https://sparklette.net Best Singapore Restaurants, Travel and Hotel Reviews Tue, 14 Jul 2015 04:54:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.2 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/full-moon-wine-coolers/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/full-moon-wine-coolers/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 03:00:26 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=1110

Have you ever seen wine that is cheaper than water? I sure have not, until I decide to walk into a convenience store in Chiang Mai. On this trip, our hotel is conveniently located near a convenience store, manned by a local that I enjoy having little conversations with and polish up my Thai at the same time. One night, while browsing for some interesting snacks and drinks, these wine […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/full-moon-wine-coolers/feed/ 2 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/sirocco-bangkok/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/sirocco-bangkok/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:49:59 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=902

One place that I have long wanted to check out in Bangkok is Sirocco, the sky bar at lebua Hotel. What makes this bar particularly awesome is that it is perched open-air on the hotel rooftop, more than 60 floors above the ground! Imagine having a drink here with the wind in your face and the world at your feet. Now, isn’t that a thrill! There are at least two […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/sirocco-bangkok/feed/ 12 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/kaiton-pratunam-bangkok/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/kaiton-pratunam-bangkok/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:04:56 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=901

At first glance, Kaiton in Pratunam looks like any other street food vendor in Bangkok. A small stand fronts the eatery, where staff busily prepare plate after plate of food to be served to customers. Yet, beyond its nondescript facade lies possibly the best Khao Mun Kai (chicken rice) in Bangkok. Kaiton is one place where I would always make a stop at on all my trips to Bangkok. For […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/kaiton-pratunam-bangkok/feed/ 25 https://sparklette.net/beauty/collagen-beauty/ https://sparklette.net/beauty/collagen-beauty/#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:34:56 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=900

In Bangkok, I find myself constantly heading to the 7-Eleven stores to stock up on these collagen drinks. Apparently, these “Beauti” drinks are made with some form of collagen formula and promise to be chock-full of the beauty-enhancing collagen protein! The first thing that catches my eye is not the word “collagen”, but rather, the beautiful packaging of the translucent bottles. Each one is adorned with pretty orchid flowers, along […]]]> https://sparklette.net/beauty/collagen-beauty/feed/ 10 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/11-gallery-sukhumvit-bangkok/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/11-gallery-sukhumvit-bangkok/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:38:43 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=899

If you are looking for a memorable dining experience in Bangkok, head to 11 Gallery in Sukhumvit. The moment you enter the restaurant, it is as though you have walked through the gateway to old world Thailand. The waitress, clad in traditional Thai clothing with the sabai (shoulder cloth) ushers you in. You have the choice of outdoor seating amongst greenery, or indoor at the old wooden houses. For the […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/11-gallery-sukhumvit-bangkok/feed/ 8 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/koko-siam-square-bangkok/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/koko-siam-square-bangkok/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:36:32 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=898

Siam Square is an area that appeals to tourists and locals alike with its eclectic mix of shops and boutiques that sell local designer-label apparel. When it comes to chow time, aside from the big players like the Bangkok Hard Rock Café, you can also choose from small café-restaurants like Koko. Koko is a Thai eatery that caters to vegan palates, with a sprinkling of meat dishes. Most importantly, they […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/koko-siam-square-bangkok/feed/ 13 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/offshore-sukhumvit-bangkok/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/offshore-sukhumvit-bangkok/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:16:03 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=897

On a recent trip to Bangkok, I stayed in the Sukhumvit area and visited what is perhaps the best-known chippy in Bangkok – The Offshore. It is situated in Soi Cowboy, the red-light district in Sukhumvit that is notorious for its strip bars and risque shows. The Offshore first started out as a bar, and expanded into the fish-and-chips business with a unit next door. I may be wrong, but […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/offshore-sukhumvit-bangkok/feed/ 28 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-departure/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-departure/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:16:53 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=817

when we first arrived at the Bangkok suvarnabhumi international airport, I was marveled by the vast difference it was from the rundown don muang airport. At that time though, we were in a rush to start exploring the city, eager travellers that we were, and didn’t linger. Now that we were leaving (boy, do 8 days whiz right past!), we got to spend a bit of time here and grab […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-departure/feed/ 6 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-shop-eat-relax/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-shop-eat-relax/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:28:40 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=816

Our last day in Bangkok was spent shopping and using up our remaining baht, because those are no good back home. Bored of MBK and all the malls in the Siam area, we made our visit to the platinum fashion mall in petchaburi. It was an excellent choice. The mall is literally packed to the brim with hundreds of fashion shops spread over 5 or 6 levels! It’s like a […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-shop-eat-relax/feed/ 17 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-forensic-museum-wat-arun-chao-phraya-river/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-forensic-museum-wat-arun-chao-phraya-river/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:38:59 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=815

We had planned the entire day’s activities down to a tee! In the day, we would explore the sights along the Chao Phraya River. At night, we would take a dinner cruise whilst admiring the city lights! Doesn’t that sound wonderful? The bustling river runs through Bangkok and several other cities, with river taxis providing an important mode of transport for both locals and tourists alike. After travelling around on […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-forensic-museum-wat-arun-chao-phraya-river/feed/ 30 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/muang-boran-ancient-city-thailand/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/muang-boran-ancient-city-thailand/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:21:11 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=814

