Bangkok: What a Trip Home!

I took a lot of pictures out the balcony this morning.

For what reason, well, there probably wasn't any, except maybe because the light was beautiful, the blue of sky was so hopeful, and in my heart I had a quiet inkling that- unlike last year- after this trip I would likely not be coming back to Bangkok anytime soon. 

I've got mixed feelings looking at these pictures now. 

On one hand I'm so thankful I have had the opportunity to appreciate this top-dollar view more than once, twice, three times. 

On the other hand, though, I wish I had been able to come here without a noose around my neck- a noose that caused me to waste two nights of despair here. 

But there's no point wishing for something that one hasn't yet have. 

There's also no point carrying on and on expressing thoughts that are existent everywhere, whether high on a balcony on Lang Suan Road, or at a table where one has just had a late lunch. 

Breakfast this morning was a thermos flask of coffee, and, because we had finished our eggs, decided we'd pack back the pumpkin toast, and Grab in a Wasabi Salmon Sourdough sandwich from Bartels instead. 

I liked it. 

The bread might not have the same crunch- unlike the Grilled Tuna Melt- but it was bouncy, it had a hint of lovely herb scent, and the sandwich was stuffed with whick slices of Norwegian salmon, a hint of wasabi, a big dollop of cream cheese, cucumber, pickled onion, dill, and fresh lettuce. I think my friend added an extra fried egg, and an extra serving of bacon. 

We had our sandwich by the pool, and can I say just how pleasant it was to be having our meal high up on the roof under Bangkok's warm sunshine as if we were at a poolside bar?

I wish I had taken a picture of the sandwich.

Instead I only have this- the paper bag, and the serviette. 

Back in the room I took a few more pictures (what this square of green is, I still don't know), packed, then checked out of the hotel, before walking out towards Chidlom and the whole area for a spot of shopping. 

Our first stop was the Big C hypermarket where this afternoon we decided to get boxes of Pocky to give out as secondary merchandise. From the same shopping center we went downstairs over to Boots where I got two bottles of mists from the Ted Baker collection. 

For lunch we headed over to the Ratchadamri branch of Go-Ang Pratunam Chicken Rice. My friend had asked whether I wanted to eat here, or go the one at Siam Paragon. 

I chose this one. 

It was nearer to Big C, and I like the feeling of going to the OG. 

Our meal today included a portion of roast chicken, a portion of steamed chicken, and, yes, two plates of rice. 

The rice is what I come to Go-Ang for, make no mistake, and I shall not be deterred by its oil, its carbs, and whatever not. 

We also ordered an extra serving of fried tofu, served with the mild version of the Thai chili sauce.

It's too good. 

Lunch over we headed over to PANDA a short walk away from Pier 111 and Moxy Ratchaprasong for our last massage of this trip.

By this time I was beginning to feel a little sad, also a little nervous (as how I always am when on the last day) but we wanted the 5+1 massage, so we got that, and even though I didn't get to really sleep, the therapists were skilled, and I felt somewhat relaxed after the 90 minutes were over.

I was ready to go back to the hotel and prep for the airport but there was still the pineapple polo bun I term the 'bye bye bun'. It's a bun my friend especially likes, in particular the generous thick slab of butter, and it's a bun we always aim to have before heading back home. 

So across the bridge over to the Central World side we went, towards Siam Paragon where from the booth at the food court, we got the bun, plus two cups of smoothies from Boost. 

My friend took the Berry Boost.

I took the Cookies and Cream. 

On the way back we stopped by the 7-11 for a few bottles of protein shakes that we wanted to bring home.

You know, going to the airport should have been a breeze. 

It has always been.

But then there are times.

And today was such a time. 

I don't even know when it was that the chaos started. 

Did it begin with the booking of the Grab? 

Did it begin when the car turned into the jammed up expressway? 

Or did it begin when we got to the airport (late) and found the check in counter closed? 

