ChristianKiev

Monday, February 24, 2020

First morning at the Marriott Bangkok Thonglor, so I had to check out the breakfast. Due to my previous stays at the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, especially with the Titanium breakfast at Rossini, my standards were very high.

As a Titanium Elite member you’ve got two options:
1.) Limited breakfast at the quite Club-Lounge, with great view
2.) Full breakfast at the restaurant on Lobby Floor

I choose option 2.

At around 8 the restaurant was only half full, I guess the hotel at present days has a low occupancy. After I good a table and ordered double Espresso with milk on the side as well as a freshly squeezed Watermelon juice I walked around since the breakfast is spread throughout the complete area.

I’ve been impressed by the selection, one buffet with fruits, cereals and muesli,


one station for waffles & pancakes, another buffet for cold cuts and jam, an egg station, a buffet for Indian breakfast, one for Japanese breakfast


and in the middle bread, cakes, Danish and the noodle-soup station with a wide selection of ingrediencies.


I took some Papaya, ordered my standard egg white omelette with chili and coriander and took a noodle-soup with shrimp dumplings and morning glory.

Comparing the breakfast to the Sheraton Grande I’ve to say it’s pretty basic, nice choice but nothing special. The SGS offers higher quality products, more luxury – at a price.

Now, since I’ve been released from hospital exactly 2 months ago, I was allowed to start my daily routine again. Before leaving to Asia I went to the hospital for an X-Ray and consultation. The doctor said the bones are growing together, but the process isn’t completed. But anyway, because everything is fixed by a huge Titanium-frame which goes all around the bones, I would be able to go to the gym – but carefully (especially since I would break my bones when I would bend my wrist).

So at 09:30 I’ve been at the pool, to get tanned.


The pool area is okay, but due to two construction sites, one directly in front, one on the back, quite noisy. So it doesn’t offer the Bali-jungle feeling of the SGS. Again, standard, but no luxury at all – including a quite noisy construction side in front and on the back. On the positive side it’s ‘open’, so you always have a nice breeze, very important when you want to lay in the sun for a while.

And, important for smokers, the Marriott Sukhumvit Thonglor does have a smoking area just right behind the pool, comfortably equipped with armchairs.

After 2 hours laying in the sun it was time to change into my gym-clothes, to take my BCAA and go down again to pool level, where the gym is located.


The gym is ‘ok’ – at best. Again, can’t be compared to the SGS with its fantastic gym, including jacuzzi etc. But for now, when I can do only ‘light training’ I can adopt.

So I worked out for an hour with weights, went on the treadmill for 30 minutes – quite difficult with a broken hand, weak muscles and 2 months without training.

At the Club-Lounge I got my cold low-fat milk to fill up my whey-powder, had a refreshing shower and went out for lunch.

This time I wanted to try the small restaurant with the fishball-noodle-soup, also located on Sukhumvit between Soi 57 and 55, one minute walk from the hotel.


I asked for their best option and, at US$ 2.20, got one of the best noodle-soups I ever had (and I had many noodle-soups!) ! Full of taste, with a lot of fish- and shrimpballs as well as fish-filled Wontons.


Onwards to the next 7/11 where I had to buy an upgrade for my hotel-room:


Finally Coca Cola Zero instead of Pepsi Max !!! Hooray !!!

I received a WhatApp from a friend from vielfliegertreff.de, who, after a trip through Myanmar and India just arrived to Bangkok before returning back home to Germany. We decided to meet at 7 pm at MAYs, a pretty good Thai restaurant, deep inside Sukhumvit Soi 12 alley.

At 6:30 I took the BTS to Asok Station, walked to the restaurant, where he was already waiting with a friend from Novosibirsk. We never before met in real life, so we had a lot to talk and, since I haven’t been very hungry so early, I just had the wonderful Pomelo salad with Shrimps.


I offered them a small tour to Bangkok nightlife, namely ‘Nana-Plaza’, since she had never seen it before. So we walked westwards, turned into Nana from where we accessed Nana-Plaza, a 3-story-complex around an atrium, full of Go-Go-Bars. Maybe because of the virus it has been quite empty, maybe because nowadays the girly-bars changed for ladyboy bars. But, like in the past, it’s still funny just to walk through for sightseeing. We were amazed by a group of men wearing mask for Corona protection, but then selecting a Thai girl to take home. Well, some protection has to be… ;-)

After 10 minutes we were out again, back to Sukhumvit to Soi 15 where we said ‘Goodbye’, the both back to their hotel, me back by BTS in direction Marriott.

Now I got hungry but a lot of places already closed down. But just opposite the hotel entrance I saw a small Japanese restaurant, the ‘hole-in-the-wall’ version. I opened the door, looked inside and saw only some Japanese guys – quite a good sign.


So I took a seat at the counter and studied the menu with many Japanese dishes, not just Sushi and Sashimi.

Anyway, I was up to the standard, ordered a small Sashimi platter


and a selection of 5x2 Nigiri Sushi, including my favourites likes ‘Saba’ (marinated mackerel), ‘Hotate’ (scallop) and ‘Tomago’ (rolled egg-omelette with sweet rice-wine, soy-sauce and sugar).

(Unagi -eel – came later)

I’ve to say that I’ve been pretty impressed, less rice than topping, good quality.

I paid US$ 30, crossed the street and was back to the hotel.

The_Mileonaire

As mentioned on insta, nice to see you back on a different platform. Enjoy the trip!

Jaenks

Instagram account reminds me "Понты дороже денег" Feels like two completely different persons posting here and on Instagram
Enjoyable reading.

ChristianKiev

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

As I mentioned before, the breakfast at the Marriott Sukhumvit Thonglor is ‘okay’ – but by far not up to par with the SGS. For example I’m missing the delicious mangos which are served there.

So today I was asked by the chef if everything is okay and I asked ‘why no mangos?’ He answered that they have to be cut in time, but he could serve me at the table. Therefore today, in addition to my noodle-soup I had a very tasty mango.


Afterwards up to the pool, unfortunately it was partly clouded. At around 12 to the gym where I did my usual program for 1 ½ hours.

At around 4 it was time for lunch. Near to the Marriott, on Soi 55 there’s a highly recommended restaurant for Pad Thai and Hoi-Tod.


Most people think, that Pad Thai is the Thai national dish – but it comes from the south of Thailand. While the traditional dish in the north is more Khao Soi, in Bangkok area it’s Hoi-Tod, a oyster omelette with rice flour. Hoi-Tod is served in two ways, crispy or chewy – I prefer the later.

I took a seat inside,


checked the menu


and ordered one portion of Pad Thai Goong (with shrimps) and Hoi-Tod, watched the chef to prepare it.




When it arrived it already looked not like top-dishes, but maybe the taste would convince.


Actually it didn’t, both dishes were pretty standard, far from the best which are served in China town.

When I paid already my friend with his spouse arrived so I waited until the ate. Then we moved further up Soi 55 where ‘Souffle’ is located,




a small café on the upper floor of a shophouse where the now famous ‘souffle-pancakes’ are served.


The interior is pretty, we took a seat, me watching the souffle-pancakes to be made (which took 20 minutes).


While I went for the standard souffle pancakes with cream and maple syrup my friend went for the chocolate version. And I have been lucky – because the standard version looked much more appealing than the chocolate version, which wasn’t as fluffy as mine.


Okay, it worth the hype ? Yes, it is, 150% ! They were so airy, just melting in my mouth, with a wonderful discrete taste. Just WOW !!!

Back to the hotel where I decided to go on the treadmill for another 30 minutes before I relaxed until the evening.

At around 8:30 my friend called, told me it’s time to leave for the evening program. So we took a taxi to Lebua State Tower where the famous restaurant/bar ‘Sirocco’, which everybody know from the movie ‘Hangover’ is located.

Some years ago I had a very expensive dinner up there with my girlfriend… I’ll never forget it – because the food was so bad. This time we just went for the view and, because such a low amount of tourists in town, came in within minutes.

We drove up to 64th floor, went the huge staircase down,


through the restaurant area towards the bar.


Even there, no problem to find a place at the edge to enjoy the view.

But after 2 minutes you’ve seen it, really no need to spend US$ 300 for a bottle of champagne. So we left even without having a Coke Zero, drove down to the lobby and walked towards the Mandarin Oriental hotel, the most expensive hotel in Bangkok.

I’ve stayed there once, many years back – but it’s absolutely not my style plus I don’t like the location at the river, it’s too far from any BTS station, which is a problem with Bangkok traffic.

We went to the terrace at the river,


took a seat and enjoyed a drink (in my case, of course, Coke Zero) in combination with the view towards the river and the skyline.

By the Mandarin Oriental boat we crossed the river,


went to the Millenium Hilton, which, in my eyes, offers the best roof-top terrace of all Bangkok.


