Tastes of Bangkok

A trip to Bangkok is always a lot more fun, sampling the best that only its cuisine can offer.

Food was definitely on our itinerary. We came across some wonderful discoveries and delectable finds that my mom, brother, and me enjoyed to the fullest. I had to let my guard down and savor the authentic flavors of Bangkok, even in the streets.

The first interesting food find that we had was Som Tam Nua in Siam Square. We were there for a quick afternoon snack so we decided not to order a lot. Of course, we had to try its famous Thai Papaya Salad, which was awarded a CNN Best Eats Awards. The papaya and tomato's flavor brought out a mix of sweet and tanginess to the salad, while the nuts and fried pork fat added the extra crunchiness and texture. This dish deserves my praise!

 

While inside Som Tam Nua, check out their cute pastry corner!

I truly enjoyed our lunch at the Tha Chang Pier. I normally wouldn't agree to such an open and outdoor dining, but Bangkok has been known for its street food - with travel agencies even offering tours on Bangkok's best street food! My mom ordered the fishball and noodles in curry, my brother the pad thai, and I the chicken fried rice. The curry was mildly spicy and was just right for my tolerance. 

The fried rice took some time to prepare but it was worth it. The serving of the chicken strips were quite generous. I'm normally used to the Chinese way of preparing fried rice where the egg or the taste of the meat overpowers the taste of the other ingredients. The one I had in Thailand was a good mix that I loved. I was surprised to pay just around fifty baht for the fried rice! I was already told that food in Bangkok was going to be cheap but I was surprised to know how low the prices are!

 

The lady who prepared the Pad Thai was amazing. She knew the preparation by heart and was simply grabbing the ingredients left and right, throwing it all in the hot wok. My brother felt that the Pad Thai needed the extra spiciness, but I liked how it was not at all salty. It was quite fresh since the shrimps and vegetables in the dish were still quite crunchy. 

 

 

It was a hot sunny day in Bangkok and I had to satiate my craving for a cold cup of Thai milk tea. The guy selling the milk tea placed a lot of ice in the cup. I thought that what I might be drinking was going to be flavorless with all the ice in it. But to my surprise, the amount of ice balanced the sweetness of the milk tea, turning it refreshingly sweet.

Come nightfall, we went to Yaowarat for the evening street food that Bangkok's Chinatown has been known for. I was so amused that even at late night, people were still swarming to the area to get a table and have dinner - or midnight snack, I guess.

We ordered the beef noodle soup. A lot of people were waiting to be seated and my curiosity was hyped up. Sadly, after we tried the dish, we were not satisfied at all. The soup had a strong taste of ground pepper - like light beef broth mixed with copious amounts of ground black pepper. I'm not sure if the Thais like that taste but I wasn't impressed at all.

The best that I ordered that night was the mussel omelette. The batter was freshly mixed as the eggs were cracked open after I ordered. With an abundance of mussels fried in the egg, I was delighted with every bite. Whatever was in the mixture, it made the aroma delectable, and my order delicious.

My brother was enticed to buy a bottle of fresh pomegranate juice. Fresh fruit juices were available at almost all corners of Bangkok's street food areas. The colors were quite vibrant and in Bangkok's hot weather, it was ok for us to pay around ten baht for a bottle and cool down.

At one area of Yaowarat Road near Phadung Dao Street were countless people enjoying grilled seafood and other seafood orders. We only found out about it after we chose to eat at the portion of Yaowarat Road near Ratchawong Street, and was walking to the MRT station. This is a must try for me next trip I have to Bangkok.

 

 

One of the most delightful finds that we had was another version of the Thai Papaya Salad. This time, instead of fresh papayas, friend papayas were mixed into the salad. The papayas were like crunchy chips in the salad. There was a strong lime flavor, adding a more tangy taste to it.

I was about to give up when, during my entire stay in Bangkok, I have not even tried my all-time favorite Thai dish, Tom Yam Goong. It would've been weird for me to be in Thailand and not even taste it at all. Fortunately, our last dinner was pretty unplanned. After walking around Pak Khlong Talat, we stumbled upon this small side street eatery that had a crowd of people in its tables. My mom urged us to check if they served Tom Yam Goong. I was relieved to find out that they do! In our sheer excitement, we immediately got a table, and, even if the servers had a hard time understanding us, we pointed our choice of dishes in their English menu.

We had another round of fried rice and my mom ordered the fish in yellow curry. I didn't care anymore what they wanted since all I was craving for was authentic Tom Yam Goong! The taste of the Thai basil, lemon grass, mushrooms and seafood, blended with whatever spices they used to create the soup, was simply divine. It was a literal 'save the best for last' moment and it was worth the wait.

Bangkok has a peculiar and amazing array of food choices that surprised me. Actually, one of my concerns in going to Thailand was the food. I knew that they used an abundance of spices in their dishes, and the flavors I might not be what I'm accustomed to. I was afraid to eat something really hot and spicy, or something quite sour. 

I was quite intrigued how exciting my epicurean adventure in Bangkok was. There were still a lot of places I wanted to try but my schedule was quite limited. Still, I was amused at how I allowed myself to experience street food dining, enjoying food bought from different stalls in Bangkok since I doubt I would do it in Manila. Other than shopping, I realized that dining is an itinerary worth pondering on when planning a trip to Bangkok.

 

 

A City of Beauty and Kindness

More than the excitement of traveling, I try to find something more to do when I have the opportunity to be on a foreign land.

Bangkok has always been deemed as one of the world's shopping mecca - with almost everyone I asked giving the same reaction to me. It was my first time in Bangkok and I wanted to explore as much as I can to witness the uniqueness of its culture and tradition. I spent hours researching all that can be done during my short stay, hoping to imbibe the vibrance and life of Bangkok. In the end, I was acquainted with a beautiful city and its kind people, making this one of my most memorable travels to date.

My first day didn't go according to plan. I initially wanted to visit the Erawan Museum (Chang Sam Sien) to see the artistry and peculiarity that people have been raving about. But since it was my first time in Bangkok, I had no idea what the distance or travel times are to get to the different points in the city. It was already quite late after we checked-in our hotel, and I was concerned that we might not have ample time to visit the museum. So, I did what most people go to Bangkok for. Shop. 

A few hours after settling in our hotel in Sukhumvit, my mom, brother and me took the BTS Skytrain and was off to Siam. I enjoyed looking at all the quirky and stylish boutiques and grand shopping malls all next to each other. Still, I had an itinerary in Siam. 

Other than the shopping, it was in my list to have a tranquil moment and visit the Pathum Wanaram Temple and the Erawan Shrine. While doing some research on the internet, I read people's comments about spending time to visit Buddha, amidst the bustling streets and countless shopping destinations in Siam. While traversing the walkway, we walked pass the grand Bangkok police station, with a huge photo of King Bhumibol Aduyadej of Thailand. 

The first temple we were able to go to was the Pathum Wanaram Temple. We arrived nightfall and wasn't able to see much of the place anymore. The place was quite serene and the all white exterior of the temple made it seem like a giant sand castle. 

 

We almost got lost looking for my next destination. We had a hard time asking for the location of the Erawan Shrine since most of the Thais had no idea what it was in English. So, we decided to keep walking, hoping to accidentally stumble upon it.

While on the walkway, I suddenly spotted a brightly lit corner and was so ecstatic when I realized it was finally the Erawan Shrine. It's not a grand site to behold, but what I appreciated most was the devotion of the people as they lit incense sticks and offered flowers to the Buddha of the shrine. It was almost late night and there was still a crowd of people waiting for their turn to kneel and pray. My mom, who was partially tired from walking, sat at one of the benches and admired the number of people who were still arriving at the shrine.

Something to look forward to is the worship performance that the traditional Thai women offer when a prayer is asked from them. They perform a brief song and dance ritual as they pray for whoever made a request. It is accompanied by a group of musicians playing ethnic musical instruments.

  

On our second day, we took the MRT Subway and got off at the farthest point at Hualampong station. From there, it was a ten minute walk to the Wat Traimit where the largest sitting golden Buddha was found. It was a hot day and we had to climb all the way to the top of the temple to see the giant Buddha. 

 

Just a few minutes from the temple was Yaowarat Road or Bangkok's Chinatown. While checking the area, I felt transported back to Gandara or Nueva Street in Binondo, Manila where rows of small family owned businesses and shops were found. It was like a trip down memory lane in Binondo where I spent part of my life at.

We intended to try the street food market of Yaowarat but found out that it was only open at night. We decided to just go back in the evening and spend the afternoon some place else. From there, we decided to take Bangkok's legendary means of transportation, the tuktuk. A piece of advice in taking the tuktuk, as much as possible take the government owned vehicles, and learn how to haggle.

We got off at the River City Pier and decided to take a taxi boat around the Chao Phraya River. While talking to one of the locals, taking a taxi boat has become one of the more efficient means of transportation in Bangkok. With heavy traffics congesting the roads of the city, some people have to take alternative means of transportation to get around the city.

It was a sunny day but the sights along the river made it an interesting experience. Unfortunately, the taxi boat can get really crowded and a lot of people have to stand while the boat is sailing. We stopped at the Tha Chang Pier and had our first street food market moments in Bangkok.

 

After our late afternoon lunch, one of the locals suggested for us to visit the newly opened shopping district called Asiatique. It is located at the Central Pier station, and has a designated boat that brings guest to and fro its pier. 

The Asiatique is a relaxing area to walk around in the late afternoon. Posh restos to a fastfood area can be found, with a lot of shopping options. The theme has a very old colonial feel, with the lamp posts and red bricks giving the place a really vintage look. One has the option to dine by the river as some fancy restos were situated near the pier. This place is highly recommended for an afternoon to shop and dine with friends or a tour with the family.

 

  

I became spiritual and more relaxed on our third day in Bangkok. It was one of my most anticipated part of the itinerary. I was about to enter Wat Pho for the first time.

Slowly taking my steps in the Wat Pho temple, I was in awe with the colorful architecture and interior of the temple's complex. It was a vast area that housed numerous temples, one of which for the majestic Reclining Buddha. It was difficult to take a photo inside since a number of people were crowding near the head of the Buddha to take a photo with it. The inside of the temple was filled with artistic depictions of ancient Thai life through pictures. What I found most interesting were the markings on the soles of the Reclining Buddha's feet.

But other than the Reclining Buddha, my plan was to experience the traditional Thai massage in the Wat Pho temple. After a long walk, we finally reached the massage area where rows of couches where arranged for the foot massage, and mattresses were all lined-up for the body massage. I don't normally opt for a hard pressure massage and it was a little uncomfortable when the therapist was exerting a little too much force on my body. It was surprising that even in my jeans, I can feel the pressure as the therapist's fingers pressed on my knees and legs.

After the session, I was so relieved. My body felt rejuvenated even after days of walking around Bangkok. The experience was worth it!

 

  

 

 

When the temple closed a little before nightfall, we decided to take the ten minute walk to check out the flower market of Bangkok. I love going to Manila's famous "Dangwa" where rows of flower stalls are found. I was quite curious how Bangkok's flower market fared so we went around to take a look. I was hoping to see different breeds of flowers, other than those that I always see in Manila, but the variety was a little less.

 

Before ending this post, I would like to commend the team running the Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit for making our stay more than wonderful. The room was quite cozy, and sleeping in the humongous yet comfortable bed was so relaxing. The accommodating staff made it feel like it was my home in Bangkok. 

My first time in Bangkok will most definitely not be the last. I was impressed with how friendly all the Thais are, truly living up to their monicker as the "City of Smiles", with my mom constantly praising the politeness and decorum of the city's people. This made me believe that other than the sites and shopping that the city is known for, its wonderful people are one of its most valuable assets.