I don't know.

We had gotten a Grab to get us to Suvarnabhumi. 

The expectation was that it would take 30 minutes to 40, estimate. 

When we got the car, it was 1715 thereabouts. 

Plenty of time to get there by 1800 or 1830.

Or so I thought. 

What I hadn't expected, however, was that today, of all things, first up, the Grab would be stuck on the opposite side on Chit Lom Road. Not only was he stuck there for 10 minutes, he continued to be stuck here and there all the way as he made a U-turn onto Lang Suan Road. 

We saw his position on the map. 

For the longest time the app showed his car stagnated in traffic, and it took up to 30 minutes or more to come over this side of Lang Suan Road. 

It was nearly 1800 when the app showed him turning into Lang Suan Road. 

Now, one would expect the car to come right up to the entrance, right? 

No. 

Didn't happen.

The driver picked up the wrong passengers- they had been standing outside the driveway on the main road also heading to the airport and the driver had thought it were us. 

"On the way to the airport" we certainly were not, and had my friend not been checking the app at that very moment, we would have missed the car, would have to make another booking and would have missed our flight entirely. 

Fortunately too the security guy was standing outside the entrance at that time, he helped speak to the driver who then realized his mistake, dropped the two randoms off, and turned into the driveway.  

By then it was 1820 Thai time. 

Our flight was 2025 Thai time. 

We were supposed to be at the check in counter at Suvarnabhumi at that time, not just leaving Lang Suan Road.

But perhaps we might make it by 1900 or1915...? 

Fat chance. 

I had forgotten the extent of Bangkok's out of town traffic. 

At first it seemed okay, just the regular BKK traffic, a bit slower but still fine, then the car turned onto the highway. 

There was still a bit of jam, all right, still not so bad, but then he turned once again onto the main expressway leading to the airport, and there it was. 

The nightmare. 

Never in my life had I seen such a long stretch of red snaking out in front of me. 

Worse still, no one was moving. 

Jammed all the way. 

But we had a good driver, whom, perhaps, I have to say, was feeling apologetic, and after guessing the context of our near-shouting conversations in the back seat, used Google Translate to ask what time it was had to get to the airport. 

When we told him 1930, he gave his best. 

For the rest of the journey he switched to the faster-moving lanes whenever he could, changing continuously from the first to the third to the second to the first and so on, edging us forward as best as he could. 

When traffic finally broke through, we sped the rest of the way, and got to the airport at 1944.

Ran all the way to the check in counter, which, by that time, was closed, but thank God my friend had done an online check-in whilst we were stuck in the car, and there was no need for me to do it at the counter. 

So a mad dash it was to the boarding gate- at the far end of the airport- with laptop bag, suitcase, all. 

Not the most pleasant experience, I tell you. 

I made it to the gate at 2015. 

The ground staff were still there. Quickly I showed them the online boarding pass, showed them my assigned seat of 7E. 

They let me board.

But I asked to wait. 

My friend, having probably cleared security by now, was on the way. 

I didn't want to board without him. 

The staff- seeing my panic- and his assigned seat of 7D- said they could wait till 2025. Asked me to call. 

I called.

I called and called. 

I cried.

Or nearly did. 

Thankfully he made it to the gate at 2023 with 2 minutes to spare, the staff got his big black bag (now sans protein shakes and body mists and big liquid containers) onto the special check-in, and together we flew back home. 

Bangkok: A Seafood Dinner

The light was good this morning. 

The sunrise lingered.

And it didn't disappear even after the orange glow was gone. 

She continued, breaking out, slowly, gradually, towards the cheerful expanse of her daytime blue.

It is not every day that I get to look out the balcony towards the Krungsri bank tower. 

It is also not every day that i get to look out towards Chidlom and the Baiyoke Sky Tower in the horizon.

We began this morning with eggs and toast in the room, where, like previous mornings, we had them pan-fried. Today my eggs were made half scrambled, half omelet, and I liked them this way very much. 

