on a ♥ w.y.m ♥: 2010

Look mom, no hands!

New City Train from the Bangkok International Airport

Look familiar? Like the Heathrow Express?

Makkasan Station (Huge and empty like our Expo!)
The express train got us from the Airport to the City Center in an impressive 15minutes!

The "Giant Swing"

Wondering why we're here?

When you've been to Bangkok as often as a typical Singaporean (at least twice), and you've been watching too much of TLC Channel's Anthony Boudain: No Reservations, then simply shopping and eating at Central World, MBK, or Platinum mall is no longer enough!

We decided to embark on a culinary adventure!

Destination Thanon Mahannop

First Stop: Shuan Shim

We completely couldn't communicate with the shop owners who are totally not used to having tourists in the area. The young lady seen in the background here initially eyed us suspiciously while the old lady at the back of the stall appeared to be super amused by us with our printed guides in hand and all the ordering by pointing. I think she was especially cracked up when we ordered "Coke" instead of "Cola" and kept laughing to herself (yes, even before I whipped out my camera). -_- haha

Meatball Soup: a little disappointing as a starter since it
tasted like normal Singapore Coffeeshop Fishball Soup

Not to be deterred, we forged ahead, continuing down the
street of supposed gastronomic wonders known only by the locals

Stop No 2. Udon Noodles

Interestingly enough, it tasted kinda like Pig's Organ Soup with Udon Noodles
The soup was both spicy and salty from the pepper and preserved cabbage,
other ingredients included pig's stomach and sesame seeds.

Cafe Boran

Extra sweet and cold Thai Ice Tea

A sure sign that we were deep into the "wilderness": Not a single shop along
Thannon Mahannop had any English Menus/Signage at all. haha

Next: A shop that has been making and selling
Mango Sticky Rice for the past 75 yrs.

Rubbing our hands together and sitting down
waiting for the dish to be prepared.

The Mango Sticky Rice quite literally left us speechless.

The glutinous rice was already tasty enough to be eaten on its on. BUT, the real magic lay in the warm coconut sauce that came in a small sachet to be poured over the mango and rice. Never have we tasted a coconut sauce so smooth, sweet and aromatic. After finishing it in two minutes, we concluded that Mango Sticky Rice would never be the same again. In one word, it was truly incomparable to any Thai Restaurant in Singapore.

ym outside the storefront, fighting the urge to go back in
and order 10 packs to bring back to Singapore.

Chotechitr, the ONLY shop where someone spoke English
Notice the sign outside has a German word Willkommen which means "Welcome".

Inside

Kaeng Som with rice

Sadly, the only stall with an English speaking owner and many English newspaper cuttings at the side saying how this Kaeng Som Curry is a must try, was quite a let down. Although interesting to have coconut slices & shrimp together a sweet & spicy clear soup, it was nothing to write home about.

On the way to our next stop, we saw many talented
students sitting around drawing buildings etc.

Last stop: Nattaporn Ice Cream (with an over 60 yr history)

Very nice, laid back atmosphere, almost feels like a beach bar

Half expected some Bob Marley/Reggae music to start floating out from an unseen speaker.

The shop's simple interior

So unassuming in appearance, the taste was smashing, and it totally blew us away!

It had the texture and consistency of typical Snow Ice deserts found in Singapore, and yet the taste was rich enough that it felt like we were eating the "meat" from a coconut that's just been in the freezer for a couple of hours.

wy happily tucking in his second bowl!

After a HOT 3 hours in the Streets of Sao Ching Cha, it was time for
some relaxation at the Sathorn outlet of Healthland Spa & Massage.

Both of us promptly fell asleep in the dark, cool Foot Reflexology room,
but here's a picture of the couples' room we used after that for our
Aromatherapy Massage

Nice little touch

And finally, a trip to Bangkok would not be complete without a seafood dinner at..
you guessed it, Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Shark's Fin Soup

And a whole lot of other cheap seafood

After stuffing ourselves and washing it down with some Chang beer, we exited the T&K Seafood Restaurant to find that the whole street had come alive with all the roadside stalls being set up and lots of people hustling for business. Time for a street side hawker dessert of Banana & Egg Prata/Crepe drizzled in condensed milk!

What a lovely way to end a wonderful day trip!

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Sunday evening was spent celebrating wy's mummy's birthday at xi yan