Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Saen (Part 3)

On our last day in the resort, we did 1 final activity in the morning – visit the Golden Triangle Park Hall of Opium just across the road. Returned to the resort for a quick late breakfast before getting ready for the transfer to Chiang Rai airport.

Discovered this delightful Affogato Coffee, vanilla ice-cream. I was impressed with the quality of coffee we tasted here in Northern Thailand.

Taking into consideration the travel time required for us to reach the Chiang Rai airport, the resort suggested that we check-out at 11am. To our surprise when we went to the reception for check-out procedure, the staff told us that our domestic flight to BKK had been delayed by 45 mins. We were too busy packing that we did not notice that the airline had sent an email to inform us about 10 mins ago. The hotel staff were alerted by other guests who were taking the same flight as us. They inquired whether w would like to adhere to our original transfer schedule or enjoy some leisure time in the lobby. Opting for the latter seemed a more comfortable choice.

When we reached the airport, we were disappointed to see a notice indicating that our Thai Smile domestic flight was rescheduled to depart 70 mins later (instead of 45mins) at 3.35pm. Estimated arrival time in BKK would be 5.05pm. And there would be ample buffer upon landing for us to check-in for our SQ flight by 7.20 pm (counter closes 40 mins before departure).

Due to the delay, we were given meal voucher valued at B$250 per person to be utilised at the Chiang Rai airport. Quite a decent service recovery tactic for a 70 mins delay. We managed to find a small Thai food eatery (Khaosoi House) that still had seats and food available to have our lunch.

Ordered a Pad Thai and a Pad Kra Pao, both were pretty decent. Was prepared to go hungry until we touchdown in BKK if our flight was on schedule. Nonetheless we were felt thankful that we had buffered time for our domestic to international flight transfer at BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport.

When the scheduled departure time got changed twice (from original 2.25pm to 3.10pm, then to 3.35pm) we were still pretty optimistic. However after we proceeded to clear the security checks and entered the boarding zone we got slightly worried. Seeing other passengers board their flights to BKK (on other airlines), passengers of our flight were left waiting in vain for the boarding announcement at the assigned gate. It became obvious that our plane had not arrived…there was no updates on the re-scheduled departure time…

After a total of 2.5 hours delay (from the initial estimation of 45 mins) our plane eventually took off at around 4.45pm. Based on forecast, we were hopeful that we could touchdown by 6.15pm with a slight rush (1 hour) to check-in our next flight.

Murphy’s Law seem to be in effect on this leg of our journey… First, I was disappointed that the plane had stopped on the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi Airport (on time at 6.15pm) with no airbridge connection… it would take a longer time to get to the arrival terminal via transfer bus. Second, after a suspiciously long wait, the Captain announced that there was issue opening the cabin doors! Argh!!!

Another agonising wait on the plane… Time was ticking by while there was nothing we could do to save ourselves from missing our SQ flight… By the time the problem was resolved, it was another 25 mins delay. Meanwhile we devised the strategy of splitting up once we disembark from the transfer bus. I would make a mad dash with my carry-on cabin bag and passports to check-in for our SQ flight to Singapore first so that I could inform the counter staff that there were 2 pieces of check-in luggage to come once they were retrieved from our domestic flight’s luggage belt. *Clearly we were the last 2 passengers to check-in. at the SQ counter. After a torturous 20 mins wait, we finally collected our luggage!

Really appreciate the wonderful help from the ground staff at Suvarnabhumi Airport who were very experience in handing such situation. The SQ counter staff were really quick in re-tagging our luggage tags and had the airport staff standing by to guide us to check-in our luggage via the odd-sized baggage area with exactly 40 mins left before our flight departure time. Next we were led to the express lane for security and custom clearance since we held Business class tickets. Luckily both had relatively short queue. Thereafter it was another mad dash across the huge terminal to reach our gate 10 mins before the flight departure time. Phew!

At that moment, I was mentally prepared that our luggage might not be loaded in time onto the plane. Having us physically onboard was all that matters… if the luggage were not loaded it will still be delivered later…

Our SQ flight eventually departed 5 mins ahead of schedule! P.S Eventually our luggage arrived safely in Singapore with us. Kudos to the speedy ground crew for successfully loading our bags!

Rewarded myself with a glass of SilverKris Sling after the mad dash! I was quite hungry and gobbled down the inflight meal. Prawns with Lemon Scented Oil Legume salad with yuzu, soy and sesame dressing, Seafood Hor Fun Singapore style wok-fried rice noodles with seafood and dessert of Floating Island “Ile Flottante” Egg white dome served with almonds and vanilla sauce. Loved the hor fun as there was a ‘wok hei‘ aroma to it.

