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Flower power
Another interesting way of exploring old Bangkok is
on water-taxis plying the Chao Phraya River. At a mere
RM2 per person, you’ll get picture-postcard sights of
beautiful sunsets and heavily laden rice barges moving
upstream. All this while passing the stunning temples,
palaces, village settlements on wooden stilts, historical
landmarks, upscale apartments and hotels on both
sides of the river.
Chinatown – one of Bangkok’s oldest and most
vibrant neighbourhoods – draws large crowds to eat,
drink and shop on the cheap along the 1.5-km main
thoroughfare. Though Thanon Yaowarat and Thanon
Charoen Krung streets are packed with eateries and
retail stores, you should meander off to the narrow
sois
(side-streets) and check out old shophouses selling
assorted items, including gold jewellery and traditional
Chinese medicine.
Near Chinatown, the massive Pak Khlong Flower
Market is also the world’s third biggest orchid flower
market, supplying outlets all over the country and
beyond. Stall traders unload freshly-cut blooms in the
wee hours daily which are sold at affordable prices.
The riot of colours and fragrant scents of roses, daisies,
chrysanthemums and orchids will delight your senses
The
pad thai
at Thip Samai, on Maha Chai Road, is
not to bemissed. The restaurant has been serving several
superb versions of the Thai national noodle dish for
five decades. Come early as long queues are often seen
at 5pm, all salivating over the
pad thai
prepared in an
open-style kitchen outside of the eatery. The dish here is
less oily and with subtler flavours, as compared to those
served at other eateries. It has a good balance of sweet,
salty and sour flavours, synonymous with Thai cooking.
At the acclaimed Supanniga Restaurant in Thonglor,
diners enjoy attentive service and delicious dishes
using the outlet owner’s grandmother’s recipes. Home-
cooked cuisine from Trat – Thailand’s eastern province,
near Cambodia – features prominently, using quality
ingredients like fish sauce, dry shrimps, shrimp pastes,
fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sundown
Rooftop bars with a smart dress code are
de rigueur
. The one at Sala Rattanakosin
Hotel, in a historical alley and next to
the Chao Phraya River, commands a
360-degree view of old Bangkok and
landmarks such as Wat Arun (Temple of
Dawn) across the river. With limited seat-
ing, an advance booking is recommended.
The deck tables facing the river are most
coveted and their classic cocktails are
renowned.
Step back into the 1920s at The
Speakeasy on top of Hotel Muse, with
awesome views of downtown Sukhumvit
and Sathorn areas. The decadent décor
and piped cool jazz set the mood, though
the drinks are rather pricey. Old-school
concoctions are the done deal here. They
include the French martini crafted from
vodka, Chambord, pineapple juice and
a hint of lime that punctuates the sweet
flavours and Sazerac 1838 – the world’s
first cocktail that combines Jack Daniel’s,
absinthe and bitters.
Bangkok will grab you with her siren
song and will not let you go. You will be
counting the days until you are able to
visit her again.
Water-taxi
ride on Chao
Phraya River set
against beautiful
landmarks
Pad Thai delights
at Thip Samai
Pak Khlong Flower Market