Pumpkin toast was also, surprisingly, not as sweetish as I thought it would be. 

Breakfast over I headed to the swimming pool for a bit, if not for anything but just to soak in the quiet, soak in a little bit of Bangkok's morning sun, and give thanks for the mornings past. 

Mid-morning we went to Chao 9 massage place on Lang Suan Road for a 90-minute Thai massage. 

I cant recall whether or not we were directed upstairs- we might, we might have not- but it was a quiet room, spa music played in the background, the massage was great, and, best part, it got all the kinks of my lower back and shoulders out. 

When we finished, out we headed to Lemon Farm down the road where this afternoon we got more cookies, more chocolate snacks, plus a few more packets of matcha powder that my friend had seen the other day, and wanted to have.

Back it was to the room afterward to put down our purchases then off it was via BTS to Ploenchit Center where at the Villa Market supermarket downstairs I got a selection of 8x12 ziploc bags. 

You might find it weird just why we would go to a certain place to get ziploc bags when we can easily Grab them in online.

It's fun, really, and I don't mind visiting Ploenchit Center for the memories of McDonalds, Starbucks, and Doubletree Hilton down the road further behind. 

It makes one feel thankful. 

There was no lunch to be had today.

Instead we headed out for an early dinner to a place called Kod Talay at Sukhumvit 70 out in Bang Na Nuea, out in Bang Na. 

Before coming here, I had no idea where this place was. (I had simply followed along)

But then the Grab car dropped us off at a spot close to a car park, we got off, looked up, looked around, and there it was- the three storeyed building of the Bangkok Fish Market right in front. 

Kod Talay The Riverfront Seafood was just behind. 

There's a bit of a process getting in. 

First the person at the gate asks you how many in your party there are. You then cross over to a counter where you get to choose which sort of a buffet you want. (Some come with drinks, others come with beer, some have more specific types of seafood, others have just the regular)

Here they charge by pax. After you've paid the girl gives you a sort of RFID wristband that you have to wear the entire time. This RFID lets you move in and out of the area with ease- the staff at the gates just tap you out, and when you're done, tap you back in again. 

After getting your wristbands, the staff then direct you to your table. 

The best part about having a meal here is the atmosphere. 

It is the kind of place that makes you want to tie up your hair, roll up your sleeves, dig your tongs into the heap of raw, fresh seafood that you've gotten, and just get into the joy of steaming, grilling, peeling, eating of it all. 

There's not a quiet moment here at Kod Talay. 

There's a buzz, a liveliness, a vibe that permeates round. 

That being said, this is not the kind of place if you're not a fan of all things seafood or if you're wanting only meat. 

Neither is this the kind of place if you're afraid of getting residual smoke in your clothes or in your hair. 

In general, Kod Talay is an outdoorsy, alfresco dining destination where tables are lined all along the edge of the waterfront, where tanks of seawater hold live prawns that you're handed a pail and a net to ownself catch, and where, as you chase the prawn, colorful fairy lights hang above your head. 

The whole atmosphere is lively, crowded, carnival-like, lots of chatter, lots of boisterous shouting, lots of laughter. 

I'm not very good at eating prawns. 

Much less catch them alive. 

But this evening I managed to capture two, and I could see them writhing about in the pail as I carried them back to our table.

It's one thing to see chilled (dead) prawns resting over ice in the supermarket. 

It's another thing to see them half-alive feelers moving to and fro as they scrabble about in the pail. 

To be honest I didn't know what I was supposed to do.

Was I supposed to ignore them and let them die a natural death?

Was I supposed to hasten it by throwing them alive onto the grill? 

I had no idea! 

In the end I simply waited until my friend brought back some of our other food, then arranged them two prawns on the grill. 

They were alive....

There aren't many pictures of our meal here this evening, by the way.

I didn't get to take many. 