Earlier Photos Taken:

Visited the Golden Triangle Park Hall of Opium using complimentary tickets included in our stay package at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort.

While we were somewhat familiar with the Opium wars between China and Western powers, as well as opium’s history in Singapore, there were still new things to learn about opium and it’s history in the Golden Triangle region.

I was surprised to learn that opium was known and cultivated since ancient Egypt era. In the capital city of Thebes, Egyptians began cultivation of opium thebaicum for medicinal and ritual use.

Other Related Posts:

• Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Saen (Part 2)
• Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Saen (Part 1)
• Melt In Your Mouth, Chiang Rai
• Laab Sanam Keela, Chiang Rai

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Saen (Part 2)

Woke up pretty early for breakfast so that we could be ready in time for our activity at 9.30am. Although there was a buffet line and ala carte items available, I only had a light meal. Typically I don’t take heavy meal in the morning.

After our Walking with Giants activity, we went back to our room for a short nap. By lunch time, we were we were famished. Time to feast again!

Started with the refreshing Chiang Rai Spritz Lemongrass, Elderflower Syrup, Ginger Ale and Mango Sticky Rice Mango, Coconut Milk, Sticky Rice Syrup, half & half. Salad of Sa Hua Plee Poo Nim Thod Local farmed banana blossom in spices, Soft shell crab tempura.

Followed by the signature dish in Northern Thailand – Kao Soy Traditional Chiang Rai egg noodles yellow curry soup with prawns/ chicken/ beef/ vegetarian.

Gaeng Kiew Waan Green Curry with chicken/ pork/ beef/ prawns, pea eggplants, water chestnuts, sweet basil.

Last but not least, a dessert of Bua Loy Nam King Rice flour dumplings filled with black sesame butter and swimming in ginger soup.

Today was a packed day filled with activities as we made a short free-and-easy excursion to see the Golden Triangle landmark in Sop Ruak just 5-mins car ride away from the resort.

After the short excursion, its time for an afternoon tea break. An experience not included in our package was the chance to try Black Ivory Coffee. It is a brand of coffee produced in Northern Thailand from Arabica coffee beans consumed by elephants and collected from their waste. As much as 33kg of coffee cherries are needed to produce just 1kg of Black Ivory Coffee (vs 5:1kg for regular coffee).

A rare opportunity not to be missed, we paid B$1,800 (S$70) for 1 pack that can yield 2 cups of coffee. It is slightly cheaper than buying the beans directly from the official website. The Mahout’s Blend is the cheaper mix blend coffee compared to the pure blend which is listed on the website at S$204 (Mahout’s Blend is listed at S$89).

The coffee was brewed using a siphon which uses heat, pressure and vacuum to brew the coffee. We paired it with an Afternoon Tea Set. The verdict regarding the $35 cup of coffee? It is extremely delicate, smooth and light. It does not have much of coffee taste, with no hint of acidity nor bitterness. Coffee drinkers who like theirs strong and rich would probably say the Black Ivory coffee is Crap. Ok, albeit it was indeed harvested from crap.

Before grinding the beans, the staff let us take a sniff of the beans in the original state. It smelled just like ordinary plain beans with a very mild roast flavour. We were advised to taste the brewed coffee after every 10 mins to appreciate the change in the taste as the coffee cools. It was observed that the mild chocolate notes gradually developed and got more pronounced as the coffee cool.

Perhaps I was high on caffeine or sugar-rush…somehow I could summon enough energy to hit the gym for a run. Partly due to me feeling guilty after indulging in so much calories!

Headed for late dinner at 9pm and ordered healthier choice dishes of leavy greens for a start. Salty Chiang Rai Edamame Simple and delicious local steamed green soybeans and Phad Kana Moo Krob Stir fried Chinese Kale, crispy pork, garlic, bird’s eye chillies, oyster sauce.

Tom Yum Goong Chiang Rai river prawn spicy soup, straw mushrooms, lemongrass, kaffir lime, bird’s eye chillies, lime juice.

Phad Thai Rice noodles, bean curd, Chinese chives and spicy tamarind sauce, wrapped in an egg nest, with choice of prawn, chicken or vegetables.

Earlier Photos Taken:

A set of ‘Mahom outfit’ was provided to guests to wear for the Walking with Giants activity (or to wear around in the compound).

The activity was about 1.5 hours where we follow the Giants and their Mahouts for a walk through the forest and we could observe them (No riding, No bathing, No feeding etc.). I felt it is one of the more ethical way to allow guests to engage with elephants with minimal disturbance. We were allowed to stand near them to take photos though.

