Yesterday's Lunch

Date: 30th March 2006
Venue: Beach Road
Attendee: DT, S, XY and me

Took this while queuing for my food and feeling bored... :P. Been here quite a few times already and the fried fish soup is not bad.

Bangkok Trip Day 4 (Homecoming)

Finally its our last day here. And as usual woke up at same time, same menu for breakfast, only that the gals join for breakfast this time. Went up to pack up and check out one of the rooms first. Luckily have done some packing the night before, brought just one more handcarry plastic bag back home (although I have to deposit my star at StupidGenius to prevent it from being crushed).

XY chose to stay back at hotel, so the rest of us proceed to go out and 游荡. We took a cab to Siam Square. There weren't many shop open at this time yet. Wanted to find a massage parlour for a full body traditional Thai massage. Was discussing about the places to go for "body massage" with Ball and Yong the previous day. Then they were smiling away and I had no idea why was that. As it turned out, "body massage" is referring to those massage with "extra service". "Traditional massage" is the right word to use. They did recommend some places to go to, but we didn't have the time to go there.

So the whole morning basically walk around Siam Square, Siam Center area. Finally went MBK again. Walk and walk until we all very tired. Saw a very big bottle of Green Tea. Think there will be an event promoting this drink later that day.

The toilet sign at Siam Center looks pretty unique as well.

Can you spot the difference between this 2 outlets selling donuts? On the left was the big Dunkin Donuts store at Siam square while the right pic was Mr Donuts in MBK.

Then it was about lunch time, so we called XY to join us for lunch. Again we went to find the wanton noodle stall at Sathorn. This time, though, we managed to try out. Turned out that the noodle was not as good as SG described. Although it was quite unique to add sugar and peanut crumbs into the noodle.

Went back MBK for more shopping after lunch and bought more food. Then head back to hotel to wait for transfer to airport. Took some more picture while waiting for our transport.

We took a big taxi to the airport at around 5pm.

Reached airport at about 530pm. S and XY's fllight was at 740pm while SG and my flight was at 810pm. So at this time, our counters were still not open for check in yet. However, as true blue Singaporeans, we queued up in front of the counter nontheless (and there was a substantially long queue already).

There were still some time after checking in, so we all went around looking for food to fill our stomach. SG found that one of the liquor here is very cheap if you buy 2, so he quickly found someone to share and bought 2 bottles.

We walked S and XY to their boarding gate as their flight is earlier. It certainly feels very strange to send some one off while you yourself were also taking a flight. Walked back to our boarding gate after that. Had to wait a while before gate was open for boarding. And that's the problem for free seating flight, everyone came rushing in once the gate was open. Called E to bid her farewell just before boarding.

Continue our own in-flight entertainment on board the plane, i.e. SG's laptop. This time we watched "In Her Shoes". Nothing much except that come across this strange line on the safety guide.

Touched down at the new Budget Terminal at around 1125pm. We had to get down from the plane and walk into the terminal.

The terminal still smells very new... :p. SG and I managed to clear the custom pretty fast. But waited for quite some time for the checked in luggage. Then there was another person on the flight who took the same bag as SG, the new SAF duffer bag. While waiting, a person approached me to do a survey on the new Budget Terminal. But he never gave any souvenirs after the survey was done, hehehe... Meanwhile, we asked the gals to come over here from T1 and go home from here. There was a long queue of taxis outside that stretches until the expressway, so no fear of not getting a taxi.

So all good things has to come to an end. Overall its still quite an enjoyable trip even though there were some small episodes happening here and there. Earnestly waiting for the next overseas trip to come.

Bangkok Trip: Day 3 (Meeting the Locals)

Woke up at roughly the same time as the previous day for breakfast. But this time the gals wanna skipped breakfast. So StupidGenius and I went down for breakfast ourselves. The menu looks the same as the one yesterday, with only the main dish that was different.

Went out at around 11+ to Pratunam area for more shopping today. Again spent 2 hours walking through the alleys of shops. Everyone got something here. I bought 3 more shirts, taking my total tally now to 7. Then we went to a newly opened shopping mall nearby called Platinum Mall (opened in November 2005). Most of the stuff they sell here are similar to those that you could find from the shops outside, but the price here is a bit more expensive. Bought some snacks from the food court here just before leaving.

Our next stop was Sathorn area, the place where SG used to work here in BKK. SG wanted to bring us here to try the wanton noodle, which he says is very nice (at that time when he tried). However by the time we reached the street where the stall was (think was very near Evergreen Laurel Hotel), they had already closed shop. So we had no choice but to find another place to lunch. Then we went to a Mac outlet, which also sells those souvenirs or promotional items that comes with a set meal. S went in to see if she could get something. I had remember coming to this Mac outlet on my last trip to BKK.

Walk a bit further down the road before coming to a restaurant called Shangarila Kitchen, and decided to have our lunch there.

