DID: Really wanted to go to the tiger temple but didn’t fancy 6 hours in the car (200 km each way). So instead we settled for tigers as the Dusit Zoo. Zoo also conveniently located in the royal section of Bangkok, across from the King’s residence. And coincidentally, down the road from the restaurant we intended to go to Sunday night but never quite got there.
Hit the restaurant first, in spite of the taxi cab drivers protests that it was ‘too far, too far’. Guess this explains why previous attempts to get there failed. I can never understand why taxi drivers don’t want to take you across town, as long as you’re staying within densely populated areas. What’s the difference? But anyway, the ‘journey’ was all of 20 minutes, including traffic. Fare came to 85 baht (about $3) but driver would not give Jason change for his 100 baht note because we made him go “so far”.
Then to the zoo. Our guide book promised elephants, tigers, the largest collection of gibbons in Asia and peddle boats – and on these points it delivered. Gavin said it was the best zoo we’ve been to yet because he liked the amusement park rides, the playground and the (very extensive) snake house. Jason and I were not as impressed, mostly because of a failure to hide the back-of-house operations. But it was nice to be in a stroller-friendly and (mostly) vehicle-free environment.
Drove around the neighborhood as we made our way back to the skytrain. Really a lovely and leafy section of Bangkok – and a little bit weird because the Dusit Palace and other royal buildings look more Western than Thai. Lots of giant wildly beautiful bougainvillea to rival Ischia’s.
At this point we separated – Gavin and Jason headed off to a Thai boxing match while Rhys and I hit Siam Square one last time for some shopping. This time to the Siam Paragon Department Store. Can I just say again that if anyone wants to go shopping in Bangkok, I’m in? I’m convinced that if they don’t have it at Siam Paragon, it doesn’t exist. Gorgeous, gorgeous store. Didn’t come away with much to show for the 4 hours I spent there, but I did enjoy browsing.
Gavin and Jason had a great time at the boxing (ringside seats, no less!). Gavin reports that the ‘blue team won’ and he liked it very much. No blood, but they were very sweaty (but if they got too sweaty they would dry off with a towel). He wants to practice boxing when we get home.
Met back at the hotel for our last meal in Thailand. Off to Vietnam (Hue) tomorrow!)
ATE: Skipped breakfast, had a early lunch at Krua Apsorn (www.kruaapsorn.com). Glad we got there early because within 15 minutes the restaurant was completely packed. GnR had an omelet and rice. Jason started with a yellow fish curry with lotus and then had spicy fried crab with mango. I had coconut spicy soup with shrimp. Side of greens, no idea what the vegetable was but it was good (looked like the bottom of tiny flower buds.) All sublime and a just reward for our perseverance in getting there!
Dinner – planned to eat separately but we all ended up eating together back in the hotel room – Gavin and Jason with room service and Rhys and me with take away from the Siam Paragon food court. (I nearly was going to resign myself to room service as well – of the 75 million restaurants within the Siam Paragon complex, there seems to be only one that serves Thai noodles and it took me forever to find it). But at least it was good - Gavin and I unanimously agreed that the pad see ew from there was WAY better than the room service stuff, so we ate mine and ditched the other. Rhys had chicken fried rice (also very good), Jason had spicy coconut soup with chicken, and we all shared wontons stuffed with pork and spinach.
SLEPT: Final thoughts on Swissotel. Concierge is rubbish (but we have yet to find a hotel with a concierge who combines good English with good advice/knowledge of the city). I would probably chose to stay in Siam Square if I came again, and others interested in the famous temples might chose to stay nearer to the river. However, the neighborhood its in is probably the safest/cleanest/least congested neighborhood we saw. Added with the pool and workout facilities, it does provide a nice respite from the madness that is Bangkok. So I give it an ok.
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