The guests were divided into small groups to tag along different groups of elephants. We were introduced to this trio of elephants aged 53, 44 and 3. The two adults are female while the young one is a male. A vet ( I think her name is Nitta) was with us and she shared her knowledge about them. I think she said the 3-year old who is about 1.55cm when standing on fours, weighs a whopping 700kg!

While we were near the river, we saw a few rogue elephants that were hanging around the opposite side of the river bank (which was the Myanmar side). The Mahouts tried to call them back but the elephants seems quite adamant about it and continued their own exploration.

Our group of elephants were happy to linger around the river bank and snack on some grass. It was interesting to see her pull up a bunch of grass using her trunk, give it a few swish before putting it into her mouth. Witnessing the elegant animal forage for snacks in a somewhat natural environment sure beats seeing a human feeder passing her snacks directly.

Even for the Mahouts, they don’t pass the food to the elephants directly, they actually place it on the ground and let the elephants pick it up. Earlier on we also saw the Mahouts giving the elephants some sugar canes and the vet told us each of them have a different personality. For example we saw that the baby elephant is the “greedy/playful” one who would “steal” sugar canes from the elders even though he had not finished his own share.

Finally it was time for our group of elephants to have a dip in the river. Thankfully they were pretty well-behaved and did not roam off course (the opposite river bank is Myanmar already). Spotted the baby taking a sip of water. After the river spa (you could see the water mark on the calf), the elephants took turns to do a belly rub against a fallen tree trunk to rid themselves of ticks and other parasites. Hope they had a good scratch.

Seeing them so up close, surrounded by lush greenery, was an enchanting experience. I’ve also gained more knowledge about these lovely mammals.

It was a pity that the piece of land where they were staying on is not considered huge. With a new casino and airport being built on Laos side of the river, there were concerns that the laser light shows at night and frequent flights landing/taking-off may cause distress to the elephants that live in such close proximity.

In the afternoon we took a shuttle service that brought us to the small town of Sop Ruak (only 5-mins car ride away from the resort).

Other than the imposing Buddha statue, there is also a part where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers.

Took a short hike uphill to see the borders from a vantage point.

With all the eating, I had to burn-off some calories~ Nope…I did not try Muay Thai Boxing, I only happened to pass by this arena as the gym is next to it. The resort do have classes for guests though.

Other Related Posts:

• Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Saen (Part 1)
• Melt In Your Mouth, Chiang Rai
• Laab Sanam Keela, Chiang Rai

Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Saen (Part 1)

During the latter part of our Chiang Rai journey, we ventured to the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort located in the Golden Triangle region. The hotel arranged their driver to pick us up from our hotel (in old town) in a spacious vehicle stocked with light refreshments. The one-hour journey was exceptionally comfortable and smooth riding.

Upon arrival, there was a welcome ceremony involving a drumming act. Thereafter a welcome drink of butterfly pea and fresh cut minature pineapples was offered. Originally from Northern Thailand, this miniature pineapple changed my perception of the tropical fruit which I used to avoid eating for its tartness. Known as ‘Phulae’ pineapple, it was crunchy, juicy, sweet and does not cause mouth burn. Love this!

After checking-in to our room, we immediately headed to the restaurant for a bite. Our stay package was for full boarding, with free-flow of non-alcoholic drinks. We could order any food and drinks from the ala carte menu for lunch and dinner. For breakfast, there is also buffet line on top of the ala carte menu. I guess we would be well-fed during our stay.

Not long ago Thailand legalised growing and consuming of cannabis (aka hemp) in food and drinks. So we had to scrutinise the menu carefully to avoid accidentally consuming it.

Welcome starter of Northern Thai relish with rice cracker was served. And we ordered small bites of Satay Skewers with crusty garlic bread, peanut sauce, cucumber relish and Hed Hom Thod Fried Mae Sai shiitake mushrooms, sweet chilli sauce.

For main we ordered the Khao Phad Lanna Chiang Rai fried rice, green chilli paste, crispy pork cracklings, pork floss, Northern spicy pork sausage.

Other than the standard range of soft drinks/coffee/tea options, the non-alcoholic drinks menu included a variety of chilled juices, milk shakes and even mocktails. Had a Tropical Smoothie Passionfruit, Peach Puree, Mint Syrup, Yogurt.

After lunch and a short break, it was time for our Spa Treatment time! There were two activities that we could select in our stay package here and we opted for a relaxation treat for Day 1 as well as the highlight activity (key reason for staying here) – Walking with Giants on Day 2.

The lighting at the Sala Mae Nam hall was pretty dim during our dinner. Once we were seated we were presented with Miang Kham (leaf wrapped bites) as appetizer.

