RSS Feed (xml)
Σάββατο 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2010
Κυριακή 12 Σεπτεμβρίου 2010
Σάββατο 7 Αυγούστου 2010
Bangkok Rooftop Bars and Restaurants...
Bangkok Rooftop Bars and Restaurants
Bangkok is home to some excellent rooftop bars and restaurants with great views of the city. Although drinking or dining at some of these venues can be expensive by normal Thai standards, the experience is unique enough to make it a justifiable extravagance for your trip to Bangkok. Enjoy a Siam Sunrays cocktail as the sun sets on the Thai capital and enjoy great rooftop views of Bangkok. The majority of these venues have a smart-casual dress code so forget about the sandals and shorts.Moon Bar and Vertigo @ Banyan Tree
Even if you’re not scared of heights, one look at the seemingly flimsy perimeter fencing on the rooftop might give you cause to worry! That aside, the views over Lumpini Park and downtown Bangkok are superb and the Vertigo Grill has earned a good reputation over the years for the quality of its food. Not a cheap place to drink or dine, but certainly a memorable one. Location: Banyan Tree Hotel, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok
Nearest Skytrain: Lumpini
Stay at the Banyan Tree, Bangkok »
Baiyoke Sky Hotel
The tallest hotel in Thailand houses the country’s highest entertainment venue with the revolving rooftop bar on the 83rd floor. The Baiyoke Sky Hotel is 309 metres high and if the rooftop bar isn’t to your taste, try the Bangkok Sky Restaurant on the 76th floor or the Crystal Grill on the 82nd floor. Even if you aren’t going there to eat or drink, you can still buy a ticket to visit the observation deck on the 77th floor for fantastic 360° panoramic views of Bangkok.Location: Baiyoke Sky Hotel, 222 Ratchaprarop Road, Bangkok
Nearest Skytrain: Phya Thai
Stay at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Bangkok »
The Dome and Lebua at State Tower
Bangkok’s second highest building hosts a number of bars and restaurants with different names and themes. When the Sirocco restaurant opened for business it had the distinction of being the world’s highest open-air restaurant. A small staircase leads from the restaurant up to the circular Sky Bar (pictured right). The setting is spectacular with views over Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. This is a popular venue for well-to-do Thais as well as overseas visitors and is one place where dress codes are more likely to be adhered to. Expect to be scrutinized by the staff before you’re even allowed in the lift that takes you to the top floor. Definitely worth the effort for a cocktail at sunset. If it does rain, diners are moved inside to the level just below the rooftop. The top floor also has an oyster bar and the Distil Bar for whisky connoisseurs or you can reserve a table at the Breeze restaurant with its stunning glass walkway. Location: The Dome, Lebua at State Tower, 1055 Silom, Bangkok
Nearest Skytrain: Saphan Taksin
Stay at Lebua, State Tower »
The Nest @ Le Fenix Hotel
The Nest rooftop bar might not be as high up as some of its competitors, but what it may lack in height it makes up for with personality. Featuring padded hammocks and ultra-cosy ‘nest’ shaped seats, the bar also has the benefit of a 160ft retractable roof for when it rains. If the skies are clear you will enjoy 360° city views. The venue sometimes hosts club music nights popular with a younger crowd and the Nest is a popular starting point before heading off to the nearby Q Bar or the Bed and Supper Club. Location: Le Fenix Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 11
Nearest Skytrain: Nana
Stay at Le Fenix Hotel, Sukhumvit, Bangkok »
The Long Table
This popular restaurant takes its name from the centre-piece teak dining table that is supposedly the longest dining table in the world which is 25 metres long and seats up to 70 people. The restaurant is indoors on the 25th floor, but floor to ceiling windows give impressive views. The windows open on to a wide outdoor terrace with unobstructed 180° views of the Bangkok skyline. Popular on Friday and Saturday nights with Bangkokians and advance booking may be required on these nights.Location: 25th Floor, 48 Column Residence Building, Sukhumvit Soi 16 (Sammit)
Nearest Skytrain: Asoke
Millenium Hilton
The enclosed 360° rooftop lounge on the 32nd floor of the Millenium Hotel provides some of the best views over Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River. The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic. A great venue for cocktails with the accompaniment of some mellow jazz music in the background.Location: 123 Charoen Nakorn Road (Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River)
Nearest Skytrain: Krung Thonburi
Stay at the Millenium Hilton Hotel, Bangkok »
Gazebo
Gazebo bar and restaurant has two locations in Bangkok: Khao San Road and Sukhumvit. Both venues have a Moroccan theme and as well as food and drink, live bands entertain the crowds with a mix of Thai and Western music. The rooftop terrace is a feature at both locations. Look out for promotional nights and discounts, but generally speaking expect to pay approximately 200 Baht for a cocktail, 150 Baht for a small beer and 70 Baht for a soft drink or coffee. Entrance after midnight is usually charged at 300 Baht.Khao San Road Location: 44 Rooftop, Chakkrabong Road (just round the corner form Gulliver’s Tavern where Khao San Road meets Chakkrapong Road).
Nearest Skytrain: none within comfortable walking distance
Sukhumvit Location: Rooftop, Building 1, Sukhumvit Soi 1
Nearest Skytrain: Ploenchit
Rib Room & Bar @ Landmark Hotel
The rooftop steak-house and bar on the 31st floor of the Landmark Hotel has seating for just 64 diners. Expect a pleasant ambiance with subtle background music and good views over the city.Location: Landmark Hotel, 138 Sukhumvit Road
Nearest Skytrain: Nana
Stay at the Landmark Hotel, Bangkok »
photos from Agoda, Bangkok hotels
Related Articles:
Singha Beer...
Singha Beer
It is true to say that Thailand is better known for its food rather than its beer, but there are a number of locally produced beers that visitors might enjoy during their trip to Thailand. One of these is Singha beer which is often marketed as being the national beer of Thailand with the tagline, ‘beer Singha, beer Thai’.How to Pronounce the Name Singha
The word Singha refers to the mythical golden lion which can be seen on the front of bottles or cans of the brew. In the Thai language, the word for this creature is pronounced ’sing’ without the ‘ha’ at the end. It is just in the Romanized version that it is written as Singha or Singh. Incidentally, the Thai word for lion (of the type you would see at a zoo or in Africa) is sing-dtoo.The History of Singha Beer
The creator of Singha beer was Boonrawd Sreshthaputra who was born in Thailand in 1872. Boonrawd was educated at home by his father until the age of 11 before completing his schooling at the local temple where he was taught by monks. Boonrawd worked as a teacher and as a clerk before opening a small ferry business in Bangkok. He had the idea of making a Thai-made beer and visited Germany and Denmark to learn more about the brewing skills he would need. Boonrawd realized his dream in 1933 when the first bottle of Thai beer, Singha, was produced by his Boon Rawd Brewery. The Thai entrepreneur went on to become involved with a number of charities and became a member of the Siamese aristocracy with King Rama VI bestowing him the title Phraya Bhirom Bakdi. He died in 1950 aged 78, but the Boon Rawd Brewery remains privately owned and the founding family still hold a majority shareholding.How Strong is Singha Beer?
Singha is a lager beer brewed with barley and malt and comes with a 5% alcohol-by-volume tag (formerly 6%). There is also a lighter version, Singha Light, which is 3.8%.Ordering a Singha Beer in Thailand
If you are in a tourist area it’s common to hear visitors asking for a ’singer beer’ and the person serving will almost certainly understand the request. However, the correct pronunciation in Thai is ‘bia sing’. If you listen to a Thai person order you may hear them say, ‘ao bia sing’ with the addition of the polite ‘khap’ or ‘ka’ at the end of the request. The person serving may ask if you want a small (lek) or large (yai) bottle (kluat). The Thai way to drink beer is usually in a glass with ice and if you are in a restaurant rather than a bar, ice (nam-kheng) will normally be provided for your table in an ice-bucket. In some bars and pubs in Thailand, Singha is available on draft, but more commonly it is sold in bottles. Putting ice in your beer may be sacrilegious to some people, but on a hot night in Thailand it can be very refreshing and is worth a try at least once during your trip.Prices vary, but in an average bar or pub expect to pay approximately 70 to 100 Baht for a small bottle of Singha. You can buy Singha in cans or bottles more cheaply from supermarkets or 7-Eleven stores if you fancy a quiet drink on the balcony of your hotel or in your guest-house room.
acknowledgements: Boon Rawd Brewery
Land of Smiles...
Land of Smiles
Thailand is famously known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, and for good reason. But a Thai smile does not automatically mean that the person is happy. This can lead to misunderstandings between Westerners and Thais.Here is an example from my second trip to Thailand. I was in an internet cafe near Sukhumvit in Bangkok. The American man at the computer next to me spent an hour typing away only for his computer to crash. Understandably, he was frustrated at losing whatever it was he had been working on. He explained to the shop owner that the computer had crashed and asked if she could retrieve what he had been working on. The lady shop owner spoke good English and apologised for the inconvenience. After quickly assessing the computer was, in her words, ‘kaput’, she smiled at the man and told him that he would not have to pay. The man then said that he had wasted an hour of his time. The lady again smiled and offered him a free fruit shake. The man was still upset and raised his voice and said that a free fruit shake did not make up for the fact that he had wasted an hour of his time.
This time the lady smiled even more broadly than before and simply said ‘Yes.’ Each time the lady shop owner smiled, the more irate the American customer became. He eventually stormed out of the shop cursing about Thailand being a Third World country. The Thai lady continued to smile.
The Thai woman’s smile was initially a smile of apology which turned into a smile of embarrassment. The American man had misunderstood it as a sign of indifference and unhelpfulness. Living in Thailand I have since witnessed many occasions where British people, Germans, Australians etc. have misinterpreted the Thai smile as a sign that they are being mocked. In Thailand, the smile isn’t just a sign of happiness. Thais smile when they are amused, bemused, apologetic, annoyed, uncertain, wrong, furious or embarrassed. In fact, there is a Thai smile to cover just about every circumstance and it is no wonder that it can lead to confusion. It is common for Thai television to show pictures of criminals in handcuffs being taken back to the scene of their crime where they are photographed and filmed. Not only do the policemen smile, but so too do the criminals! Believe me, they are not smiling at the thought of spending the next ten years of their life in a Thai prison.
Very often though, the Thai smile is a welcoming one. There is a definite attitude in Thailand that life should be enjoyed. Being too serious is unhealthy and causes stress and illness - ‘not think too much, be happy’ Thai people advise me. It’s good advice.
Being Polite...
Being Polite
Good manners are important in Thai society, but politeness isn’t always demonstrated in the same way as it is in many other countries. Although there is a Thai word for ‘please’ (karuna) it isn’t used in the same way as it would be in the West and you needn’t worry about using it.Khop Khun (Thank You)
Similarly, a smile is used in many circumstances instead of saying ‘thank you’ (khop khun). As a foreign visitor you won’t be expected to know all the intricacies of the Thai social system and saying ‘thank you’ in English accompanied by a smile is universally understood throughout Thailand.Khap and Kha
If you want to use the Thai words for thank you then you should add an extra word depending on whether you are male or female. A woman should say khop khun kha and a man should say khop khun khap (to be extra polite khap becomes khrap, but in everyday speech the latter isn’t used as much). It might seem confusing at first because there is no English equivalent for the words khap and kha. In effect they are similar to using intonation in English and convey feelings rather than meaning. They should also be used when saying hello or goodbye in Thai, which then becomes sawatdee khap (spoken by a man) or sawatdee kha (used by women).If you listen to Thai people speak you may hear kha or khap used throughout the conversation as they are also used at the end of sentences when extra politeness is required.
