Rajtaevee

As is our usual habit when leaving Thailand, we once again spent a couple of nights in a swanky hotel before saying au revoir to the land of smiles. This time around, Brenda booked us into the five-star Lancaster Bangkok at a cost per night less than half the price of a Best Western in Canada. The hotel is equipped with a gym that rivals most health clubs and huge beds that are like sleeping on a cloud. For an extra $6.00 per person/day we enjoyed an all you can eat breakfast comprised of both Western and Asian courses.

When we spent a night here in December we remarked how quiet the city was compared to our past visits, due of course to the impact of the pandemic on the tourism sector. But now that things are getting back to normal, the chaotic traffic, the crowds and the poor air quality are ramping up to pre-pandemic levels.

Yesterday, we took a long bus ride through the city to RNG Sports Company to do some shoe shopping. We found this business online and purchased a couple of pairs of Altra running shoes from them when we were in Chiang Mai at prices far below what we would pay in Canada. We both wanted to try on some different shoes before buying them so we made it a point to visit the shop while we were here. It was a very worthwhile trip. Brenda bought a pair of Escalante 2.0 shoes, which are now discontinued, at a cost one third the price of the 2.5 version in Canada. I bought a pair of Lone Peak 4.5 trail runners at a similar discount to the 6.0 version that is now available. We then headed back downtown to hunt for a new pair of sandals for me. My Ecco sandals have seen far better days and I needed something lightweight to bring with me on our next adventure in May. For me, buying shoes in Thailand is particularly challenging. When I ask sales staff if they have a certain shoe in a size 46, they typically look down at my feet, and, amidst their chuckles, manage to say no. After unsuccesfully scouring the major malls in Chiang Mai and Phuket for something to fit my comically large feet, I finally stumbled upon Oofos sandals in a downtown Bangkok mall. They weigh nothing, are wildly comfortable, and actually fit my Sasquatch-like feet. My Ecco's are now in the Lancaster's garbage bin.

Throughout our four months here, I've often lamented to Brenda that it would be nice to find a fine-dining vegan restaurant. Until Monday, that desire had remained unsatisfied. After successfully completing all our shopping needs, standing on a street corner outside a shopping mall, Brenda Googled nearby vegetarian restaurants and came across Na Aroon, which looked like a good option for us. As it turned out, it was a great option. Housed in a 1940's villa, with teak wood floors and antique artwork on the walls, the restaurant oozes class. The food was exquisite. We started with a beautifully presented selection of Thai appetizers that included fresh spring rolls, fried tofu with peanut sauce and pomelo salad. As a main, we both chose to have one last Khao Soi for the road, which was arguably the best we've ever had....anywhere! And yes, it was pricey for Thailand but, in reality, the cost of the whole meal was less than what it would have cost for one of us at home.

We elected to walk the 2.5 kms back to the Lancaster and the route brought us to a walkway along one of Bangkok's canals. In all our trips here, this was the first time we've had the pleasure of strolling along one of the flower-lined waterways that runs through the Venice of Asia. Although there are no gondolas here, the canals are used by many commuters who travel from one point to another on water buses.

On Tuesday we have an appointment to have our noses swabbed for Covid and then we'll taxi out to a hotel near the airport where we'll spend the night in preparation for our 7:00 AM flight to Tokyo.

As I said to Brenda yesterday, despite the chaos, the crowds, the traffic and the pollution, I love Bangkok's vibe. It's a vibrant city that grabs your attention no matter which way you look. One can find pretty much anything here if you look hard enough, be it the good, the bad, or the ugly. But as much as I enjoy this city, Brenda and I find it best consumed in small, two or three day bites.Leia mais