Hello from the Five Star Vagabond
June 10, 2020
by David Herd
Comments Off on Bangkok restaurants shopping 2020
Bangkok between Nana & Asoke Bangkok restaurants shopping during the Covid-19 lock-down was still an enjoyable weekend, I really needed to get away from my home in Pattaya for a welcome change of scenery. This photo was taken from … Continue reading
December 4, 2019 by David Herd
Fabulous fresh seafood Bangkok, where else but El Mercado’s seafood room in their wonderful market restaurant. After I enjoyed another memorable lunch I purchased 2.5 dozen fresh oysters to take home to Pattaya.
In fact everything looks so fresh and appetizing.
Where do you start? 🙂
Oysters natural from France, 6 No 4 Cancale B35 each or $1.70 AUD, & 6 No 3 Claire B55 each, or $2.66 AUD.
Price rise at el Mercado
It’s now June 2022 & the price for Fin de Clare hase jumped to B99 each.
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Cultured on the French Atlantic coast, Fine de Claire is the favorite oyster of people who love less fleshy and more juicy oysters with a balanced taste. This oyster must be refined in the shallow water of the claires basins, according to a strictly stipulated number of months and a maximum limit on the number of oysters per square meter. The result is a less meaty but juicy oyster rich in water, with translucent or white mantle, an earthy flavor, smooth with an incredible lingering aftertaste. |
I’m guessing it’s from Alaska.
Most are from France but there are some Irish varieties as well.
The guys are packing up my “to go” box of 2.5 dozen.
Of course they need to be shucked, luckily my friend Hanish Elton, who I call the oyster man, has a glove & a knife we purchased in Coffin Bay South Australia a few months ago.
I’m surprised how efficient he was, lucky he had those lessons in Coffin Bay. 🙂
We washed them down wit a cold New Zealand sauvignon blanc.
There is a huge choice of cold cuts & cheese from all over the world. The Salami truffle was sensational.
Here is the view from my balcony, what better place could you pick to enjoy 2.5 dozen oysters? I have eaten oysters all over the world, check THIS LINK, however this is by far the best view.
Australia has wonderful seafood, check out THIS LINK.
Thanks for visiting my Fabulous fresh seafood Bangkok photo blog. I am planning a trip to the east coast of France to indulge in an oyster feeding frenzy. 🙂
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
Everything you wanted to know about Bangkok but were afraid to ask. 🙂
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December 3, 2019 by David Herd
Bangkok river buildings photographed from the Iconsiam free ferry shuttle on the Chao Phraya River. Everything from tall modern skyscrapers to ancient waterfront homes. The photo above is the State Tower which was built in 2001, it is the largest building in Southeast Asia, with 300,000 m² floor area. The building on the right is the Shangri-La hotel.
One of the best locations in Bangkok, 5 minutes walk to the sky train. On the right is Centre Point hotel. For a discount at the Shangri-la just use THIS LINK. The rooms in Center Point are excellent, for a discounted room rate just use THIS LINK.
These boats are very good for exploring the Bangkok canals. See more on THIS LINK.
What a contrast we see along the Chao Phraya river, modern skyscrapers & wonderful old buildings.
Often referred to as the Ghost Tower, the Sathorn Unique is an abandoned Bangkok skyscraper. Not only is it illegal to enter but it’s also in a state of dangerous disrepair. Where there’s a will there’s often a way, however, and many daring souls have slipped a “tip” to the security guards and made their way through the debris to experience an exhilarating adventure with glorious views over Sathorn’s towering buildings.
This impressive office building is owned and operated by the Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT). Consisting of 30 floors.
Great view of the CAT building with the State Tower featuring Sirocco restaurant on the far right with the gold dome.
Bangkok River Park is located at Trok Saphan Yao, Chakkrawat, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100. Construction was completed in 1994. The condominium comprises of a single building, having 36 floors and includes 97 units.
Such a contrast compared to the the modern high-rise buildings along this great river.