I’ve also ordered the Thai red curry which I’ve been eyeing since I spotted it during lunch. Gaeng Phed Ped Yang Roast duck red curry, Phulae local pineapple, kaffir lime, sweet basil.

While some items appeared in both lunch and dinner menu, there was an additional section featuring dishes across the Mekong River i.e Laos and Myanmar (Burma). We ordered the Keang Som Pla Luang Prabang Ruby fish in sour soup, tamarind and lemon basil.

Another Thai dish that we shortlisted since lunch~ Ngob Talay Mussels, wild caught prawns, sea bass with wild ginger and red curry paste grilled in banana leaf. This is a steamed fish custard dish which tasted like our Otah. Love this!

Kluay Thord Sauce Bai Taey Local Chiang Sean banana fritter served with organic pandan leaves sauce and homemade coconut ice cream.

Earlier Photos Taken:

Our spacious Three Country View Suite, is perched on a hillside with views of mountains in Myanmar and Laos. The large balcony was great for observing the grazing elephants. The resort also provided binoculars in the room. Seems like the elephants also love to cover themselves in dust and dirt. Yes, I saw them gather sand and mud with their trunks and throw it onto their bodies. It was said to serve as sun protection and help to repel bugs. Can’t wait to meet them up close the next day!

Had a great relaxing massage at the resort as well.

Other Related Posts:

• Melt In Your Mouth, Chiang Rai
• Laab Sanam Keela, Chiang Rai

Melt In Your Mouth, Chiang Rai

Another eatery we visited in Chiang Rai town is Melt In Your Mouth,  located along the river. The place has a cottage vibe with a spacious garden.

We took the outdoor seat as it was not too warm with a light breeze. The menu has a wide variety of food ranging from Thai dishes, Western dishes to Desserts.

After our visit to the Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) in the morning, we took a short break near our hotel while waiting for our transfer to the other hotel (about 1 hr car ride) near the Golden Triangle area.

The menu here is quite extensive ranging from Thai dishes, Western dishes to Desserts and Cakes. We ordered one Western and one Thai dish, personally I preferred the pasta over the curry. The food were good but nothing stunning. But I guess most people are here for photogenic environment, the ambience and sweets.

One item that caught my attention on the menu was the Melt Lanna Platter: Northern-Style Pork Curry, Spicy Northern Style Pork Sausage, Northern-Style Green Chilli Dip, Northern-Style Stir-fried Minced Pork/Fish, Crispy Pork Rind, Fresh Vegetables. This platter combines a bit of everything Northern -Thai. We gave it a miss as we already tried something similar at our hotel for breakfast.

Other Photos Taken:

Brightly lit and opulent Chiang Rai Clock Tower stands in the middle of a roundabout in the main town area.

Northern Specialties Chompor Platter

Northern Specialties Khao Soi Gai Egg noodles with chicken in spicy coconut soup. Loved this dish that resembles curry noodle.

Visited the other main attraction in Chiang Rai – Wat Rong Khun (White Temple). Despite the name, I don’t think it is really a temple. Rather it’s a contemporary, unconventional art exhibit. The view below can be seen without having to pay entrance fee – though you might need to zoom in your lens a bit from outside the barrier.

The key attraction, other than the intricately adorned exterior, was the main hall painted with superheroes as well as sci-fi persons. Photography is however not allowed inside the hall. Other than this white structure, there are a few other structures/galleries within the expansive compound.

Personally I enjoyed my time at the Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) more. It was more serene, with less tourists as well.

Other Related Post:

• Laab Sanam Keela, Chiang Rai
• ☆ Gaggan Anand, Bangkok (New location, 2022)
• Pe Aor Tom Yum Kung Noodle, Bangkok

☆ Gaggan Anand, Bangkok (New location, 2022)

Upon learning that Chef Gaggan Anand planned to reopen his restaurant in Bangkok from August 2022, we promptly marked our calendar to secure a reservation for December 2022. We would be stopping over in Bangkok while en-route to Chiang Mai for a short vacation.

After shutting Gaggan in 2019, he set up Gaggan Anand at a new location in Sukhumvit. However during the Delta wave of Covid in 2021, he shut the restaurant. In fact Chef Gaggan was in Singapore for a rather long pop-up between November 2021 to June 2022. While we had the chance to dine at the pop-up in Singapore, the ambience and experience was never the same as being seated at the Chef’s Table at his homeground.