I don't know why.

Maybe because I was too busy watching our food cook.

Maybe because I was too busy watching my friend cook the food, with me eating it at the same time.

But there was a lot of food. 

We took plates of salmon sushi with lots of mayonnaise on top.

We took plates of salmon sashimi that we ate with wasabi and soy sauce. 

My friend brought over skewers of salmon belly that we grilled on the hot plate. 

Then there were several (smaller sized) prawns, a couple of clams, snow crabs, some meat, crayfish and fresh oysters, all of which we loaded onto the hot plate to grill. 

We were surprised at how easy the crayfish got cooked even with their shell on. 

Might have been the size. 

Might have been the freshness of the fish also. 

Then my friend got delighted by the way the oysters got grilled. 

They were soft, they were warm, the oyster retained its own umami, sea-like, briny taste, and, bouncy as they were, they paired really well with the green colored vinegar that he had gotten from the buffet counter inside. 

It is a bit of a pity that I didn't get to see everything that was offered on the indoor chiller shelves. 

Would have been so interesting otherwise. 

But there was a Pad Thai station- outdoors- and my friend got me one. 

We finished the meal with some dessert. 

Most of it had been taken by the other diners by the time it came to our turn, but there was fruit, there were still a bit of cake, so I helped myself to a bit of pineapple, a bit of watermelon, some cute little cakes, a bit of pudding, and two scoops of ice cream. 

Bangkok: Hair Spa and One Bangkok

I rose at 540am Bangkok time this morning. 

Was it an early hour? 

Yes, but it didn't matter. 

I had barely slept. 

The mood was still sour but my friend cared enough to add a one-time credit to the Cloudtalk app, and even whilst I was mostly (still) filled with a sense of regret, resentment and disappointment, there was also a bit of relief. 

It wasn't the kind of relief that everything was ok, but the kind of relief that came as a result of knowing at least one issue had been settled, and it was now up to me to deal with the rest of whatever I had to face whilst still here. 

I am thankful for the fighter with me. 

I am thankful for the fighter who always wants to be with me. 

Because this is the type of person who will- despite his (or her) loss, despite his (or her) displeasure towards the situation- will still be on your side and help you and comfort you and hold you close when you're helpless and frightened. 

It is for this reason that even though on the previous night I had (in desperation) seriously thought of booking a flight home, it was an option I knew I didn't want, it was an option I knew I had to fight against.  

Moods are still moods though, I guess, and so I don't have as many pictures as I ought to have, for today. 

Breakfast this morning was pumpkin toast and organic eggs both perfectly fried in the pan. I can't remember whether I helped myself to the frozen strawberries. I might have, I might not. 

Comforting it was, though, to have my flask of hot coffee. 

A bit of work got done, then out it was for lunch to one of our go-to BKK lunch spots in town- OKONOMI at Central Embassy. 

Bright and sunny the place is, always a delight, and this afternoon we had our usual favorites where I ordered the Salmon & Cheese Mazemen- a bowl of cured shio koji salmon, camembert cream, sweet soy, okaka and lemon zest- and my friend ordered the Salmon Poke of edamame, negi, and sweet soy sauce on multi-grain rice. 

So familiar have we become with the menu that we don't usually need to look. 

Although, honestly, I don't know what okaka is. 

Or how it looks like. 

In fact I don't even know if it was in this bowl that I ate. 

Lunch over, we took a Grab for a head and hair spa at this place called SARLLIVE HAIR SPA. 

Google Maps tells me it's located between Wang Thonglang and Phlabphla.

Which, I have to say, I have no idea where exactly in the sprawling metropolitan capital of Bangkok these two districts are. 

The best I can say is that they're above Watthana, near Huai Khwang, not too far from Lat Phrao, and that Lat Phrao Road runs through Wang Thonglang. 

The actual salon sits on this road called Srivara Road, not too far from the Chalong Rat Expressway, and whilst located slightly further out of the main areas of town, was charming and accessible all the same. 

