Bangkok Blogger|Tales from Thailand

The other night we went out in Ratchathewi.  Ratchathewi is one stop north of Siam on the BTS and we had arranged to meet at a bar down there.  Across from the station is a road that is closed to traffic and has quite a few bars on.  It looked pretty Thai as we approached but the only bar we went in happened to be about 95% farrang but it was a good night and somewhere I plan to go back to and explore some more.

There didn’t appear to be any lady bars so if you are looking for somewhere ‘normal’ to go out it looks like it could be worth checking out and makes a change from Khao San.

Can anyone recommend any good bars or places to go out in Bangkok that aren’t mock ye olde English/Irish pubs or hooker bars?

The other weekend we did a cycling tour in Bangkok.  We did it through a company called Spice Roads and picked their Bangkok Jungle tour.  It starts in the afternoon and lasts for about 5 hours leaving from Sukhumvit and heading over the river to Samut Prakan which is the big grassy area on the Nancy Chandler map of Bangkok.

There was a bit of cycling on the Bangkok road at the beginning and the end but it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be and everyone survied in the traffic.  It is pretty hot so make sure you bring some water (even though it is provided for you on the tour).

I’d definitely recommend it although if you crossed the river yourself you can hire bikes over there and cycle around at your own leisure which would probably be cheaper and easier if you prefer to take it easy in the Bangkok heat.

I’m not sure I will be choosing the bicycle as a mode of transport from now on around Bangkok though!

So far I’ve really enjoyed living in Thailand.  I’ve loved going to so many cool beaches.  I loved the low cost for a higher quality of life.  I’ve loved the food and the sun.  But I have to admit I’ve found living in Bangkok a bit boring.  I am familiar with the saying ‘only boring people get bored’ and I must confess  I am not the most interesting person you are going to meet but previous places I have lived have usually managed to keep me entertained.

The main problem I have found with Bangkok is that there just doesn’t seem that much to do.  Once you have done the touristy things there doesn’t seem much to do unless you are happy to hang around bars drinking and doing all that goes with the Bangkok bar scene.  Don’t get me wrong I like a good session but not all day every day.  Bangkok also has some of the best malls I have ever seen so if you are into buying stuff then that can take up a lot of your time but after a while you will probably have most of what you want or need.

Back home I used to enjoy going out for a walk and visiting markets and seeing the sights and just generally being out and about.  In Bangkok thanks to the oppressive weather that isn’t really possible and there also doesn’t seem to be anywhere to walk to.  Yes taxis are very cheap but where do I tell the driver to go?

Anyone got any suggestions or things for me to check out in Bangkok?

Went to Indian Hut this weekend which is one of the most well-known Indian Restaurants in Bangkok.

It is located at the end on Thannon Surawong which is the road that runs parallel with Silom.  It’s not that far from the library and the British Club and there is also another good but smaller Indian restaurant a few doors along.

The food was really good and the portion size and service was good.  I think they delivery too via Food By Phone and ChefXP so if you are in Bangkok and fancy a nice Indian it is definitely worth checking out.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the big day when the pro-Thaksin red shirts descend on Bangkok to protest.

Rumours are flying around from the believable (50,000 will arrive) to the slightly more wild (snipers and looting at Central World).   I’ll probably be staying in and watching it on TV if they haven’t shut down all the local TV stations as reported by some newspapers.

Fingers crossed it all goes off peacefully.