evening comes around quickly. Another excellent Thai soup tonight.




The pork curry was pretty good to.
Morning and I tried the Thai fried rice with egg. I have had better.


Today I decided to walk up to the Platinum Mall. First had a walk around the Market Mall. it really isn't doing so well. But you do get rice with your KFC.


in one of the Thai restaurants I had my favourite Thai dish -Khao Soi -northern style chicken curry with noodles. Very nice.


Then to the platinum mall which has been a crowded place with small outlets. There are 2 buildings. the smaller one has had a makeover but obviously not working out. Plenty of space but few customers. A Novotel is above this mall. The top floor of the refurbished building is now a food court. A lot of empty spaces and few customers.






But you can get your durian fix.


And the dried mangosteen looked nice.

 

[drron]

The second building though packed with tiny stalls and lots of customers. their food court is mainly on the road outside.




Across the road is the Pratunam market.


Real mangosteens. Pre covid we thought they had become expensive at 70 - 90 baht a kilo. Now 480.


between the platinum Mall and the hotel you cross Bangkok's longest Klong. Still has ferries running.




Then I revisited the Garden beside Central World.


The park came about because Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the early 2000s thought Bangkok should have more green space. The area was basically a shanty town. the park was completed in 2018 but only opened to the public in January 2023 when the last 2 houses were removed.

Getting ready for some new planting.


The sparrows certainly love it. I had scared most of them by the time I took this photo.

 

[drron]

A pleasant place to walk around.




A water purification system is part of the park.














Leaving the park and back to Central World the traffic police were getting into the swing of Christmas.

 

[drron]

Food plays an important part in our day particularly evenings in the lounge.


Mrsdrron had the duck.


Once again I started with the mushroom soup and then the snapper.


But on the buffet for the night was a new dip - Muhammara a spicy red pepper dip originating from Aleppo, Syria. I really enjoyed it.


The next day I took mrsdrron over to Central World and we had lunch at Fuji. We boyh had the sashimi salmon.


Then we shared tempurra prawns and a plate of garlic eringi mushrooms and a plate of enoki mushrooms which I missed altogether.




I had a glass of ume juice which was very nice.


Now some decorations in The Central Department store.

 

[drron]

So we come to our last 2 visits to the lounge. first the evening.


I had the Tom Yum and the chicken. Both excellent flavours.


Then our last breakfast.


I decided to try the Chana Masala.


OK but I don't think I will have it again.
On check in they insisted we take the 4pm check out. However we had planned to leave at 1430 as we were moving to the Marriott Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park in Soi 24. and check in as usual at 3pm. We got a taxi to take us there. Not the worst of taxi drivers but insisted on set fare of 300 baht. We have done similiar distances and usually 170-220 baht. however 2 reasons to accept. First there will be no tip whereas an honest driver will get a tip. Second if you refuse the set price they will take you on a scenic tour and you may end up paying more. As it turned out the traffic was horrendous so if we were paying by the meter it may well have got to 300 baht.
At one stage a new upmarket Apartment block but next door was this.


It ended up taking nearly an hour getting to the Marriott. No problems with check in and up to our room. We used to stay at the MEA Mayfair near Lumpini Park which were true apartments. here it is a recent build and much smaller units. but they do have a Kitchenette with a full sized fridge and a washer/dryer.