Saturday July 2nd to Tuesday July 19th, 2022 - Being a Tourist In Bangkok

 Having been here in Bangkok for three weeks now, my explorations have slowed down and I am preparing to move on to my next destination.

Sarah - Suspended in Space on MahaNakhon Tower Glass Walk

But before we move on, I want you to know that I did do touristy things, too - it wasn't all off the beaten track. One of the first was the visit to the MahaNakhon Tower.

MahaNakhon Tower

Otherwise known as 'The Cube', the MahaNakhon Tower is currently the tallest building in Bangkok that one can get to the top of. (There's another 3 feet higher and one under construction that will be 300 feet taller when finished in 2025!) Maha Nakhon is 1,030 feet high and visible from many parts of the city.

This graphic gives you an an idea of it's height relative to other famous 'Tall Buildings'. 

Of course, you can't have a building like this without teasing people to be daredevils, go to the top and encourage them to walk out onto the glass platform! The thought of it turned my legs to jelly!

BTS Skytrain Station at Phrom Phong

So off we went on the BTS Skytrain to the tower.

The Erawan Elephant Statue

At the base of the tower was a rather magnificent statue depicting a many headed elephant that carries the God Indus on his back.

Inside the MahaNakhorn Tower Elevator

The ride up the elevator was like a Disney ride - with the graphics streaming from the glass walls, creating a sense of motion. It started under the sea and then soared us up into the air to the top of the building. It was pretty thrilling itself!

View from the top of MahaNakhon Looking West toward Chao Praya River

Of course, the view was spectacular and we were fortunate to have a very clear day. As you can see from the first photo, Sarah got out on the glass 'Skywalk' and managed to look very elegant perched on top of other skyscrapers beneath. One had to take off shoes and put on cloth booties, and no cell phones were allowed on the platform. I guess a clumsily dropped phone could shatter the glass, which consisted of two, very sturdy layers of thick, greenish glass.

Yours Truly poses on the glass MahaNakhon Glass Skywalk

It actually looked so secure, that I found myself putting on the booties and stepping out onto he platform without a shred of nervousness! Craziness! Of course, I'm not quite as elegant as Sarah, but I did it!

Chinchilla, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits at 'The Rabbito Café'

Another quirky outing was to visit a 'rabbit' café. There are a number of different 'animal cafés' around town - cats, dogs, birds, and exotic animal cafés - where one can enjoy a snack and drink while being surrounded by the animal of choice.

Boo Boo the Guinea Pig 

There were rabbits, guinea pigs, a hamster and a chinchilla, They were all awfully cute, but they were also constantly pooping. You can see in the photo above a little guinea pig poop to the right of his face. The staff were constantly picking up their little pellets from the tables and the floor! We were  given a little mat to cover one's legs. 

Control of the Food was Key!

Once settled, the animals were pulled from cages and were free to hop around or sit on laps. The rabbits moved around a lot, but the guinea pigs stayed pretty close to where they were placed. Notice that the rabbits are so keen to get their food in the photo above, that they completely stomped all over the little guinea pig in Sarah's lap.

Chow Chow the Blind Chinchilla

The little blind chinchilla was very active, darting in and out of his yellow ceramic home, but he never came anywhere near laps. We were told he was a rescue animal, which was also the case with some of the other animals. It was an awfully sweet way to while away some time of an afternoon.

Chuck, Robyn, me and Sarah at the Waldorf Astoria, Bangkok

As if we were not having enough fun already, we were delighted to have Robyn join us, too. For those who might not know, Robyn is my younger daughter who travelled from the United States. How lovely for me to be with both of them together here. To celebrate, we went to the Waldorf Astoria for a 'prix fixe' meal that was offered through 'Restaurant Week' here. For a total of $33 we had a very fine seven course Thai tasting menu which was one of the best meals we've had here.

Decor at Hongetsu Omakase

If I told you that we photographed every dish we ate, you might be scared that I will bore you to death now, by parading endless photos of food. Of course, you can relax, I won't do that! However I can say the food has been one of the highlights of the trip. 

Sushi Chefs at Hongetsu Omakase

I will share a few of the photos from one of the most superb food experiences we had - a sushi meal at a small 10-seater restaurant, Hongetsu Omakase ('omakase' apparently means that the chef decides on the menu for the customers). Watching the precision and solemnity of movements along with a seemingly choreographed preparation was as intriguing as eating the food that was offered. Each piece of sushi was presented as if it were 'poetry in motion' - just one bite at a time. It beat Publix sushi many times over!

Dramatic Ice Cream Preparation at Hongetsu Omakase

The finale was this dramatically prepared dessert - an ice cream that was stirred into existence with a liquid that produced these clouds of 'fog'. The ice cream was delicious and the experience very memorable.

A Birthday Pavlova

Part of the reason for this visit by Robyn and myself, and our decision to 'splash' a bit on dinners was to be sure that we did a great job of celebrating Sarah's birthday this year. There is no better way to do that than with a good old Aussie pavlova. I have to say - it was a good one this year!

The Unicorn Café (Photo by Sarah Lamp)

Our last 'Hurrah' was to stop at the Unicorn Café, a pink, over the top accumulation of everything pastel and pink, green blue and yellow with oodles of unicorn's hanging from the ceiling.

The Unicorn Café (Photo by Sarah Lamp)

 It was quite something to behold, and I know there's many a young tourist who would be begging their parents to come here.

The Pastry Case at The Unicorn Café (Phot by Sarah Lamp)

Is it proper for me to end my narrative here? In a pink, Eurocentric themed venue that offers the most tasteless artistry and egregious commercialism?

 Robyn held out for the 'plastic bag' Thai tea (Photo by Robyn Lamp)

On the other hand, it demonstrates the enormous diversity this city offers. In the café we paid 70 baht (88 cents US) for a Thai tea that had an enormous amount of ice in it and tasted OK. Across the street, from the cart beside the road,  Robyn got herself a 'plastic bag' iced tea for 20 baht (25 cents US) which lasted a lot longer and was much more authentic. That's what I love about this town - sometimes the best things are the simplest - but there is so much choice available, it offers just about anything for just about everyone!

Sunset, Bangkok, Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 (Photo by Sarah Lamp)

My cameras are put away as tomorrow I head off to India, where I plan to spend 10 days in Ladakh. Stay tuned and hope wi-fi and internet work OK.