More Guess Girls...
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More Guess Girls...
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Here are (most) of the new Guess Bar staff taken this week
everyone needs money when they travel and the exchange rates are important, especially now that the Thai Baht is kicking the USD's *ss, today it is the strongest it has been in 10 years. (omitted political statement about US economy goes here.)
if it is only a few bucks, euros, yen, Ozzy, HK or SG dollars, etc no need to fret, but if you are planning on spending a few hundred or a few thousand it is suggested you convert it all at once and save.
Vasu on Sukhumvit, under the BTS station on the ODD side of the street is great for this.
always a few more points than a bank and they also are one of the few places you can convert it back to whatever you want, before going to the airport (the airport rates suck, coming and going. but always keep a few thousand Baht for the taxi, airport tax and food while hanging out in the departure lounge. BTW, do not attempt to say the name of this airport as it is spelled, no one will have a clue what you are referring to. it is pronounced Soo-WANA-Boom (+/-).
i suggest when you arrive at the airport, you change only enough to get you into town and to your hotel and then Vasu. if you arrive at night and plan on going out, still only change the minimum at the airport and change the rest in town. Soi 7 has a good Siam Commercial Bank exchange booth and the booth in the front of the Landmark Hotel is open until 10:00 pm. if you arrive late, then you will need enough until morning.
ALWAYS AVOID CHANGING IN A HOTEL, THE RATES ARE IN THE STRATOSPHERE.
keep your extra cash in your hotel in-room-safe (if there is one) or deposit box. when putting valuables into a safe box i always take a digital picture of it with my camera or phone. just a good back up.
also, make copies of your passport and visa stamp, in color, and carry them, not the passport. if you need it, or get checked, that will suffice. if they insist, you just go with them to your safe and get the original.
you are not at home, you may get checked and it is hassle free this way. many times it is the Taxi driver who they are checking and you get caught up in that crap. but also, many times they wil let him pass because you are in the car. 50/50, never know what will happen. plus, it always is a good thing to have copies, especially the entry visa. that way if you lose or wash your documents, you have a great copy to help you get them reinstated with less hassle. i also store these document scans in my email account, then they are always accessible anywhere.
have fun, travel safe, and be polite.
this post is an attempt to offer some good information on a few BKK businesses that may be of interest to punters who are in or near the Nana area for an extended holiday.
all of these businesses are known to me for years, they are stable, and none have ever done me wrong. however, each person must judge for themselves upon arrival and make their own choices, obviously.
i have also attached the business cards that I do have in order to make it easy for you once you do arrive and you hit the bricks.
1. not far from Nana is a shopping area that used to be known as the World Trade Center, it is now called Central World, good shopping, but then all of BKK is good for shopping. across the street from Central World, and a block or so up going towards Petchburi Rd. and into the Soi (street) another block or so (show someone the card for directions) is another money changer like Vasu. it is known as Super Rich. now be careful because there are with the same name. go to the one on the card. the other is a family member who chose to split from the rest of the family due to some argument about hope to conduct business. BRING YOUR PASSPORT, you may need it for the money exchange. this is if you are changing a lot of money at one time, otherwise, not worth all the traveling around.
2. J Travel. this is if you want to book travel arrangements, a tour or a rental or all of them together. the owner is Khun Raywadee, talk to her direct if you can. her English skills are great, and she has always gotten me the best deals. if you give her enough notice, a day or two, she can really do some research and get the best deal available. if you stay so long that you need to go on a visa run so you can stay longer in Thailand she can help book you a trip to SG or Penang. if you choose Penang see the next listing for info on a good visa agent there on Chulia Street. Most folks do not like Penang but it can become a necessary evil for visa runs. Raywadee is honest and good.
3. Parvez Book Store. actually their main business is getting your passport to the Royal Thai Consulate, getting the visa and getting it back to you. try to arrive in Penang before noon. Go straight to Parvez and fill out the form. if at all possible get you r pictures in BKK before you leave. most photo shops in BKK do these up in 20 minutes or less and they are about $2.50 USD/80 THB. if you wait until you get to Penang, you will have unwanted delays. this experience is a 2 day affair. Parvez will get you your passport back by noon or so the next day, enough time to make the ferry to the train, or catch the afternoon flight to BKK. it is also possible, depending on your budget, to go to SG, on Air Asia, and do the entire thing in a day if all you need is a visa on entry. then it is just a trip there, turn around and come back in one day, but that is more expensive. for more info on visa runs, go to Thai VisaForum.com (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php? ) and look around. it is the bible on this stuff.
4. if you want to have some very nice hand tailored clothes or suits made, New Landmark Boutique is a sure bet. It is a father son shop, Lucky is the son (he is in charge) and Alan is the dad, he lets Lucky do as he pleases. everything i ever bought from them has garnered praise from those who see me wearing it. they make anything, for anything climate. if you go there when you have a few days to let them cut your cloth, they will insist on at least 3, if not 5, to make it all perfect. if you rush them, it is still ok, but more like a suit of the rack. further they will not show you one fabric and then you as inferior one like many BKK tailors do. the best thing is they are on the corner of Soi Nana about 50 meters form the plaza. he is so reputable that he flies to Europe a few times a year to see his customers and fit them for additional garments. this is a rarity amongst BKK tailors. WARNING: these guys really know how to up-sell, so watch your budget and do not let them talk you into too many things if you cannot afford them or do not want them. i know guys who go in for a shirt or two and come out with 2 suits, an overcoat and half dozen shirts. LOL all nice, but not what they intended to do.
5. Sherazade Egyptian Restaurant. (no business card, sorry) Sukhumvit Soi 3/1. Go into the soi and pass one alley on the left and they will be on the left before you pass the second alley. This could possibly be one of the best restaurants in the world. you read that correctly, IN THE WORLD. if you like Arabic food they are open 21 hours a day from 8:00 am to 05: am. They serve Egyptian, Indian, Pakistani and Thai foods. ALL OF IT IS GOOD! Not as cheap as some, but by no means is it expensive by BKK standards and it is cheap by world standards. THEY ARE MUSLIMS AND THERE IS NO BOOZE SOLD OR BROUGHT ONTO THE PREMEISSES. I have never seen this place empty, never, and that is uncommon in most cities around the world. if you go very late, after the bars close, the place will be teeming with Arabs socializing. that is an education in itself. it may be hard to get a Thai person to go with you, as they usually abhor Arabic cuisine, but the Thai food is as good as anywhere and they can order that.
I suggest the hummus, babaganoush, lentil soup (it is enough for 2), anything Tika style, for salad order the Fatoosh and any grilled items like lamb pieces or mixed grill. for Indian food I suggest the rice dishes, Birahni or Palao with chicken, lamb or shrimp. i prefer the whole wheat Chapattis for bread, but their garlic or butter Nan breads are great. End the meal (if it is not Ramadan) with a Turkish coffee, sweet. let the coffee sit for 5 minutes before you drink as the coffee grounds are in the cup and need to settle. no hot beverages are served during Ramadan. for desert have the milk custard with ground almond topping, i always have two myself.
Do not be afraid to go to this street because it is Arabic. They will welcome you with open arms. Just be polite, do not bring booze into the street and behave like you were a guest anywhere. most of these Arabs are there to get away and have a good time like you are doing. no one has time for the world’s b*llshit or politics on this street, it is a pace to eat and relax. If you are a smoker you can stop off in a sidewalk place and smoke a true hookah for a few baht a toke. this is not dope; it is dried fruit and other stuff. but it will give you a buzz if you really pull on it. many Thai girls (GG) are seen here smoking for hours, as well in Pattaya‘s Arab sector.
6. Suda Thai Restaurant, Sukhumvit Soi 14. Walk into the soi and it is right in front of you. open air with big fans. if you go at noon time you will not get a seat as all the local Thai business people are there eating their rice. that is a good sign of quality. they are also one of the only places listed in the Lonely Planet Guide. it is packed all the time except mid-afternoon. Service is slow because there is basically only one chef with a one burner stove. It is the same guy for over 15 years that I know of the place. If it is busy, he will wait until he has several orders for the same thing and then make them all at once. He will not prepare you r meal in total, or anyone else’s. it is well worth the wait and the dis-jointed service. most of the wait-trons are y high school girls who live and work there to pay for their schooling. They are not pros, they are school girls. Be patient, it is worth it. It is not True Thai, it is Thai – Chinese. NOT THE SAME.
