Ruminations from the Silver Muse.

drron · Oct 2, 2023

More breakfast items. Caramelised sweet potatoes and roasted hone beets. Plus today a new ham.

A clearer day and realised we can actually see the Chao Praya river from our room.

We went up to the Central store and a new Chinese/ thai restaurant set up by the Nara group. As we enjoy Nara we gave it a try.

However not really wonderful. The Pad thai was fine but the oyster omelette only OK. The beef in the third dish was fine but the fried noodles forgettable.

drron · Oct 2, 2023

Hadn't done enough steps so dropped Mrsdrron back at the Kimpton and went for a walk to Lumphini Park. There were a few murders there that day. Of crows that is.

The waterways were a little murky.

And only an occasional water monitor.

But the crows were everywhere.

But it was Saturday so lots of the swan boats out on the lake.

It is a pleasant walk.

drron · Oct 2, 2023

Then back to the hotel. Possibly the old Park Office.

A school at the Park Entrance.

Best to go up and over the roads.

Once again the electrical wiring stands out.

drron · Oct 2, 2023

We then had mixed yakitori in the Craft cafe in the hotel lobby.

Then happy hour at the pool. There have been several Chinese influencers at the hotel and today we were told a bunch from Korea had arrived. These ones were amateurs.

Then we went to the bar on the 40th floor. Unfortunately the rain started. First in the bar.

Then the view from the bar.

We did share some popcorn lobster and some calamari which were good. Then after some wine and a G&T lit was off to bed.

bPeteb · Oct 3, 2023

What a fantastic museum. When/if we go back to SIngapore it's top of my list

drron · Oct 5, 2023

Back to the TR. First a typical plate of mine at breakfast. I am really enjoying this start to the day.

The tomatoes are pickled and I like them. Today I decided to walk to the Pratunam Fashion Mall to see if I could pick up a cheap jacket. Didn't tell Mrsdrron so I was a Free agent. Some pictures on the walk going there via Central World.

there was a Land Rover display outside central World.

Another cheap sho over the road.

And street food outside Central World near a large shrine.

Passed a garden that i decided to explore on my return. Then over a cleaned up Klong.

Then to the Mall where I picked up a nice blue jacket for 900 baht -$A39. It is very blue. Pics when I board the Muse. Outside the Mall more street food.

drron · Oct 5, 2023

And more street stalls.

Then the Gardens. A pleasant spot.

drron · Oct 5, 2023

The last of the Gardens.

When I got back to the hotel I showed Mrsdrron the jacket and said I will probably leave it on the ship when we get off. but she said no keep it so I must have done well.

drron · Oct 5, 2023

For our last night in Bangkok it was back to Coffee Nation and our favourite mushroom pizza which we shared.

Then the next mornings breakfast with my plate first.

And then we had a 9am limo to BKK.

So thoughts on the Kimpton. It is a lovely hotel and the staff were fantastic. The food was very nice. good loyalty recognition . However there were 2 things that we didn't like. First Kimpton is a pet friendly brand . there were dogs everywhere even in the restaurants. Owners allowed them up on tables and lounges and there was a lot of barking.
Second Kimptons don't have lounges but put on a happy hour for all guests. Here it was at the pool bar which was way to small for it and was open to the elements and so basically got washed out 2 nights. The staff got the GM to come and talk to us. We just said we aren't complaining for us as we turn up at 4.pm and usually got the last available table but lots turned up after us and often just left. Also only had 1 white and 1 red. from Griffith and cheaper than yellowtail. The GM offered to comp us to the night's seafood buffet. We declined as that wouldn't have changed our mind.

So we will not return but for some it will be a good choice particularly for younger folk.

CaptainCurtis · Oct 5, 2023

drron said:
Owners allowed them up on tables and lounges

I adore animals, and have two of my own dogs that are part of the family, but that's unacceptable.

drron · Oct 5, 2023

I love dogs too and they seem to sense that but with our travels we have no pets. To be honest at the Kimpton the owners were the problem.

So now off to BKK. Arrived just after the SQ check in opened. There were 5 in front of us but all in one group. They had 9 cases,6 boxes and several carry ons. Only 1 J open but the agent at the F counter called us across and soon on our way to the lounge. Once again I had to take belt,shoes and watch off then get wanded after setting off the alarm. I still don't get why you have to take everything off when they know you will be wanded anyway when you tell them you have a new knee.

The SKL was a nice place and not very crowded. reasonable food and wine. I especially liked that they had satays which we didn't get with either flight on this trip. So here is the lounge.

drron · Oct 5, 2023

Went to the gate and preboarding started a little early. 2 couples with infants were allowed on but an Indian couple with 2 older children were told that pre boarding was only for those with young children. There was also a large Indian tour group virtyally all older but looked younger than us. they all crowded the gate to preboard. They were firmly told by the agent that they didn't qualify and just to reinforce the point picked out the 2 oldest looking couples one of which was us and pre boarded the 4 of us. I thought well done.

