Web Resources

Page 1 | 2 | 3

Printable Version of Full Newsletter.

POTALAI SPA
If you don't want to spend $130 at the Oriental and want something a bit cleaner than a streetside massage parlour, there's another option: Potalai. It's Thailand's largest traditional massage and spa complex and is about a 30-minute drive from the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel. It's on the outskirts of the city in a brand new, massive, tranquil wellness center. It was there I learned that Thai massage is derived from an ancient Chinese practice where they would push the bones back into place. See? I told you they were pushy … I had a 90-minute soft Thai massage for 2,300 baht ($73USD). It began with the old washing of the feet but this time it came with a twist … soap and sliced limes. Then, I went into one of their traditional rooms and changed into a robe and baggy short pants. You don't get naked here. It was so relaxing, I'm lost for words but I do remember that afterwards, I had sweet tea and lunch from their healthy light spa menu. Potalai, 28 Soi Yothinpatta 3, Praditmanuthum Road; Tel: 66 2508 1238-49.

JW MARRIOTT
If you feel more comfortable in an American hotel chain, you can't go wrong by staying at the luxurious JW Marriott. I spent a night in one of their 441 plush rooms. The five-star hotel is centrally located in the business district. The moment I pulled up, I experienced their great service. My taxi driver didn't have change for a 1,000 baht bill so I asked the bellman who opened my door if he could break it. He said no problem. I thought he'd just pull out a wad of money but instead, he ran inside to the front desk. At most places, they would tell you to go and do it yourself but not here.

JW ROOM
My room was built solid; I couldn't hear any hallway noise and it was state-of-the-art. There was a 32-inch LCD flat panel TV with satellite, the Marriott's new remote Jack Pack, which allows guests to connect portable electronic devices like laptops and iPods to the TV. The room had US plug outlets and the light and AC controls were bedside. To top it off, the view of the skyline was awesome and it had black-out curtains so I could sleep late. The bathroom was wall-to-wall (and floor) white marble and the White Elephant Restaurant offered an excellent buffet lunch for just $11USD apiece. In the U.S., it would easily have been double or triple the price. JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok, 4 Sukhumvit Road, Soi 2; Tel: 66 2 6567700.

FOOD
I don't need to recommend any place to eat because Bangkok is filled with amazing eateries -- from street food to fine dining. They have every kind of cuisine in the world, not just Thai. I usually stay away from street food but when I do take a chance, I make sure the food is cooked and that the stall is clean, popular and recommended by a local. Actually, the worst meal I ate on this trip was at an expensive hotel restaurant ... It wasn't really bad, it just wasn't great and the price was outrageous. A restaurant that I can tell you is not popular with tourists is Thong Krueng Restaurant. My college buddy Andy took me and it has an extensive menu. We ordered three main dishes, two bottles of water and the bill came to a whopping 380 baht ($12USD). FYI: Every menu I came across was in both Thai and English throughout the country. What's interesting is that the Thais don't use chopsticks unless they are eating noodles and they use a fork to shovel food onto a spoon; They don't put sharp objects in their mouths (except toothpicks).

SHOPPING
In Thailand, you can shop 'til you drop. They have high-end stores, malls (my favorite is the Siam Mall) and crowded street markets. The latter are the most popular and the most exciting. The most famous it the Patpong night market but I stayed away from that madness this trip. Instead, I perused the Suam Lum night bazaar. It's a little less crowded with all the same stalls, selling everything from pirated DVDs to clothing. The biggest shopping extravaganza is the Weekend Market in Chatuchak. You can take the SkyTrain right there (get off at the Mo Chit stop). It's open from 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays and it's somewhat organized with similar shops next to each other. The best time to go is early in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds.

JIM THOMPSON'S HOUSE
One of my American friends insisted I visit the Jim Thompson House. She loves it because it's in the middle of a crazy loud city, yet it's so quiet and peaceful. She was right; it was cool to see and I learned more about Jim Thompson's legacy. I first heard of the New York architect (who is believed to have singlehandedly revived Thailand's silk industry) last year when I went to the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia. It was there, in 1967, that he went missing. The Jim Thompson property contains six teak houses, all built according to Thai architectural principles but with Western additions: bed, staircase, china, dining room table (made from two majong tables). The gift shop sells high-quality, expensive silk goods. Cost to enter is 100 baht ($3.20USD) and includes a free tour. Jim Thompson House, 6 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road; Tel: 662-216-7368.

BEST TIME TO GO: Thailand's high season is November through April when the weather is the best. If you go during the high heat or monsoon seasons, you will get big discounts.

THE GRAND PALACE
Bangkok's number one tourist attraction is the Grand Palace. The name is appropriate because this place really is grand. It's on sacred royal ground so there's a strict dress code. Visitors are not allowed in without pants/or long skirts. According to their website, men or women cannot wear "shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers or outer garments, see-through shirts or blouses, sleeveless shirts, vests, sandals, sweat shirts, sweat pants, pajamas or fisherman trousers." If you don't have long pants, no sweat ... pun definitely not intended; you will sweat like a pig if you go midday. Visitors can "borrow" a pair with a refundable deposit of 100 baht ($3.20USD).

EARLY BIRD GETS THE PALACE TO THEMSELVES
I visited the Grand Palace twice on this trip and so I learned that by arriving when it first opens at 8:30am, you can have the place to yourself for 30 minutes. The entrance fee is 250 baht ($8). The Grand Palace covers 716,500 square feet and is surrounded by four long walls (6,234 feet). The place has so many ornate buildings, statues and perfectly manicured grounds; I have never seen anything like it before. The palace was greatly influenced by Western architecture, including colonial and Victorian motifs.

EMERALD BUDDHA
The Grand Palace was built in 1782 when King Rama I took over the throne. The first thing he did was move the capital for defensive reasons from Thonburi to the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The palace was built not only as his residence, but with offices for various ministries. Only one remains inside the palace walls today. That's why they call it the Grand Palace. The most popular building inside the complex is the Chapel Royal of the Emerald Buddha, called Wat Phra Kaeo. It has all the architectural features of a monastery, but without a residential quarter (that's why no monks live there). The Emerald Buddha, carved from a block of jade, is the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Crowds come from all over to pay respect to the memory of the Buddha and his teachings. TIP: You have to take your shoes off to see the Emerald Buddha so don't wear anything too expensive. Just so I didn't have to go hunting around Bangkok for a shop with size 13 shoes, I put each shoe on separate shelves and carried my orthotics with me. The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand; Tel: 02-623-5500 Ext. 1124.

VIDEO
Here's a six-minute Johnny Jet video of my trip to Bangkok. We also have all the Johnny Jet videos ever made on YouTube.

NEXT WEEK
Next week, we head south to an idyllic island setting with beautiful beaches. Stay tuned.

Note: This trip was sponsored in part by Tourism Authority of Thailand.
1 | << PREVIOUS PAGE | 3




Copyright 2008 JohnnyJet, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.