It’s not as crowded as the others, at a perfect height and is closer to the Royal Palace with its temples. That’s why at the Hilton Millenium you have the best view


After another Coke Zero I got hungry, luckily my friends, too. Since the Pad Thai for lunch had been pretty standard I decided to drive to ‘Thipsamai’ where in my opinion one of the best Pad Thai Goong is served.

Within 10 minutes taxi-ride we arrived and I was shocked ! Normally you do have a long, very long queue in front of the restaurant, hundreds of people waiting for a seat. 30 minutes of wait is luck, 1 hour is the standard.

But today, just 5 persons waiting in front of us.


And no cooking on the street ! In the past, while waiting, you could observe the process, very interesting to see. But now, I guess due to a new law, they moved the kitchen inside – quite boring.

After less than 5 minutes we were guided to our table,


ordered 3x Pad Thai Goong and a big bottle of their fantastic orange juice. Honestly, I don’t know what is better, their Pad Thai or their orange juice. The juice comes with a lot of pulp, the taste is more tangerine than orange – and it’s very, very sweet, without added sugar !

I went to the kitchen section, observed how they prepare the very thin omelette, wrap the noodles inside. Always a please to see.


After a while of wait our Pad Thai arrived,


I added crushed peanuts, sugar, rice vinegar with chili, lots of hot chili powder, bean sprouts and squeezed a lime over it. Then I mixed – and enjoyed.

Actually it was so good I ordered a second portion !

After we paid the bill we searched for a taxi, not too easy when you insist to pay by the meter.

Just after midnight we arrived back to the hotel, a very tasty day ended.

timmynl

"After 30 minutes the ticket officer arrived, who told me there would not be any need for paying for an upgrade since the aircraft is so empty, I would have the complete row by my own. For a 2 hour flight I could save my money. Also she informed that Bangkok airport would be empty, no waiting at the immigration, even without Fast-Lane.

If she would have been working for me in sales, she would be gone by now…"

No wonder why THAI is in huge financial trouble. How come a THAI agent would refuse to accept a possible revenue! THAI should seriously investigate this. Was she a double agent working for SQ as well? LOL!

ChristianKiev

And I thought, in comparison to most other Insta-profiles in Ukraine & Russia, mine is rather 'low key'... No photos of me in hotels I can't afford, no photos with a (rented) Rolls Royce, none in a fake private jet (https://www.boredpanda.com/rent-priv...mpaign=organic) and especially no pics where I'm falling out a jet, a supercar...

It's just my lifestyle, traveling, eating well/interesting stuff, gym and clubbing.

Thanks !!!

zip10001

or perhaps give it up smoking

Great report, I have not been to BKK for a couple of years, now I am itching to go back! Thanks.

Jaenks

It is a low key comparing to most of but still many of photos reminds me it due to the brand visibility(CG,LV etc.) and then the necklace that reminded me mine(although a different one by style) in the end of 90s to mid 00s. At least now I know where to eat in Bangkok. Turns to be good for FT community that VFT closed your thread, more English practicing and wider audience.

ChristianKiev

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Even I went to bed quite late I wasn’t able to sleep to long. I went for breakfast around 8, but wasn’t too hungry due to the late dinner. So I ordered my standard items, Espresso, a mango and of course the egg white omelette with chili and coriander.


I really don’t understand how they can think a person ordering egg white omelette would want to have some bacon with it…

At 10 I went to the pool to get tanned, but unfortunately it has been partly clouded. After 2 hours at the pool I went to the gym, one hour weights, 30 minutes running on the treadmill.

Then it was time for lunch, I was up for the excellent fishball noodle-soup I had on Monday. But the shop was closed – and I was hungry. Instead of looking for another restaurant I went where I already ate Sunday, had a nice wonton soup and homemade egg noodles with crispy pork belly and -duck.

The Marriott Sukhumvit Thonglor is okay – but I would love to return to the far more luxurious SGS. That’s why I contacted the SGS the day before, asking if now they offer a solution for smoking at or near the pool area, as the hotel director promised to me in November 2019.

Due to Thai law smoking is not allowed where food is served, even normally nobody cares. But at the SGS they’re strict, no smoking by the pool and the complete hotel, just at two spots outside the hotel. Since I think it’s inappropriate for a luxury hotel when guest in wet swimwear are using the elevator, crossing the hotel lobby, to go out for a smoke, I decided not to stay at the SGS until this issue has been solved.

