I am who I am: January 2017

Saturday, 28 January 2017

Happy Birthday To Me!

And Happy Chinese New Year!

This is one candle I won't mind blowing

I am 34 today, never once shy about my age because I believe one should always grow wiser as we mature.. In fact my maturity is in tandem with my age hahaha, or at least I'd like to think so..

So yah.. have a happy and prosperous year ahead..

xoxo

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Bangkok Trip Pt 2

The morning breakfast spread at Marriott Marquis Bangkok.. Sumptous and even better as we have the manager's attention and where coconuts were not available for other guests, we have ours brought to our table without us ordering for them for all the days..

Fruits coner

Cheese corner

Smoothie corner

Yogurt corner

Pastry corner

Egg benedict corner

Pancake corner

Dimsum corner - everything here contains pork

Eggs corner

Cereal corner

Cold cuts

Western corner - contains pork

Fresh juices corner

Asian corner

Chinese croissant

We also went to HOPS cafe, a dog cafe at the corner of Siam Center.. for THB150 it comes with one drink and 2 hours to play with the dogs, however I find the dogs there are not friendly.. they only stick to the owners and refuse to socialise.. so I'd rate this place as NO GO, save that money please..

Anti social dog who prefers to sleep

Other than that, will just finish this post up with some random pictures...

After You desserts - Centralworld.. The wait for the kakigori was 45 minutes even though the place was not crowded (it was around 3pm), but the wait for an ice-shaved dessert that long is just too much to take.. I don't think it's worth the wait.. especially when its THB215 (roughly RM28)!

When I went to check out why it took them so long, they were making all the kakigori at the same time, they would pile up about 10 orders and make them at one go, instead of making them as and when the orders come in..

For this, I rated this dessert place a 2 out of 5.. And I'm not going back..

Milo volcano kakigori THB215

Dinner in Asiatique.. THB40 for a tray full of fried chicken and 2 sides..

After I paid for the hotel room, I was offered a cheaper rate and hence, there was credit balance that I can use in the hotel.. so we ordered room service dinner to use up the credit balance.

Room service dinner - pad thai, juices and cake (not seen as I kept it in the fridge)

Flight back was on 18 January with TG417 - a Boeing 777-300ER and a newly refurbished one with more legroom.. As I was quite tired and sleepy, I slept soon after the plane took off and only wake up to eat, but I didn't really finish everything.. ordered some wine and continue to sleep..

Dinner TG417 BKKKUL - chicken rice

Last but not least, before checking out of the hotel, I have enough time to catch some tan as the sun was very bright.. so it's time for the pool and laze...

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Friday, 20 January 2017

The 18th Bangkok Trip

Just came back from my recent birthday holiday to Bangkok - it being my 18th time since 2001.. I have to travel earlier this year because the birthday falls on Chinese New Year, so I cannot travel too late..

I have been going to Bangkok at a rate of once per year, some years more than once, twice and some years none.. The last time I was in Bangkok was July 2015..

This trip I brought someone along with me as it was his first trip to Thailand.. So I kinda showed him around the Bangkok I knew but we skipped Babylon of course =)

We flew in on Thai Airways TG416 on 14 January and departed on TG417 18 January.. I booked a Deluxe King room in Marriott Marquis Bangkok for 4 nights, and because it's my birthday trip and with some personal connection with the sales directors, I gotten myself a sweet half price off my stay..

Thai Airways A330

It's an older aircraft and the legroom is kinda limited

Against the afternoon sun

TG416 KULBKK lunch - chicken noodles

As usual, immigration at Survanabhumi arrival was horrendous and it took us an hour to clear the queue and then another hour to get to our hotel..

Taxi queue lady's job has been replaced by machines

Tucked away in Sukhumvit Soi 22, the hotel was formerly Imperial hotel with over a thousand rooms before Marriott took over and refurbished the entire building and officially opened for business in December 2016.. It has 2 outdoor pools at levels 4 and 9, but the pool at level 4 is not quite ready yet..

Upon arrival at the hotel, we were greeted and escorted to the Marriott Rewards members' private check-in area as I am a Marriott Rewards member.. In fact, this is my second time staying in a Marriott property (I stayed before in Marriott Courtyard Bangkok in one of the previous trips) and the first Marquis brand in Asia..

Bangkok Marriott Marquis facade

Lobby

Marriott Rewards members' private check in area

Gym

Deluxe King

An urn

Toilet

Shower overlooking the room

View from the room - city view
That's Dinosaur Park at Phrom Phong BTS station

First impression wowed me but I did come with a super high expectation of the hotel.. The hotel does live up to its 5-star image but what makes it even greater is the staff.. I have to admit in all my years of travelling, I have to say Marriott Marquis Bangkok has the best staff.. Very friendly, courteous and with the personal attention given, not just to us but to the rest of the guests as well..

As my birthday was coming up, the hotel gladly hosted us dinner on our arrival day, and presented me with a birthday song and cake..