EASY TRIPS
Food
1
A chomp-romp through Bangkok, Thailand
ITS THAI-M TO EAT
There are two things youll notice in
Bangkok one, someone is always eating
and two, the food is so delicious that
pretty quickly, that someone is you. Apart
from the freshest fruit ever, satay sticks
on the street, that international bestseller
pad Thai and wholesome beefy stews with
noodles (burp!), Bangkok also has a list
of must-eat dishes and must-visit joints.
Lets start with the lazy gourmets
shortcut the Bangkok Food Tours
(see Where to Eat for all details). Let
someone tell you to eat, repeatedly, and
constantly, through the city for at least
four hours. Offering over 10 tours across
options like day and night, walking,
floating and tuk-tuk, meals at local
homes, modern and ancient cuisine and
more, these tours are value for stomach.
If a tour is not for you and youd rather
soak in the city (and the flavours) on your
own, start with Rosabieng, a local place
blissfully devoid of the more vapid kind
of tourist. Come here for a huge range
of authentic cuisine, with stand-out
dishes like the best fried chicken wrapped
in pandan leaves, fantastic tom yum,
and green curry. This rustic wooden-
house-turned restaurant is famous
for its fresh, coconut-based dishes and
homemade custard apple ice cream.
Or you could dabble in the new wave
of Thai cooking at Paste Bangkok.
Trail
1 2
3 4
Above and facing
page 4: The food
Paste specialises in artisanal Thai food,
with traditional, locally-sourced produce GREAT FROM
Wangs tom yum soup can also be spiced
up or down with fresh chilli and garlic.
1. The Blue Elephant
offers great royal
Meat dishes, like the grilled pork collar
and seafood dishes, like the deep-fried
at Paste Restaurant Thai cuisine, current
might reduce and modern presentation. Be warned: India Feel free to also slip an order of mee phat faves as well as soft shell crab spicy salad, are the most
you to happy tears the sea bass curry and duck salad with krachet into your meal. These angel-hair- fusion dishes acclaimed, seen on quite a few tables.
banana flowers has reduced many a critic GREAT FOR like rice flour noodles make for a slurpy 2. Saw Nah Wangs And, finally, for those for whom its
to happy tears luckily, the service is Sampling local flavours in lovely settings accompaniment or even combine tom yum soup always duck season, theres Charoeng
is the stuff of legend
excellent, so at least napkins are at hand. into a noodle-y broth, khow suey-style Wiang Pochana Restaurant. Play safe
During your stay, you must plan GO NOW or can be dipped into your soup. 3. In Bangkok, people with traditional, roasted lean duck
enthusiastically
to eat at The Blue Elephant once. As anytime is a good time for gluttony. Contrast the multi-course wonders follow the live on steamed rice, with cucumber
PHOTOGRAPHS: HASHIM BADAINI (2 & 3)
Billed as a bastion of outstanding royal of these restaurants with the romantically- to eat mantra and ginger on the side. Or roasted duck
Thai cuisine, it offers a fine-dine experience will come alive at your next meal, with named The Never Ending Summer, sticks with egg noodles. Or take home
across Thai curries, sauces, seafood, meats the aroma of tom yum soup at Saw Nah another justly famous Thai restaurant, a vacation story to beat all, with juicy,
and more. Located in a lovely century-old Wang. Beloved Thai staple lemongrass located by the Chao Phraya River. flavourful fried duck feet wrapped
heritage building, this is where your is married with lime leaves, soy sauce With its rustic-industrial-chic ambience, in intestine clear proof that, sometimes,
tastebuds die and go to heaven. and coconut milk to produce a union this restaurant is a melange of traditional foot in mouth can be a good thing.
Luckily, the Thais believe that every beaming mama will approve of. and modern, offering both familiar
in reincarnation and your tastebuds Frequently ordered with shrimp, Saw Nah classics and reinterpreted favourites. words akhila vijaykumar
TURN OVER FOR ALL YOU NEED TO GET THERE
EASY TRIPS A CHOMP-ROMP THROUGH BANGKOK, THAILAND
The Asadang
The Never
Ending Summer
Charoeng Wiang
Pochana Restaurant
Bangkok
Thailand
FACT SHEET
GETTING THERE
Closest city: Suvarnabhumi Airport (23km)
Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Malindo,
Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways and Malaysia
Airlines fly to Bangkok from Mumbai
and New Delhi (return fares from ` 17,252).
WHERE TO STAY
The Asadang: Centrally-located
and perfect for those whod like some
history wrapped into their holiday,
this hotel comes with nine elegant rooms
decorated in Thai fabrics and furniture.
