In search of an Empire.Siam,Burma and Singapore.

[RB]

So how many gym days are you up to now drron?

 

[drron]

RB I am failing in Bangkok but have had 5 gym sessions so far this trip.This is 5 more than my previous best!

Once again we used Oriental Escapes for our transport to Bangkok.We had booked the transfer for 2pm and our driver was waiting in the lobby when we checked out.A fun check out by "Khun Big".He was the fellow that checked us in when we first stayed here 12 months ago.He had just started.Now he is the Ast.Manager in charge of guest relations.Turns out his schooling was in Melbourne.He featured in the resort journal saying he could sing any Beatles song.Found him out first up when I requested Norwegian Wood.

Arrived at the SGS in roughly 2 hours.They were unaware of the time we would arrive but still greeted by name by the doormen.Although my SNA request had failed we were upgraded to a suite.Told it may be a 30 minute wait but was ready in ~ 10 minutes.That evening went to happy hour in the Living Room.Greeted warmly and the Sauvignon Blanc arrived without having to ask.Enjoyed a snack of satays and lemongrass salmon-

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I'll now jump to one of the highlights of our this time in Bangkok.We arranged to have dinner with RooFlyer.The first 2 restaurants we agreed on were not available for the Tuesday night.Reading the reviews of those restaurants mention was made favourably about Paste restaurant.One mentioned there was a soft opening of a branch at the Gaysorn Plaza at the end of November.Couldn't find out anything about it so got the SGS Concierge onto it.Success-he said they are not officially open yet but I got a booking for you.
So to the restaurant.Upmarket Thai fusion.The décor-

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We were a little late remembering the food pictures.Shared 3 entrees.Pork buns with homemade chilli jam,pickled turnips and coriander.Watermelon and salmon salad.Duck salad with lychee,lemon basil,Vietnamese mint and bana blossom-

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Then 4 mains.Tamarind and caramel twice cooked pork belly with green mango,basil and green chilli pickle.Steamed sea bass with fennel,tumeric and lemongrass foam.Wok fried asparagus and Chang Mai mushrooms.And BBQ chicken rubbed with 5 spice and a tamarind and chilli jam sauce-

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Very interesting tastes and well presented.Was expensive but mainly because we demolished 2 bottles of a Kiwi Pinot Gris.
Will finish this in the morning with the desserts.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>

I'll now jump to one of the highlights of our this time in Bangkok.We arranged to have dinner with RooFlyer.The first 2 restaurants we agreed on were not available for the Tuesday night.Reading the reviews of those restaurants mention was made favourably about Paste restaurant.One mentioned there was a soft opening of a branch at the Gaysorn Plaza at the end of November.Couldn't find out anything about it so got the SGS Concierge onto it.Success-he said they are not officially open yet but I got a booking for you.
So to the restaurant.Upmarket Thai fusion.The décor-

pic snipped.

We were a little late remembering the food pictures.Shared 3 entrees.Pork buns with homemade chilli jam,pickled turnips and coriander.Watermelon and salmon salad.Duck salad with lychee,lemon basil,Vietnamese mint and bana blossom-
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Then 4 mains.Tamarind and caramel twice cooked pork belly with green mango,basil and green chilli pickle.Steamed sea bass with fennel,tumeric and lemongrass foam.Wok fried asparagus and Chang Mai mushrooms.And BBQ chicken rubbed with 5 spice and a tamarind and chilli jam sauce-
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<pics snipped>.

Very interesting tastes and well presented.Was expensive but mainly because we demolished 2 bottles of a Kiwi Pinot Gris.
Will finish this in the morning with the desserts.

It was great to catch up and thanks for arranging the restaurant. Maybe we can 'be the first to review' on TA Best of luck in Myanmar.

 

[drron]

So to the desserts.We shared a Pandan pannacotta and a lemongrass cheesecake.Both were delicious-

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We said goodbye to RooFlyer and got the skytrain back to the SGS.Some of the festive lights-

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Even a message for JohnK from Thailand-

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And RB thanks for your message.I was shamed into having another workout this morning.

