Family in Bangkok

I am currently on a business trip here in Bangkok, Thailand. I flew in last Monday but this time, since Roshie is still on resting leave from a recent operation, she accompanied me on the trip together with Ethan as a small getaway.

 

Our flight was in the morning and departed as expected. Ethan was asleep most of the time throughout the duration of the flight. He fell asleep with music on his ears (through the headphones).

 

Since he was asleep, then we had time to eat the food served to us by the Philippine Airlines crew. No wiggly toddler to tend as we ate!

 

Just minutes before the initial approach to Bangkok, Ethan woke up and seems happy with what he's hearing over the headphones.

 

From the airport, we took a cab to Conrad Bangkok, where we will be staying for a few nights this week. The taxi fare and toll fees costs around THB400 or so one-way.

 

Due to room availability I had to book for a King Bed Deluxe Corner Room, at corporate rate of THB6200++/night inclusive of breakfast and internet. It is a 53sqm of space and for us travelling as a family, it is definitely a welcomed treat. There were a couple of couches, a working desk and ample space for Ethan to move around.

 

A plush purple elephant toy was sitting on top of the bed. I was informed by colleagues that receiving this plushie nowadays has been a hit or miss at the hotel.

 

There were also some fresh fruits at the table which I ate all later on.

 

The bathroom is large and spacious as well. The separate bathtub is seating beside the window so anyone having a dip at it would have a good view of the place outside. There was a separate shower enclosure so we can do both at the same time as a family. Toiletries were complete too!

 

The view from our room overlooking the surrounding areas and some Bangkok skyline is also good.

 

coffee and mini bar counter

 

walk-in closet and storage room

 

After settling in, we took the hotel shuttle that goes to BTS Phloen Chit station back and forth. From there we took the train to Siam station (THB20). I have to show the areas around to my wife so she knows what to do when I'm at work and she's alone with Ethan.

 

From Siam, we went to see some of the malls (just browsing) and walked back towards Pratunam area. On the way, we passed by CentralWorld, a huge shopping mall in the city.

 

Roshie and Ethan

 

Ethan

 

Walking further towards Pratunam, we chanced upon some shrines at CentralWorld where passers-by and believers are offering flowers and prayers. 

 

I'm quite familiar with Pratunam as we stayed in this area near the market back in 2007 with my mom and Julie.

 

We had an early dinner at the Food Center inside Platinum Fashion Mall. We forgot that Ethan cannot take a lot of spicy food and we had a hard time finding the right food for him.

 

coconut and tom yum goong

 

spicy beef noodle soup

 

chicken with basil

 

Then we walked further towards Pratunam Market, mostly shopped on the stalls and shops outside the street. We did bought a few items, mostly clothes, as Pratunam is a garment and clothing flea market.

 

Nearby is Big C Supercenter so before we headed back to the hotel, we bought a few items at the grocery, mostly drinks and snacks. These will make me awake throughout those nights when I need to prepare for the next morning's session.

 

And before we slept, we passed by a supermarket just downstairs at Tops Market to buy something to eat as we felt a bit hungry due to super early dinner that day.

 

Our office is actually just next building connected to the complex where the hotel we are staying is so I didn't have to rush through the traffic in the morning. As I left the room Tuesday morning, Ethan is awake and is already making himself entertained in the bathtub.

 

 

We had dinner Tuesday night at KFC. I know it's a bit cheap and we could have gone somewhere else, but due to luxury of time (Ethan is sleeping being lugged around), we took the one nearest, safest and most convenient when we got dropped off by the hotel shuttle in BTS Phloen Chit station. The meal (good for a family) had nuggets, fried chicken, some fries as well as drinks. Forgot to order steamed rice though. For all, it cost THB314.

 

Unfortunately they don't serve gravy for chicken here in Thailand. Either ketchup or sweet chili sauce only. I miss the taste of KFC chicken and the gravy back home specially when I pour it over my steamed rice. Yum!!

 

 

This morning (Wednesday), before heading to the office, we had breakfast together at Café@2. The breakfast spread was complete and I didn't have a hard time choosing and eating different things daily which I hate in some hotels where I have to eat the same thing over and over again for a week. It is definitely one of the best places in a hotel I had breakfast so far, rivaling those from Shangri-La hotels.

 

They seated Ethan in a high chair and provided a kiddie plate and spoon and fork. He wasn't eating really, merely just playing.

 

After office hours, we went took the hotel shuttle again, rode the train and ultimately to BTS National Stadium station (THB20 each).

 

MBK Centre

 

Siam Paragon

 

me and Ethan

 

We had dinner at The Fifth Food Avenue inside MBK Centre and still had room for the following desert items. Yummy!

