Bangkok Part 1

We flew Singapore Airlines to Bangkok for a long Easter weekend in Thailand. Thailand shares borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. Originally we thought we’d spend the whole time in Bangkok, but then we found out that something really different was within a 3 hour drive. Back to that later.

In Bangkok we stayed at a very nice hotel and on check-in were upgraded to a large suite with 2 bathrooms and 135 degree (B's estimate) view of the river and the city.We could see the Portuguese Embassy and and another embassy further along the river from our window.

There was one really weird building that looked like a giant caterpillar had been feeding on it.

We visited the executive lounge a few times and got to see Coca Cola light in Thai and also tonic water in Thai. They have an afternoon tea with a multi-tiered plate with savory and sweet items.

We hired a local guide (Wantana) and driver to do a tour of several of the Buddhist temples on our first day in Bangkok.

At the end of the day's tour, we stopped at a stone carving place. Well, at least that’s how it was presented to us. We assumed, both of us, that we would see animals of stone, stone bookends, you know, things carved from stone.This view was reinforced as we got out of the van and there were gold painted fish and gnomes on the stairs leading into the shop. Surprise! It was a gemstone shop, aka “jewelry store.”  We did in fact pick up a little something--a pair of dark yellow sapphire earrings.

On Saturday night we dined at a fancy steak restaurant in the hotel. Wow! 

Most of you can probably go to variety of restaurants and get a good steak. That’s not true here. The really good steak at home allows smoking throughout the restaurant (yes, despite the no smoking laws and signs all over) so unless we go there for lunch when there are fewer patrons, the place gets filled with smoke and ruins the meal. 

I had a 6 oz filet mignon and B had prime rib. At this restaurant, they even provided a free appetizer. I’ve never had anything like it. It was a mushroom glazed creme brulee. I could ignore the glaze because the creme brulee part was delicious. It was just a tiny cup. We ordered cauliflower gratin as a side with field greens salads. B's meal came with a baked potato. We also got a few chocolates, gratis, following dinner. The bread preceding dinner was a chili laced focaccia and a whole wheat seeded bread. They came with plain butter but also a garlic and herb butter. The entire meal was yummy!I didn't know I'd missed a great steak quite that much!