Funnily the Marriott Sukhumvit Thanglor and ALOFT (the pool is THE smoking area) found a solution – as you always do when you really want.

Since I didn’t get any answer I contacted the SGS again, the Concierge promised me that I’ll receive an answer shorty. And it came, by the hotel director itself: smoking only outside the hotel. I answered, reminding him of the solution he offered me in November – and within 5 minutes I got the okay.

Hooray, I can go back to the SGS !!!

Since by now the sun came out I returned to the pool for another hour, at 5:30 went to the Club Lounge




for a small dessert,

(after gym sometimes I need sugar !)

relaxed an got ready for dinner, left the hotel at 8, walking 1 ½ miles towards Sukhumvit Soi 31 where one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Bangkok, ‘ISAO’, is located.


Shortly after I arrived my friend with his spouse stepped by.

At ISAO, during non-virus times, reservation isn’t possible. You arrive, sign into a list and wait until it’s your turn, usually between 30 and 90 minutes waiting (last order 9:30). At least they have benches for those waiting, plus they’re serving free ice-tea.

Today we didn’t have any problem since they accepted our reservation for 20:30, even got a table at ground floor, as requested.


I know the menu by heart – so I already on the way decided what to eat. For my friend, who visited the restaurant first time, it was more difficult, especially since his spouse is very ‘specific’.

I ordered my standard dishes:
- Spinach in sweet sesame sauce
- Fried tofu in a sour sesame sauce
- Japanese croquettes filled with cheese and crab meat
- Lava Salmon roll


plus my favourite,
- Volcano, a sweet & spicy gratinated scallop


On request of my friend we shared a portion of Toro (the fatty belly meat of the bluefin tuna),


which as very tender and juicy.

Per person we paid US$ 35, not too bad for a high standard Japanese dinner which even included a portion of Toro (5 pieces) at US$ 33.

Since we were rather full we decided to skip the taxi, walk the 1 ½ miles back to the hotel.

There was a lot of rubbish on the street, I guess because the garbage will be collected in the night. But due to this a lot of rats were around.


The dealers for masks were at duty, for the people who believe they help.


Already 10:15 we arrived at the hotel, my friends went for a massage (I hate massages !!!), I preferred to go to my room.

view

Great read, thanks for sharing! I get quite hungry as well by reading this now, want to go to BKK again..

BorussiaMG

Thank you for further food inspirations in one of my favourite cities. Too bad I had no clou about „Souffle“ earlier this month but I guess now I have a reason to book the next trip.

derda

Did not really check VFT for a few days and drama ensues. Sorry some weirdos destroyed it for you, but with those DMs I can fully understand your decision.
Looking forward to follow your trips here. Although I don't think our (life-)style is even remotely similar, your reports have given me countless restaurant inspirations (hope to finally go to Auberge de la Mole, this spring in France) and I really like the way of traveling around.

offerendum

I really should have done an Investment in a mask-company
I plan to visit the rooftop of Lebua combined with a dinner at Mezzaluna.

tom-schmitt

I can highly recommend Auberge de la Mole, my wife and I went there twice during our 3 day St Tropez trip a few years ago.
We would have never found that gem without Christians great trip reports! So thanks Christian!

ChristianKiev

Thursday, February 27, 2020

When I opened the curtains I thought I’m in London… it was grey and rainy.


I checked the weather App on my iPhone, clouds all day, partly rainy. Gone was my daily routine.


So I went down for breakfast. On day 4 the staff already knew what I want, without asking the double Espresso, watermelon juice, mango and egg white omelette arrived, with Coriander and a good portion of chili. I decided to have a noodle-soup in addition, then went up to my apartment, took my BCAA, changed for the gym.

Due to the weather the gym was quite packed, I did my weight program for an hours and, because no tanning possible, 60 minutes instead of 30 on the treadmill.

Yes, it’s boring on the treadmill – but you can watch a movie or, as in my case, listen to music and kind of take the walk as a dance, just uphill.

In Ukraine music is very versatile. While in Europe and the US it’s mainly US/English/Spanish music, in addition we have a share of approx. 50% Russian music (folk/pop/dance/rap). When you go to a club and it’s only US/English music, you know you’re in a club dedicated to foreigners. The clubs where locals go play a good share of Russian music, sometimes above 50%.