 

chocolate lava cake with ice cream

 

mango crepe with ice cream

 

Took this picture with Ethan inside the BTS train on the way back to hotel tonight.

 

When we finally get into our room, Ethan is still full of energy. He played with the long pillow, rolling it around, riding it (and repeat both).

 

I will be on a 1-day leave tomorrow for my trip extension to be with my family the whole day around Bangkok.

Serviced apartment stay in Jakarta

It's been a while since I had flew Philippine Airlines on a regional (international) flight. The last time was last October and things have changed dramatically since then, when the airline was in a middle of a transition to outsourcing its non-core services. For my flight to Jakarta last Wednesday, at least, I am happy with the food.

I took the morning flight to Jakarta, with a stopover in Singapore so as to avoid another redeye flight again, which I find energy draining specially if I'm doing engagement deliveries. From the airport, I took the service of Silver Bird Executive Taxi to the hotel, costing me IDR218200 for the trip.

 

I stayed at The Mayflower Jakarta - Marriott Executive Apartments this time. The place offered serviced apartments ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms per unit. I am booked for a Superior, 1 Bedroom Apartment, 1 King Bed at the company rate of USD132++ a night, inclusive of breakfast, internet and 2 pcs of laundry (which I didn't use). The unit is located in Indo Food Tower on its higher floors and is a unit with 80sqm of space. My apartment a separate living and dining area, as well as a small pantry area/kitchen with oven and dishwasher. There was also a ceramic cooktop but I didn't get a chance to use any of the kitchen facilities. It was weird though that they didn't provided at least a microwave oven, which would have been useful. There was even a water dispenser en-suite.

 

dining area

 

living room/entertainment area

Behind the kitchen, just as I enter the apartment, is a utility room. Inside is a washing machine available for use.

The bedroom is separated by a wall from the living room. Inside is a very comfortable king-sized bed.

There is also a working desk at the end of the bedroom.

Walk-in closet space is available between the bedroom and the bathroom.


As for the bathroom, they room had a separated tub from shower which I liked as I hate climbing a slippery tub in the morning for my shower. They provided basic toiletries too like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, etc.

 

view from the room

 

 

What's convenient in this apartment is that just on the ground level, there is a convenience store and a few dining places. As I was hungry at that time, I bought a box of siomai (steamed pork dimsum) and some drinks.

For my dinner that night, I also went to Chowking just downstairs and ordered spicy beef noodles and black gulaman. I should say the soup was indeed very spicy!!

Thursday morning, before I headed too our local office, I had my buffet breakfast, served at The Café, located at the ground floor. There were around 3 or 4 hot dishes selection and a few cereals, salad station and some sweets. Definitely no the most number I had in the hotels I've been to recently, but it was just decent enough. After all, this is a serviced apartment not a 5-star hotel.

As expected, the whole of Thursday was spent in our office with me delivering the workshop. That evening though, I went to Citywalk Sudirman and had dinner at Dapoer Prana. I had sop buntut goring (fried oxtail soup) and drink (IDR66125 for both).

Friday (yesterday) is the last day of the workshop. Like yesterday, I went to have breakfast first before going to the office by cab.

 

Last night, I had my dinner at Sumibian Yakiniku which is located nearby at the 25/f of Chase Plaza Tower. I didn't manage to take some pictures though as I was in a hurry to pack my things up as I am leaving for the airport that night too as I took the red-eye flight past midnight (very early morning today) so I can catch my classes this morning.

It was unfortunate however that I had a small mishap with Philippine Airlines which I blogged earlier today, but it's not a big deal and hope it doesn't happen to any of their other passengers. Now I'm back in Manila, and in between classes at the university where I'm teaching and feeling a bit sleepy.

Another weird experience with PR food service

Just came off from a red-eye flight from Jakarta back to Manila and is now enroute to catch the defenses of my university students. I wanted to share another queer experience with PR food service. I was just grossed on the fact that after eating the meal served, I was surprised to find out some sort of food stuck in between the unused fork (or at least I didn't use it). I usually just use spoon and very seldom touch the fork during flight meal service as the food served are usually soft.



I know it is hard to prove this by picture and you have to look closely at the fork to see it, but just as always, let's be vigilant, and hope it don't happen to anyone else. I sure do hope this is isolated, and not targetted (to me) lol.

* Also, another incident with this flight is that I was promised by the flight attendant to have my drink (diet cola) served later as she headed to the galley, supposedly to get it, after serving drinks to my seatmates as my preferred drink was out of stock. I had to nudge and remind her, as she was collecting the trash and trays after the meal, that I didn't have my drink yet, to which she was very professional and apologetic and honestly informed me she forgot it. No biggie though as I was too sleepy already at that time and she was honest enough to tell me that.