Guests could look forward to an immersive and interactive experience throughout the 3-hour dinner. We chose the 9pm seating (earlier seating at 5.30pm) and finished the meal shortly past midnight. Contrary to feeling drowsy after the lengthy meal, the reality was quite the opposite. As the night unfolded, the music volume intensified (or so it seems to me after the drinks that came with the meal), and the atmosphere became more lively, with guests gradually letting loose and embracing the vibrant ambience.

Similar to the Singapore pop-up, we received a pseudo copy of Chef’s passport, but this time round instead of rubber stamps, we were given a sticker sheet printed with different emojis. Guests could paste the stickers according to what you think the dish you ate was, to design your own “customised” menu booklet to bring home.

Note: The description of dishes were based on what we managed to capture, pardon me if there are inaccuracies.

Needless to say, the meal started with Chef’s signature (which is a mainstay on his menu)💥Yogurt Explosion. Despite having enjoyed it a couple of times, the sheer delight it brings still manifests in a chorus of appreciative “oohs” every time we pop this into our mouths.

🍪 Cookie puff rice Tapioca pearls, tom yum goong, shrimp papadum This dish served as a reminder that we are in Thailand.

🍦Ice cream sandwich lime, foie gras, coffee While it might sound like an unusual pairing, foie gras and chocolate actually complemented each other surprisingly well in this interesting creation. Chef sort of blended the savoury and sweet elements into a smooth and velvety filling in between the crisp outer layers.

📄 Chick pea hummus, cumin oil, pomegranate You eat only the thin translucent “sheet” resting on the silver coloured stand.

🧠 Rat brain beetroot, asparagus, truffle #streettotable Don’t worry, it is not a real rat’s brain.

🥔 Earth upside down soil and root made of potato freeze dried for 60 hours, onion, ginger, garlic. Guests had to dig around the bowl in order to uncover the food piece hidden within. But I suppose you probably realised that this dish was made of underground stems.

🍈Melon green peas, white truffle, honey, shoots. Lovely presentation, the melon looked as if it was on the vines.

🥒 Cucumber Uni cucumber gin and tonic While it might not be apparent based on the photo I took, but as it was presented on a flat longlish plate with brown/blue texture, the dish was made to resemble a sail boat drifting in the ocean.

🧅Fried bread onion cream, onion flowers

Chef was keeping tab on the score of the ongoing World Cup Match featuring Morocco vs Portugal.

🧊 🍅 Beets sorbet, red chilli, tomato juice, handmade ice (No, we don’t eat the ice thou) Visually impactful dish as it resembles the notion of “Fire & Ice”.

🍆 Eggplant red miso, black sesame I’ve saw the labour-intensive processes involved in the making of this dish on Chef’s IG post. Not sure if it was inspired from Nasu Dengaku, a classic Japanese side dish. Regardless, this version served here is amazing.

🥟 Momo portobello, porcini, black garlic Dumplings originated in China, whereas momos originated in Tibet and then spread to its neighbouring countries, Nepal and India. 

🌮 Pickles, onions, chilli, pork jowl, pineapple, garlic and salt, goan chutney

🇬🇧 Chicken tikka masala (note: picture of the chicken with union jack was given late, after I finished my chicken tikka masala, which explains why it appeared in the photo alongside the next dish.)

🦆 Local sustainable duck

🌶️ Lamb with red chilli I had high trust in Chef’s lamb dishes although I tend to avoid eating lamb. This was well-executed but the dish that left a deep impression was one that I had in 2015 – Who Killed the Goat?

🦑🦐 Cold curry coconut, curry leaves, squid, ebi This dish was pretty interesting, I felt like I’m eating a Thai-styled ceviche. It blended traditional curry elements with a refreshing twist. Of cos the freshness of the ingredients also played a significant role in its appeal.

🍃 Fish from Kyushu Grouper, coriander, cashew nut, garlic, mustard oil Lights in the hall were dimmed prior to presenting this glowing pile on the counter. Only when the lights brightened, we were able to see that it was a burning bundled parcel of banana leave. You only find out what is inside after unwrapping.

🍫 Fish and chocolate salt water eel (anago) This was an intriguing and unexpected culinary fusion which worked well! This dish is a creative exploration of flavour contrasts, bringing together the savory delights of grilled eel and the sweet sophistication of chocolate.

🌾 King crab and rice The concluding savory course. The standout element was the impeccably cooked grains, a testament to the Chef’s mastery in achieving perfect texture.

Pineapple ice caramelised with chilli

🌹Pistachio and sea salt ice cream, rose meringue An airy, cute, pastel coloured dessert that tasted light and refreshing.

🧈 Ghewar milk fried with milk fat and milk skin with fig with gold leaf Ghewar is a snack that had always been on the menu albeit with different renditions on every single visit. A versatile base which can be topped with huge variety of elements be it sweet or even savoury.

🌈 Flower world An upgraded version of Chef’s classic dish 😛 Lick It Up.

We got an extra dessert cos we were celebrating a special occasion 💗 thank you!

All guests leave with a bottle of CDGRE bottled drink. Its a cafe opened by Chef. It was said to be quite potent and we were advised to drink it in morning.

Earlier Photos Taken:

Finally managed to visit this iconic temple. It has been on my To-Visit list for a long while. It was challenging to materialise the visit becos of its location, timing and weather. It was way too hot to visit during summer time (when I last visited BKK in July).

Awed by the magnificent main prang wat Wat Arun. While it is supposed to be a glistening white tower adorned with colourful porcelain pieces, it appeared orange in my photo cos I went near sunset time. Love the warm orange glow.

Other Related Posts:

• ☆ Gaggan Anand at Mandala Club (Pop-up in Singapore)
• ★ Gaggan, Bangkok (Revisit 2018) [Closed]
• Gaggan, Bangkok [Closed]

Pe Aor Tom Yum Kung Noodle, Bangkok

A visit to Thailand would be incomplete without savoring a bowl of piping hot and tangy tom yum soup. Decided to visit Pe Aor Tom Yum Kung Noodle which is within walking distance from Ratchathewi BTS station or you could take a walk like us from Platinum Mall.

While many raved about the famous Jeh O Chula, you either make a reservation months in advanced (fast track) or spend a long time queuing on the spot at the shop. More importantly, they are not opened for LUNCH. We already had dinner plans so we did not manage to visit them on this trip.

The price range of the noodles here starts from B$60 for a simple pork with egg noodles to the luxurious Lobster and the gang noodles (B$1,500).

From the picture you probably can’t tell, but the serving size is designed for two people or more. The bowl was impressively huge and the lobster head was about the size of my hand. The menu indicated that the lobster would weigh about 400g. A variety of other seafood items such as mussels, salmon, squids and crabs were arranged neatly in the bowl. There were also hard boiled eggs, veggies and noodles in it.

Unlike the clear tom yum soup that I was more accustomed to, the broth here was slightly creamy from the use of evaporated milk. Happy to report that the soup was also not too spicy for tourists’ palate. It was a perfect balance of spicy, sour, and aromatic flavours.

68, 51 Phetchaburi Rd, Thung Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Earlier Photos Taken:

For this trip we checked into Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel in view of its strategic location. It’s a stone’s throw away from the BTS station and walking distance to the many malls that we frequent.

They have a great breakfast spread with ample seating area available despite during a high season. I’ve stayed in hotels that would inform guests in advance to avoid the “peak” breakfast hours in order to spread out the crowd due to limited capacity. I’m glad that we don’t have to adjust our breakfast schedule for that.

Other Related Posts:

• Raan Jay Fai, Bangkok
• Nam Sing Bird’s Nest 南星燕窩, Bangkok
• Siang Ki Khao Tom Pla 祥記魚湯, Bangkok
• Wattana Panich (Beef noodles), Bangkok
• Daeng Racha Hoi Tod (Oyster Omelette), Bangkok
• Polo Fried Chicken (Soi Polo), Bangkok (Delivery)

Nam Sing Bird’s Nest 南星燕窩, Bangkok

After our dinner, we took a short walk over to Nam Sing Bird’s Nest for dessert. Famed for its bird’s nest soup it is a popular late night post-supper place (they supposedly opens till 2am).

The soup has different price range depending on the grade of the bird’s nest starting from B$300.

We ordered the Red Bird’s Nest with Almond (B$1,000) and the Red Bird’s Nest First Class (B$1,000). It is served with sides of ginkgo, longans and red dates. Though I do not need to add them to the bird’s nest soup as I found their soup a tad sweet already. I personally felt that the version with almond was a little rich and jelak. Actually the almond version was not our first choice, they were out of White Bird’s Nest Steamed with Coconut. On the other hand, the Red Bird’s Nest First Class was a delightful treat. You could see the rather concentrated bird’s nest.

Previously I bought bird’s nest soup from Hua Seng Hong Chinese Restaurant, Bangkok nearby but I’m not sure if they still serve it (I did not find the dessert listed on their website). Nonetheless they are also a reputable Chinese restaurant serving roast meat and other stir-fried dishes.