I was listening to music like this (song starting at 2:11):


After gym up to the Club Lounge to get my proteins filled up with low-fat milk. Another interesting fact: in Thailand Protein Powder is very expensive, don’t know why – but at least 4 times as expensive as in Ukraine, for same brand. Since I know, I always bring my own.

My friend called, informed me that they’re in the lobby, decided to leave Bangkok for Pattaya. I went down to say ‘Goodbye’, then had a shower, changed and went out for lunch. Luckily it didn’t rain too much anymore. But even this light rain caused the traffic on Sukhumvit to collapse:


I saw this shop right on my way to the restaurant. Just hope nothing will happen as long as I’m near. ;-)
https://abload.de/img/022704sxk4i.jpeg[/url]

The Fishball-Noodle-Soup shop was closed again, so I decided it was time for a change, Korean food.

When staying at the SGS Koran food is always at hand because ‘Korean Town’ is close. Here, at Thonglor, I had to consult Tripadvisor to find a decent Korean restaurant. I went up Soi 55 until I reached the small shopping mall where on the 2nd floor ‘Kiani Korean Restaurant’ is located.


The interior was modern,


far from the traditional Korean style – but the menu looked promising. I took a seat inside, studied the menu and selected cold sticky noodles with egg, pear and hot sauce.

First the typical Korean side dishes were served,


Funnily the Korean carrot salad is very popular in Russia and Ukraine, we can buy it in nearly all supermarkets as well as on the open markets, called 'Морковь по-корейски' (Eng.: carrot Korean style)

My main dish arrived, looked pretty nice.


I added the red sauce, mixed gently and enjoyed.

I like Korean food, the mix of the spices and sweet. But honestly, in case you’re up for Korean food, better go to Asok and walk to Korean Town, visit ‘Jang Won Korean Restaurant’ where they also do Korean BBQ.

After lunch I returned to the hotel, had some small things to do.

At around 5:30 I was hungry again, went up to the Club Lounge and have been positively surprised, they hosted a Thai evening, with a chef preparing Som Tam (salad from green papaya with peanuts, chili, tomato, small tried prawns and Thai dressing) to order, Green Chicken Curry and Thai style roasted chicken with rice and a spicy herbal dip (of course there was also an international selection).


I first went for the Som Tam, a dish I adore, asked the Chef to prepare a portion ‘Thai spicy’, which he really did.


Of the chicken I just took 2 pieces to try, was curious how well they would prepare it. It has been roasted perfectly, not dry at all, in combination with the really flavourful, spicy dip surprisingly good.

Don’t forget, it’s a Marriott Club Lounge at the end.

In the evening I had a plan, took the BTS to Nana station,


walked past the entrance of Nana Plaza, where right after, on the sidewalk, normally is my favourite foodstall for noodle-soup. I’ve been surprised, because the usual place was empty. I asked at the neighbouring foodstall and have been informed that Thursday is their day off (in the past it has been Monday).

So I took BTS back to Tonglo (or Thong Lor) station, consulted Tripadvisor for an alternative not too far from the restaurant. At the end I decided to check out ’55 Pochana’, 4.5 points (TA), 4.0 (Google) and recommended by my favourite Thai Food Blog, ‘Eatingthaifood’ by Mark Wiens (https://www.eatingthaifood.com/55-po...-chinese-food/).

This guy, Mark Wiens, gave me unforgettable memories with fantastic food in Bangkok but especially in the north of Thailand.

The restaurant doesn’t look fantastic neither from the outside, nor inside.


It wasn’t specifically clean, the tables of cheap material, everything worn out already. The menu has been presented, a year-old folder with photos of all dishes coated in plastic film. As described in the blog, ‘a long standing restaurant’.

I wasn’t very sure, but I decided to give it a try, ordered the oyster-omelette (not to be mixed up with Hoi-Tod, the chewy oyster omelette I had the other day) and small clams in ‘brown curry’, a kind of curry I never tried before.

The omelette arrived – and I’ve been positively surprised.


Normally the Wok-fried omelette is full of grease, sometimes even crispy, here it wasn’t, just perfectly prepared. I’ve been relieved ! It tasted just right, 100% as it should be.

The presentation of the clams, especially the colour of the sauce, wasn’t appealing,


but the taste, OMG !!! The brown curry was so complex, the holy basil, the spices and the light sweetness… If there’s one guy you can trust when it comes to food, it’s Mark Wiens. Not once I’ve been disappointed by his recommendations !

I paid US$ 10 and walked the 50 meters back to Marriott.