 

[drron]

The new branch of Paste now has it's own website so if you are into food with a difference here it is-
PASTE : Artisanal Thai Cuisine

A few more Christmas photos at Times Square next door to the SGS and the SGS display-

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Now to some of the things we do in Bangkok.This is about our 30th visit so no longer do the usual tourist things.The first full day is often taken up by mrsdrron going to her jeweller in River City.She usually gets things made-either refashioning old pieces or setting of stones especially opals.The work is always excellent and good value.Also gives us an opportunity for visiting the river.
On Wednesday we went to The Jim Thompson outlet at Sukhumvit soi 93.Fantastic range of materials on the first 3 floors,clothes and bags on the 4th floor and furnishings and a restaurant on the 5th floor.First half the ground floor-

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Our next time in Bangkok will probably see us buy fabric for some new curtains.We always have lunch when we go there.Always a pomelo salad and a lemongrass drink.This time we added mushroom spring rolls and prawn Vietnamese rolls-

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Delicious as usual.Outside it was time for the egg delivery-

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And this is Sukhumvit soi 93-

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[JessicaTam]

Once again I am awe of your glorious photos. I shall be waiting earnestly for the next instalment.

 

[craven morehead]

Thread subscription .....

 

[drron]

Friday and it was back to River City to pick up mrsdrron's purchases.We get the Skytrain to Saphin Taksin and then the Sheraton shuttle boat-the Royal Orchid Sheraton is next door to River City.So some pics on the river.First up a hotel many will recognise and a river scene-

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When in Bangkok at least once you should catch a Chao Praya ferry.Sometimes though that is impossible-

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There are several restaurant boats.IMHO these are not good value-

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Then the chaos of the Saphin Taksin pier-

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You can get an Asiatique ferry here from ~ 1600.A place that is worth 1 visit but we see no need to go back-small shops and a lot of restaurants-

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And love-the-life should be on one of these today-

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[drron]

So a shot up river from the ROS then River city and the ROS-

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An interesting pier next to the water police-

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Then a view towards Saphin Taksin and some old buildings-

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[amaroo]

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Never been on those boats but that's our BKK home (Peninsula) in the background ... great pool!

 

[drron]

Yes very nice digs Amaroo.We have stayed there along with the Hilton and ROS.But now the river is out of the way for most things we do so the SGS is now our home.Even better after I found the gym.
I am amazed at the technology now.Those darn machines can measure everything.As long as they cant read my mind.So at my first gym session in Pattaya I rode a bike for 5km at level 4.My pulse got to nearly 160 and after 2 minutes cool down it was still >100.Yesterday's session I did the 5KM at level 9,my pulse got to 145 and at 2 minutes of cool down was <80.So having an effect.I add 3 minutes on a stepper and finally 2 km on the bike for my session-I am mainly concerned with building up my legs.So here is the SGS gym-

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One of our pleasures at the SGS is the 2 hour happy hour in the living room listening to some jazz.Another new pianist-Joshua from Montreal-

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When we go to the living room we are greeted by name and 2 glasses of sauvignon blanc are produced.One night this visit there was a brand new woman who took us to our seat and asked what we would like to drink.We didn't get to answer as a voice from the bar quickly said-SB.We generally just snack at night.There is a snack menu but you can order anything from their restaurants.So to the obligatory food pics.First satays and lemongrass salmon-

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Then 2 of our favourites.Soft shell crab and deep fried tiger prawns-

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Then on our last night some more substantial dishes Pork in garlic sauce and spicy shredded duck salad-

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I forgot to take photos until nearly finished because we had got into a wonderful conversation with a fellow from Burma.As usual the pianist came over and had a chat with us and wished us a good trip to Burma.Bob was sitting behind us.On hearing we were going to Burma he introduced himself.He was born there in 1942 as the Japanese attacked.His family fled to India returning in 1946.He went to Uni doing Medicine but got involved in the massacre of 1962-
1962 Rangoon University Protests - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
He said many more students died than the official figures.He survived and fled first getting asylum at the Ussr embassy.Ended up in Germany and became an Orthopaedic surgeon.married an aussie and came to Australia.As usual Australia wouldn't recognise his specialist qualifications so became a GP.Changed his name to Bob as he felt an Aussie Bob.
So we ended up getting to bed rather late.

 

[drron]

One other part of the conversation with Bob that I forgot.He has just received his amnesty for his actions in 1962 so he is going back to Yangon to visit the cemetery where many of his friends are buried.

So back to Bangkok.As usual we went to the basement of the Westin across the road and had a massage-head,neck,back and shoulders only for us.We also went to Terminal 21 a few times as some good eating experiences.First Fuji on the 4th floor.good Japanese at reasonable prices-though no alcohol served until after 1700.We love the mushrooms the salmon sushi with salmon roe and the Hokkaido scallops with fried garlic-

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We also go to the food court.Our favorites-oyster omelette for 50 baht and mango and sticky rice for 70 baht.

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This time we also went to the new mall-Central Embassy.A reasonable but more expensive food court in the basement-we enjoyed Vietnamese snacks from Le Dalat.But as for the mall just how many Louis Vuitton or Prada stores do you need to see unless your name is Keith009?