suggested dishes: chicken cashew, it is in a red curry sauce like you have never seen. this is a signature dish for them and it is not like anywhere else. baby clams in chili paste. chicken in toei leaves. yum pla mook, warm squid salad. yum nua, grilled steak salad. the wet dishes like tom yum kung, piquant shrimp soup or tom khaa gai, chicken and mushrooms in coconut milk are both superb. the menu is as long as Mint’s you know what, so be prepared to eat if that is what you want.
being a Buddhist owned establishment there is no problem for booze here. big tall bottles of cold Singha or Heineken beer or flasks of Thai whiskey are cheap and awesome. They close/stop taking orders around 10:00 pm. I suggest afternoon about 2 or 3 pm. Faster service, and no crowd. It is hot though, but then again it is BKK. Suda’s is moderately priced, and well worth the dosh for a nosh.
7. further down Sukhumvit, about 10 minutes by taxi, maybe 50 or 60 THB from Nana, at the mouth of Soi Thonglor (Sukhumvit 55, there is a BTS Station there) is also great for street vendors, some of the best in the downtown area. walk around; both sides of the street, use the BTS cross over, do not go into the traffic unless you want to go home in a box!) mid day to early morning. the vendors change throughout the day. this is where locals and working girls go after partying. small dishes and cheap. this is the real Thai food at its best. Thonglor is a very upscale street and all the vendors cater to the nuevo riche who live there. try the khow maan gai, chicken with rice that is cooked with the chicken broth and fat. a very small portion but awesome, order two if you want more. also, khow kaa moo, braised pork knuckle in anise sauce, Chinese style. lots of cholesterol means lots of flavor for this item.
8. if you want to experience a real Thai neighborhood late at night go even further to Phrakanong, also a BTS station there, Sukhumvit Soi 71. into the soi about 2 blocks, starting at Pridi 3 (Pree-dee Sam for the taxi) is a 2 block area that is just packed out with street food. this is all true Thai and all awesome. i know girls who live in other neighborhoods who go here after work just to get food to take home. the neighborhood is predominantly lower-middle class and that means lots of service/bar workers late at night on their way home. it is all here, all of it. walk up and down the block first, see what looks good. order by pointing and have the best Thai food of your life.
punters tend to stay in the Nana area after bar hopping because it is close by and they do not know where to go. Phrakanong is not that far, maybe 60 or 70 THB by taxi and it is fantastic and also a great photo-op too.
if you are not one to eat very spicy food tell them you want it mai-phet, not hot. if you want authentic Thai, and you are asked about the heat factor, say ahan tamada, regular food. You really do not want to tell a Thai chef to make it hot, unless you have a death wish. if you are a vegetarian the term is hahan jay, hahan is food. now the Thai idea of vegetarian is not the same as it is in other places, it never is the same anywhere. When you tell a Thai chef ahan jay, he will not only leave out the flesh, but also the chili and garlic, these are considered stimulants and vegetarianism is associated with religious practice, not diet per se. so if you want those you better start taking Thai language lessons. LOL
these are all street stalls and across from the Pridi 3 and Pridi 5 area is a soi called Soi Sangthip. Another great place but these are open air shop house restaurants. Most are good, this is a bedroom community for Thais, they demand good food, and it is their life’s blood.
as you enter Soi Sangthip on your immediate left, just past the fruit vendor and the mini-mart is a woman who sells hoy tord, a classic Thai dish that is not easy to make and is always a family secret handed down through the ages. it is a grilled oyster and mussel “omelet”, no eggs, it is taro flower batter. fresh, crispy and out of this world, i usually eat 2. If she is busy she may rush the process and not get it really crisp for u, she figures you do not know better, so tell her when you order you want if “grob-maak”, extra crispy, or suk-suk, well done. It is topped with fresh bean sprouts and comes with a side of Sauce Sri Racha, Thai tobacco.
if you walk well into the soi you will come to the Green Garden Restaurant (see business card below). It is an air conditioned house, uncommon. the chef is a young guy form the Chiang Mai hotel sector. He is an incredible chef who is obsessed with fresh and tasty; he is truly a slave to his craft. his girlfriend/wife, used to be a hotel waitress, she takes care of your order. they open at 5 or 6 pm and stay open until very late. he is also obsessed with metal rick and he plays the Scorpions all night long on the video. everyone tolerates the metal for the food. his cashew chicken is also great, but traditional in style. all his seafood is right off the boat and of course, true to the name, the vegetables are everywhere here. his soups are good and his whole fish dishes are fantastic, either deep-fried with sweet chili sauce or steamed with garlic and chili are what i go for.
it is small, maybe 8 tales, and younger couples meet there for a long eat and drink, his tables turn over slowly for a reason, no one want s to leave the metal or the soup.
