Diane Aoki, Creativity Activism
  • Home Page
  • Blog
  • Poetry
  • Songs
  • Art
  • Plays
  • Reviews
  • Travel Journal
  • Artists of Note
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog

Travel Journal

 Does travel make you more creative? More compassionate?Yes, if you travel with those intentions. 

Short, Bittersweet Visit to Bangkok

10/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
View from our hotel, the Rembrandt.
Our time in Bangkok was a bit of a mixed bag, some good shopping, some good eating, and a bad experience. Because of the end of the one-year mourning period for the former king, most of the notable sites here were not open. But I had read that one of the Wats were open, and we thought we hired a car to take us there. The concierge at the hotel had arranged it. We had a bit of a "miscommunication," as we kept going farther and farther away from Bangkok. 
Two hours later, we were out in the sticks, to what the driver claimed was the original floating market. We were led to a ticket agent, confused. The driver claimed we booked the "floating market," which we did not. We realized what had happened and only wanted to go back to where we came from. Long drive back to Bangkok and we asked to be dropped at the MBK shopping center, where we were supposed to meet friends for lunch. I wrote a review on Trip Advisor, blaming the concierge. The hotel responded saying it was because of the language difference. Uh huh. That was 5 hours of our lives we will never get back. On the positive side ... we got to see the countryside outside of Bangkok. Though it's hardly a pretty sight. 
The rest of the time in Bangkok was pretty laid back. We did not plan anything ambitious, except for going to the Chatuchak Market, always fun. But we stayed pretty close to the hotel for the most part. Had some good meals, took advantage of inclusive breakfast (great!) and happy hour at the VIP lounge at the Rembrandt (nice), went to see Victoria and Abdul at a chic movie theatre in an upscale Shopping Mall (EM Quartier Mall), and had massages. 
Picture
Picture
Benchasiri Park, which we just stumbled on as we walked around out hotel. It was a nice green space in the city. Yellow marigolds again in commemoration of the king. From here, we found the Quartier Shopping Center.
Picture
We found a food court on the basement of the Quartier Center. Once we figured out how to buy food here (tokens), we had to decide what to eat. I believe I chose a shrimp tom yum. 
Picture
Picture
Next day, we headed to the Chatuchak Market. HUGE market. You have to be an impulse buyer in this situation because you will never be able to find a shop again if you want to go back to it. For example, I should've bought myself a cooking knife that we used in our cooking class.   
View from the Metro, which we took from place to place as we were very close to a station. I thought it looked significant, but didn't know what it was. Found out it was the Victory Monument, commemorating the end of a war with the French in 1941. 
Picture
Upon our return, we went back to the Quartier for a meal.
Picture
Floors and floors of places to eat.
Picture
View of the park where we had relaxed the day before, from the Quartier Center.
Picture
We had to choose from a variety of restaurants by walking around (round) in a Helix -designed food court. So much to choose from, but since we love Thai food so much and we're in Thailand, we had to have Thai, Kin Kao Restaurant, which was very good. 
Very short visit here, but a lot to appreciate. It's so overwhelmingly busy, but I may give it another try someday. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I have traveled quite a bit, and am using this page to record some memories. Travel is a wonderful education, expanding your view of the world, of other cultures, of the beauty of diversity. 

    Archives

    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    July 2017
    November 2016
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Go to the contact form to subscribe to my newsletter or send me a message.

Contact Form
t
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home Page
  • Blog
  • Poetry
  • Songs
  • Art
  • Plays
  • Reviews
  • Travel Journal
  • Artists of Note
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog