A taste of Thai.

[drron]

So it is time for our next trip.This though is just a short 3 weeks in Thailand where the accent will be on food.But not just Thai.Bangkok is becoming a real food mecca and I am sure we will be trying some new places.
It all starts tomorrow the 4th of July.Pickup at 0530 for the trip to BNE.We have a J award on SQ BNE-SIN-BKK to start.
Then 4 days in BKK at our favourite hotel the SGS.
An interlude in Chiang Rai flying there and back on PG.On the way to Chiang Rai with JohnK and family.
Staying 6 nights at the LM Chiang Rai.
Then back to BKK for another 6 nights at the SGS-well I needed quite a few nights to requalify plat this year.
Finally a LM award on TG back to BNE.

Might even be able to keep up to date with this one but no promises.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

And Ron will be using his new Sony HX90V bought on EOFY sale and we will be getting the GST back as well ! I already have a Sony HX90V so who will post the best photos ??

 

[RooFlyer]

And Ron will be using his new Sony HX90V bought on EOFY sale and we will be getting the GST back as well ! I already have a Sony HX90V so who will post the best photos ??

Neither of you do what I did on my trip to Sth America earlier this year. I packed the camera, in its case. Got it out in the Plaza Mayor in Santiago, and .... it was the old camera! I hadn't swapped them over.

The new HX90V got 'christened' on the next trip ...

 

[GarrettM]

And Ron will be using his new Sony HX90V bought on EOFY sale and we will be getting the GST back as well ! I already have a Sony HX90V so who will post the best photos ??

Fully on board for this.

As for photo quality, I'm just going to enjoy them all without judging.

 

[JohnK]

Looking forward to the trip report.

Hope we don't spoil your flight too much on Saturday. We're way back in row 22.

 

[travelislife]

Yep Bangkok has some top food of all cuisines these days. Some of the best Italian I have had (and that includes in Italy!) has been in Bangkok.

 

[love_the_life]

I thought drron was working in Tassie? Obviously not till after this trip

 

[drron]

Not only after this trip but another mini vacation on Kangaroo Island in September.
Currently in the SQ lounge in T2 at Changi.Hopefully have all today's details by tomorrow.

 

[amaroo]

Yep Bangkok has some top food of all cuisines these days. Some of the best Italian I have had (and that includes in Italy!) has been in Bangkok.

Indeed. We've managed to get a table for some lovely looking German and Indian cuisine next month.

 

[JessicaTam]

Not only after this trip but another mini vacation on Kangaroo Island in September.
Currently in the SQ lounge in T2 at Changi.Hopefully have all today's details by tomorrow.

Glad I caught you in the lounge. Looking forward to the food shots - from whatever camera.

 

[drron]

So time to buckle up and get started.Now I usually have quite a prelude but this time it will be short.the last sunset at home-

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In to bed early on Monday with alarm set at 0430 to give us time to remember anything we may have forgotten.As is usual when you set an alarm you are awake well before the time it is set for.So again as usual up before the alarm and get ready.Right on 0530 our limo arrives to take us to BNE.Now I was going to match the sunset picture with one of sunrise from the limo but now that I am in my second childhood as soon as the car started rolling I went to sleep.

Dropped at the door where SQ's checkin was.The 2 J counters had people there but the nearest Y agent called us straight over.A really nice and efficient fellow.I am sure even Mr. Hancock would have to struggle to find a fault.So soon we are off to security.I choose the body scanner and mrsdrron the ordinary line.I got there just as she was finishing-a fellow in front of her had a drone in his carryon which reqired a lot of inspection.
On to the new paperless Immigration.Once again the camera doesn't like my photo so I have to go to an agent-the old fashioned way I am told.Then of course through the Duty Free maze to the relatively new SQ lounge.Quite nice.

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A little private room as you walk in.No one used it but I am told it is screened off if a much more important pax than I is in the lounge.
Quite a good brekkie offering-

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The roast tomatoes were much nicer than the QF Flounge in SYD and their corn fritters had a lot more corn than the Fred Perry variety.
The lounge itself is bright and has views over the gates-

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Left a little early so I could purchase a magazine for the trip.Unfortunately as one ages you realise Hollywood doesn't care much for age so usually little in the way of movies that appeal.
Soon find ourselves boarding.A full J cabin for theis flight.First the menus-

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Back after Happy hour.

 

[drron]

SQ 256. BNE-SIN. ETD-0910. Push back-0910. Take off-0918. A330. seats 14A,C.
ETA-1435. touch down-1454. At gate-1501.
The view after take off-

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There was no champagne offered pre take off but in view of the time we didn't mind.About 90 minutes after take off Brunch was served.First the appetiser-
The appetiser-

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For mains mrsdrron had the seafood and rice noodle soup-

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Served,looked and tasted very nice according to mrsdrron.I had the braised Moroccan lamb-

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Lamb was OK but the veggies overcooked.
dessert-

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Wines were on the trolley but not offered.Neither of us really felt we wanted any but here is the wine list-

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[drron]

After brunch I had a post prandial nap for a couple of hours.When I awoke I watched the Zookeeper's Wife.Quite OK.Then I discovered a food program I hadn't heard of before-Avec Eric.Eric Ripert whose restaurant in NYC we go to every time we are there-Le Bernadin.Exquisite seafood.What was more interesting was he was on Kangaroo Island staying at the Great Southern Lodge.He bought his sommelier with him who went to a couple of wineries whilst Eric chose some ingredients for the staff at the lodge to cook for them.The sommelier went to Penfolds where the winemaker gave him a bottle of 2008 Grange for their meal!

