One Day in Bangkok

A couple of days ago, we planned and executed what amounted to the perfect day in Bangkok. Although the US dollar has shat itself, our money still goes far in this part of the world. Much, much farther than at home or in Tokyo, por ejemplo. It didn't take long for us to seek and find affordable luxury in Thailand. And I'm not (just) talking about the hookers.

We woke up and had brekkie in our hotel. We love the pancakes, but also that we get a side of time travel, gratis. Pics of the place coming rather than embedded due to 3rd world wireless.  The dining room is religiously preserved, the only nods to modernity are wireless internet and diet coke.

After breakfast, Skytrain to massages at Healthland Massage. As one might imagine, it takes a bit of research to nail down a reputable spa in Bangkok. Some googling and elimination of the words “exotic” “happy” and “soapy” in the results did the trick. I knew we were in for just the prudish experience we were after when the receptionist insisted we have same-sex therapists. The massages were painful in the Thai way and we rolled out of there lump of clay-like.

Starved after a rough morning, we headed to a street side warehouse lined with food stalls. We ate more than is appropriate to write about. We also provided plenty of entertainment for the vendors, who looked on in astonished curiosity as we took the first bites of chili soaked noodles. So good. So much sweating. They seemed pleased.

In the afternoon, we hit the famous Jim Thompson home. Its a veritable complex of original teak houses imported and furnished by the exotic American silk importer. Sadly, he lived in the house for only 8 years before disappearing on a vacation in the Malaysian jungle. The Buddhist antiques he collected (that's the nice word for it) in his time in Thailand are truly special pieces.

We walked along one of Bangkok's many canals to get back to central where we planned to see a movie, on Molly's recommendation. On our way back through the sky walk, we wondered onto the set of a commercial. We watched 2 takes of teams of hip hop kids dance fighting – fortunately we had just watched most of “You Got Served” while in Tokyo so we could follow the nuanced plot. We were definitely in the shot, so if you happen across Thai TV (I'm guessing an ad for extreme soda) look for us farang!

The Siam Paragon makes the Short Hills mall look like a Caldor in the 80s. Coined “The Jewel of Bangkok,” its not just a mall, its a mecca to consumerism and the movie theater is appropriately grand. We got the cheap seats and were treated to monstrous leather chairs in a stadium theater. Apparently, the first class theaters offer individual lazy boys and cocktail service. Next time...

Any guide book or food nerd research will tell you that aside from street food, the best eating to be done in Bangkok is in the mall food courts. At the Siam, there are probably 40 sit down restaurants and another 60 stalls. We opted for the prepaid card to be swiped at several stalls and had an amazingly delicious feast for about $7.

On our way home we saw a festival going on at the noted Erawan Shrine.  The long walk through the city and back to the 50s was breezy and tropical.  A day of super fun planned stuff and happy accidents along the way. Done and done.