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Friday, June 18, 2004
Bangkok is a melting pot. Bangkok is touristic. Bangkok is a shopping heaven. Bangkok is wild. Bangkok is naughty. Bangkok is traffic. Bangkok is FUNtastic. Bangkok is hustle bustle.

Jim Thompson House The tourist things to do:
Grand Palace ( Wonderful, wonderful place)
Khao San Road (The backpackers ghetto. Full of things to buy in the streets and cheap good food)
Boat Trip (through the river of Bangkok and many stops to get off and visit temples in the neighbourhood)
MBK Centre and Siam Square (Another shopping mecca, food court and cinemas)
Jim Thompson House (Cute little wooden house by the river)
Vimanmek Royal Mansion (World's largest golden teak building)
Chatuchak Weekend Market (a good spot to find odd things. Take the sky train to the stop of Chatuchak)
Pat Pong Nightlife (the sleazy bars and sex clubs but also full of street vendors. Off Silom Road. Just wander around into the sois/alleys)
Temples (so many of them!)
Water Festival (during the Thai New Year in April/May. Get ready to get wet all day!)
Ratchaburi Floating Market (so colourful, so lively, so exotic)
Thai Massage (don't go to the kinky ones unless you are horny and desperate)

Ratchaburi Floating Market
Places to get rest:
Khao San Road. There are hundreds of them. Check the rooms first and the noise level
The Oriental, still my fave so far. Love the view and that small nook of restaurant by the river is really something. Besides, it's still a throw stone away from Silom Road, your dirty fave street. hehehe...
The Peninsula. This is really the "creme de la creme" as the French put it. It's not really in the centre but easy to get there by the sky train. And you can also go with that lovely River Shuttle Boat Service. An elegant way to arrive every day. It was one of the best top 10 hotels in the world! hmmm....
Banyan Tree Hotel. Those two towers and those adjunction between the towers. hmmm...and the spa...Voted as the top 3 Best new business hotels in 1998. But you can always go to Babylon too. hehehe...it's close by.
Spots to eat:
Once Upon A Time Restaurant. This is a small restaurant from the old teak house tucked away in Soi 19 off the Phetchburi Rd., near Juladis Tower. Phone: 02/255-4948 . The food is nothing but authentic. Miang kham, a traditional snack of dried shrimp, dried coconut, peanuts, pineapple, chili pepper, and sweet tamarind sauce rolled together in a green leaf, makes an excellent appetizer. Afterward move on to the chopped pork with chili sauce or the beef fillet with pickled garlic. But there are other delicious savoury food as well.
Pan Pan. 6-6/1 Sukhumvit Rd.,Phone: 02/258-9304 or 02/258-5071 . I know this is not Thai, but it's worth it! You feel like eating in Italy anyway. The two branches of this eatery have remained enormously popular for many years, despite the proliferation of Italian restaurants in Bangkok. The relaxed atmosphere in both places invites intimate conversations. The long menu includes such favorites as linguine with a sauce of salmon, cream, and vodka that is a taste of high-calorie heaven, and "chicken godfather," served with a cream-and-mushroom sauce that is disappointment-proof. Save room for the ice cream -- traditional gelato. Other location: 45 Soi Lang Suan, off Ploenchit Rd., 02/252-7104.
River City Bar B-Q. River City Shopping Centre, Phone: 02/237-0077. This is a place where you can be the chef -- a waiter brings to your table a hot plate and a mound of different meats and vegetables. You grill them to your own taste. Order some appetizers to nibble on while dinner is cooking -- the northern Thai sausage is excellent. The tables at the edge of the roof of the River City Shopping Centre have romantic views of the Chao Phraya River.
Eat Me Art Restaurant. Soi Pipat 2 (off Soi Convent). Phone: 02-238-0931, 02-233-1767. Fusion Food. Romantic, modern interior complimented by fine art exhibitions. Inventive, superb cuisine, plus friendly service from owner Darren and staff. Menu changes monthly, with daily specials and choice deserts and cocktails. Handsome waiters and patrons (lots of stars and trendsetters). Rich music selection and occasional live jazz performances.
