Cuisine a la India in Bangkok

Bangkok’s dining options are truly diverse and reflect the cosmopolitan city the Thai capital has evolved into over recent decades. Indian cuisine is a popular option for gourmands around the world. The large number of immigrants from the sub-continent who have settled in Bangkok ensures that it has a good selection of Indian eateries to choose from.

The area known as Little India is close to the right bank of the Chao Phraya River. While this district is primarily devoted to commerce and is a great place to pick up colourful cloths and Indian spices, there are lots of vendors selling samosas and other Indian snack delicacies. South of this district, near Bangkok’s general post office, there are quite a few cheap cafés that serve up lamb and vegetarian curries, nan and chapatti breads, and delicious lassi beverages.

Around the corner on Surawong Road, the Indian Hut is a more upmarket establishment, with prices to match, where epicureans can sample North Indian and Jain dishes such as malai kofta and mutter paneer. Other Bangkok Indian restaurants that come highly recommended include the Dosa King and Mrs Bablir’s, which are both in the neighbourhood of Sukhumvit Soi 11. The former serves vegetarian gems including its signature masala dosa stuffed pancake. Mrs Bablir’s offers an eclectic menu of both meat and non-meat dishes.

The Thailand Railway Hall of Fame

An interesting insight into Thailand’s railway history can be garnered by visiting the privately run national Railway Hall of Fame in Bangkok. The museum’s inimitable collections are housed in a large and lofty hangar-like building on the north side of the city’s Chatuchak Park.

Although the locomotives, rolling stock and artefacts contained in the museum are not as vast as say the York Railway Museum in the UK, they are able to accurately depict the period from 1853 when Queen Victoria gave King Rama IV the kingdom’s first steam engine. This engine is not on display, it is packed away in crates awaiting restoration funds, but a scale-model of it is.

Among other exhibits here are two teak-bodied rail carriages that last saw public service 100 years ago, a 1950s Japanese steam engine, a diesel locomotive and one of Bangkok’s original trams. Other articles on display include various pieces of equipped salvaged from railway stations and a King Rama V memorial shrine.

As the museum’s existence is funded by visitor donations, it only opens on Saturdays and Sundays. Opening hours of 07:00 to 15:00 tie in nicely with the ones of the legendary Chatuchak Weekend Market and visitors can combine a trip to the two locations. Chatuchak Park can be reached via Mor Chit’s Skytrain station and Chatuchak underground station. The museum is a short walk or taxi journey from the stations.

The delights of Siam Paragon

In a city renowned for the quality and quantity of its locations for retail therapy and entertainment, Siam Paragon stands head and shoulders above the rest. When the stylishly designed centre opened its doors in 2005, it was one of the biggest in Asia. It is home to a diverse variety of eateries and speciality shops as well as Siam Ocean World, a multiplex cinema and a bowling alley.

The basement level aquarium at Siam Ocean World houses rays, giant groupers, penguins and numerous other marine species. As an added bonus visitors can pay an extra fee and take advantage of the once in a lifetime opportunity of scuba-diving alongside sharks. On the floor above, the Gourmet Market sells a choice of international produce and deli items from Europe and other Asian nations. Tony Roma’s and McDonald’s are among eateries on this level.

The Paragon Department Store stretches up over the next five levels. Around the outside of the store there are branches of leading fashion names such as Jimmy Choo and Burberry as well as Louis Vuitton and Cartier. Luxury car marques including Porsche, Aston Martin and Bentley have showrooms in the centre. The fifth floor of Siam Paragon is the location of a well-equipped exhibition and convention hall, the multi-screen cinema and the 10-pin bowling alley. Now is a good time to visit Paragon because the Blast Summer Sale runs through until 3 June.

