Having "Me" Time

I love it when friends take me to off the beaten track eateries. Little treasures that just make you wonder what other secrets lay hidden waiting to be discovered. This latest discovery came quite unexpected for it was a chance meeting and we took the opportunity to go grab a bite to eat. In search of somewhere not too far from Silom, Narathiwat and the Rama IV area my friend navigated me to this little japanese eatery called “Sendai Ramen Mokkori Silom.” Don’t ask me what the name means. I only know “Ramen” and “Silom”(road name.) It’s one of those eateries you find in the least expected places. It’s at the base of an old-fashioned condominium at Narathiwat Soi 1. It seems to have been around for quite some time and probably well-known to those who go to that area, but for me it was an area I hardly go to and a street I’ve never driven into. What’s surprising is that walking out of the condominium parking (you can get your parking ticket validated at the eatery) you do not...

In a city of roughly ten million people, there are people almost everywhere you go.   Crowds of people move here and there and the din of noises ring in your ears. Bangkok is a bustling urban city.  It's easy to just get lost in the crowd.  However, in Old Town Bangkok, time seems to stay a little more still.  If you want to escape to somewhere quiet (other than your own home) where you can spend a good couple hours, sipping tea and reading a good book,  I say go to the Bangkokian Museum Tea Salon . In my previous post, I wrote about the Bangkokian Museum which is housed in a 1930's house, but I have yet to tell you about the Tea Salon.  Now don't expect something fancy with air-conditioning and wi-fi and a range of snacks.  This tea salon simply occupies a corner of one of the wooden houses.  There are a couple of tables for you to sit and a few chairs.  What I do love about it though is that you c...

Sometimes you stumble upon unexpected things that really are very pleasant.  I guess this is what you call "Serendity."  It reminds me of the movie by that name... Anyways,  as it happens upon our "walk" around Old Town Bangkok, we passed by an unconspicuous house with a sign above saying "Bangkokian Museum."  We had never heard of this place and never intended to visit it, but since we were already passing by we thought, "why not?"  We weren't in a rush to go anywhere, so lets just explore it. And so we went in.  To our surprise, this house comprised of a fairly large compound comprising of three houses and a row of shop houses on the side.  Two of the houses and the row of shop houses had been turned into a museum by the owner (72years old) who is now residing in one of the houses.  It was like we went back in time.  The garden was green with an old wooden gate. The houses were built of wood and in a style that reflected...

Sunday is our day.  On Sundays (when we have time) we like to go explore Bangkok, there is so much to see, so much that is yet to be discovered in this City of Angels.  Today, we started our journey on Bangkok's oldest road: Charoen Krung Road.  Built in 1861, this road runs through the major sites of Old Bangkok and still retains the charm of old Bangkok.  Our main destination though was the Muslim Restaurant near to Charoen Krung Soi 42 and by the intersection of Silom Road and Charoen Krung Road. Now I've been on this road many times before, but usually it was on a car passing by on my way to the hotels that sit along the Chaophraya River.  Walking, however, gives you a whole different perspective on things.  You get to see and explore what previously you would have missed.  Going carless, you get the freedom of walking wherever you so desire and ending up in unexpected places.   A little Bangkok adventure.  We love it. And s...