Filed Under (Thailand) by Farang on 06-03-2011
If you have a look you will find a surprisingly large number of novels written by Westerners set in Thailand and Bangkok in particular. The two main types are the auto-biographical accounts of Westerners banged up abroad in Thai jails such as the Bangkok Hilton and novels about the bar scene and hapless farangs who get caught up in the world of bar girls and sick buffaloes. Some are ok and some are dire but when I first moved to Thailand I found it hard to resist them as at first there was a certain novelty factor gained from reading about a place you are living in but did not know much about. After a while they all get to sound the same and you go back to reading ‘proper’ books.
The other weekend though I was away at the beach and I realised I’d forgotten my book so I went down to the hotel shop and lo and behold there was an array of books set in Thailand. Whilst having a quick flick one tag line jumped out at me: ‘Jeremy Clarkson with a Gun’. I couldn’t resist it so I picked up the book so get a better view of the cover: gun (check), flames (check), scary looking man (check) quote from Radio 5 live (check), sticker proclaiming the book was set in Thailand (check). I was sold. The book was, in case you feel the urge to run out and get a copy, Live Fire by Stephen Leather. The name sounded familiar too and it turns out it is the same guy who wrote the infamous Private Dancer, also set in Thailand.
Is Live Fire any good? Well I read it in about two days so it is very readable and provides a few laughs along the way. The Thailand part is set is Pattaya no less so you can guess what goes on! The book has two main story lines: a group of British Muslims on a Jihad and some rough-diamond-cockney-geezer-types living in Thailand whilst coming back to the UK every now and then to do a blag. The main character is Dan Shepherd, an undercover cop, send out to Patts to infiltrate the gang. Its a good romp and better than a lot of books set in Thailand although that isn’t really saying much but if you want a good beach read and its definitely worth a punt.
Read any good books set in Thailand lately?
Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 15-02-2011
When I did a previous post on Bangkok Muay Thai gyms I wasn’t aware of the Petch Yin Dee Muay Thai Gym. I recently saw it when I was passing by in a taxi. The gym is near the Lumpinee Muay Thai stadium and looks pretty good from the outside as you can see in and view the ring and weight training equipment. I didn’t have time to go in and check it out so if you’ve trained there or are planning to check it out let us know what you think.
They have a website but its in Thai although they do have an active Facebook page.
Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 28-01-2011
From January 26th to 30th there is a bike show running at the Central World shopping mall in Bangkok.
I was down there yesterday to do some shopping and was suprised to see loads of bikes and biking equipment around the mall. After a closer look it turns out it is the Bangkok Motorbike Festival 2011.
As well as there being loads of cool bikes from the past and the future there were loads of models ‘promoting’ the bikes and even more guys with massive cameras taking photos of them!
There were stands from BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Pirelli, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha, Honda plusloads more. There were also loads of biking gear displays with lots of motorbike helmets that looked a lot safer than the ones you find in Thai shops! If you are looking for a proper motorbike helmet this would be a good place to come. They even had baby’s and children’s motorbike helmets which seem to be in short supply in Bangkok judging by the amount of babies and kids you see on motorbikes without even a hat for protection!
During the day the action takes place inside the mall but after 4pm there are outdoor activities such as live music and a beer garden which runs unitl 11pm. I didn’t hang around to see if there were any races. Seeing all those motorbikes in a Bangkok shopping mall did conjure up images of Jackie Chan’s Police Story film which culminates in a massive car and motorbike chase in a department store.
- Location: Central World department store
- Dates: Wednesday January 26 to Sunday January 30 2011
- Time: 10.00 AM to 10.00 PM (Indoor) 4.00 PM to 11.00 PM (Outdoor)
- Website: www.thailandmotorbikefestival.com
Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 27-01-2011
Longtable is another ‘sky bar‘ in Bangkok and is a great place for a drink or dinner thanks mainly to its great views.
Longtable is located on Sukhumvit soi 16 which isn’t actually on Sukhumvit but runs parallel to it but is still easy enough to find. The bar is pretty snazzy as you’d expect and while most of it is inside the end wall has been cut away to reveal a stunning view of the city. There is standard seating inside and then there is the more relaxed terrace where get you the great views. It feels more like a bar you’d actually go to for a drink unlike the Banyan Tree and State Tower where, although the bars are nice, its all about the view. You could easily spend a night here drinking and not see the view and still have a good time!
As the name suggests there is a long table at Longtable and it is reportedly 25 metres long!
There is also a swimming pool out on the terrace but when we went it wasn’t being used by anyone. I’m not sure how keen they’d be on your stripping off and having a swim.
For reservations call 02 302 2557-9
Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 27-01-2011
Thailand’s first and only branch of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts might’ve opened in Bangkok over 4 months ago but the queues to get one of their doughnuts are still pretty sizeable. I do quite like a doughnut but not enough to queue for one, especially when there are Dunkin’ Donuts and loads of other shops right next to Krispy Kreme and scattered all over Bangkok without any queues at all.
But today, walking out side Paragon I noticed a few street sellers hawking doughnuts with Krispy Kreme signs. Upon closer inspection they even had menu cards with all the names of the doughnuts on in English and Thai. At first I thought they must be fake doughnuts cashing in an the craze for the Krispy Kreme’s but actually they are people who have queued up, bought a few trays of doughnuts and set up stall outside the official store.
