Bang For Your Buck in Bustling Bangkok

 

Cheap Eats Alert! We can't talk about Bangkok, without 📢 proclaiming our love for Terminal 21, high-end mall at Asok BTS station, namely their super affordable and delicious food court on the 5th floor Pier 21. 

After sweltering in the heat and humidity (one of the hottest days reached 41C 🥵) commuting from one region to another, we decided to stay put in Bangkok and escape daily into the AC relief malls. First off, the shopping centre is impressive- the concept is like arriving in an airport, each floor is themed with a destination- Tokyo second floor, Istanbul next, San Francisco on the 5th, and the artistic displays and store fronts express this. 

Pier 21 known for its street-food-style dishes sold at incredibly low prices 😍. Many meals cost as little as 30-50 baht (Cdn$1-3) — a fraction of what you’d pay at nearby restaurants. No inflated tourist prices! Unlike food courts in other high-end malls, Terminal 21 is Bangkok’s best-value dining spot. And the quality is excellent, the variety is incredible! 

Pier 21 lunch and dinner over a few days (top left clockwise): 

1. Khao soi curry noodles with dim sum buns and siu mai

2. Choice of three and rice- bamboo shoots, stir fried pork, veg vermicelli and egg add-on

3. Seafood noodles and gravy, papaya salad with fried chicken 

4. Fish maw soup with pork blood and quail egg

5. Rice with meat and veg mix

6. Crispy oyster omelet

7. Pad Thai with shrimps

8. Wontons and crab noodle soup

9. Shaved Ice dessert with 5 mix- my fave 😍 

The vision behind Pier 21's affordability was that of Anant Asavabhokin, the businessman for Land & Houses, one of Thailand’s leading real estate companies. Anant wanted Terminal 21 to be a place where everyone- students, office workers and low-budget travellers can enjoy a good meal at a fair price. The mall charges food vendors low rents, allowing them to keep prices low while maintaining quality. This approach aligns with the founder’s belief that a shopping mall should be more than just a place for high-end spending — it should also serve the community by offering accessible dining options. 💓 it ... Aye aye to that 🤗! 

Back a week, and missing the cafe culture, affordable eats and the electric Asia vibes! Thailand, we will see you again Khap Kun Ka 🇹🇭💕🙏 But...

Next sharing about vibrant and exciting Hong Kong as our initial two day stopover and 1 overnight return to wrap up our travels, and boy do I have lots to show and tell!

Taste of Thailand Part Two: Enchanting Chanthaburi

 

Enchanting 🔮💫 Chanthaburi 🇹🇭 is the best word to describe this picturesque historic riverside town on the eastern coast of Thailand, bordering Cambodia. Of the Thai regions we've been to so far, it is here for me, that resonates profoundly and the reason to return 💓 #preservingthepast #oldworldcharm 

So absolutely picturesque 😍

Located 2-1/2 hours southeast Bangkok, we just extended our stay in Baan Luang Rajamaitri, the 150-year old Historic Inn perched on the Bank of Chantabun river amongst the waterfront community. The inn boasts an ancient architectural structure with British colonial styled guestrooms charmed with the original lifestyle of the locals in this historic neighborhood with well-preserved traditional Thai houses, cafes and restaurants.  

Amazing congee plus extras breakfast every morning

Extraordinary daily desserts and kumquat juice

Chanthaburi is called "Orchard of Thailand" renowned for its diverse tropical fruits, particularly durian 😍 and gemstone industry- it is the centre for gemstone mining and trading, especially rubies and sapphires. 

Golden pomegranates

It is also home to the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception- the largest church in Thailand for Christians beaming through over 40,000 Buddhist temples. 

Oh how we love thee 💓... All of us, loves all of you, all your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections--  Yes, durian is such a star, it should have its own love song 🎵🎶! 

The durian is Southeast Asia's most highly prized fruit-- the King, and the most controversial because of its overpowering odour. In Thailand, Chanthaburi is the main production, and it is said there are about 100 types. We had a splendid experience in a nearby shop across our stay learning about and trying the different types of durian sold in baskets, which their men had recently cut and discovering salak- an Indonesian palm fruit (aka snake fruit)- juicy, flavour reminiscent of jackfruit.

Have you tried Indonesian palm fruit salak?

Monthong is Thailand's most popular export and the one we enjoy in Toronto (bought whole frozen, eaten thawed). I got to try their Musang King and Kan Yao- which is $ but preferred by Thais for its creaminess and balanced sweetness. Both the flesh and seed (after boiling) can be consumed. Those who love it, are lifelong aficionados... those who don't, loathe it with a ten-foot pole. No food out there have I heard such extreme polarizing reactions-- some merely can't get pass the smell let alone attempt to eat it. I've heard people describe the odour as sweet floral fragrance 👋 and luscious fine wine and cheese to the complete opposite such as sewage socks, horse manure, rotten onions etc., 

From small to jumbo... I wanted them all 😍

This last weekend in Bangkok, Siam Paragon Tropical Fruit Parade is back, with the star of the show-  the legendary Durian Buffet. For $35 Cdn, and 60 minutes, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat experience featuring Monthong, Puangmanee, and Chanee Kai, as well as rare finds like Musang King and Black Thorn. Outside the buffet tent, 40+ rare durian varieties from orchards across the country are ripe for the tasting 🤤.