We ordered ice green tea, which was free flow. Then S, XY and I ordered a set meal that comes with a main course (fried rice or noodle), soup and dessert while SG ordered one with cabbage rice and a side dish. Overall, I think the food here was quite good, especially like the dessert, which was yam roll or something like that.

Took the skytrain back to from Chong Nonsi (S3) station to Siam (CS) station. Went to another newly opened shopping mall, the Siam Paragon (opened in Dec 2005). This is the place where all the branded high end products could be found. Maybe this mall is specifically catered to tourists. But I wonder how this could appeal to the locals, considering the price of the items on sold here. We spent little time here as we were not thinking of buying anything from here. Then we cut through to Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center before going to MBK.

Bought some local food products at MBK. Bought quite a lot in fact and XY gotta had her items all sealed up in a box. Went back to hotel to put away all the stuff that we have bought for the day meeting SG's friends later for dinner. Rested for a while at the hotel as well.

We were supposed to meet his friends at 730pm but as there were quite a heavy traffic jam on our way there, we were late. His friends Ball and Yong, which he got to know while he was working in BKK, are really very friendly people. They drove us to the place where we were going to have dinner. Thought we should have meet them directly there instead, so that we wouldn't have wasted so much time on the road.

We arrived at this place called Baan Klang Nam (loosely translated as house in center of the sea). They ordered a lot of food. We chatted while having dinner, where they were asked what we had done and would be doing on our trip.

As host, they settled the bills for the dinner and even drove us back to our hotel. SG gave them a box of biscuits each as a returning gesture.

After parting with Ball and Yong at our hotel, we went to E's apartment on a tuk-tuk. The journey wasn't long, but with 4 people squeezing into one vehicle, I doubt it was very comfortable, especially for S who was not on the seat. Nonetheless we did arrive safely at E's apartment. The main objective of our visit was to pass her some MP3s that she had requested. Meanwhile we stayed to chat and managed to finish watching a movie on TV.

This was our last destination for the day, and we went back to hotel for rest afterwards.

Bangkok Trip: Day 2 (Poor TH... really poor)

Woken up By StupidGenius for Breakfast an hour earlier than we intended as he was still looking at Singapore Time (GMT +8) instead of the local time (GMT +7). Nonetheless, I still nua for a while more in my bed before getting out reluctantly to wash up. Then call the gals down for breakfast at around 915. They served a main dish, sunny side up, sausage, toast, crossiant, banana muffin and cereal for breakfast. Of course my favourite would be the banana muffin... :p

Today we going to Chatuchak Weekend Market for further 血拼. Do the 4 of us took a cab down from our hotel after breakfast. The temperature here in Bangkok is really hot. But we simply have to endure it for the sake of shopping... My 战利品 from here was quite a few pieces of T-shirt. Took a short break after hours of walking and shopping.

Worse was to come later in the day. As we resumed from our half time break, we were weaving our way through a crowd of people. It was not long before S found that my pouch was unzipped and that my wallet inside was gone (holy s#%&)... Luckily only the wallet was gone, the rest of the stuff inside the pouch were still intact. Had to call up a few numbers to suspend the credit card and stuffs like that... And the 4 of us tried to navigate our way back to the stall where we had a rest. In the process, SG manage to buy a shirt from a stall that we passed by once before.

After that went to the information center and report my lost of wallet. The person there also advised me to make a police report at the local police station. She gave us a map of how to get to the station from here. Then trying to hail a taxi to bring us to a police station, but was rejected by many drivers. Finally managed to find one who would bring us to the station.

Made a police report at Bangsue Police Station. This is the first time that I have done such a thing. First I would fill up a form describing the incident that had occurred. Then the policeman brought me to another officer who would record down what I have written in another book. Most of the time, I was just waiting for the officer to finish recording the incident. Finally the officer pass me the original copy of the police report, which I would need to make my insurance claim.

Head back to hotel to rest after making the police report. SG message E to see if she wanna join us for dinner. E was going to Pantip to get her laptop repaired. We decided to go meet E at Central World Plaza (former World Trade Center), which is pretty near Pantip. As we were feeling hungry, we bought some donuts and ice cream from Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins respectively to fill our stomach. There were 2 statue of buddha outside of the plaza and many people were praying at it. I joined in to pray as well.

We decided to have dinner at a roadside stall nearby. There were many BBQ fish which looks pretty appetizing. SG went off to pick up E while the rest of us stayed to order the food. We had a hard time ordering the food as we were communicating in different languages. Finally managed to place our order after some "finger-pointing".

The food came very quickly but not SG and E. And so we waited. Finally, they came. SG bought some stuff back to 加菜, this includes some maggots, worms, fried frogs and grasshoppers. I think some of them didn't taste too bad, although it took me a while to have the 1st bite.