River City opened in l984 and was the first riverside shopping complex of its kind in Bangkok. With over 47,000 sqm of space and a couple hundred retail spaces, the mall offers a wide selection of shopping choices. Its main focus is on Thai cultural articles and antiques. It does offer standard retail shopping as well. The mall also hosts a number of exhibitions, events, festivals and auctions throughout the year.
To the right is the Royal Orchard Sheraton, for an excellent room discount just book through THIS LINK.
Icon Siam Mall is called the “Mother of All Malls”, with 500 shops and 100 restaurants from more than 30 different countries. Developed by the same tycoons behind Siam Paragon and EmQuartier, Icon Siam offers high-end brands, an indoor floating market, an art gallery, exhibition space, and a beautiful riverside location with views of downtown Bangkok.
Thanks for visiting my Bangkok river buildings photo blog, this great city is forever changing, put it on your bucket list.
Everything you wanted to know about Bangkok but were afraid to ask. 🙂
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December 1, 2019 by David Herd
Iconsiam Bangkok great food, however there is a problem, there are so many great places to eat it is difficult to make a decision. There is a selection of over a hundred famous restaurants from all over the world in seven different zones, each of them catering to diverse culinary tastes. The incredible choice of dishes available come from venues ranging from Michelin starred restaurants to famous Thai street food stalls.
Very authentic, it’s as good as you get in Tokyo. 🙂
Only B420 or $14 USD. Siam Takashimaya offers three zones of Japanese food venues, the ground floor features a food court and more Japanese restaurants, while cafés and bakeries from across Japan on UG floor are divided into three smaller zones named after the Japanese prefectures of Kyoto, Hokkaido and Nara.
In fact I travelled to Sapporo in July 2018.
Lots of varieties here to choose from.
Yes, I certainly am, everything looks so good. 🙂
Another interesting casual venue.
Check out the seven dining zones.
So many restaurants & such little time.
Lots of heat under that big bowel.
As you can clearly see there are so many choices at Iconsiam, please put it one your bucket list, you will not be disappointed.
Just catch the free shuttle ferry from Sathon pier, they run every 10 minutes or so.
Thanks for visiting my Iconsiam Bangkok great food photo blog.
Everything you wanted to know about Bangkok but were afraid to ask. 🙂
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November 30, 2019 by David Herd
Iconsiam shopping mall Bangkok on the Chao Phraya River is yet another wonderful Bangkok shopping venue. I certainly believe Bangkok now rivals Tokyo with the best shopping malls in the world.
This is where you arrive on the free ferry shuttle from Sathon wharf. The River Park is a riverside community space covering a 10,000-sq. m. area in front of ICONLUXE. Open daily, it welcomes all visitors to enjoy an enchanting view of the Chao Phraya River amid lush, green auspicious trees.
You will need several hours to explore this wonderful shopping precinct. In fact there are over a hundred famous restaurants from all over the world available in seven spacious zones, each of them catering to diverse culinary tastes. Check out THIS LINK for details.
For a list of the hundreds of shops just follow THIS LINK.
There is a surprise around every corner.
Now is your chance to grab a tiger by the tail. 🙂
Over 100 restaurants, check out THIS LINK.
Estimates are that there are about 3,500 domesticated elephants in Thailand. Roughly 3,340 wild elephants live in 69 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks across the country. Thailand’s population of wild elephants has been rising.
However, it’s a far cry from a century ago when at least 100,00 elephants roamed the heavily forested Kingdom. Loss of habitat and poaching helped lead to the steep decline in the elephant population.
This bull is a real cool dude. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my Iconsiam shopping mall Bangkok photo blog, please go to THIS LINK to see some incredible buildings along the Chao Phraya river.
A new huge branch to open in February 2021. In addition to the main Starbucks signature coffee bar, the Starbucks Reserve store will be the first to serve Starbucks’ Mew Jai ‘Blend coffee grown in the northern part of our country, along with the’ Tee Vana ( Teavana ™ Bar) ‘first in Thailand. For customers who like drinking tea. Both Earl Gray Lychee and Peach Mojito Tea There are also cocktail bars that are not yet available
Check out these great photo blogs.
