Hotels of Note: The Oriental, Bangkok

Bangkok is one of the biggest cities in Asia, and also one of the most chaotic. That of course is part of its charm, with modern malls and skyscrapers mingling with traditional wats (temples) and pedestrians milling past food stalls, motorbike taxis and vendors along the busy sidewalks.

Bangkok also happens to be home to one of the world’s great hotels, the Mandarin Oriental, a five-star legend which has been winning awards for years. With its location on the banks of the Chao Phraya River at the end of a quiet soi (street) and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, this hotel is a true oasis. It’s also the oldest hotel in Thailand, and features buildings ranging from its original colonial style 19th century property to the present day towers.

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Navigating Thailand by Bus

Taxis might be cheap in Bangkok compared to those in other world capitals, but they’re not always the best option. Some don’t want to turn their meter on, some might not know where it is you want to go, and some will outright refuse to take you anywhere at all.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT underground still have limited reach making Thailand’s buses worth mastering to get to outlying towns and provinces without having to pay for a taxi or private car. In the metro area tickets range from free to 18 baht, up to a maximum of 1,500 which gets you an overnight VIP government bus all the way down to Phuket or Hat Yai. The bus system is not always easy to decipher, however. So here’s a guide for first timers.

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On the grapevine: Guide to Bangkok's Wine Bars

It's hard to believe, but up until recently wine was not a major focal point for socializing in Bangkok. These days, however, wine bars, bistros and pubs are cropping up like 7-Elevens across the city, giving travelers a grown-up alternative to buckets on Khao San Road and Kombi van cocktails.   

Here's a quick list of the main wine digs in Bangkok and how to reach them.

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bangkok: how to "do" bangkok's chatuchak weekend market

Bangkok’s Chatuchak weekend market is not for the faint of heart. With the number of visitors to the market potentially as high as 200,000 a day, even the market’s 35 acres isn’t enough to alleviate crowds, so expect to spend a lot of time squeezing awkwardly past your fellow shoppers in the narrow walkways. But it's all part of the fun.

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bangkok: bangkok is the new manhattan

Girls, I’d like to let you in on a secret. I’ve discovered a city bursting at the seams with heart-pumping, adrenaline-inducing action. It’s a city that rarely sleeps, and that never lets you say ‘no’ to a good time. It’s a city where it’s inexpensive to be fashionable, and therefore everyone always looks fabulous. It’s a city so friendly, so welcoming, and so inviting, that it’s a wonder it’s not packed full of city girls like me thriving on the non-stop lifestyle.

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food blog: bangkok after midnight - Part 2

This week we shall further explore eating after drinking. Moving away from Sukhumvit, the other most likely place you’ll be stumbling about is Silom/Patpong. Depending on what you’ve been doing here, you may be suffering post-traumatic stress and therefore be off your food. Personally, I find food comforting in any situation – in this case it can help keep your mind off what you have seen (and can never unsee).

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food blog: bangkok after midnight - Part 1

A great many people who come to Bangkok find themselves in need of something greasy after a night on the tiles. Since the bars don’t officially kick you out until about 2am, the hapless drunk might wander into a 24-hour McDonald’s thinking it’s the only option. While McD’s is probably the easiest thing to order when your eyes are putting a kaleidoscope effect on everything, there are cheaper, greasier options if you can remember the following in your time of need.

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food blog: bangkok Indian

I think I must have some kind of mental condition where, when I chance upon a restaurant I really like, its name is immediately erased from my memory. Sadly, there are restaurants I won’t ever mention here because all I can remember about them is the food.

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food blog: high altitude dining BKK

Eating in a really high restaurant will never get old for me. In Bangkok, there are two main open-air high-rise restaurants: The Dome at State Tower and Vertigo at The Banyan Tree. (There’s also Red Sky at the Centara Grand but more on that next time). Of these two there is no clear ‘winner’, they’re both beyond amazing and should please most mortals.

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food blog: bellissima bangkok

There’s a limit to how much Pad Thai one can eat in Thailand – actually, there’s not, I have proof – but anyway, should the love for one noodle wane, there are plenty of places ready to fill the void.

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