So Saturday arrived and time for our flight to Yangon.Really proud that 2 weeks into this vacation I weigh less than when I left home.Now will I become a Gym junkie?Left the SGS just before 10,smooth trip and at BKK by 1015.Good J checkin as you get to sit down.Confused the agent when I asked her to put in our Avianca numbers-she hadn't heard of them.Fortunately the agent beside her had and was free.BPs in hand went and got our VAT forms stamped before coming back and going through fast track.Naturally a little delay until I was wanded at security.
Only 2 of us in the Immigration hall and we both went to the one agent.Another agent waved me over but I said-"Sorry but she's the boss."Great merriment was caused.To the Royal silk lounge as you exit the fast track.Very large lounge and not crowded today.Some food-just had to sample the chicken mussaman pie.When I got my computer out an agent comes across and logs me in-great service.
So the floral display in the checkin area-

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Arrived at the gate at advertised boarding time but had to wait 15 minutes before it started.Our A333 was waiting-

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Boarding was interesting.When boarding was called there was a rush for the door.We were sitting very close but about 10 were in front of us-all had Y BPs.Business class was called first.The obvious ploy was to rush through before the agent was organised.It worked but those behind us missed out as we held things up by showing our BPs.

The flight is next.

 

[drron]

TG301. BKK-RGN. ETD-1305. Push Back-1310. Take off-1329. A333.
ETA-1350. Landed-1356. At gate-1400. Seats-12E,F.

Hot towel as soon as seated and drinks very soon after.Before my glass of champagne I had a glass of butterfly pea juice to improve my well being-

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So to the menu and wine list-

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And the meal-

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The food was OK.I washed it down with the pinot noir,mrsdrron the Graves.Both reasonable wines.The service was good.A few minutes late into RGN but fortunately the China Airlines flight which was to land a few minutes before us was even later.All of those who beat us to the Immigration hall went through the Myanmar or diplomatic channels so we were first at the Foreigners gates.Got through very quickly.Bags appeared as we got to the carousel.One of ours was nearly last out.It seems that Myanmar's performance with priority baggage has nearly slipped to Australian standards!

Changed some money and met our contact just over 15 minutes after arriving at the gate.She was a little surprised and said we would have to wait for 20 minutes until our car arrived-it was less than 5 minutes.Saw one of RooFlyers Bagan busses as we exited-

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Should be no worries if you need to get a taxi to your lodgings-

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Trip to the hotel took a while because of traffic.But soon we were ensconsed in our room.Review of Governor's Residence-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....reviews/governors-residence-yangon-65000.html

 

[drron]

First a couple of shots going to the hotel-

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That was one of a few of Tony's spas I noticed.Some fine buildings.But one thing those who have been to Asia might have noticed-no motor bikes.They are banned in Yangon.
That afternoon I decided to go for a walk in the area.As I got my camera out I noticed this beautiful visitor just outside our window-

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First some shots around the hotel-

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Our room is on the top floor-

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That is one of the views from the restaurant.

 

[drron]

The other view from the restaurant-

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Lots of orchids.

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Laneways across the road.Not far from the hotel are signs of big pharma entering Myanmar and the first of the Embassies-

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Definitely some signs of wealth.We are told a safe country so why the razor wire?

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[drron]

Now when you see this on a street-

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There is often one of these nearby-

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Just up from there is the old children's hospital-

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With a large billboard in the grounds-

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Across from that the Chinese Embassy-

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Around the corner one of the better looking restaurants-

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One thing that brings hope are posters like this that are frequent and the wearing of Democracy T-shirts-

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[RooFlyer]

Wait till you see the Russian Embassy ... Opposite the old Pegu Club, not far from your hotel

 

[drron]

Some of the buildings aren't in great shape-

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But interesting street art outside.I timed my crossing of the Circle rail line perfectly-

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A bit squeezy though-

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Then I came across a fair bit of construction,possibly hotels.A Japanese builder according to the signs but no property details-

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Now you all have been paying attention what is nearby when you see this-

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Yes one of these-

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A very interesting group of buildings but I was not allowed to take any more photos.
Signs of renovations in this area-

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[drron]

Continuing on my stroll-

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The Anglicans seem to be doing OK-

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By this time I had no idea where I was but felt I knew which direction I should go.So turned into what looked like a back street-

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It had some impressive buildings-

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[drron]

A school that really did look quite English-

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There were some young lads playing with a soccer ball in the fields.Amazing ball skills.Then some more street art-

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Notice the satellite dishes-

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And right alongside an old Burmese style house-

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Next an area of medical education with the University hospital-

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At the next corner I turned across the rail line so knew I was getting close to the hotel.A new shopping area and sunset-

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