Tokyo fabulous food
Steakhouse New York
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April 21, 2019 by David Herd
Hass avocado Bistro Bangkok is rather unique, their avocados are shipped from New Zealand and are served in every imaginable form and flavor. The hamburger is rather unique, the buns are replaced with avocado, what a great idea. The breakfast of poached eggs & avocado is perfect.
Just 50 metres from Sukhumvit Rd. Opens daily at 8am, since it intends to serve early-birds who come in for breakfast, & closes at 9 pm.
Quite a small restaurant with a comfortable atmosphere.
July marks the opening of the avocado season in Thailand and the best time of the year to buy and binge on until late September, while the Hass variety season starts from August and lasts until the end of the year or longer if cooler weather prevails.
Cutting the fruit open at the exactly right moment is obviously critical because it no longer ripens after the flesh is exposed. We all know the temperamental nature of avocados, cutting too soon would be a bust and leaving them for too long would be a waste. During the ripening period, skin colour changes is the best indication for its readiness but this also differs depending on the type.
On the left as you walk in the door, lots of varieties other than avocado. 🙂
I was was in heaven, 2 of my favourite things, Mango & avocado.
Poached eggs & avocado, perfect.
This has got to be a totally unique dish, I have never seen one like it before. Plus it was fabulous. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my Hass avocado Bistro Bangkok photo blog, put this excellent restaurant on your bucket list.
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January 20, 2019 by David Herd
LadyBoys Nana Plaza Bangkok
LadyBoys Nana Plaza Bangkok seem to be increasing in numbers each year. In Thailand a Kathoey or katoey is a transgender woman or an effeminate gay male. Many Thai people perceive that a kathoey actually belongs to a third gender.
They usually start to arrive from 6 pm on, it’s rather entertaining seeing them arrive with an exaggerated walk & almost always stroking their hair.
LadyBoys often look and act more ladylike than the ladies! Everything is exaggerated, particularly walking, where they look like they are on a constant catwalk. There is a more pronounced swaying of the hips, more elegant posture (particularly when seated), excessively flicking and fidgeting with their hair and over-applied make-up.
However he is a well known face around Nana Plaza, let’s just call him “Secrets”. 🙂
Most LadyBoys are much taller than the girls & after living in Thailand for many years they are easy to spot. Ladyboys do not just exaggerate their femininity; they exaggerate everything! Every word and action is excessively flamboyant. This makes them stand out from the crowd because Thai culture is such that women (even those working in beer bars and go-gos) are usually quite reserved.
Gary & Brad are from Townsville & I’m in the middle & have lived in Pattaya for 10 years. However my first visit to Nana Plaza was 24 years ago in 1996.
By far the best looking LadyBoy I have ever seen was in Pattaya. My two Aussie friends Dennis & Nick were absolutely stunned. 🙂
Without a doubt this is the best adult entertainment precinct in Bangkok.
Wow! what nice group of lads. 🙂
A couple of fine feathered friends. 🙂
However I prefer the real thing, someone like this gorgeous lady who is looking for a late night snack.
Thanks for visiting my LadyBoys Nana Plaza Bangkok photo blog.
Lots more photo blogs here;
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January 14, 2019 by David Herd
Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok
Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok is Thailand’s tallest building featuring a glass floor 314 metres above the busy streets of Bangkok. A two-tiered observation tower is part of the complex that also hosts Bangkok’s highest rooftop bar and a 63-square metre glass tray floor. I visited with Brad Robbins, my friend from Townsville Australia, his girlfriend Por & her daughter Pang.
Quite breathtaking as you can clearly see.
The price is rather high, B850 or $26 USD for adults & B250 or $7.80 USD for children & seniors, & guess what? I’m a senior, YIPPEE!
The golden dome is the State tower with the famous Sirocco sky bar.
Which is a large shopping mall, which opened to the public on 10 November 2018, as well as hotels and residences.
The terrible haze covering Bangkok really effects the photo quality. I’ll visit again when the sky is blue.
Imagine what it will be like on a beautiful fine day.
