2006 Manarom Bang Na

what so special about Bang Na ? mm.. it is in Bangkok, 1/2 an hour drive from its new Suvarnabhumi airport. It has huge exhibition & fair ground; Manarom Clinic & a 2 blocks shopping area – Central No comment on the 1st & the last, but something difference in the clinic. Pitty I forgot my camera. From the outside, I thought it was a hotel chain, because its logo remain me to nh hotel group.

After enter the main gate, a white boxy form, clean line, minimalist but soothing landscape were greeting my eyes. And for closer look, its details are amazing. Huge square shallow pool in the middle of its reception plaza, as a connection for the reception area, dining & house stair to the ward on the 1st floor. The back yard is simmilar to the front concept, green but minimalist & well manicured. The ward has generous size, wide flat screen tv & a well design bathrm. Minimalist & clean line, doesn’t mean poor in material & design. Manarom has variety floor material, even compare to 4 stars hotel in the 80′s Well done !! I didn’t feel like it was in a hospital, and its staff also didn’t wear white or light green hospital white uniform

2006 Suvarnabhumi BKK

Bangkok latest airport just opened on Oct the 1st. We’re lucky to be there on the 7th & 8th, so we witnessed how chaotic it was The cleaning service didn’t work sufficiently. Ex-construction’s dust are breathable everywhere Even on the canopy ceiling on the counter check in, dust could easily seen And they are all black. I just wonder, what will this airport look like in 2-3 yrs time ?

As normal thing happen in many new airport, bagagge handling faced big problem. Lucky we took only hand carry. Fixed signage wasn’t installed yet. Many securities or airport personals, even the staff in the information counter, only speak Thai

Pardon me for above remarks, let talks about the building. From the runway, the terminal looks like a giant caterpilar or centipede or even a Xmas log cake Look closer on the interior, it felt like in a giant hangar, so industrialist. Steel structure, steel cable, glass, bare concrete, with some resting places decorated w/ local gold gliterry. New material meet the traditionals. Contrast in harmony, definetely like the country.

One thing I always avoid to have a stopover in BKK Don Muang – old airport, because the passenger movement or people circulation was insufficient & terrible. I must sprint run from one terminal to the other, to catch my connection. Suvarnabhumi repeat Don Muang’s mistake. The terminal is too long & it doesn’t have airport train to shuttle passenger.

Outside the airport, still in the complex, I felt it was somewhere in Europe. Minus the weather & the road. All buildings were in giant steel structures, clad in alu or metal or wire mess or glass. No wood or traditional brick building around. And outside the airport fence, many Thais park their cars & have picnic. It was weekend though a free entertaintment for locals

The road to BKK was also entertaining For sure I’ve never seen as many elevated highway as here. Bridges & tripple decker flyover also busy sandwiching Perhaps land price is skyhigh, or Thais has over supply of concrete mixed just enjoy it

Meter taxis also convenience, they are all Toyota sedans, in their latest year. Either Corrola, …, or … all fully aircon & their meter also fair. Suvarnabhumi – Bangna was about 1/2 an hour drive, costed only 150 – 200 Bath, please compare to 500 Bath for the airport tax. The old Don Muang airport also pegged 500 Bath for its tax, so nothing new

There are also free scheduled buses to the city centre, but sorry we have no time to check them out Since it is a new airport, I bet they are all convenience as well

2003 Bangkok

I felt instantly at home, the traffic jam is similar to Jakarta, the narrow street behind modern tall buildings & Buddhist offering in every corner remind me to the Hindus in Denpasar, but here in bigger scale

Thais’s also friendly to foreigner. Their food, from pedestrian vendor to Michelin Stars are all amazing, this cruncy deepfried grasshooper is yummy, I even had the whole plastic bag as my snack

Bangkok is also a shopping heaven, from antiques like this beautiful statue,

to local handicraft in Mochit area,

Bangkok is 24 hrs never sleep metropolis, no matter Pat Pong now is more civilize, some dancer still showed how to pop-up a balloon w/ their “private” body organ

2004 Ayuthaya

The then Royal capital, an hour driving from Bangkok, is worthed visit. Buddha statue are everywhere & in many position.

A summer palace for today Royal Thai & also open for tourist like me