Saturday 30 September 2017

La Baguette French Bakery, EmQuartier Bangkok

La Baguette EmQuartier Bangkok

La Baguette

The EmQuartier Mall
Ground floor, The Glass Quartier
Sukhumvit Road
10110 Bangkok
Thailand

Hours
1000 - 2200 daily

Note: NOT a pork-free outlet


La Baguette EmQuartier

This gorgeous chandelier-lit cafe is in the EmQuartier mall, near our hotel in Bangkok. It was late and we were looking for a cafe to hangout in. Most of those on our list were going to close by the time we arrived so we opted to find something in the shopping mall itself. That was when we saw this classy cafe and were mesmerised by the selection of cakes on display.

La Baguette EmQuartier

La Baguette EmQuartier

La Baguette EmQuartier

Taste - Good cakes. Meh beverages
Price - Standard Bangkok mall cafe
Ambiance - Gorgeousness! I think Audrey Hepburn would look at home here.

Overall 3 <3<3<3 of 5


It is not a cafe that you must visit while in Bangkok. But if you happen to be nearby and craving for some good fancy cakes, try this place. Their service was excellent although you probably have to think very hard to remember a poor service experience in a Thai restaurant.



Friday 29 September 2017

Kinkao, Terminal 21 Bangkok

Kinkao Terminal 21

Kinkao
Terminal 21
4008 Level 4

Hours
1000 - 2200 daily

Note: Pork-serving restaurant

Kinkao serves traditional Thai cuisine. It is quite popular so you might have to wait for a bit if you visit during lunch hour or dinner. They have a variety of seafood and non-meat dishes but please note that this is NOT a pork-free outlet if you're strict about that.

Kinkao Terminal 21
Pomelo Salad

Kinkao Terminal 21

Kinkao Terminal 21

Kinkao Terminal 21

Kinkao Terminal 21
Crab with Egg in Thai Sauce

I love that they served our drinks in the old-style mangkuk tingkat thingy (it's not the tiffin la but from the same set). Service was also good. Although the restaurant was busy, the staff were very helpful and courteous.

Taste
Good

Price
I can't remember. It was a treat by Dr. A

Ambiance
Comfortable. No weird smell. Didn't really notice the decor as I was too busy eating

Overall 4 <3<3<3<3 of 5



Thursday 28 September 2017

Chatuchak Market, Bangkok

Chatuchak Market
Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
Chatuchak, Bangkok

Hours
Wed & Thu: 0700 - 1800
Friday: 1800 - 0000
Sat & Sun: 0900 - 1800

Note: There is Chatuchak Night Market on Friday - Sun till past midnight!

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market needs no introduction. It is THE shopping destination for many tourists and locals in Bangkok. You can take the skytrain, bus or taxi/Uber. The place is huge so even if you plan to just window shop, don comfortable footwear and outfit. 

  You might also want to get hold of the map for the market. If you already have something specific to buy from a certain shop, the map will be useful. It is however, not very helpful if you're searching by goods category as they can be all over the place. So if you want to buy a handbag for example, you still need to walk from one soi to another to see the options. But, take note of the soi number so you can find the shop selling the handbag you love most again.

  If you have no plan, just head towards the clock tower and start there.


Chatuchak Market


Chatuchak Market
Gorgeous pastels!!! *eeeksss*

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market
A bit like the Chowrasta in Penang eh?

There are many eateries in the market should you get hungry. Dessert carts too. So feast to your heart content and if you need the washroom, there are many public toilet dotted around the place.

Chatuchak Market

Some of the outlets look fancier than the others. Their price wasn't too cheap but still affordable (or at least make sense considering the gorgeousness they were offering)

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market
If only I am as slim as the mannequin...

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market


Halal Food in Chatuchak Market

We had lunch at Saman Islam. It is near the clock tower and very hard to miss. I thought the price was reasonable because their portion was generous. If you have an average appetite, you might want to consider sharing your plate with one or a couple other friends.

 Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market


Aside from Saman Islam, there are a few more halal places nearby. Kah Jak is just a few soi away (to the left if Saman Islam is at your back and you're kinda sorta facing the clock tower). There is also a Muslim prayer room close by.

Chatuchak Market

There are many cafe selling coffee and fruit juice here so if you're tired, you can have a break. I stopped for juice at a very pretty pink & purple-ish cafe =D

Chatuchak Market

Expect to spend HOURS here. Do not believe the kaki shoppings who say that they are gonna be in Chatuchak for "just an hour".

  When your feet are ready to collapse, stop by one of the many Thai/foot massage centre and let the skilled masseur do their thang. Then, you can either continue to shop till you drop or hail a taxi home. Before getting in, ask if the driver will use meter. If the taxi driver won't use meter, simply smile, thank him/her and walk to the next waiting taxi near the entrance. Or book an Uber.