Going up was very fast, 74 floors in 50 seconds. Going down King Power set a trap for you, they force you to walk through 4 or 5 floors of shops, to make matters worse the exit on each floor is not clearly marked, so it is very difficult to get out of the building.
You must take off your shoes & wear soft covers.
If you suffer from vertigo the glass floor is not for you. 🙂
Refreshments are available from the shop.
You feel like quoting Martin Luther King “Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
Thanks for visiting my Mahanakhon Sky Walk Bangkok photo blog.
Check out these great photo blogs.
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November 2, 2018 by David Herd
Eleven thousand restaurants & such little time
Eleven thousand restaurants & such little time, dining in Bangkok can be rather confusing, because there are just so many good places to eat. Having said that, I must point out that even after living in Thailand for seven years 90% of my diet is western style food.
Avocados are one of my favourite things to eat & drink in a smoothie. This simple little cafe is in Klang Avenue which runs off Sukhumvit midway between Thong lo & Phrom Phong BTS stations.
Chicken, cheese & tomato between 2 halves of avocado.
Located near the Grand Swiss hotel in soi 11/1 Nana. Food & service are good with a rather authentic Japanese atmosphere.
The food above + a glass of house wine was total of B920 or $38 Aud or $28 USD. I’m still on my avocado push, notice the tasty serve above with creme cheese. 🙂
Of course there is always more when you are addicted to this wonderful fruit. Follow THIS LINK for the many benefits of avocado.
Presented by the Bangkok Baking Company at the JW Marriot on Sukhumvit.
Here is a YouTube video on the many benefits of avocado. Just follow THIS LINK.
Much more than a grocery store & delicatessen. My photo blog for lots more information can be found on THIS LINK.
Cultivated in Cancale, in the beautiful Bay of Mont St Michel, Brittany region of France, The Special de Cancale this a slightly acidic oyster loved for its taste of iodine, its firm flesh, light nutty flavor.
Book your Bangkok hotel through THIS LINK for a great discount, plus you can pay later & cancel free of charge if you wish.
We used to get double the size for 1/2 the price, oh well I guess that’s just inflation. 🙂
As you can clearly see the size is shrinking.
It’s a little hard to find the restaurant’s entrance located on the 3rd floor of the Maneeya Centre building, which directly links to BTS Chit Lom at the Siam end. The slow cooked lamb shank is absolutely delicious, more photos on THIS LINK.
Spanish style Gambas is my favourite dish at Wine Connection only B210.
I’m at one of their outlets nearly every day. Thanks for visiting my Eleven thousand restaurants photo blog.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
Check out these great food photo blogs.
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November 1, 2018 by David Herd
Bangkok Hustle Nana Seven slash one
Bangkok Hustle Nana Seven slash one may sound a little confusing, however let me explain this title. Soi 7/1 is a small alley off Sukhumvit Road adjacent to Nana station. I sometimes stay at a very good budget hotel called iCheck Inn Nana, which is at the end of the street about 200 meters from Sukhumvit Road.
Walking that 200 meters is where the hustle comes into play, you have to pass quite a few massage parlours where the girls & ladyboys are quite relentless in their efforts to lure you inside with the promise of all sorts of graphic exotic experiences. I’ll leave the description of these promises up to your imagination. 🙂
That’s Nana station on the upper left of the photo.
There are 3 or 4 restaurants plus a few small hotels & 6 0r 7 massage parlours.
Just across the road from my hotel, the iCheck Inn Nana.
Located at the end of the Soi on the right hand side.
A very good budget hotel with nice rooms & fast internet. Book through THIS LINK for a discounted room rate.
Looking at the Ambassador Hotel in Soi 11. The block of land in the foreground was where Cheap Charlies & several shops & restaurants were located before being demolished in 2017. Once again book through THIS LINK for a discounted room rate with free cancellation & a pay later option.
A nice looking bar next to my hotel. Thanks for visiting my Bangkok Hustle Nana Seven slash one photo blog. There are hundreds of secret little Sois in the Sukhumvit area, this has been the story of one of them. 🙂
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