Muang Boran, the ancient city, is one fascinating sight that is missing from every traveller’s guidebook and website. After a day trip to this amazing park/outdoor museum, it feels as though we have toured the whole country. Honestly – and I’m not exaggerating here – Muang Boran is hands-down the best place I’ve ever visited in Thailand. First of all, the place is so huge, it is a city in […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/muang-boran-ancient-city-thailand/feed/ 46 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-5-thailand-cultural-centre-national-museum/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-5-thailand-cultural-centre-national-museum/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:15:17 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=813

Being huge fans of museums, we dedicated the day to exploring some of the museums in Bangkok. Before embarking on our cultural journey, we made a stop at MBK Center for some cake and coffee. Gateaux house is a little bakery café at the first level of the mall, near the tokyu department store. I still remember having some snacks there with my Mom during our first trip to Bangkok […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-5-thailand-cultural-centre-national-museum/feed/ 11 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-4-jim-thompson-house-suan-pakkad-palace/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-4-jim-thompson-house-suan-pakkad-palace/#comments Fri, 16 Jan 2009 04:14:52 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=812

Following a weekend of shopping and dining, it was time for some serious sightseeing. Having visited the usual sights like Grand Palace and the Floating Market, you would think that there’s nothing more to see. That might have been true if the city wasn’t filled with so much culture and diversity. But having culture and diversity is exactly the strong point of Bangkok. As a matter of fact, we paid […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-4-jim-thompson-house-suan-pakkad-palace/feed/ 10 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-3-chokchai-steakhouse-manchester-united-restaurant-bar/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-3-chokchai-steakhouse-manchester-united-restaurant-bar/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:10:59 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=811

The mornings in Bangkok are extremely cool and comfortable. When we stepped out of our hotel each morning, we would be like, whoa, chilly! Compared to the hot climate in Singapore, the 15C weather was pure bliss. That’s why shopping at Chatuchak Weekend Market in the morning feels a whole lot more bearable. Unfortunately by 10-ish, the weather gets pretty hot. So we did our last bit of shopping in […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-3-chokchai-steakhouse-manchester-united-restaurant-bar/feed/ 28 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-2-chatuchak-roadside-dining/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-2-chatuchak-roadside-dining/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:31:31 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=810

A trip to Bangkok would not be complete without a visit to Chatuchak Weekend Market. There are over 15,000 stalls packed closely together, rendering it almost impossible to comb every single one. Nonetheless, we were determined to spend not just one but both days here! This is the place where the locals shop as well. In other words, it’s where you can buy things at a steal! The variety of […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-2-chatuchak-roadside-dining/feed/ 34 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-1-arrival-in-bangkok/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-1-arrival-in-bangkok/#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:55:39 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=809

Hi guys! I’m back from my 9-day trip to Bangkok! The journey is far from over though. Now’s the time to really relive the memories and start my traditional day-to-day posts about the vacation. For a city that I’ve already visited four times, it’s amazing how there are still so many new places to explore! I had plenty of new experiences and it was a whole lot of fun through […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-1-arrival-in-bangkok/feed/ 24 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/its-time-to-come-home/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/its-time-to-come-home/#comments Sat, 18 Dec 2004 07:28:56 +0000

Alrighty, I thought since I blogged all the way from my departure for Bangkok right up to my last day in Bangkok, I might as well blog about my return trip to Singapore too. I remember waking up early Wednesday morning feeling all sad and blue as I had to leave Bangkok in a couple hours’ time. The past one week would have seem short anywhere else. But in Bangkok, […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/its-time-to-come-home/feed/ 7 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-6/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-6/#comments Thu, 16 Dec 2004 08:33:21 +0000

The day started off with me ignoring the alarm clock and waking up late. Had planned to go to Ayutthaya for the day. But when I got to the Hua Lamphong train station, it was already after noon. And if I caught the two-hour train ride to Ayutthaya anyway, it would be about 4pm on arrival while most of the temples and ruins closed at 5pm. Not much exploring left […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-6/feed/ 8 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-5/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-5/#comments Sun, 12 Dec 2004 21:49:44 +0000 http://sparklette.net/?p=236

Gosh, I can’t believe I have to leave Bangkok in two days’ time. I have already gotten so used to living in my serviced apartment, walking to the BTS station to take the skytrain, exploring the city by myself, taking pictures wherever I go, talking to random strangers, etc etc etc! But today, I saw the ugly side of Bangkok. Tuk-tuk drivers. NEVER agree when they approach you to drive […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-5/feed/ 13 https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-4/ https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-4/#comments Sat, 11 Dec 2004 22:07:20 +0000

People always seem surprised when they find out my trip in Bangkok lasts seven days. They tend to think that seven days is too long. But right now, I suspect I may have to extend my trip because there is so much more to do and so little time left. I’m seriously beginning to fall in love with Bangkok. I went to Chatuchak Weekend Market today. They have all kinds […]]]> https://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/bangkok-day-4/feed/ 5