CentralWorld USA Fair 2012 in Bangkok

The fifth USA Fair began yesterday at the CentralWorld shopping centre in Bangkok’s central Pathum Wan District. The fair showcases the best of America and is jointly staged by the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand and the Bangkok US embassy. The selection of quintessential American products ranges from tasty health snacks through to Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Around 30 well-known US companies have stalls and exhibits at the USA Fair 2012. AA Footwear, Martha Stewart Living, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, the importer of M&M’S and Hershey’s, and Coca Cola are among exhibitors. Reputed local Mexican restaurant Sunrise Taco is also attending alongside The Bangkok Post, TOPS Supermarket and several international education establishments.

As is usual at this genre of expo in Thailand, there are lots of games and chances of winning prizes. On offer at the USA Fair are goodies such as meal vouchers, gifts and even airline tickets to the US. The fair is open from 10:00 to 22:00 until Sunday 22 April. Visitors may again catch a glimpse of the US ambassador to Thailand, Kristie Kenney, arriving on the pillion seat of a Harley again. The USA Fair 2012 website provides details of sponsors and exhibitors.

Avoiding Songkran water fights

The traditional Thai New Year is marked by a festival known as Songkran. This festival is celebrated every year between 13 and 15 April. The water fights that now celebrate the advent of the New Year evolved from an older custom of wishing relatives and friends good fortune for the coming twelve months by sprinkling water on them to wash away any troubles remaining from the previous year.

Even on sweltering hot days, pitched water battles are not everyone’s cup of tea and can be avoided by staying away from the principal fight arenas on Khao San Road or the district of Silom. Bangkok shopping malls such as Siam Paragon, CentralWorld and Siam Discovery are air-conditioned and barred to water-fighters. The latter is a particularly attractive location to spend the day because, as well as abundant retail and dining outlets, it houses Madame Tussauds and the popular Ice Planet skating rink.

Air-conditioned bars such as O’Reillys on Silom Road provide a great vantage point to watch the water fights, yet stay dry at the same time. Bars and cafés along Khao San Road are often dry, but not the tables right next to the street. People wishing to travel around Bangkok should try to do so early in the morning or late in the evening as not only are the streets wet during the daytime, they are usually jammed with traffic and revellers heading to water fights.

Get soaked on the streets of Bangkok

Residents of Bangkok are getting ready to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year. The occasion is marked with a three-day festival known as Songkran which begins on 13 April. Although Bangkokians do visit temples, build sand pagodas and generally have a party to mark the advent of the New Year, the highlight of Songkran has to be the water fights which take place in Bangkok and other cities in Thailand.

Thai people and tourists use water pistols, adapted pipes and small buckets to engage in friendly water fights. A good soaking at this time of year when temperatures and humidity are high offers a very welcome respite. The streets of Bangkok are imbued with a carnival like atmosphere with people wishing sawat dee pee my (happy New Year) as they gently smear talc on each other’s faces.

Bangkok’s residential districts tend to be fairly quiet as residents use the national holiday to travel, but it is an entirely different story in tourist districts such as Khao San Road and Silom. There is often so much water flying through the air that if the sun’s rays catch it at the right angle a mini-rainbow is formed.

In days of yore, Thai people used to splash or pour small amounts of water on friends and relations at Songkran to symbolically wash away the previous year’s problems. Although the water-throwing is now a more fun and light-hearted affair, the principal remains the same as the water offers purification. People joining in the fun should ensure cash cards and mobile phones are sealed in waterproof bags or pouches. Neither work well when wet.

A day out at Dusit Zoo

Bangkok’s Dusit Zoo was one of the first in Asia to open to the general public. The zoo is on a plot of land, known as Khao Din to Thais, which was donated to the country by the ancestors of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1938. The lofty dome of the Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall towers over one end of the zoo. A day out at Dusit Zoo is one of the highlights of a Bangkok holiday.

The zoo currently houses around 1,600 creatures with the standard menagerie offerings of lions, tigers, giraffes and elephants as well as rarer ones including Malayan tapirs, Bengal tigers, albino barking deer, koalas, Arabian camels, pygmy hippopotami, Siamese box terrapins and spiny terrapins. There are several daily shows at the zoo which feature colourful tropical birds and monkeys.

The zoo is quite cool on a hot day as it has lots of trees and greenery and a central lake. Pedal boats can be hired for trips on the lake. There are a number of cafés dotted about where visitors are able to enjoy refreshing drinks and tasty snacks. The zoo opens from 08:00 to 18:00 every day with admission fees of 100 Baht and 50 Baht for foreign adults and children respectively.

Disney on Ice extravaganza returns to Bangkok

The Impact Arena at Bangkok’s Muang Thong Thani entertainment complex sees the first performance of the 2012 Disney on Ice showbiz spectacular today. The theme for this year’s ice-skating extravaganza is Let’s Celebrate which transports audiences around the world with a cosmopolitan selection of festivals and celebrations featuring well loved Disney characters such as Lilo and Stitch, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Alice in Wonderland.

While it may be hot and sticky outside, the chilly Impact Arena will allow audiences to enjoy a global cartoon odyssey that takes in Alice’s Unbirthday Party, Mickey at the Rio Carnival in Brazil, Minnie in a kimono at Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival, Mickey and Minnie at a Valentine’s ball, Lilo and Stitch celebrating a Hawaiian luau, Chinese New Year with Mulan and Shang, and a New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration.

That most festive of Christian festivals, Christmas, provides a fitting postscript to the show. In total, 50 Disney heroes and villains from 16 different fairy tales will be skating across the ice. Disney director Stuart McDonald said the visual delight will be enhanced by state-of-the-art lighting and effects. The first performance of Bangkok’s Disney on Ice is at 15:00 today and there are another 11 before the last on Tuesday 27 March. Ticket prices start at 600 Baht, ringside seats are 2,000 Baht, and can be purchased at Ticketmajor Thailand.

The Dubliner Irish pub in Bangkok

Nowadays, Irish pubs are a feature of most major cities in the world. Bangkok is no different and has several scattered around the city which include O’Reillys and Jameson’s, both on Silom Road, Molly Malone’s on Soi Convent Silom and Hanrahan’s on Sukhumvit Soi 4. All are lively and atmospheric locations where drinkers can enjoy the craic (fun) and a full selection of beers and spirits.

A personal preference is The Dubliner on Sukhumvit Road. This Irish pub is a little off the beaten tourist track, yet seems to be packed every night. The Dubliner is near the exit of Phrom Phong BTS Skytrain Station and across the road from the charms of the noted Sukhumvit Soi 33 entertainment district. The Dubliner offers a full range of beverages with Guinness, Boddingtons and Kilkenny among 12 draught beers and a range of shooters and spirits that includes the perennial favourite Jameson Whiskey.

Food offerings at The Dubliner range from a full Irish breakfast to Sunday roasts to Thai delights including the spicy yam woon sen talay (seafood and noodle salad). With live music several evenings a week, a pool table and a large screen TV showing major global sports fixtures live, The Dubliner is the ultimate venue for a night out in Bangkok.

Voyaging on the River of Kings

Bangkok’s principal waterway, the Chao Phraya River, is nicknamed the River of Kings. For visitors to Bangkok, taking a boat trip along at least part of its length is an important part of their itineraries. There are lots of tour boats which take in the river itself as well as the canals leading to Taling Chan and other floating markets on the Thonburi side. Boat trips offer a different perspective of Bangkok’s skyline and the lives of Bangkokians.

Long-tail boats can also be hired on the river for the same trips. In the evenings, several companies offer dinner cruises on both modern vessels and refurbished wooden rice barges. River ferries are also a convenient means of travelling between districts close to the river’s banks in the Thai capital and beat getting stuck in a taxi in one of Bangkok’s infamous traffic jams.

There are smaller public ferries which cross the river and fast express ones which go along it. Good Bangkok maps show ferry routes. Ferries across the river link locations such as Banglamphu and Thonburi, Si Phraya and Klong San Market, and Tien Pier and Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn). Express boats run between Nonthaburi and Rat Burana. At Sathon Pier, travellers can switch over to the BTS Skytrain because Saphan Taksin Station is a short walk away.