Bangkok, Thailand – 27 September to 1 October 2024

At 4.45pm on Friday 27 September I order a Grab to the airport. Within minutes I have a driver. Definitely didn’t expect to get a driver on my first try!

I came to Singapore for work yesterday and will return on Tuesday night for 2 more days.

It’s a very easy 20 minute drive to the airport. I’m shocked how empty the roads are and even more surprised that on arrival at terminal 4 there is less than 3 other cars here. Unheard of on a Friday night.

Check-in is nice and easy. I’m told my carry-on suitcase is 3 kgs over - hey ho, I tell them I’ll sort that out on the other side.

The display of sunflowers is amazing!

As soon as I walk through security I remember one of my liquids is over 100 miles. Aaaah when will this stupid rule end!!!! It’s a bit of a palaver but I’m able to go back into Singapore, check in my bag then exit Singapore again. Saves me having to rejig my suitcase anyway.

Walking to the Cathay Pacific lounge I’m not holding out hope, but if you don’t ask you don’t get.  It’s a no, but I’m told to try the lounge on the opposite side.

Again not holding out hope I’m surprised to hear “Jetstar doesn’t have access but if you are Qantas gold or platinum then you can get in”. Bingo, that’s me! I’m in.

The red wine looks too gross ,even for me, so I decide on a Vietnamese beer.

And relax. Bangkok here I come.

6.56pm Jetstar announced the flight to Bangkok is delayed due to engineering requirements and that we will board at 2000.

Not even 1 minute later another announcement informs us the flight is delayed due to engineering requirements and that the new boarding time will be announced once it’s sorted. In the next sentence they say boarding will start at 7.15pm. Ooh my - get your story straight!!!

7.15pm comes and goes with no announcement. Fun times…..

7.47pm and I’m still waiting. They have called a few rows but then radio silence. Got to love traveling by air.

8.13pm an announcement is made that we have moved gates and our new departure time is at 9pm. Ooh my my!

I wait to basically the end to board. No need to rush when my bag will go under my seat. Would have been a difference story if I was carrying on my suitcase.

Doors are closed at 8.57pm. Let’s get this tin can up in the air! Bang on 9pm we push back from the gate.

Please can someone advise why the crew point out how to put on a seatbelt as part of the briefing when they already go around the cabin prior to leaving the gate to check everyone has a seatbelt on. It makes no sense to me.

We land into Bangkok just after 10pm local time. Immigration and luggage are nice and quick, a pleasant surprise!

Ordering a grab is easy until I told I need to take a photo and send to my driver before I’ll wait for me. Buggar! Means a good 10 minute wait. But then we are off, cruising down the highway!!!

We reach the hotel in record time. A plus of landing so late I guess. Check-in is super easy. They upgrade my room which is so interesting to me given I booked this stay on points. But I’m not complaining!!

Finally after 11.45pm new time I climb into bed. Sleep is needed.

I wake at 7am on Saturday 28 September – far too early given I was still awake at 12.30am.

I drag myself out to the streets of Bangkok for a walk. This city is alive but nowhere near as busy as it was last night. I end up doing a 45 minute walk. It’s great to have exercised.

Aah a fresh cold coconut juice helps to cool me down and hydrate me.

Breakfast is a slow affair – so nice not having to rush.

I have a couple of hours in the room relaxing, having my safe replaced and chatting to a friend.

Early afternoon I head off to find an Aussie sports bar I’d researched (to watch the AB’s). It’s beyond H O T!!

On arrival the place is packed with people watching the AFL final. I chat to a couple for a bit before deciding to leave. No point being here now when this game is still going on.

I head back to my room for a dose of a/c for a good half an hour before heading out again.

This time I decide to go somewhere else. As in walk into the bar I ask them if they are going to show the rugby. There are two kiwi guys there who tell me they are trying to find the game. Great!

A few minutes later we are seated with the game in front of us.

 

After a while I order a late lunch. The first bite my mouth explodes…..right, all green chillies can move to the side of the plate!!!

Seeing the sunset from my room is stunning.

I decide to stay in the hotel for a small bite to eat, which I have at the bar. Chicken satay. You can’t go wrong.

Sunday 29 September I wake just after 7.30am.

One of the negatives of having breakfast with the hotel is there is a timeframe. Thankfully I have time to relax before I head down.

The first think I notice when I walk in is there are no coconuts 😟 thankfully I’m told they will get me one. The next thing I see is a dosa being delivered to someone’s table. Yes thank you!! I’ll definitely be having one of those.

A dosa is a popular Indian thin, crispy crepe-like pancake that is cooked until golden brown.  I have always had the masala dosa, which is mashed potatoes, onions and spices. But there are other options – paper dosa, rava dosa, onion dosa, cheese dosa and butter dosa to name a few.

I’m on zero rush today, the way I think Sunday’s should be!

I’d been recommended a few restaurants and realized that one is about a 15 minute walk away. So decide for my walk I’ll head there to take a look.

40 minutes later I’m back in the a/c trying to cool down. I have the hotel assist with making a reservation tonight for me.

I spent the afternoon at the pool, in and out of the water and reading my book. It’s heavenly! As the sun starts to drop the heat increases even more, time to head back to the room for some serious a/c.

 

I decide to take the BTS (sky train) to dinner. Means I don’t need to deal with the traffic, the plan is to walk back at the end of dinner but let’s see how that goes later on.

As soon as I get to the platform the doors closed. Buggar. The guide on the platform then blows his whistle and the doors open again. Excellent. A lady and I run to get on. Aah a/c!!!!

I’m only going one stop unfortunately so not long enough to cool off after being outside for less than 5 minutes.

Google tells me it’s a short 6 minute walk to the restaurant, in this heat though it feels like about half an hour! I’ll need a shower again before I arrive at the restaurant.

As I walk in the door at North Restaurant I’m greeted by name. Clearly very easy when it’s a table of one to remember the name.

Aah yes I’m in Asia, my handbag has its own chair.

In the end I decide on the wine pairing menu (to go with the 9 course set menu). Hey ho, it’s only money! Plus, it saves me having to decide what to drink.

North Restaurant is a Thai fine-dining restaurant in Bangkok, serving northern Thailand food.

Course 1 & 2 – served with a glass of prosecco
- Egg yolk sourdough bread with coriander butter
- Amuse Bouche
- Ruby of Siam

 

 

       Course 3 – chardonnay
Chiang Mai Vegetable Consommé -- I had to eat the fish first, then one mouthful of the consommé then consommé with a bit of the fish

 

Course 4 – Merlot
Tortellini with pork filling in “Nam-Nglaw” – I had to break the chocolate covering and stir everything together

 

Course 5

Sorbet

Course 6 – Heritage

Ab Koong Kwan Payao – I had to eat some prawn together with the sauce, and dip the bread stick into the sauce (sweet and savoury)

Course 7 – Cabernet Sauvignon

North Khan-Toke – I had to eat the sticky rice with chili paste, fermented chicken and pork cracklings, followed by the white rice with the wagyu beef shank hang lay curry and finished with pomegranate orange salad

 

 The chef comes over to chat to me asks me how the meal has been. Amazing. What’s my favourite? Ummm everything! Too spicy? No, I don’t think there is any spice. He’s surprised with that!

I was worried that I’d be in and out within an hour, alas no. It’s now 9.10pm and I’ve just finished the 7th course.

Course 8

Poo Lae-Colada (desert)

Course 9

Petit Four with hot tea -- strawberry cream cheese tart, lychee and rose gummy, fried banana in a cone and chocolate truffle cacao

There are lots of people around when I leave the restaurant at 9.45pm so I feel safe to walk back to the hotel. It’s a quick 15 minute walk from which helps to sweat out some of the food and wine!

Aaah it’s bliss walking back into my cold room.

Monday 30 September (how is it the end of September??!) I wake just after 7.30am. I have a couple of hours waking up / chilling out before heading down to breakfast. Really only coffee is needed after last nights amazing meal.

I head out for a walk around the streets before returning to the hotel where I spend the afternoon at the pool. Reading between getting in and out of the water.

When the heat gets too much I head back to my room.

 

I decide on dinner at the hotel - nice and easy!

I wake up well before my alarm (set for 7.10am) on Tuesday 1 October. It had been a short night.

I pack up before heading down for breakfast. I can’t be sitting for ages today like I have the previous mornings!

At one stage I have 4 people “helping” me cook toast. It doesn’t go well….take 2 works out!

As soon as I have paid my bill I book a Grab. I get one immediately which is great, not good is it’s 20 minutes away. It then goes to 22 minutes within seconds 28 minutes. Ummm no thank you! I cancel that one and book another, and thankfully it’s 11 minutes away. That I can handle.

The front desk person who helped me booked North Restaurant came over and asked how it was. It was nice to be able to chat with him and show photos.

My Grab arrives on time, the heavy traffic flows with no issues.

Check-in, security and immigration are all very easy. Departing immigration is now via machines.

I don’t even bother trying to access a lounge. I have things to watch on Netflix to pass the time.

We pull back from the gate 24 minutes late. The joys of flying by air.

It’s been great to be back in Bangkok again, I will return! Singapore (for work) here I come.