Just having returned from vacationing in Thailand (we went to Bangkok and Krabi), I realized that there were lots of ways I could structure this post. It could be about "Bangkok with kids" or "Sight-seeing in Bangkok" or "Vegetarian in Thailand" or my personal favorite "shopping in Bangkok". After analyzing the options for a bit, I finally decided on an amalgamation of all of the above.
Traveling with 3 and 6 yr old boys brings about its own set of challenges and adding to that mix is the amazing variety of sensory experiences that are on offer in this wonderful country. I had done a little bit of research prior to our trip, but, for the most part, I was keen to keep our plans somewhat fluid just for the sake of all our sanity.
We went to Wat Pho (the giant sleeping Buddha temple) earlier in the trip and I think the kids definitely appreciated the cool Buddha statue and the donation vessels lined against the wall.
I have to mention here that we were all equally amazed at the gracious and calm attitude of the people in the city. Coming from the bustle of Bangalore, the non-honking cars and the organized traffic was a refreshing change in itself.
The street foods of Bangkok can definitely count as some of the most amazing and varied fare in the world. From fresh coconut ice-cream (served in the coconut shells), to crepes with multiple topping options (under $1), to doughnuts served fresh off the fryer, to "twisty potatoes" (a continuous spiral of potatoes put thru a skewer, dipped in a cornflour mixture and then deep fried and accompanied with various seasonings)....and this is just a teaser....
....and then there are the drinks! From fresh sugar palm juice served in bamboo containers, to fresh squeezed mangoes (even in January), to drinks that can give a real kick even though they appear unassuming under their pretty umbrellas and colorful straws.
The street markets of Thailand are simply a must see!!! To say that I was transported to a sublime world of smells, sights and tastes would be an understatement. We went to various different markets - the Tor Kor market of fresh produce, the Chatuchak weekday flower market, the Krabi town night market (famous for having over 70 different types of street food stalls), the floating market at Ayuthaya...to name a few. From eating fresh cut fruits, to dipping baked buns in chocolate sauce, to savoring roasted corn on the cob, to drinking beer while listening to live music, to trying tamarind in various forms, to having our children create their own paintings while we shopped around....the markets were super fun!
Balancing our "touristy" needs with the kids needs were very important for the continued "zen" in our family....so we took the children to "Fun-arium" (the slides and the bike rides were the top favorites) , "Kidzania" (fire fighting took a whole new meaning here), "Central Chitlom's kids play area" (this one has a great maze and ball pool), "Safari World" (elephant show and getting to feed giraffes were the highlights) and a few other places. These visits allowed them to utilize a bit of their excess energy while giving us a much needed breather.
A visit to Ayuthaya - UNESCO world heritage site, was amazing because of the serenity around the ruins, the existing temples and the floating market. The historical park seemed a world away from the big city feel of Bangkok. For children, there was an option to enjoy elephant rides (we gave that one a miss).
We visited various restaurants in course of this trip and notable amongst them were Bussaba in Ao Nang, Krabi. Their Thai food was made fresh to order and tasted divine!! We also enjoyed Tanto's Pizzeria in Krabi.
Most of my evenings were spent getting the traditional Thai foot massage and realizing that 1 hour of foot rub can almost transform the state of your mind....if you have not tried this.....it is truly reason enough to book your tickets for Thailand!!
Bangkok is a full of everything that you could want to try and more - whether you are looking for a Christmas Tree decorated to promote safe intercourse, or looking to clean your feet by dipping it in a tank full of fish or seeing some well placed, but, somewhat non-utilitarian telephone booths.......this city is sure to keep you coming back for more and more.
Traveling with 3 and 6 yr old boys brings about its own set of challenges and adding to that mix is the amazing variety of sensory experiences that are on offer in this wonderful country. I had done a little bit of research prior to our trip, but, for the most part, I was keen to keep our plans somewhat fluid just for the sake of all our sanity.
We went to Wat Pho (the giant sleeping Buddha temple) earlier in the trip and I think the kids definitely appreciated the cool Buddha statue and the donation vessels lined against the wall.
I have to mention here that we were all equally amazed at the gracious and calm attitude of the people in the city. Coming from the bustle of Bangalore, the non-honking cars and the organized traffic was a refreshing change in itself.
The street foods of Bangkok can definitely count as some of the most amazing and varied fare in the world. From fresh coconut ice-cream (served in the coconut shells), to crepes with multiple topping options (under $1), to doughnuts served fresh off the fryer, to "twisty potatoes" (a continuous spiral of potatoes put thru a skewer, dipped in a cornflour mixture and then deep fried and accompanied with various seasonings)....and this is just a teaser....
....and then there are the drinks! From fresh sugar palm juice served in bamboo containers, to fresh squeezed mangoes (even in January), to drinks that can give a real kick even though they appear unassuming under their pretty umbrellas and colorful straws.
The street markets of Thailand are simply a must see!!! To say that I was transported to a sublime world of smells, sights and tastes would be an understatement. We went to various different markets - the Tor Kor market of fresh produce, the Chatuchak weekday flower market, the Krabi town night market (famous for having over 70 different types of street food stalls), the floating market at Ayuthaya...to name a few. From eating fresh cut fruits, to dipping baked buns in chocolate sauce, to savoring roasted corn on the cob, to drinking beer while listening to live music, to trying tamarind in various forms, to having our children create their own paintings while we shopped around....the markets were super fun!
Balancing our "touristy" needs with the kids needs were very important for the continued "zen" in our family....so we took the children to "Fun-arium" (the slides and the bike rides were the top favorites) , "Kidzania" (fire fighting took a whole new meaning here), "Central Chitlom's kids play area" (this one has a great maze and ball pool), "Safari World" (elephant show and getting to feed giraffes were the highlights) and a few other places. These visits allowed them to utilize a bit of their excess energy while giving us a much needed breather.
A visit to Ayuthaya - UNESCO world heritage site, was amazing because of the serenity around the ruins, the existing temples and the floating market. The historical park seemed a world away from the big city feel of Bangkok. For children, there was an option to enjoy elephant rides (we gave that one a miss).
We visited various restaurants in course of this trip and notable amongst them were Bussaba in Ao Nang, Krabi. Their Thai food was made fresh to order and tasted divine!! We also enjoyed Tanto's Pizzeria in Krabi.
Yes, there is a thing called "vegetarian sushi"!!! At the Central World food court, we experienced some amazing Japanese fare and were well rewarded when both our boys joined us in munching away at the sushi rolls with complete gusto!! There was also Basilico on Soi 33 of Sukhmvit for the most authentic and fresh Italian fare. Since we were staying close to the famous "Cabbages and Condoms" restaurant, it would be remiss of me, if I don't mention how amazing the atmosphere in the restaurant is and how delicious their Thai food is (they have a separate vegetarian section in their menu).
Most of our afternoons were spent with at least one cup of relaxing coffee/tea and to be honest - there is nothing better than sitting with croissant and cappuccino or scones and tea at the Dean and Deluca outlet on Sukhmvit. Most of my evenings were spent getting the traditional Thai foot massage and realizing that 1 hour of foot rub can almost transform the state of your mind....if you have not tried this.....it is truly reason enough to book your tickets for Thailand!!
Bangkok is a full of everything that you could want to try and more - whether you are looking for a Christmas Tree decorated to promote safe intercourse, or looking to clean your feet by dipping it in a tank full of fish or seeing some well placed, but, somewhat non-utilitarian telephone booths.......this city is sure to keep you coming back for more and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment