Christmas in Bangkok.

[drron]

On the way back to the apartment we stopped at Velasquez with the intention of having a cold drink. It wasn’t yet 1700 so a beer was out of the question. We stopped at the Coffee Academics and noticed they served food including a mushroom pizza.
So we had a lime and Manuka honey sofa each and shared a mushroom pizza as our lunner. Turned out to be the best mushroom pizza we have ever had.



Several varieties of mushroom with a mushroom sauce base. A very thin crust and cheese that melted but didn’t overpower the mushrooms.
Back to the apartment where later we had our evening wines with crisps and cashews.

 

[drron]

Which brings us to Monday and up to date.
We normally go down to breakfast at 0900 to 0930. Today was 0930 and the first week day of breakfast. Fortunately we had basically finished when we were given a 3 minute warning that the buffet was closing at 1000.
Back to the apartment and we both had another snooze. So it was about noon when I took Mrsdrron for a walk to Central Chidlom and Central Embassy. Mrsdrron spent some time in Muji but really nothing we needed.

On the way back stopped at our favourite Starbucks in Bangkok on the same road as the apartment. Lang Siam street. It obviously was an old house and there are different rooms plus outdoor spaces.




We both had a caramel Frappuccino and shared a slice of coconut cake.

No other activity apart from our nightly routine of wine and snacks. For me that included a nice Gorgonzola from Italy.

My wine tonight was chosen because of its label featuring a story of a fellow transported to Australia in the 1800s.




An Argentinian Malbec which would be better with a little more age.
Probably was also an appropriate day for an Argentinian wine.
Now off to bed.

 

[Tropic]

mushroom with a mushroom sauce base

As a mushroom lover that looks absolutely amazing...if a little rich. Topped with truffle?

 

[drron]

As a mushroom lover that looks absolutely amazing...if a little rich. Topped with truffle?

Yes it was topped with truffle. We will be having it again before we leave.

 

[blacksultan]

JohnK is my local go-to guy.

I would buy ones that don't burn the house down, so legit stuff...........nothing you can't get from the Siam Paragon Mall - for reference, it's close to the Grand Hyatt Erawan.

Merry Christmas.

SG

I’m in Bangkok here . Cool weather. Where exactly Is Johnk ? Went to mbk today . MR DIY didn’t have much at all .
Someone suggested Samyeng market . Going there tommorow morn .

 

[Sprucegoose]

I’m in Bangkok here . Cool weather. Where exactly Is Johnk ? Went to mbk today . MR DIY didn’t have much at all .
Someone suggested Samyeng market . Going there tommorow morn .

BKK can be sultry but not steaming this time of year. There are so many options in BKK; have a crack at everything you come across.

 

[blacksultan]

BKK can be sultry but not steaming this time of year. There are so many options in BKK; have a crack at everything you come across.

I went to sampeng market and kong thlom near it . Got a few bargains !

 

[drron]

Got down to breakfast at about 0900 this morning. At least I was dressed. Some others still in their Pyjamas.
Our usual rest before I went out for a walk at 1130. Mrsdrron didn’t feel like it today so another long walk.

Didn’t have to go far though before another example of Thai public works repairing potholes. The asphalt is in the Orange bags which are sliced open and then smoothed out.


I continued on towards Central World. A shrine outside the Gaysorn Amazon Village. The Amarin was a hotel but it seems to being transformed into offices and shops. First the shrine outside.

The only thing open now is the food court on the 4th floor. It was packed with people streaming in. Looked quite good. One stall even claimed to be a branch of a Michelin starred hawker.


And a school market.


I then went into the Gaysorn plaza. There is an extensive elevated walkway system that is much easier to get around than at street level. A nice looking restaurant that we might come back to.



I am sure Mrsdrron will love this place.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Interesting way of delivering black top - I'll discuss it with the CFMMEU !

 

[drron]

I continued on the walkway popping into the BIC Supercentre. A lot of cheap stuff including a cheap wine shop. I loved the label on this South African red.


The place is over the road from Central World.



Next door is a new mall the Market. Still a lot of space empty but looking like it will be another nice spot. One of the princesses has a charity shop there. Also a competitor for the Thai bag shop NaRaYa.


I then crossed the street on the walkway. Up the road was the first hotel we stayed at back in 1974. The Indra Regent. Near the old Pratunam markets.

 

[drron]

The first thing you see coming to Central World from the back is the number of shrines. Then the number of elephants at the shrines.

 

[drron]

At the Ploen Chit road end there is a Thai version of a Christmas market but at the end where I was it was street food. Some looked very nice but the flies put me off.




They have a thing for Milo and Ovaltine at the moment.


The other thing I notice is sweetened condensed milk to put on your sweets. At breakfast people are putting it on their toast . Things are different in Thailand.

 

[Sprucegoose]

At the Ploen Chit road end there is a Thai version of a Christmas market but at the end where I was it was street food. Some looked very nice but the flies put me off.
View attachment 311966
View attachment 311967
View attachment 311968

They have a thing for Milo and Ovaltine at the moment.
View attachment 311969

The other thing I notice is sweetened condensed milk to put on your sweets. At breakfast people are putting it on their toast . Things are different in Thailand.

I think condensed milk is an Asian thing in general

 

[drron]

I then walked around Central World mainly checking the restaurants. They have a really good selection of food options on the 6th and 7th floors. Though there are several missing from pre Covid.
They have though upgraded the food court on 7 and it looks great. As well they have a DJs style food hall next to it that also looks really good.

It was time for getting back to Mrsdrron. I decided to go down Ratchadamri Road . Best way to cross it is by the elevated walkway. Once again a good demonstration of Bangkok traffic. The stop line is where the second group of motorcyclists are.



They’re already off and racing.


At the intersection is the Erawan shrine and next to that the Grand Hyatt.





In 2021 the shrine received ~ 2.5 billion baht. About 100 million Australian dollars.

 

[RooFlyer]

My wine tonight was chosen because of its label featuring a story of a fellow transported to Australia in the 1800s.

An Argentinian Malbec which would be better with a little more age.
Probably was also an appropriate day for an Argentinian wine.

19crimes Argentinean Malbec. eh? 19Crimes is an Australian wine label, a 'cheapie', often found in Qantas Business Lounges

Cheers to the Infamous | 19 Crimes

19 Crimes was built on authentic stories of rebellion, defiance and perseverance. In 1788, if you broke any one of the 19 Crimes you were banished to Australia

aus.19crimes.com

The Malbec here

Where to buy 19 Crimes Malbec | prices & local stores in Australia

This is the most expensive wine made from Malbec in South Eastern Australia. The price has been stable over the past year.This is above average in popularity for wines from South Eastern Australia. Greater n ... Stores and prices for '19 Crimes Malbec' | tasting notes, market data, prices and...

www.wine-searcher.com

Of course, if Malbec isn't your thing, you can get something called 'Snoop-dogg cali red blend'

19 Crimes Snoop Dogg Cali Red Blend

Crimes is defiant by nature, bold in character, and always uncompromising. We are proud to partner with entertainment icon, Snoop Dogg, who embodies all these qualities, and more, through hard work and perseverance. Snoop Dogg is a culture creator, innovator, and a leader in pop culture. 19...

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[drron]

Well @RooFlyer it turns out we were both right and wrong. At first I thought I was just misled by the Thai supermarket as the wine was in the section labelled Argentina. On closer inspection it does say the wine was bottled in the Barossa. But under that description it says Wine of Argentina.
So it is an Argentinian Malbec in an Australian bottle with an Australian label.

 

[drron]

So off down the road of 5 star hotels. Outside the Hyatt the trees are decorated with orchids.



Next door is the Waldorf Astoria.


Down the street some nice reflections.


Next to the WA a building site


And a sign to a hotel behind the others. Doesn’t fit well.


Though I would be more likely to stay at the Courtyard than the others. The hotel in that picture is the Anantara.

 

[drron]

The next hotel is the St Regis. The orchids re appear.



Then another building site and the street to the back of the Marriott Apartments. On the left was a nice park and a small army building. It looks like the Army now has the whole site.



After an hour nap it was back across the street for another mushroom pizza. Because it was just after 1700 we could get the happy hour special of 2 glasses of wine for 490 bah. They also allow 2 different wines so a Chilean SB for Mrsdrron and an Italian Chianti for me.

 

[drron]

After our pizza was a little walk around the lights.

 

[drron]

Then across to the Kempinski hotel.