We wanted to go Bed Supper Club straight after dinner. But apparently the club did not open until much later. So we all went Metropolis (opposite of Central World Plaza) for more window shopping. Head down to the club when it was about time.

Upon arriving, E found the place very familiar as she had come to the place only a couple of days ago with her colleague. So she decided not to join us, perhaps also partly because the next day is a working day. The entrance cover charge was THB500 for the day, including 2 free drinks. This was comparable to the price in Singapore. Heard from E that the cover charge was THB750 on friday night.

There were not too many people when we went in, perhaps the night is still young. After a while though, the place started filling up. We ordered our drinks and started playing some finger guessing game. I guess the bed here must be very cozy, and I managed to doze off for a while. Then there was a performance going on, which was some singing gig.

Went for supper after coming out of Bed Supper Club. SG took us to have chicken rice at a shop opposite of Pratunam Center. Went back hotel to rest after yet another late night out.

Click here to look at StupidGenius' entry of the same event.

Bangkok Trip: Day 1 (Arriving at BKK)

StupidGenius and I arrived at BKK International Airport at about 0920 local time, some 45 minutes before the scheduled time of 1005. SG called E straight after we touched down, and in the process, woke her up from her slumberland... Then we still gotta wait for S and XY, whose flight is scheduled to arrive at 1040. So we went changed our money and then went into a small cafe at the airport for some makan. SG ordered a not-so-nice and expensive bowl of wanton noodle. At the same time, we managed to complete the movie that we've watched halfway through during the flight here.

Me and SG wrote the names of S and XY on a piece of A4 paper and held them up while awaiting for their arrival. But then 1 hour had gone and there were still no sign of them. Finally, S and XY appeared after a while more (and the best part was that they totally missed the names that we wrote on the paper). It was almost 12pm already by the time we meet up.

Took an airport transfer in a mini van which cost us about THB800, after trying hard to bargain for a better deal but to no avail. We were staying at Bangkok City Suite and The journey took about 20 minutes.

SG called E after we checked into the hotel, so that she could come meet us for lunch. Managed to nua a bit in my room while waiting. At the other room, S and XY called for room service to order some food. E arrived after a long while as the taxi driver couldn't find his way here. And so the 5 of us decided to walk from our hotel to MBK Center. Halfway through the journey, we stopped by at a small restaurant for lunch.

Continue our journey to MBK after lunch. Passed by a money changer but S and XY did not change the currency there (and they had not changed Thai Bahts at the airport either), even when the rates seems good. Shopped a while at MBK, where I bought a T-shirt (quite surprised that I was the first to get something here...). The gals wanted to change their currency at MBK, but the exchange rate was worse than the one we passed by on our way here. So we walked back to that outlet but found that it was already closed. So we walked back to MBK and took a cab down to Chinatown (Yaowarat Road) from there.

Reached Chinatown in late afternoon. Managed to walk and shop a bit at the market along the back/side alley. Most of the shops were closing though. Still some of us managed to buy something here. Then SG suggested to go eat bird's nest and sharks fin. It was sort of like our dinner. Besides bird's nest and sharks fin, we ordered Duck's tongue as well. They served the bird's nest last. I ordered the one with the super duper sweet ginko nuts.

E suggested going to the Flower Market nearby and so we took a cab down. They do really sell a lot of flowers here. E managed to buy some flowers, which is to be put in her room.

Then went to E's service apartment. Her room is really big and well-equipped. SG and I stayed to watch the EPL match between Liverpool and Everton while the gals went to shop at Suan Lum Night Bazaar which is nearby, but not within walking distance. Took a cab down to the night bazaar and meet up with the gals after the match. More shopping coming our way, although I did not buy anything from here. Had wanted to go to a place called Tawan Daeng, but was told by a taxi driver that the place closes at 11pm (not sure if it was true). In the end though, we stayed at the night bazaar for our dinner (or supper if you consider the time that we were having our meals)

There is a big screen here and it was showing EPL matches. But then the game between Portsmouth and Arsenal was postponed due to waterlogged pitch. So no game interest me for the night. As usual, we ordered quite a lot of food, including fried rice, papaya salad, pizza, stir-fry pork liver, and some Thai Otah. We had beer as well. Food was so-so only. After having our meal, we send E back to her service apartment before going back to our hotel.

PS: You may like to refer to StupidGenius' account of the same event. Hopefully it'll not be long before the next entry comes.

At the Airport

Now at Changi Airport, waiting to board the flight to Bangkok. PS is not coming I suppose, due to pressure from his parent. Just had a drink at Mac, where StupidGenius also had his breakfast. Surprisingly he reached earlier than me today. He was on the train at around 540am when he SMS me. And I was awaken by his message. Had wanted to catch the first train as well, but in the end took a cab to the airport.

Picture Courtesy of StupidGenius

Guess thats all for now. More updates in BKK.

Launch of ST701 cum Movie Preview

Went for the special movie preview of Ultraviolet cum the launch of ST701, SPH's new e-recruitment website. S got the free tix at the seminar that she went during the week. And so StupidGenius, XY and me enjoyed the privilege of this free movie treat.

They had a cocktail reception before the movie screening at 7pm. So S, XY and me arrived at GV Grand at about 640pm. SG was late again as he needed to take 2 buses down here from his workplace. The food here was not too bad, and they served red wine as well. The 3 of us had our fills before SG arrived.

If the cocktail reception was good, the same could not be said to the movie itself. The movie plot is based on a comic, I think. Set in the 21st century, the movie revolves around the battle of Humans and Hemophages (they are like vampires) and the name of the character of lead cast is Violet (and hence the movie name, Ultraviolet). The storyline is pretty messy IMO, though the actions are comparable to those we've seen in those chinese movies. At the end of the movie, I still don't quite understand what the whole movie is about (Luckily I didn't have to pay for the tix... :P).

Went for dinner (or supper??) at Zion Road hawker center after the movie. The place was renovated since the last time I came several years back. Only SG ate though, as the rest of us were still feeling full from the stuff we had eaten before the movie screening.

Making Another Pitstop

Went Pitstop Cafe yet again today. They got an Ice Cream Buffet on for today. In fact, it was on for every Thursday 'til end of this month. The same gang from our last visit came again this time. Only that SW was replaced by FL this time, who also arrived later than the main group.

Everyone ordered 3 scoops of ice cream on our first serving, in addition to some finger food. In the mean time, we started playing a game called Yahtzee. This is a dice game. On every round, each players get to roll 5 dice for three tries. The scoring would based on pattern formed by the dice faces, pretty similar to those in poker, or the total points. This includes things like, 3 of a kind, 4 of a kind, Full House, Straight etc... Halfway through the game, DT felt that the game did not involve a lot of interaction between the players. And so, we decided to switch game after like 4 rounds.

Next up, we played Taboo, as I found that another group of people was having lots of fun playing this while we were at Settlers Cafe on the other day. Somehow, we were not as enthusiastic enough, certainly not as animated. We went on to play Cranium, where we were divided into 3 groups, D and XY, DT and FL and S, StupidGenius and me. This game I had played before during one of my visits to Pitstop.

Finally we played another card game called Category 5. The objective of this game is to score as less point as possible, the first player to reach 73 points is the loser. Each player starts with a 10-card hand, and points are scored when a player put down the sixth card in a row. There are a total of 5 rows on the table. After the first 2 rounds of 10 cards played, D was way ahead with 61 points, however it was another 2 rounds of 10 before the game ended. D was the loser with 81 points, and DT was closing in on 72. FL scored the least points.

Over the course of gaming, everyone was pretty busy with their ice cream (it was a buffet, remember... :D). The servings come and go in a timely fashion. In the end though, SG ate the most with 14 scoops, and D 13. I had 12 scoops. Probably will stop eating ice cream for a while (maybe just for this week...) after this. Then went the coffeeshop opposite for supper. This time, I get to try the mincemeat mee sua S and SG had the other day. We chatted until past midnight before finally going home.

Photo courtesy of StupidGenius

At Settlers Cafe

Went to Settlers Cafe at North Canal Road yesterday. I had been to here once before with another group of friends. The 3 of us, S, XY and me, had our dinner at Circular road before walking to the cafe. S had reversed a table for 4 at 8pm. But StupidGenius would arrive a bit later.

So the 3 of us went in to the cafe first. The staff recommended a game called Sequence to us. The objective of the game is to form a row of 5 on the board, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Each player have 6 poker cards on hand and would place a tile on the board based on the card played. There are 2 types of special card, the one-eye Jack and two-eyes Jack. Playing the former would remove one of the other players tile from the board whle the latter would allow the player to place a tile anywhere on the board, just like a wild card. SG arrived halway through our game. XY was the winner for this game.

The next game that we played was Fearsome Floor. Each players would control four different pieces. The number of steps each piece could move is given by a number on the piece itself. And there were 2 sides to the pieces to signify day and night movement. The objective of the game is to move all 4 pieces out of the board. And then there is a monster, which moves after all the players had their turns. This monster would always find and go for the nearest player it sees. When the monster touches a player's piece, that piece would have to go back to the start pont again. So the game involves a fair bit of thinking so as the pieces would not be 'eaten' up by the monster whenever the turn ends. However, as I am the last player to go, most of the time my moves are straightforward. As it turned out, I am the 1st to get all the pieces out of the board, being in an advantageous position.

Time is up when we completed the second game. After this, we went to Circular Road for supper. SG ordered a fishball mee sua which he said is nice. Well I guess I can try that out the next time we go there again, which happens to be very soon...

Photo courtesy of StupidGenius