Same routine: up and out early. Flight to Bangkok and check into airport hotel by 11:30. I am really getting hammered by this head cold/cough thing, and so lay down to rest while Valerie heads downstairs for coffee and to work with guy at front desk on adjusting her flights.
Out a bit after noon, and the “Queen of the Subway”
leads us down to the Siam area so we can feast at Provence, a restaurant recommended by both a co-worker of V’s and United’s “3 Perfect Days in Bangkok”. We relax in the air-conditioning and delightful live piano music, adjusting to being back in a 1st world environment (with prices to match). Enjoy the wonderful Peninsula noodles with beef, along with a couple other choice items, each more delicious than the last,
then hit the street. Next destination is Jim Thompson’s house. Jim, as a US army man stationed in Bangkok, fell in love with Thailand and its people, and set about re-energizing the Thai silk business, taking samples to the editor of Vogue to use in upcoming fashion designs.
The home is beautiful, and packed full of tourists (can only tour with official guide). We then walk back to the subway, and head down to the Chao Praya river and hop on an express water-taxi for a journey up the river.
Wats, fancy hotels, an incredible bridge, government military installations, restaurants and innumerable tourists river dinner cruise ships line the shores. We hop off a ways up, and then walk to the other dock, where we can catch a boat back down.
Back at our origination point, we walk a few blocks to check out the view at the SkyBar – the highest point on shore and another “must-do” from our two reference sources. But before we can get there, I duck into a pharmacy to load up on cough lozenges and nose spray. I also have to walk down every alley we pass because each one is lined with clothing booths (ignore) and food stalls (close examination). Keep going, but stop to pick up a few of these things that look like small, think pancakes smeared with white stuff that looks like marshmallow fluff and a few shredded carrots. I get 5 for $.10, and we make quick work of them. Indeed they are a bit to the sweet side (coconut?), but very light. We actually enter the department store (on recommendation of pharmacist) and go to their food court (would never do at home!!) for a couple of plates of pad thai.
Appetites sated and energy restored, we continue our walk and up to the Skybar. Extremely popular place. We were warned that food not so good, so we are chaperoned out to the outside terrace, where we are graciously allowed to buy $20+ cocktails as we enjoy the spectacular view along with a global melting pot of nationalities doing the same.
Pictures, watermelon juice and vodka-tonics handled, we stop to admire the flowers in the foyer
then head back down all 64 floors in the elevator (way too packed for my comfort on the way up, let me tell you!) and back through the quiet streets to the begin our long journey to the airport hotel. Two subway lines and then the Skytrain and we’re walking back into the hotel in about 50 minutes. I can’t keep my head up for the last 30 minutes; whatever I’m fighting is sure taking it out of me, but I’m hoping to gain the edge before it turns into full-fledged cold. I dive into bed while Valerie showers and finishes packing. Back solo starting tomorrow morning!