I bought one to test them out and although it was nice the fact it had been sitting out in the sun for a while by the side of a busy road in Bangkok might have reduced its potential a bit. To me it didn’t seem any different to a Dunkin Doughnut and no where near as nice as a Greg’s ring or jam doughnut. But as Greg’s have yet to expand into Bangkok I will have to make do.
These black market Krispy Kreme doughnuts cost 50 baht for one and 130 baht for 3. I’m not sure how it compares to in store. Anyone done the queue and know how much they cost?
Image ‘borrowed’ from: http://everythinghapa.com/archives/2246
Filed Under (Thailand) by Farang on 26-01-2011
If you’ve got an Apple Iphone, Ipad or an Ipod touch and are not yet fluent in Thai this free Thai language app might be right up your soi. The Speak Thai app was released in September 2010 but I’ve only just discovered it.
Apart from being free it has a few nice features that separate it from the rest of the free Thai language Iphone apps and some of the ones you have to pay for. It was developed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and although they get a bit of stick from time to time they seem to have done a pretty good job with this teach yourself Thai language app.
It has over 2500 words and covers the usual topics most Thai language books or software applications tend to focus on such as shopping, eating out, travel, doctors and hospitals and numbers to name just a few.
The phrases are written in English, Thai script and transliteration and you can chose to have them read out by a man or a woman. You can add phrases to your favourites so they can be easily accessed when you need them.
I’d say this was almost as good as the Ipood Iphone app which you have to pay for except that with this app you cannot see a list of all the individual words so could not use it as a dictionary, just a phrase book.
As it is free it is definitely worth a look and as speaking Thai is so focused on the pronunciation, being able to hear the words and phrases spoken is invaluable.
To find this Thai language application search for ‘Speak Thai EN’ on the Apple app store in Itunes.
Let us know how you get on!
Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 20-01-2011
I’m not really sure what to make of this: a Michael Jackson Kids Contest. Whilst shopping at Central Rama III I saw a poster for this event being held there. From what I could make out kids will be dressing up as the King of Pop in some kind of pageant. Whether they will be singing and performing I could not tell. Is this in bad taste or am I being too politically correct? Either way I won’t be there to find out!
Central Plaza Rama 3:
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Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 19-01-2011
Whenever we have guests visiting from out of town, particularly if they are a bit older and want to see a bit more of Bangkok than the inside of a bar we usually take them on a canal boat tour of Bangkok.
The tours start from Central Pier which is under the Saphan Taksin bridge, next to the BTS stop of the same name. You can chose from three tours of different lengths and each of which set off down the Chao Praya river before heading into the canals that are still in use on the other side of the river known as old Bangkok or Thonburi.
The tour gives you a good insight into what Bangkok was like before they paved over most of the Klongs, or canals, and replaced them with roads. Most of the canals are lined with houses built on the water and depending on the tour you chose you get the chance to visit a floating market selling a wide array of seafood cooked in front of you eyes on small boats.
Getting one of these tours is also good way to get to Wat Arun, AKA the Temple of Dawn which is a must see on the tourist trail in Bangkok. You also get your own long tail boat with driver which is a much more fun way to see the river than the standard tourist boat.
Prices aren’t cheap but are well worth it for something a bit different. Four people cost 2000 baht but I’m sure you could knock them down a bit if you try.
Central Pier:
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Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 17-01-2011
Ban Chiang is a great Thai restaraunt in Sathorn that is set in an old Thai style house. The decor is really nice and there is seating inside and out. The menu is mainly Thai with all the usual suspects. Ban Chiang is more popular with Westerners than Thais and the dishes do reflect this a bit. This does make it good for visitors wanting authentic Thai dishes that won’t blow your head off! Prices are pretty good for a Western targeted restaruant but obviously not as cheap as a Thai-Thai eatery. The service was very good and the waiting staff are very attentive without going over baord and seem happy doing their jobs.
It’s not that easy to find but if you head for Jamieson’s bar at the Holiday Inn you will find a sign for Ban Chiang Restaurant that will point you in the right direction. The nearest BTS to Ban Chiang is Surasak on the Silom line.
Ban Chiang, Bangkok: 14 Soi Sriviang, Surasak Road, Bangkok 10500
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Filed Under (Bangkok) by Farang on 16-01-2011
The V9 Bar at the Sofitel hotel on Silom Road in Bangkok is one of a few bars with a great view in Bangkok. The two most well known ‘sky bars’ in Bangkok are the Sirocco Sky Bar at the State Tower and Moon
Bar at the Banyan Tree hotels.
Where as the bars at the State Tower and the Banyan Tree are open air the V9 Bar at the Sofitel is enclosed with floor to celling windows. This does diminish the wow factor compared to the open air bars but is better for those with an aversion to heights! The views are as good as the other two main sky bars in Bangkok but the decor and atmosphere do not compete. One of the benefits of not being an open air bar is that it can be air conditioned and with Bangkok, even in the late evening, being very humid this is a definate plus point.
The prices of drinks were a little bit cheaper that the top two sky bars but still a lot more than a regular bar. There was a good wine list with lots of bottles available in the lobby so if you are looking for a good bottle of wine for home then it might be worth popping in and having a look.
If its raining or the thought of an open air bar with not much enclosure puts you off then the Sofitel V9 bar is definately worth a visit but if you want to wow guests then head to the Banyan Tree or the State Tower.
The dress code for all three of these bars is smart casual which can be read as long trousers and closed shoes for men and no flip flops for women.
Opening hours : 17:00 – 02:00
Address: 188 Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Photo by: Toby Simkin