Other Related Posts:

• Siang Ki Khao Tom Pla 祥記魚湯, Bangkok
• Wattana Panich (Beef noodles), Bangkok
• Kor Panich, Bangkok
• Daeng Racha Hoi Tod (Oyster Omelette), Bangkok
• Polo Fried Chicken (Soi Polo), Bangkok (Delivery)

Siang Ki Khao Tom Pla 祥記魚湯, Bangkok

My 2nd trip to Bangkok this year~ Its a year of playing catch-up since the lifting of travel restrictions! With the capital city of Thailand being just a 2.5 hours flight away from Singapore it is the most popular destination for us to take a short holiday vacation. Unlike my earlier trip in July, where we spent all our days in Bangkok, this time round we were only stopping by in the bustling city for 2 nights before taking a domestic flight to Northern Thailand to chill in the rustic town of Chiang Rai.

After having a late lunch after touching down in the afternoon, we opted for a light dinner. Made our way to Chinatown and headed to Siang Ki Khao Tom Pla. The 90-year old establishment is known for their Teochew-style fish porridge (soft-boiled rice). We saw the silvered-hair matriarch at the stall when we arrived but I did not take a photo of her.

Ranging from B$300-500, there was a choice of fish: Seabass/Promfret and whether to add Oysters to your soup. We ordered a Promfret Rice Soup (above) and a Seabass with Oysters Rice Soup (below).

While we have Teochew-style fish porridge in Singapore, there are still slight differences. Firstly I have not seen the option to add oysters to the soup. I guess its probably because we don’t have easy access to fresh small oysters (just like our dwindling access to cockles). Secondly, the dipping condiment is slightly different though the base is still “tau cheo” aka salted, fermented soybeans.

What makes the soup special at Siang Ki is they cook the stock on a charcoal stove, resulting in a slight smoky hint. The clear broth had a tinge of umami from sweetness of fresh fish. It is lightly seasoned with a few drops of shallot oil. I also liked that they added “tang oh” vegetable to the soup. It was a nice comforting old-school rice porridge which brings back lots of nostalgic feeling. Totally delicious~

Siang Ki (เซี่ยงกี่ข้าวต้มปลา)
54 Soi Charoen Krung 12, Samphanthawong, Bangkok 10100, Thailand

Earlier Photos Taken:

Lovely Xmas ornament adds a festive feel to the cabin.

Following our seamless and fuss-free experience of ordering Grabfood in Bangkok previously, we again opted for the convenience of having food delivered to our hotel. This time round we ordered Guay Jub Mr. Jo – a Bib Gourmand eatery. The shop located near the Chao Praya river is not reachable by BTS, hence having it delivered saved much travel time. They are known for their crisp and crackling skin pork belly (perfect to pair with a beer). We also ordered the Thai-style kway chap which has a rich peppery broth filled with pig innards. The soup was packed separately from the kway such that they did not become soggy. A great satisfying meal to kick-start our vacation.

Guay Jub Mr. Jo address: 313, 7 Thanon Chan, Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem, Bangkok 10120

Happy to know that the famous Mae Varee Mango Sticky Rice is also available via Grabfood as well. They are conveniently located within walking distance from Thong Lor BTS station. If you are making your way to the shop, do head over to try Hoi Tod Chaw Lae which is a few shophouses away. Their oyster omelette remained my favourite for their variety, taste, accessibility and quick service!

Mae Varee address: 1 Thong Lo Road, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110

Other Related Posts:

• Wattana Panich (Beef noodles), Bangkok
• Kor Panich, Bangkok
• Daeng Racha Hoi Tod (Oyster Omelette), Bangkok
• Polo Fried Chicken (Soi Polo), Bangkok (Delivery)

Peace 和 Oriental Teahouse, Bangkok

Due to my greediness for delicious food, I ended up indulging excessively and suffered from indigestion and an upset stomach. With no other important itinerary, we spent our last day in the hotel for massage (thankfully was well enough to do it) and nursing my bad stomachache….

Popped by Peace Oriental Teahouse at Sindhorn Village which was right next to our hotel for a hot drink before heading to the airport for our flight back to Singapore. They have several outlets across Bangkok but even on a weekday afternoon, the outlet we went was almost fully occupied.

Although it may not be advisable to consume milk when experiencing an upset stomach, I couldn’t resist tasting their Hot pastel matcha.

We also tried their Yuzu froyo and yuzu mocheezu. The “Mocheezu” mochi with 2-year aged cheese was really tasty. The mochi dough was soft, stretchy and melts in the mouth. I would have bought the 6-piece set had I not been sick.

Travel medicine kit came in handy and I was able to improve my condition. Managed to survive the longer-than-usual ride to the airport. The driver said it was the start of a long weekend holiday in Thailand, so the traffic was worse than usual.