The Thai Smile
If in doubt, smile. It might seem a glib comment, but the smile is used in so many social situations and will garner goodwill. Even if you are hot and bothered try to smile whenever you interact with Thai people. It doesn’t mean you have to walk around with a permanent grin on your face, but smiling is non-confrontational and can make a lot of difference in the way you are treated in Thailand.Don’t Raise Your Voice
A quietly spoken and calm manner is also appreciated by Thai people. All the guide books will tell you not to shout or lose your temper and it is seen as impolite if you do so. Always try to be jai yen. Getting involved in a heated conversation, shouting or being too forceful will only result in the opposite effect you want to achieve.Respecting Buddha Images...
Respecting Buddha Images
Wherever you go in Thailand you will see Buddha images and it doesn’t matter how small, old or what state of disrepair it may be in, the image is still sacred. Standing on an old Buddha statue to have your photograph taken is one of the most disrespectful things that you can do in Thailand because you are placing the lowest (the feet) upon the highest (Buddha). That’s not to say that you can’t photograph Buddha images because you can, but you have to display some respect and courtesy. As photogenic as some of the giant Buddha images are, don’t let your children or anybody else climb onto them for that perfect photo opportunity and also you shouldn’t really use Buddha images as part of a portrait photo. It’s perfectly acceptable to have your photo taken in front of a wat (temple), but disrespectful to pose against a Buddha image.The images of Buddha serve as a prompt or an aid to remind people of the teachings of Buddha. The images themselves are not religious idols and don’t represent any god. When a Thai person wais or kneels in front of a Buddha image it isn’t an act of worship, it’s more an act of respect for the Buddha and his teachings.
For all this talk of respect, it should be pointed out that there have been a number of cases of Thai thieves stealing Buddha images for monetary gain. This is of course seen as almost the lowest of the low, but most Thai Buddhists will take the attitude that the thieves will get the punishment they deserve in the next life.
It is possible to buy Buddha images in Thailand, but strictly speaking it is illegal to take them out of the country unless you have the proper legal paperwork. Many retailers won’t advise you of this, but in reality if it isn’t an antique and it is small enough to go into your hand baggage it shouldn’t be a problem. Nevertheless, please be aware of the law and if you do have a Buddha image at home, it is respectful to position it in a raised position (i.e. not on the floor).
Visiting Thai Temples...
Visiting Thai Temples
Visitors to Thai temples (wats) may find the atmosphere surprisingly relaxed as they often serve as local community centres. Within the temple grounds children can sometimes be seen playing games of football or basketball and monks may engage you in conversation.However, there are some important things to note before visiting any wat and particularly before entering the main hall (bot) where the main Buddha image is housed.
Always take off your shoes and hat before entering the temple (and indeed any room where there is a Buddha image). Even if there is no sign in English, this should be fairly obvious from other shoes already lined up outside. If you have removed your hat, don’t place it on top of your shoes because of the association between the head (high status) and feet (low status).
It’s also bad manners (and bad luck) to place your foot on the raised threshold of the wat. Always take care to step over it. This applies to every building in Thailand that has a raised threshold which is traditionally there to keep out evil spirits.
Inside the wat, keep your head lower than Buddha images and monks. Don’t point the bottom of your feet at Buddha images or monks; this is why you will see Thai people kneeling down with their feet tucked behind them.
Dress politely which means, at the very least, covering your knees and shoulders. In reality much of it is common sense and to an extent, doing as the Thais do. If you’re not Buddhist you won’t be expected to carry out any of the religious aspects of the visit, but obviously bear in mind that local people aren’t there to provide you with photo opportunities.
If you do take photos, take them discretely and from a kneeling position. Leaving a small donation in the collection boxes will go towards the upkeep of the temple and earns merit for the donor.
All Buddha images are sacred no matter how big or small or what state of disrepair they may be in. Treat them respectfully which means no touching, climbing or using them as a backdrop for portrait photos. The Bo tree is also sacred because the Buddha achieved enlightenment whilst sitting under a Bo tree. Within the wat compound the Bo tree is usually easy to recognize by its large size and sprawling branches. Very often the tree trunk is also wrapped in a saffron robe.
Εγγραφή σε:
Αναρτήσεις (Atom)
.jpg)