So now we were in our seats and had to see the rest of the passengers board as they were only using the front door. I am still amused that there are many who start looking at all the row numbers even though their BP shows rows in the 30s or 40s. One little old lady went one better and sat in the seat in front of me. The FA came straight over and firmly told her your row is 44 not 14.

No PBD offered whilst loading was happening. Then when the doors had closed the Captain came on saying the engineer found a fault in the right engine. We were on a 787-10. Only then did the FA start offering a PDB of water or juice I politely but firmly asked for a champagne which was then produced. We ended up sitting for an hour but no refill was forthcoming.

We left an hour late bur arrived in SIN only 40 minutes late but at T@.
So now to the menu.

Mrsdron had the chicken which she felt was quite OK. I had the Northern Thai beef which was full of flavour.

I watched a series on Lee Kwan Yew. Was on because September was 100years since his birth. Time nor tide. Remembering Lee Kwan Yew. Very interesting and it is on Youtube, The rest of the flight was uneventful.

drron · Oct 6, 2023

At T2 we were the furthest gate from the Skytrain to T3. Then to the CP. A standard stay but our previous stay was showing up in my account as a non qualifying stay. So I pointed that out and was told that they would get IT to look at it and tell me tomorrow. I explained that we would be leaving at0530 so was told I would be emailed the result. Two days later no email and neither of the accounts emaile though I had asked for that. So the complaint form went in to the rewards program and 6 hours later an email back and the stay had been corrected. Still no copy of the bill and on my past stays list it says bill not available,

Anyway a 5am wake up call as we were flying out of Terminal1 on JAL at 0800. Fast check in and at that time they use the Marhaba lounge which isn't a g ood lounge poor fod so we had a coffee and left. When we arrived at the lounge people were sleeping outside it on the floor. Those that were awake were on their phones. We then just dawdled to the gate. It opened just before we arrived. Here the security folk were fine. everything remained in the carry on and I didn't have to take anything off. This happens about 1 in 3 times I go through SIN security.

In the gate lounge an FA came up to us and explained the IFE wasn't working in the J cabin but they were trying to fix it. A few minutes before boarding she came back and said it still wasn't working and gave us the forms to claim compensation. We were to hand them to the FA on board. In fact the 2 of us could access music and Live TV news so I watched the BBC for a short time then listened to music and slept after the meal. As we started the decent were given vouchers for complimentary wifi on our next 2 flights plus duty free discount vouchers.

I thought I took pictures of the menu,in fact sure I did but can't find them. It has happened a couple of times with the iphome. Fortunately found them on icloud photos so restored them. First the seat though. it bought back memories of JAL out of BNE when we often had a 767 which is what we have now.

The FA adjusted my table just as I took a picture. But it is a lovely hand so I have kept it.

drron · Oct 6, 2023

The menu and drinks list.

drron · Oct 6, 2023

Mrsdrron had the western menu. She thought the chicken starter was excellent.She had the steak for mains and it was way better than she had on SQ.

Whilst I had the Japanese meal. very nice.

And the main.

With miso and rice.

And dessert the same for both of us.

Later on I had the soba noodle. They actually tasted really nice.

For wine Mrsdrron enjoyed the Reisling and I the South African Pinotage.

drron · Oct 7, 2023

Th e flight was uneventful though we did deviate to the west of Taiwan to go around a typhoon. Despite that we were at the gate a minute before the ETA. The worry now was could we get through all the formalities and catch the limousine bus to the IC Tokyo Bay.It was 1610 when we got off the plane and the bus was at 1700.
We were at the satellite terminal so a fair walk to immigration. There was a fairly long line as well.You get to the automated machine where an agent looks after 2 and basically does everything for you. Then rejoin the queue to line up at an agent where they do it all again. Fortunately we had done the online form so got past a few others but got out of Immigration at 1640. Down to the baggage carousel and our bag was off the carousel waiting for us. Then a long line to go through customs. A couple of groups were given a workover. We were just waved through but now 1652 when we reached the Limousine bus ticket office.

The route to the IC had only been restarted on 1/10 and the young agent obviously didn't know but i found a timetable and was able to show her which bus we needed to be on. Again it was at one of the furthest stops from the exit but we reached the bus at 1658.We had just settled into our seats when the bus started off at exactly 1700 as usual.
I was able to use the wifi to pass the time. All the other passengers got off at the city terminal so with only the 2 of us left it was straight to the IC and arrived at 1815.

I had used a confirmable suite upgrade voucher so checkin a breeze, Taken aback when the agent said because of us being unable to give you an upgrade would you like points or an extra 5000 yen F&B allowance. We took that. Then told as a diamond you automatically have a 4pm check out.
After unpacking we went down to the bar. Mrsdrron had 2 glasses of Cloudy Bay SB-the only one they had. I had 2 Kirins. We also shared a pizza of salmon roe and anchovies. The anchovies were tiny , even smaller than the whitebait in NZ. But the pizza was excellent.