Heck care about my upset stomach… and finally decided to eat a proper meal onboard the plane along with the Singapore Sling. Hadn’t drank this for a couple of years. Been a while since we last flew on SQ, took Thai Airway for my outbound flight to BKK earlier.

Was slightly disappointed with the Nasi Lemak. The rice-to-ingredients ratio did not seemed not right. Most of chicken meat pieces were so small and turned out very dry and tough. I vaguely recalled there used to be at least a whole piece of mid-joint chicken wing? Or there was some variation since this was a regional flight? The other side ingredients for the nasi lemak were still good.

Other Related Posts:

• Kimpton Maa-Lai, Bangkok
• Lahnyai Nusara, Bangkok
• ★ Blue by Alain Ducasse, Bangkok
• ★ 80/20, Bangkok

Kimpton Maa-Lai, Bangkok

Kimpton Maa-Lai, Bangkok opened in Oct 2020 and its the group’s first property in South East Asia. We chose to stay with them this time because we wanted to be near Chidlom area. With Intercontinental still under renovation (Jul 22), we were shortlisting other hotels in the vicinity. Admittedly Kimpton Maa-Lai located in Langsuan requires a further walk to Chidlom BTS station, we reckoned that we probably rely more on Grab/taxis as our transportation mode for this trip. As this was our first overseas trip since the lifting of travel restrictions due to Covid pandemic, we wanted to avoid taking the BTS and reduce exposure to crowd as much as possible.

If you are a pet lover, you would be happy to know that the CRAFT cafe at the ground floor of the development is a popular spot for Bangkok’s most adorable pets. Not only that, Kimpton Maa-Lai is also a pet-friendly hotel with many locals bringing their fur-kids for a staycation.

The Kimpton group is also renowned for their Social Hour with with complimentary free-flow signature drinks from 5pm to 6pm daily at the poolside bar. To ensure you could get a seat, its better to start arriving at the area from 4.45pm, cos we noticed that there were not enough tables/chairs for everyone.

Although the lobby and pool were bustling with activities and people, once we opened the door to our room, we were awed by the ultra spacious Maa-Lai Suite. It was a cosy and relaxing space with pretty good sound proofing.

Double vanity units in the bathroom and the chance to try out Dyson hair dryer.

Breakfast is served at Stock.Room and we also dined there once to use up the dining credit which was included in our stay package.

The design of Stock.Room was filled with lush greenery and incorporated natural materials, such as wood and stone, along with contemporary furnishings to create a comfortable looking space.

Breakfast spread was moderate in my opinion. We don’t take heavy breakfast so we were fine to have simple fare. What I loved was their freshly squeezed juices. Orange and Guava juices became our daily must-have. The downside was the dining area got really packed and the staff were very stretched.

We dropped by one day for a light meal Stock.Room and ordered the Linguine Vongole garlic, parsley and white wine sauce and Mango sticky rice ripe Thai mango, sticky rice and coconut sauce with a glass of Strawberry & watermelon smoothie. Loved the smoothie and we wondered if this is included at the breakfast buffet.

After having the same breakfast spread for 3 days, we got bored with the complimentary meal at Stock.Room. We forego our free breakfast and paid for our own to try the pastry and coffee from CRAFT instead. Despite staying at the hotel, we were too embarrassed to go down in our unkempt state in the morning and we bought take-out back to our room instead. You would be surprised that everyone hanging out at the cafe were really dressed up. It seems to be a hip place to be seen~

The iced coffee was pretty good, much better than the ones served at Stock.Room.

Having Amaranth Spa by HARNN housed within the hotel was the other plus point. It is a sanctuary of serenity where we enjoyed 2 great massages during our stay!

All in all we had an enjoyable stay at Kimpton Maa-Lai, Bangkok, its despite some minor inconveniences which relates mainly to the hotel’s public facility area. Firstly the lobby was always full of people and having a popular roof-top bar meant that it takes a longer time for an empty lift to arrive. Secondly the breakfast area and poolside were also always busy. I didn’t find the infinity pool to be that impressive since it was located on a low floor.

I’m glad to say that these minor issues could be passed over once you enter your lavishly furnished room. Not sure if the Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel which is located right next door would have less crowd? The two properties collectively form part of the Sindhorn Village which is linked via the spacious courtyard.

Other Related Posts:

• Lahnyai Nusara, Bangkok
• ★ Blue by Alain Ducasse, Bangkok
• ★ 80/20, Bangkok
• Le Du, Bangkok
• ★ Gaggan, Bangkok (Revisit 2018)
• ★ Paste, Bangkok (Revisit 2018)
• Thanying, Bangkok
• ★ Restaurant Sühring, Bangkok