Soi Sangthip has one place that I go to for one dish only, kana moo grob. this is known to Americans as Chinese broccoli with crispy pork. It is the pork belly that has been air-dried and then deep-fried to put an incredibly crunchy crust on it. they stir-fry the kana and sauce first and then simply toss the pork chunks into the dish art the last second and turn off the heat, this leave the pork glistening in sauce, yet delightfully crunchy. this has a bit of fresh chili so be warned. the best place for that on Sangthip is on the right going in about 4 or 5 shops, right next door to the open air donut and bakery shop. good banana bread there i might add. you will see the guy in the street cooking. he will be hunch over and twitching like crazy as he goes about his task. He is another crazy chef possessed by his cuisine. he and his wife can appear to be rude they are just overworked and as fired as the pork is. they are open in the afternoons and early evenings and they are very cheap on pricing. his cashew chicken isn’t too bad, but there are others I prefer more.
NOTE: his steamed rice is way above par. he spares no cost, apparently, for the raw product, many do not. Rice is the vehicle for all the other food so this is important. It is akin to not having good dough for pizza or good bread for a sandwich. rice is life and this guy knows it.
also, I must mention another shop house eatery that is an afternoon and evening place. it is back across the street in Pridi 3, about 50 meters in from Soi 71, the second (i believe) restaurant in from the corner. look for an awning with a fan in it that is just covered in grease, don’t let that deter you, the food is safe and the food is great. husband and wife, open for lunch through dinner time, about 9 pm. He makes a variety of cashew chicken that is also uncommon. each item is first fried separately and then they are combined in the sauce; a lot of vegetables that you would not tend to see in a cashew chicken. his kana moo gob is excellent as is his clams in chili sauce with Thai basil. His soups are fantastic. another local place packed out at lunch and dinner time. many Thai policemen and businessmen and delivery guys hag here in mid-afternoon; hiding from work, drinking way too much, and eating continuously.
this guy is the kind of chef who appears to be exerting no effort or expending any energy. he just goes about his chores with a totally peaceful mind, like a Zen master. this positive energy of his goes into the food, and that is what makes it so great. he too is also a perfectionist, and he makes it all look so easy. if you have a free afternoon, not lunch time, take the BTS to Phrakanong station, and walk 5 minutes to this place. just ask for directions to Pridi 3. It is a left at the Family Mart, a right at the first corner just past the snooker hall, and about 100 meters towards Soi 71 on the left.
in closing i would just like to say that i have been eating on the street here for 18 years and I have only gotten food poisoning once and that was a stupid move on my part. It was a Wednesday and that used to be the day that vendors were ALL off the streets, it was their day off and the day the city cleans up the sidewalks. i stopped at a cart that was only there for the day, the food was sitting around in the heat, and as i said, i should have known better.
i suggest if you like to eat a lot when you travel, get the Lonely Planet Thai food book. It has a great section for pointing to Thai words and English translations. believe me, the locals are used to our antics and they just laugh and carry on, but you get what you want.
also, if you are reading a menu and you ask a the server a question, and their English is poor or non-existent, they will think you are ordering and whether you like it or not, it will probably be served to you and they won’t take it back. i will leave you now with this crazy story of an Aussie guy who asked a lot about the menu and was then served 8 dishes and he was alone; no one stopped to think he would probably not eat it all himself.
more good BKK businesses.
i forgot to mention above that BKK is good for dental, see card below.
cheap, painless and very professional.
map to dentist
just in case your lady's so hard you break a tooth on her bone. :)
(just a friendly joke. i couldn't resist).
Bkk
Bkk
what kind of camera are you using?Quote:
Originally Posted by Katoey-Thaiger
good pix and not too much flash burn out or red eye.
and, are not some of these GG?
if not, amazing lookers one and all.