The architecture complements the
old-world facade and charm. Warm,
friendly service puts the icing on your stay
(00-66-85-180-7100; www.the asadang.
com, info@theasadang.com; 94, 94/ 1,
Asadang Rd, Wang Buraphaphirom, Phra
Nakorn; from ` 3,500 with breakfast).
Fraser Suites Sukhumvit: This hotel
offers one-, two- and three- bedroom
serviced apartments that suit both
families and larger groups. And, in keeping
with the theme of eating constantly,
its poolside coffee shop doubles up
as a kebaberie. Could there be a clearer
sign? (00-66- 2-207-9300; www.bangkok-
sukhumvit.frasershospitality.com; 38/ 8,
Sukhumvit Soi 11, Klong Toey Nua, Wattana;
from ` 3,975 with breakfast)
Holiday Inn Express Bangkok
Sukhumvit 11: This ones perfect for the
modern traveller who prefers to be sited
The Never Ending Summer: 00-66-02-
861-0953; 41/ 5, Khwaeng Khlong San,
Khet Khlong San; 11am 11pm;
mains from ` 600
Charoeng Wiang Pochana Restaurant:
00-66-2-235-1088; 211, Charoen Wiang
Road, Bangrak; 8am 8.30pm; from ` 100
Paste Bangkok Fraser Suites Sukhumvit
SHOPPING
Holiday Inn Express Blow up your baht at Chatuchak
Bangkok Sukhumvit 11
Market, the expensive Siam Square,
night markets at Khao San and Patpong
there are so many places where you
can accumulate excess baggage of
the consumerist kind. Take walks through
the Bangkok Flower Market (locally
Nhong Rim Klong known as Pak Khlong Talat) and visit
the Or Tor Kor Food Market for some
extra special goodies to take back home.
Blue Elephant
Rosabieng Suvarnabhumi
Restaurant Airport CLEAN LOO GUIDE
Bangkoks a very well-developed
city with clean loos in every mall,
and practically a mall on every street.
GETTING AROUND Street stalls will not have loos, but
Private cars, taxis or tuk-tuks can be hired in Bangkok. restaurants will and they will be clean.
A taxi will cost you from ` 80 onwards, a tuk-tuk ride We suggest carrying some toilet paper
costs between ` 60 and ` 100 and can be rented and a hand sanitiser just in case.
for an hour. Negotiate, negotiate and negotiate
before you get into either. Radio taxis are also MEDICAL AID
a convenient and affordable option to get around. Take your own digestive aids for sure.
While medicines in Bangkok are available
over the counter, its best to pack the
in a central location. Efficient, comfy and names and brands you know. Bumrungrad
global, this hotel offers value for money International Hospital has English-
and time, as its close to popular shopping speaking staff (00-66-2667-1000;
venues and eateries (00-66-02-119-4777; 33, Sukhumvit 3, Soi Nana Nua, Wattana).
www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/
en/bangkok/bkkex/hoteldetail, info.
bkkex@ihg.com; 11, 30 Sukhumvit Soi 11, GOOD TO KNOW
Klongtoey-nua, Wattana; from ` 4,250). Visa: A visa on arrival is available
for a period not exceeding 15 days.
WHERE TO EAT Youll need to have a valid passport, a
Bangkok Food Tours: 00-66-95- return ticket, visa on arrival application
943-9222; www.bangkokfoodtours.com; form with recent photo (4cm x 6cm),
check website for tour timings and meeting a confirmed travel itinerary and proof
points; ` 2,690/ person of accommodation and funds of at least
Rosabieng: 00-66-2253-5868; Soi 11; THB 10,000/ person (` 19,250
8am 10.30pm; chicken Thai curry: ` 400 approximately) or THB 20,000/ family
Paste Bangkok: 00-66-2-656-1003; (` 38,500 approximately). Keep THB
www.pastebangkok.com; 3rd Flr, Gaysorn, 1,000 (` 1,925) handy for the visa fees,
999, Ploenchit Rd, Lumpini; lunch: the latter can easily be exchanged
12pm 2pm, dinner: 6.30pm 10pm; or withdrawn at the airport itself
mains from ` 1,200 (www.thaiembassy.com).
The Blue Elephant: 00-66-2-673-9353; Embassy of India, Bangkok,
www.blueelephant.com; 233, South Thailand: www.indianembassy.in.th
Sathorn Rd, Kwaeng Yannawa, Khet 1 THB (Thai Baht) = ` 1.92
Sathorn; check website for timings; Carry travel insurance
mains from ` 860 The Blue Elephant also runs
MAP: DIPTI CHALKE
Saw Nah Wang: 00-66-26-221-525; a cooking class where you can learn
Thanon Din So; 10am 10.30pm; to whip up delicious Thai specialties.
mains from ` 150