Thursday 21 September 2017

Adagio Bangkok

Adagio Bangkok

1/50-51 Sukhumvit 39 Alley (Prompong)
Klongton-Nua, Wattana
10110 Bangkok
Thailand

Adagio Bangkok

I booked their Superior Double/Twin room and a Two-Bedroom Suite. During check-in, the staff upgraded the Superior room for free. Wheeee! 

Booking
Hassle-free via Booking.com

Location
Excellent! It is within walking distance to EmQuartier Bangkok, a luxurious shopping complex (they have Sephora) but it wasn't noisy. A good massage school is also on the same row. Near public transport

Rate
Value for money. THB9400 for the two rooms, 3D2N. Only THB783/person a night and look at how pretty the rooms are!

Dining
N/A. No breakfast option while I was visiting. Not an issue

Service
Good. Friendly and helpful staff

Overall 4.5 <3<3<3<3< of 5


Adagio Bangkok
Double Room

Adagio Bangkok
Double Room

Adagio Bangkok
Double Room Shower and Bath

Adagio Bangkok

The washing machine is in common area. Not sure if there's a charge to use it.

Adagio Bangkok
2-Bedroom Suite

Adagio Bangkok


Adagio Bangkok
2-Bedroom Suite

Adagio Bangkok
2-Bedroom Suite

Adagio Bangkok
2-Bedroom Suite

Recommended for couple, family and small group of friends. Take note that the elevator is quite small. I took the stairs, quicker.


Friday 15 September 2017

Tham Khao Luang Cave, Phetchaburi

Wat Thamkhaoluang

Cave Temple
Thailand is famous for their many temples. It is no surprise that they even have temple situated in a cave. There is a famous one near Hua Hin but it requires some hiking and we were just... not up for it.

  The Phraya Nakhon Cave temple looks absolutely magical in photographs. I guess it is a worthy prize after long hike. 

  Kalau tak salah, memang ramai yang habiskan masa sehari suntuk di Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park sebab ada banyak tarikan lain di sana selain daripada Kuil Gua Phraya Nakhon. Lagipun, untuk dapat gambar yang menarik, pengunjung perlu berada di sana pada waktu yang betul. Bila? Silakan buat research sebab saya pun belum sampai lagi.

  Berbalik kepada kuil di Tham Khao Luang. Kami singgah di sini semasa dalam perjalanan pulang dari Hua Hin menuju ke kota Bangkok. Sebenarnya ada sebuah lagi tempat popular berhampiran iaitu Phra Nakhon Kiri tapi matahari dah meninggi dan kami cuma punya tenaga untuk melawat sebuah kuil sahaja.

  If you have the time, consider stopping by at Phra Nakhon Kiri which is a temple complex on top of a  small hill. 

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Getting there

Tham Khao Luang is about 2-hour from Bangkok. I won't say it is a must-see but it is quite an interesting place if you are already in the area. We hired a private van to go to Hua Hin and we stopped by on our way back to Bangkok.

  There are ample parking spots and a small parking fee. It's mostly to keep the monkeys away from your car. Oh yes. There were monkeys everywhere. 

  Untuk sampai ke atas, boleh ambil songthaew atau berjalan kaki. Boleh tahan penat tapi kalau rajin, apa salahnya. 

  There were songthaew waiting near the parking to take visitors up to the main area for THB15 per person. Once you're done, you can just take any songthaew to bring you back to the parking.

Tham Khao Luang Cave

From the area in the picture above, you will have to climb up some stairs to reach the cave. Then, you'll have to walk down pretty steep stairs into the cave temple. We were glad that we took the songthaew up the hill.

  Nampak tangga di tengah gambar di atas? Kena panjat tangga sedikit dan bila sampai di atas, kena turun tangga pula untuk masuk ke dalam kawasan kuil macam gambar di bawah ni.

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Apa je ada kat sini?

Macam biasa, dah namanya kuil mestilah ada patung Buddha dan sebagainya. Buat peminat alam semulajadi, boleh cuci mata dengan stalaktit dan stalagmit gua yang boleh tahan cantiknya.

  But what makes this temple unique is actually the natural opening on the roof of the temple. Natural light bathed the draft of incense smoke, creating a surreal view where many visitors took some creative and pretty surreal photos.

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Gorgeous isn't it? However, please bear in mind that this is a place of worship. Don't make noise or do some lewd or disrespectful poses. People are praying nearby!

  Tak kisahlah nak pose macam kena culik alien atau sedang mandi cahaya pun, mohon hormat pengunjung lain yang sedang beribadah. Jangan la jadi macam ada group ni yang terkinja-kinja lupa diri dekat mana.

Tham Khao Luang Cave

Tham Khao Luang

There was some renovation going on while I was visiting but I could still walked around into the many areas in the cave. Aside from the main area, there were 'rooms' housing more deities and saints. Expect to spend about an hour here.

  Tempat ni sesuai untuk sesiapa yang minat nak tengok keunikan kuil dalam gua. Tapi memang tak digalakkan kalau rasa tak mampu nak panjat dan turun tangga.