Drrons off to Asia with Lifemiles.

[drron]

These days disembarking is often problematic. travelling in J you are near the first off but being slow you are often pushed or cut in front of as people try to get to Immigration first. I am tempted to whack a few calves as they pass. And in this instance you have to catch a train to take you to the main terminal. I was spotted coming down the escalator so the train guard held the tain until I got on so no one beat me anyway. Same again though at the main terminal so I waited until last. Everyone headed straight to the main Immigration lanes and there appeared to be moderately long lines so we walked an extra 50 metres to the Premium Immigration entrance. Absolutely no one there so straight through. Sent a What's App to our driver and as we reached the second rod our car pulled in. Excellent service and a quick tip even though our driver obeyed the speed limit. Slowed down a bit with the usual horrendous traffic on Ploen Chit road.

Then a traffic jam at the IC entrance but our car was allowed to go past the stopped cars so we were out quickly No one at check in so we gave our bags to the concierge to take to our room and checked in quickly then headed to the IC club for an hour of drinks and snacks. I had 3 G&Ts and boy didn't they go down well. A bit of sushi from the buffet and the lovely mushroom soup from the menu.


Again great recognition from the staff and my first G&T and Mrsdrron's Sav Blanc appeared quickly without needing to order them.
We were starting to feel a little tired and asleep by 10pm which was 1am AEST.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I know what you mean about people cutting in… rushing to get to immigration.

But… why do the slow folks have to walk in the middle of the jetway, and not to the side, so others can pass?? Or worse, walk ‘sort of in the middle’ but meander from side to side so no one can pass at all?

Then they get stroppy if you politely mention you’d like to get past.

Same on travelators too. Not confined to jetways

 

[drron]

I know what you mean about people cutting in… rushing to get to immigration.

But… why do the slow folks have to walk in the middle of the jetway, and not to the side, so others can pass?? Or worse, walk ‘sort of in the middle’ but meander from side to side so no one can pass at all?

Then they get stroppy if you politely mention you’d like to get past.

Same on travelators too. Not confined to jetways

I always walk on the left side as my walking stick is better if in my right hand. And sometimes people want to pass me on my left side.

 

[jkbaus]

I always walk on the left side as my walking stick is better if in my right hand. And sometimes people want to pass me on my left side.

Me too.

 

[drron]

Tuesday and our first day in Bangkok. This is vacation time so we got out of bed at 0930. Yes the same time we do at home now that I am retred. Fortunately breakfast is open until 1100 in the IC club. Today was eggs florentine.


As usual a beautiful display of orchids.


A bit of confusion when going back to the room. I don't take my walking stick with me to the Club as only walking short distances. But that means I walk a lot slower and mrsdrron is much faster but is now used to me with the stick. So she takes of and gets into the lift and I miss it. She has no keys so can't get off at our floor so goes to the lobby. I get the next lift which stops frequently on the way down so by the time I get to the lobby she is back on floor 37. The lift attendant told me she was going there so back up I went. No sign of her. She had used her common sense and gone into the Club and got an extra room Key. I finally met up with her back in he room. Spnt the next couple of ours catching up with emails and this TR.
Early that afternoon this arrives.


With this card.


No wonder the IC has become our favourite in Bangkok.

 

[drron]

Today was going to be my big test. At 1400 I decided to go for a walk. In the past wherever I have travelled to I get greatpleasure from just walking. Amazing how often it leads to little magic moments.
I set out to walk to Ratchadamri road and walk up to the Pratunam market. Two months go I tried to do this and gave up halfway after 4 stops. This time I got to the half way point without stop or pain. There is a newish mall there which just hasn't taken off so it is undergoing a complete refurbishment. there was a sign out for some new restaurants. This one amused me.


So the little bunny with a picture of a chicken.
This time instead of walking up the elevated covered walkway I walked up the roadway. Crossed over the klong which has a ferry service.


Not far from there to Petchaburi road where I made a stop here. You may pick out the durians on the left side of the photo.


I really didn't need to stop so after a minute I walked on this time along Petchaburi road. Noticed this on the other side o the road.


Then turned down a road that I knew led down to a Central Store and Ploen Chit BTS station. Crossed over the canal again.


Passed a building we can see from our room.


Dwarfed by the building next door.


When I reached Ploen Chit road I made my second stop but only because I had to wait a while for the walk sign to be displayed. So sat for 2 minutes. I crossed Ploen Chit road to where I knew was a lift to take me up to the elevated walk way that would take me back to the IC. Surprised Mrsdrron by getting back 45 minutes before I said I would. So 7250 steps in 75 minutes. I was pleased.

 

[tgh]

7250 steps in 75 minutes. I was pleased.

and well you should be… keep up the good work

 

[Pushka]

I know what you mean about people cutting in… rushing to get to immigration.

But… why do the slow folks have to walk in the middle of the jetway, and not to the side, so others can pass?? Or worse, walk ‘sort of in the middle’ but meander from side to side so no one can pass at all?

Then they get stroppy if you politely mention you’d like to get past.

Same on travelators too. Not confined to jetways

I was just about to say EXACTLY this. When I had torouble walking a couple of years ago I made sure I was completely out of the way of others more mobile so they could easily pass me.

 

[drron]

Back to the club for the usual drinks and snacks. The night's hot offerings were their excellent Tom Yum soup and Southern Fried Chicken.




Now to the buffet offerings. always a choice of 3 dips. Tonight beetroot hummus, hummus and guacamole. All very good.








Pastrami and hams.




Cheeses.


Sushi and condiments.

 

[drron]

The dips.






Then I decided n the middle eastern hot dish. Ouzi lamb shank.


Salads and pickles.










desserts.

 

[drron]

Back to the room and the lights looked good, It rained each night with thunder and lightning but it was a bit later this night,

 

[zig]

From following your TRs I know how much you enjoy your walks, so it is great to read that you are hitting your strides again.
So its not 'run Forest run', its walk drron walk...

 

[drron]

Unfortunately the weather gods are going to intervene, after Wednesdays effort I was looking forward to going to HKG tomorrow and getting a couple of walks in there. but today a typhoon has formed east of the Phillipines. Due to pass a bit south of HKG but heavy rain predicted for our time there.
As well we had booked lunch at Gaddis as we ate there frequently in the late 70s and the 80s. last week an email about them putting on a special opera dinner so lunch was off so they could prepare the restaurant. Two days later lunch was back on but moved to midday and had to be out by 2.30pm.
Tonight though an email saying they won't be open Monday due to the typhoon.

 

[CMA222]

"....... I had only said I would like to book for 4 when the woman said is that you drron? When we arrived one of the staff asked if we had a booking and the woman behind him said that is drron...."

"Again great recognition from the staff and my first G&T and Mrsdrron's Sav Blanc appeared quickly without needing to order them."

DYKWIA !!

 

[drron]

Things are looking brighter Not only the typhoon has passed without too much problem but Gaddis have been able to rebook us for lunch on Tuesday. So back to Bangkok.

Breakfast the next morning and rather thab healthy fruit i start with a plate of protein with tomatoes.


The breakfast buffet.

 

[drron]

More of breakfast.









And I found a new favourite Middle Eastern dish - halawa. beautiful.










And my hot selection eggs Benedict.

 

[drron]

Thursday was a day for indulgence. We booked for lunch at Paste which is in the mall connected to the IC. We first went there during it's soft opening in 2013 where we met @RooFlyer for the first time. Now all of us renowned gourmands thought it was pretty good. no wonder it has gone from strength to strength and now holds 2 Michelin stars.
Across the road is Central world.


The restaurant is reasonably large but basically screened off from other guests.


Start with a juice lemongrass being one ingredient.


Mrsdrron had a half bottle of a Sav blanc and I a coughtail - kiss the Dragon. I was too slow for the show. It is served in a bubble which bursts and releases smoke.


The amusee bouche. great presentation and it tasted good too.


Two entrees. First taro tart with prawn and young puffed rice.


And hokkado scallops with sea urchin, longan and young coconut.




For mains it was waygu striploin with bone marrow and tamarinf nam jin jaew on the side as mrsdrron doesn't do spicy.






And 31 herb Thai omelette with blue swimmer crab not only on top but lots inside as well.


Plus some rice.


We looked at the dessert mnu but we were too full.


But still had the petit fours.






We really liked it. All up the cost was ~ $A400.

 

[drron]

Naturally at Happy hour we didn't eat much but the drinks flowed as usual. Mushroom soup, lamb shank and massuman beef.






Then slept soundly.

 

[RooFlyer]

We really liked it. All up the cost was ~ $A400.

Looks fabulous. And that's not a bad price in absolute terms.

 

[drron]

Friday and I decided to turn Japanese at breakfast. not too bad at all.


At lunch time we walked over to Central World as Mrsdrron wanted a new bag at Na Ra Ya. Apparently 200 bags are not enough. There was a kids festival outside.






As we were there we decided to go to Nara for lunch. They give you a complimentary offering but way too spicy for Mrsdrron.


We shared a pomelo salad which was excellent as usual and also a Pad Thai with river prawn. I thought I had taken a photo of that but apparently not.


Again not really hungry at Happy hou so only the small dish of fried snapper.


Now on Friday nights they have a Saxophone Player.


Now it must be it is not that popular though we think he is pretty good. The drinks start at 5.30pm and most like to sit near window. This was the area at ~ 6.30pm.


There was only 1 person sitting out there whilst normally there is no chance of getting a table there after 6pm. We have never seen that before.