Street food, noodle places and barbecue stuff everywhere. Delicious!
The Gay Hangout:
DJ Station Disco. soi 2 off Silom Road and the whole alley. Bring your ID and go around 10pm. Finish early!
Telephone Bar. soi 4 off Silom Road and the whole alley. The concept used to be so much fun that there's a phone on each table and you can call to other tables rather than winking all the time and trying to get the guy's attention.
Babylon Sauna. 50 Soi Atthakarn Prasit (near Malaysia Hotel), 02-213-2108. World famous men's complex and sauna. Gym, restaurant, disco, internet access, jazz performances, parties. Facilities including hotel rooms, swimming pool, expanded gym, disco, and fantasy spaces. International crowd.
V Club. 52/1 Soi Aree (Phaholyotin 7, on right side), 02-279-3322. For many, this is the best massage facility in the city. Beautifully designed spa complex with private indoor and outdoor garden areas. Super friendly staff. Facilities include cafe and gym, facial treatment room, massage rooms, floral bath, steam. Sponsors monthly gay trips, contests and charity benefits.
Friends in Bangkok:
Kevin and Hnung. The crazy Irish and Thai bunch! Kevin works in arts and Hnung works in education. Been living in Bangkok for centuries. Spent so many drunken nights of cheap Thai Whiskey and chain smoking and enormous acute hangover and managed to made me stayed without going an inch out of Bangkok. Met them also on a drunken night in Bali, that's why I guess. Lovely people.
Kevin
Libby
Kevin and Hnung's nemesis numero uno. Sarcastic charming Brit gal. Spent some years in the siesta country of Italy (speaks fluent Italian) then moved to another paradise of Bali (where I met her while gossiping about my flashy pants!). My Salsa dance partner (she forced me effortlessly) in Bali and now happily settling down in Bangkok.
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This blog is dedicated to my photography madness, pics of friends and travel tips Warning:I'm not your f***ing travel agent or the tourist info centre. But if you are on your knees, begging, pleading, bending over and begging (again), I might consider and replyTale of Travelling Gay Bee:He is GAY (at least at the moment), he is OUT, he is a globetrotter (that's what people said), he does too many personalities tests on the net, he is cultural (that's what people thought), he is a photographer wannabee, he is a Stuart Alan Jones wannabee, he hates karaoke but still does it from time to time, he is a schizophrenic web nerd, he hasn't tried viagra, he is seldom caught throwing things at people, he disgraces bee-hive-hairdo-women and giggling teenagers, he is THE BitchTravel Plans:Copenhagen & Nice - AugustPhoto Exhibitions:MenScape (July 2002)Skin Alive (September 2003) View my websiteTop 10 Hotels/Resorts:1. Amanwana, Moyo Island 2. Four Seasons Resort, Bali3. W Hotel, Sydney4. Amandari, Bali5. Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok6. Oriental Hotel, Surabaya7. Dharmawangsa Hotel, Jakarta8. Raffles Hotel, Singapore9. Oriental Hotel, Bangkok10. Alila Hotel, JakartaTop 10 Dining:1. Kirketon, Sydney2. Ku dè Ta, Bali3. Cafè des Artistes, New York City4. Café Sydney, Sydney5. Riva, Jakarta6. Enoteca Capranica, Rome7. Gajah Wong, Yogyakarta8. Monsieur Vuong, Berlin9. Koi, Jakarta10. Cafè du Commerce, ParisSet Foot on:Amalfi (Italy) - 2003Amsterdam (Holland) - many timesAntwerp (Belgium) - 96,97Apeldoorn (Holland) -1997Auckland (New Zealand) - 2000Bajawa (Indonesia) - 1994Bali (Indonesia) - many times Balikpapan (Indonesia) - 2002 Bandung (Indonesia) - many times Bangkok (Thailand) - 97, 98, 03Barcelona (Spain) - many timesBerlin (Germany) - lived in 2003Beverwijk (Holland) - 1998Bima (Indonesia) - 1994Bologna (Italy) - Lived in 03-04Bonaventure (Canada) - Lived in 1993Bonaventure Island (Canada) - 1993Bontang (Indonesia) - 2002Bremen (Germany) - 2003Brugge (Belgium) - 96,97Brussels (Belgium) - 96, 97Budapest (Hungary) - 1997Bukittinggi (Indonesia) - 1997Cakranegara (Indonesia) - 1989Capri Island (Italy) - 96, 04Chandler (Canada) - 1993Cirebon (Indonesia) - 1997Cologne (Germany) - 98, 03Cosenza (Italy) - 2003Ende (Indonesia) - 1994Essen (Germany) - 2003Florence (Italy) - 1996Frankfurt (Germany) - 1998Gattatico (Italy) - 2004
Ghent (Belgium) - Lived in 1996Grimaldi (Italy) - 2003Groningen (Holland) - 1996Heidelberg (Germany) -1998Hongkong (China) -1998Hot Springs (USA) - 2003Imola (Italy) - 2003Istanbul (Turkey) - 2003Jakarta (Indonesia) - My TownJohor Baru (Malaysia) - 1996Kediri (Indonesia) - 1988Kotagede (Indonesia) - many timesLabuhan Bajo (Indonesia) - 1994Lecce (Italy) - 2003Lille (France) - 96,97Little Rock (USA) - 2003London (United Kingdom) - many timesLuxemburg (Luxemburg) - 1995Lyon (France) - 1997Madiun (Indonesia) - 1988Madura Island (Indonesia) - 1994Mainz (Germany) - 1998Makassar (Indonesia) - My HometownMalang (Indonesia) - Lived in 87-89Manado (Indonesia) - 1981Mannheim (Germany) - 1998Mataram (Indonesia) - 88, 94Melbourne (Australia) - 2001Metz (France) - 1996Milan (Italy) - 96, 03Modena (Italy) - 2004Montreal (Canada) - 1993Moyo Island (Indonesia) - 1994Munich (Germany) - 1997Murano Island (Italy) - 96, 04Naples (Italy) - many timesNew Delhi (India) - 2003New Orleans (USA) - 2003New York City (USA) - 2003Nias Island (Indonesia) - 1996Nusa Lembongan Island (Indonesia) - 2002Orvieto (Italy) - 2004Padang (Indonesia) - 1996Paris (France) - many timesParma (Italy) - 2004Paspebiac (Canada) - 1993Pemalang (Indonesia) - 1994Perugia (Italy) - 2004Pompeii (Italy) - 96, 03Positano (Italy) - 2003Prague (Czech Republic) - 1997Purwokerto (Indonesia) - 94,97Quebec City (Canada) - 1993Ravenna (Italy) - 2004
Reggio Emilia (Italy) - 2004Rimouski (Canada) - 1993Rome (Italy) - many timesRotterdam (Holland) - 03, 04Ruteng (Indonesia) - 1994San Francisco (USA) - 2003Seattle (USA) - 2003Singapore (Singapore) - many timesSitges (Spain) - 1996Solo (Indonesia) - many timesSorrento (Italy) - 96, 03Surabaya (Indonesia) - many timesSydney (Australia) - 00, Lived in 01-02Taranto (Italy) - 2003Todi (Italy) - 2004Toulouse (France) - 1997Trieste (Italy) - 2004Turin (Italy) - many timesUtrecht (Holland) - 1997Venice (Italy) - 96, 04Warsaw (Poland) - 1997Washington DC (USA) - 2003Yogyakarta (Indonesia) - many timesZwevegem (Belgium) - Lived in 95-96
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