Another week in Bangkok

Coming from Bangkok last week, this week I went back again the city for another customer engagement. Roaming around the airport last Monday while waiting for my flight, I was curious about the signage of a destination named "Diego Garcia" as I know it is not one of the scheduled flights of Philippine Airlines so this must be chartered. Searching further, it appears to be an atoll and is a British territory in Indian Ocean and that US Navy is operating Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia (NSF Diego Garcia) in the said atoll.

My flight to Bangkok is uneventful. I think I became so used to it by now that I felt the commute was already comparable to boarding a bus bound for the province. LOL

my inflight meal and like last week, ice cream for desert

I had a few nights again at Conrad Bangkok and stayed at their 41sqm King Bed Deluxe Room (THB4800++ inclusive of breakfast and internet). My room is very much similar to last week's but this time facing the other side of the hotel. Again, no elephant stuff toy for this stay.

toiletries

standalone bath tub

rubber elephant toy

view from the room

room hallway

my room (on the left)

All Seasons Place

All Seasons Place complex, with Conrad Bangkok on the right

I was still hungry so I grabbed a post-lunch meal from the grocery downstairs (Tops Market) and then rested in the room that afternoon.

That night, I went to Pratunam and Chidlom area to buy some stuffs and happened to pass by a series of food stalls near CentralWorld on the way back. I was salivating and would have tried but I was still a bit full at that time.

Approaching the BTS Chitlom station, I looked down and saw Erawan Shrine. The shrine, built in 1956, had a lot of worshippers at that time. It was built at that time together with Erawan Hotel to counter bad omen. Today the shrine is located next to Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel.

A group of dancers (as seen at the back row) is often commissioned by worshippers of the shrine. It is said to make their prayers answered faster (or at all).

Then I walked over the nearby Amarin Foodhouse for dinner located at the 2nd floor of Panuneee Building. I had a very filling and sumptuous dinner that night.

grilled pork with soy sauce 

fish in soup

Tuesday morning breakfast, as usual at Café@2. Then rest of the day spent with customer on the business engagement located at the CRC Tower, just next to the hotel and within the same complex.

After office hours, I quickly sneaked to the nearby Holy Redeemer Church (Catholic Church), located along Ruamrudee road. Looking at my blogs posts, it appears I have actually been there almost 4 years ago.

For dinner, I just grabbed some meals from the groceries downstairs, together with some lanzones I bought (locally called as longkong) and fruits from the hotel.

closer look of my dinner

Wednesday, breakfast again at Café@2 before going to the customer engagement.

For dinner, I had takeout of Beef Pepper Rice from Pepper Lunch, located in CentralWorld. I slept early last Wednesday night as I was tired out of the engagement and planned to wake up early today.

After having breakfast today at Café@2, I then went to Lumphini Park. I will blog about the park after this post.

I only had a few minutes left then I headed off to the airport. I was surprised of the aircraft change from A330-300 to B747-400.

It was a welcome change though as all seats, including those from economy, had its own AVOD (Audio/Video On-Demand) screens. These planes, I believe, are the ones used for long-haul flights like the ones going to the US by Philippine Airlines (like Los Angeles and San Francisco routes).

It was a pleasant flight and instead of me sleeping on the plane, I just watched a movie and a few shows until it was time to surrender the headsets. This time, 3 hours flight was too short!

my inflight meal

Taal Volcano, as seen from the air as we approach Manila

Cavite and Sangley Airport

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) runway as seen from the air

Metro Manila

It was again another quick trip, capped off with beautiful sceneries of the city as we had to circle around due to air traffic. Add to that the AVOD experience in this flight (which is a standard in other airlines), overall it is a good trip and I'm looking forward for my next flight.

Bangkok Business Trip

I just came back from another business trip in Bangkok, Thailand. I flew in last Monday for this engagement and had to fly back today due to a scheduled event this weekend, although I'll be back in Thailand next week.

 

As usual, I took the flight to Bangkok via Philippine Airlines. One thing I would note is that food service has been a lot better over the last few months after the hiatus that started with the outsourcing last year. I had not so good experience back then or even earlier this year.

Ice cream as a desert has been a good welcome for me. I don't know for those who don't like it, but I'd take this at any day compared to the small caramel bars or some pastry sweets (that are way too sweet) that they previously serve, although I would appreciate if there were flavor options for the passengers.

en route to Bangkok

I have stayed these past nights at Conrad Bangkok since my business in the city is just right beside the hotel (in our office in Bangkok, Thailand). I had a King Bed Deluxe Room, a 41sqm bedroom (the hotel's basic room) and paid Microsoft rate of THB4800++ inclusive of internet and breakfast. "Basic" is such a relative term, as travelers would know that Conrad is a luxury brand. The room is very well-appointed and furnishings were nice. It even had a mid-sized comfy sofa and chair where I relax and lounge amidst stress brought by work at times. I missed the elephant stuff toy this time though.

The bathroom, separated with the bedroom and living area by a clear glass wall is nice, with separate stand-alone bath tub. As usual toiletries were good grade and I had a squeaky rubber elephant (like a rubber ducky) at the tub.

 

And of course, there were fruits like rambutan and apple waiting in my room replenished daily.

view from the room

 

lobby area as viewed from the 2nd floor

Nothing special last Monday as I spent almost the whole day in the room until night time. I had dinner meal from the grocery downstairs, Tops Market, located at the adjacent mall in All Seasons Place complex as I prepared for my business engagement the next day.

Breakfast on Tuesday was again in Café@2, located at the 2nd floor of the hotel. Like before, I took time during breakfast as there were quite a number of selections at their buffet spread.

I had early dinner after office work at ZEN Japanese Restaurant located just downstairs in All Seasons Place. It wasn't a very good experience though as I felt the staff were in a hurry and didn't mind me that much.


my softdrinks

 

I had a meal of fried fish served with yakisoba (noodles) steamed rice, miso soup and some side dishes. I would It was

my ice cream desert

 

I went back to the room early evening to rest and was amazed as I stare out of the window to the delight of seeing this view outside.

I stepped and walked around up to Phloen Chit area that night but since there was nothing much to do, I went back and instead had a 2-hour Thai massage at The Touch (THB550), located just behind the hotel (Ruamrudee road).

Wednesday - had the usual flare of breakfast at the hotel before heading to work. As usual the day was spent at the customer engagement.

 

For dinner, I went to Grand Peking Restaurant, still located inside All Seasons Place.

My dinner? Yang chow fried rice and steamed fish! The servings were huge (good for 2-3) but I finished most of it, specially the fish as it was yummy and tasty!

 

 

Earlier today, had breakfast again at Café@2, but since I am to leave after and head for the airport, I woke up a bit later than usual and really took my time during breakfast.

my cafe latte

fruits and desert

 

I decided to leave earlier than usual for Suvarnabhumi Airport so I have time to go around the terminal and check out the shops if there's anything worth buying to take home.

 

Naga (3-headed serpent) statue at the airport

Had a quick lunch at Burger King before heading to my departure gate.

my plane home

my meal served on the plane home-bound

again, ice cream for desert!

 

It was a quick trip, and if you will see, nothing special happened, but it was still a relaxing (outside work) and nice getaway. Perhaps I can do better next week when I'm back in the city.