Bangkok In 2016 - Part Two

They called Bangkok the city of angels and Thailand the land of thousand smiles. The Kingdom has always been a great place to visit for many reasons - the people, the food, the shopping, the vibrancy and the close proximity. Talking about proximity, I have yet to find a reason to stay at another hotel other than my usual favourite - the Novotel Bangkok at Siam Square and December was a good season.

Bangkok itself has been undergoing constant changes just like Singapore and it has been getting more and more rapid. Just look at the Novotel Siam lobby now. 

Totally changed. At the other corner, you and your children could even sit down on the floor for a few rounds of games at t he Xbox station.

Even the lobby washrooms have been upgraded. 

This is heavy metal rock.

For lunch, we had to go to this popular joint for good food at reasonable prices. 

Inter has been around for such a long time and the regular crowd is still there. 

Have your individual orders or for a group. It is kind of like home-cooked and authentic.

Thai iced tea is a favourite. You need all the energy from some sugar and the ice to beat the hell out of the heat.

I was curious and wanted to try their carrot cake. It came looking like XO carrot cake but someone commented it tasted more like our char kway teow.

Yo will find many translucent rubbish bins at shopping centres which is a good idea as you could see the stuffs thrown in and for security reason it is a good idea unless things thrown into it are so messy that it becomes unsightly. So why aren't more countries using such translucent bins?

When you are working or suffering, a day seems like a week but when you are on holiday and enjoying, a week seems like a day. So very soon, it was dinner time. While walking, I saw this and took a photo as it encapsulated what is Bangkok and Thailand. Modern facilities, mass rapid transit and perpetual jams.

This is certainly a new addition at Siam Square shopping centre next to the Novotel. Somboon was already here. The White Flower Factory. It is popular with family and lots of young people too. The name though sounds like I am walking into the Boxer Rebellion in ancient China where they have the White Lotus Sect.

The food is good. How should I say - Thai food served with a twist?

Pad Thai. 

I was just a guest so sometimes I know not what I was eating.

They tasted good so it mattered not. So just taste and guess.

Thai deep-fried fish is always good especially in spicy Thai flavours.

With traditional Thai curry and thick rice noodle this one is like laksa or curry noodle.

But I am very sure this is fish floss.

And probably a flavourful chicken dish.

As for desserts, we went for a Thai tea cake Thai tea syrup and it is very good.

Perhaps this is the best coconut cake I have ever eaten!

Time to relax and an ang moh couple asked me if this place is good and I said they are very good. We are here whenever we visit Bangkok. They were convinced. Word of mouth power. 

The Thai King whom the people loved deeply has passed on. Altars were set up in many places for people to pay their respect. This one is right in front of our hotel.

At the big shopping centres too.

The Platinum is a good place. It is huge and I have never been able to cover all areas. Just walk through, get what you want as you go along kind of stuff.

And then just across to Pratunam at SOi 19...

Our local hero is still at it - non-stop. Cooking noodles in style. This time his shiny mercury sunglasses has given way to something darker. Look carefully at the banner hung across the street again. They have a cult following.

Same long queue to get in. You can't get in unless all people in your group are there but the queue moves quickly always.

In Singapore, we used to have hawkers claiming they are the only stall peddling whatever and they have no other stalls elsewhere. Now you could see it in BOLD - NO BRANCH IN SINGAPORE. How many signs do you see here?

And since you have to queue, you might as well order some of these deadly stuff of pig trotters. Surely it has been simmered for a fairly long time.

A friend told me that once a few years ago, he finished his noodles and wanted more orders but was told to go and queue again. The serving is small so if you are a glutton, do a double like your whisky. See the lady in the background? She is kind of senior here as she ordered staffs around and has a steely stare like old days matron in a hospital or clinic. It can be nerve-wrecking.

A friend came late and waited to get in. We were wondering what would be the outcome. Would he be allowed to get in? If he got in, would he just be able to eat our leftovers or wold she allowed him to order? Nail-biting anxiety would follow. Heng Ah! He was allowed to order a bowl of noodle. We thought that the lady would chew him up and spit out the bones. She is powerful! Maybe one of Asia's most powerful women. Look at the sign again - No Branch In Singapore. They must have spent quite a lot in sign boards.

You will not die not having it but nevertheless it is a very good meal. Good noodle laced with lard but this time I noticed they have added some crab meat.  

Since you are there, might as well have this. 

A Thai wanton noodle outlet doing a roaring business and hosting many Singaporeans and others. That is how somehow someone could do a roaring business even against the logic. Well done!

Meanwhile, with the blink of an eye we are already coming to May. Time to think of a break. A really good break. I am scanning the horizon. Happy holidays and a great May Day!