It was then time for refreshment.A nice pomelo salad with prawns that I really liked but too much chili for mrsdrron.Forgot to take a photo.Mrsdrron drank the reisling which she enjoyed and I had the French red-very smooth.after a glass of champagne of course-

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Mrsdrron had the braised Udon noodle with shredded chicken which was very dry.I had the Reuben sandwich-nice comfort food-

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I then read my magazine.We landed a little late after circling Singapore 3 times.First time we have spent any time in T2 so did a bit of exploring.Our arrival gate was next to the gate for our flight to BKK but unfortunately the furthest 2 from the SQ lounge.But we needed a walk.Love the Singapore orchids-

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The display being renewed-

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Great arrangements as we walked to the SQ lounge-

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[drron]

Sorry JT no food shots from the lounge.Not all that photogenic.As in the Business lounge in the main terminal there was a large selection of food items.Unfortunately for mrsdrron most hot dishes were spicy.I had a combination of 3 Szechuan dishes-twice cooked pork,noodles and mushrooms-plus fried cauliflower with a dahl crust.I enjoyed the selection.But they also had nice orchids-

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A long walk back to the gate and through the gate security.Fellow believed me that I had a new Knee and once the wand confirmed that sent me on my way.Boarding very soon after we arrived and we were first on.Champagne served as soon as we boarded-

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Same version of A330 as the first sector-

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just a one page menu and no wine list-

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A far from full J cabin-

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But we received a 70th Anniversary pack of toiletries-

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[Hvr]

<snip>

But we received a 70th Anniversary pack of toiletries-

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How did they know you've been married for 70 years?

 

[drron]

Well I certainly wont mind if I find myself on an SQ flight when our 70th Anniversary rolls around.
But back to the flight.
SQ 982. SIN-BKK. ETD-1735. push back-1721. take off-1732. A330. Seats 14A,C.
ETA-1900 Landed-1839. At gate-1848.
The meal service began soon after take off.Again a pomelo salad but with chilli,then I had the lamb dish-very dry and I only ate a little-

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Mrsdrron had the noodles with chicken.Also very dry but a nice dessert-

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Once again I had the French red and mrsdrron a nice reisling.
Filled in the time reading the FT and Straits Times.It got very bumpy into BKK.Landing with obviously strong winds and heavy rain.
No problems with Immigration.Our 1 bag,:shock:,was out in the first few.Then straight out to where the hotel reps are.Once again we are recognised and soon into the hotel car and on our way to the SGS.Pretty heavy traffic and our driver takes an alternate route to Sukhumvit Rd.

On arrival at the SGS told it is our 20th stay and have a suite upgrade + a quaranteed suite for our next stay in 10 days time.We arrived just after 2000.Seeing we awoke at 0100 BKK time all we felt like doing was to go to sleep.A few quick shots of the bedroom and walk in robe-

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[drron]

So Wednesday morning and photos of the second room in our suite-

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And the view all the way to the Chao Praya-

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A little run down area near the hotel but the SGS pool is an oasis-

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[VPS]

Love Drron's TR

Be interested to know with your camera(s) do you stick to the automatic setting or do you play around with it

 

[drron]

Now the SGS treats us plats exceedingly well.Suite upgrades are common,free internet and laundry,although no lounge there are 2 hours each night of complimentary drinks and nibbles at your choice of 3 locations.Then there is breakfast.Always a full complimentary brekkie and keeping your amenity points.There were 2 locations for breakfast but both were really busy so ~ 12 months ago they opened up the Italian restaurant for plat brekkies.Others can pay 980 baht ++ if they wish but very few do.so it is a quiet haven which we really enjoy.A limited but adequate buffet plus a cooked to order hot dish.Just recently they reinforced the rule that it is only 1 hot dish per person and true to form there were those on FT that complained.No sympathy from me or most others.So here is the first breakfast-

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Mrsdrron's usual choice of a poached egg and for the first day I had a Thai omelette.
A reasonable cheese board with mostly Italian cheeses-

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pastries and breads-

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The real beauty of the SGS is the staff.Just fantastic.Told these staff members that the pictures would be posted on line.Their reaction-

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So that is first the salads and cold cuts and then the fresh fruit buffet.Not many places where you get all the regulars but as much mango as you want + rambutans and mangosteens.
Then freshly carved Iberico ham and a small section of Asian foods-

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And no charge for your morning cappuccinos!

 

[drron]

Love Drron's TR

Be interested to know with your camera(s) do you stick to the automatic setting or do you play around with it

This is my first TR with my new camera-Sony HX90V.A very versatile pocket size camera and I generally use it on automatic but it does have a series of other programs which I sometimes use-mainly the hand held twilight function for sunsets.18.2MP and 30x zoom.