Arrived in Bangkok for the last part of our holiday. Suvarnabhum Airport, the new airport, is so different from Don Muang Airport, which is a seething, chaotic and noisy experience. After collecting our luggage we changed some money, went out to the taxi area, collected a taxi ticket, then into the taxi to the hotel along a series of elevated freeways.
We’ve stayed at this hotel on the Chao Phraya River before and every time we’ve really enjoyed the views, the great accommodation and remarkable food, plus wonderful service. The hotel has its own ferry which runs regularly from the hotel to the Saphan Taksin BTS Pier, where you can catch the train, another ferry or go shopping. The traffic in Bangkok is slow and congested, the river is quicker and cooler, but far busier than it used to be with many more ferries. We had to wait in a queue to disembark at the Saphan Pier each trip.
The hotel pool area, overlooking the river. Very relaxing.
One of many pools with floating water lilies. Calm, cool and restful.
I think I’d feel like this if I did a headstand at yoga.
To the 35th floor for the views and, of course, yum cha! Delicious.
Steamed Mandarin Lava Bun, so pretty. I’d never seen it before, so had to try it!
Every time we eat in this restaurant I offer to take this ginger jar with the fish motif, and its twin, home. Lots of giggling, then my offer is politely declined.
These bright yellow boats are Municipal Garbage Vessels. There are six vessels, mainly used to control weed in the river, but their metallic “teeth” and robotic arms also collect other rubbish, although nets and colander type scoops are also used, too. Smaller boats are used in the canals.
Views from the ferry, contrasting the old and the new. The ferries along the river stop frequently, so it’s an easy way to visit most places of interest.
Ferry to a new shopping centre, Icon Siam. The ground floor was mostly food and local products, the other floors feature a dazzling collection of designer shops.
The lower floor is the Siam Sook, decorated with Thai motifs, part of six floors offering a total of 100 restaurants and 500 shops. Pleasant and cool way to get my 12000+ steps and lots of window shopping.
Enjoying the hotel gardens, en route to the ferry.
Dawn overlooking the Chao Phraya River as we prepared to leave Bangkok after another wonderful stay there.
Tomorrow, the 30th of March, is Take a Walk in the Park Day, so that’s pretty easy, enjoyable and cheap! I hope you have good weather for your walk.