There are also creative durian dishes like durian lasagna, pizza and French fries. On my trip, I've had warmed durian sticky rice with coconut milk, durian chips and toffee candy. But the best is fresh 😋

Durian chips taste like sweet potato after fried

We relish in these durian moments, because they bring us together, transports us to heaven and lets us stay in bliss with each other for a while... Yes my twins are durian lovers!

Chanthaburi... "Where you can check-in back into the past... that travels to present" 

We were in bustling Bangkok the last leg of our Thai trip... Stay Tuned next post.

Taste of Thailand: Happy Songkran New Year 🎉!

 

Happy New Year สวัสดีปีใหม่! 

What a privilege it is to be here for Thai New Year (Songkran) celebrating April 12th to 16th 🎊🎉. 

It's been a minute but here now for a week, my brother Marten Go Preserved Dragons and I have experienced so much already, and the food- just Wow! Incredible flavours and value affordability. Documenting our daily Thai meals so you can see for yourself. 

Meal for Two $Cdn. No taxes, No tips required.

Day 1: Yaowarat, Bangkok: 

Thai Dinner at Hereduan

Seafood vermicelli, creamy egg omelet and  basil ground beef on rice, fried pork and veggie plate, butterfly pea lychee and a beer $45. 

One of our favourite firsts- to get a real taste of what's to come!

Day 2: Yaowarat, Bangkok: 

Breakfast- Mango sticky rice - $8.

Snack: fried shrimp patties $4

Dinner: fried crab rolls and rice noodles stir fry with ground pork, liver and veggies $8

Dessert: mango and ice coconut milk, mango pomelo tapioca with coconut milk, bird's nest dessert soup $24

Total day's Meal for Two- $44, $22 pp 

My brother's favourite breakfast, snack and dessert

Famous shrimp donuts- Mmmmm 😋

Amazing Chinese desserts in Bangkok, Chinatown

Fun Fear Factor Find: Fried assorted insects at a street night market!! Would you? I did not dare 🤢 lol 

Day 3: Grand Palace, Chinatown Bangkok

Lunch: assorted bbq meat, egg and rice plates $11

Snack: mango sticky rice and fresh guava juice and beer $9

Dinner: pork bone sour soup, wonton soup, fried pork dumplings and salad and stir fried noodles $13

Total day's Meal for Two- $33, $12 pp 

Day 4: Ayutthaya 

Breakfast: pain suisse and almond fancier and two coffees $10

Lunch: boat noodle soup with pork and fish balls $6

Iced coffee and iced Thai tea $5

Fresh coconut $3

Dinner: shrimp paste fried rice, grilled river prawn with pad Thai, papaya salad, Isaan pork sausages, fresh coconut and beer $45

Total day's Meal for Two- $69, $35 pp 

Incredible coffee and light pastries- slowly savourable!

The famous boat noodles with pork blood intense broth

The best natural thirst quencher ever!

Those fresh grilled jumbo river prawns 🦐😍

Day 5: Pak Chong 

Breakfast: all day breakfast $7

Dinner with riverside view. Korat papaya salad, fried shrimp donuts, fried fish cakes, mango sticky rice, durian sticky rice and fresh coconut and watermelon juices $45

Total day's Meal for Two- $52, $26 pp 

Can't beat Issan-style Som Tum Papaya Salad with fermented crab🦀

Day 6: Jomtien, Pattaya (beach)

Lunch (Ayutthaya): pork fish noodle soup and dry noodles (one of the best meal), cold coffee and water $8

Train ride to Jomtien- cured pork skewer 0.75

Dinner: Jomtien Night Market: sliced pork knuckles, fried crispy chicken cutlet with fries and coleslaw, pork spring roll, two smoothies $12

Total day's Meal for Two- $21, $10 pp 

One of my favourite meals on my trip- Simplicity at its best!

So many options-- so hard to choose!

Day 7: Jomtien, Pattaya (beach)

Brunch: seafood brought to us beach side

Grilled fresh river prawns, steamed mussels served with spicy fish sauce, spring rolls and fried mini crabs $16

To go: Dinner at Jomtien Night Market... but of course. What better than a little bit of this and that 🍤🍢🍠🥟🍗🥤 

Fresh steamed seafood heaven served beachside

Assorted fresh fruit smoothies 30 bant ($1.20 Cdn😄)

No wonder so many move to Thailand, the young and retired. The cost of living is so affordable- condo rent average in Bangkok $500 Cdn/month and cheaper as you go further out and if apartment, and eating well for so little a day. We can't get that in Canada!  #liveitupwhilewecan 

Stay Tuned for Taste of Thailand Part Two in historic riverside town Chanthaburi!