SARLLIVE Hair Spa specializes in one thing: Head Massages. 

Meaning it is THE place to go to when you want a good head massage.

That's not to say they don't do other massages. 

It's just included in the treatment, and so a package might have something like a Vietnamese style head massage, a facial massage with rice milk and black sesame products, a neck and shoulder massage, and a head massage water ring spa. 

Mine this afternoon was 90 minutes long. 

The treatment began with a pleasant, fragrant foot wash, after which they brought us upstairs to a lovely, quiet room lit with soft lighting where we were told to lie down face up, hair hanging inside the sink.

I don't really remember how the entire treatment went. 

All I remember is that there was a hair wash, there was a very thorough scalp massage, afterwards there was a facial massage- where even my ears were rubbed- there was another scalp and head massage, there was the water ring spa where tiny continuous streams of cool, clean water soothed the vital points at the crown of my head, creating a gentle lull that comforted my already half-asleep self. 

As much as I enjoy head massages, it is in fact the facial massage that I enjoy the most. 

Something about it relaxes the jawbone and upper cheeks, and when combined with a slow thorough head massage that stimulates and soothes the nerves all at the same time, is so comfortable that I fall right asleep.  

When we finished, we made a quick drop into the MAKRO next door (for fun's sake and to look at small ziploc bags) and then took a Grab to One Bangkok. 

This was a mall that had been growing in popularity, and which we had been wanting to visit for some time. 

One thing unique about One Bangkok is her presence. 

It's contrasting, yet complementary, in the sense that whilst she's located in the heart of the city on Wireless Road in Lumphini, Pathum Wan, she feels quieter, slightly off beat, a little corporate-like, wearing an atmosphere suited for the discerning business traveler or the digital nomad in a start-up needing a white-noise type of place to work. 

One Bangkok is not a business-type of mall however, and there're a good number of brand-drive n retail stores that cater to the fast fashion crowd. 

Flagship stores include Skechers, Swatch and Club 21, but there's also a MUJI and (surprise of surprise) a NITORI. 

Getting there isn't too difficult, so it seems, the mall's near the Sala Daeng station and a short walk away. 

We did a bit of retail shopping, and because in the midst of all our exploring found a Tonkotsu Wako up on the 5th floor, decided we'd have dinner there. 

I was so glad, I tell you.

I had missed their breaded cutlets.

I had also missed their soft, fluffy, warm, perfectly cooked rice. 

You know, for a long time I had thought that Tonkotsu Wako was popular mostly with expats and tourists and the millennial working adults. 

Apparently it's just as popular with the Gen Z working adults too. 

The outlet here at One Bangkok was little bit quieter than that at Central World, nevertheless, it too had a sizeable crowd. 

Near our table were people in groups of threes and fours.  

Further behind, five whole tables had been joined together for a huge group that looked like Gen Z office workers enjoying an out-of-office dinner party. 

I can't recall exactly what it was we ordered this evening, but I know we had our favorite order of tonkotsu (with cheese) where, like always, we made it a set with a nice wooden pot of soft, fluffy, warm rice, soup, and shredded cabbage free flow.

Then we had a second piece ala carte of the tonkotsu- plain, just pork inside- and, because the pictures looked so good, an additional order of ebi prawn. 

They were so generous with the breadcrumb batter.

They were also so generous with the thick, creamy mayonnaise. 

When dinner finished, we hung around the area a short while (I had the call) then decided we'd walk back to Urbana, taking the route down Witthayu Road, turning left onto Sarasin Road, and finally, the other end of Lang Suan Road.

Along the way on Witthayu Road we passed by one side of Lumphini Park- the lights in the park were on but I didn't dare go in for fear of losing my sense of direction and getting lost.

After turning left onto Sarasin Road, we passed another side of the park that on this side housed the Badminton Association of Thailand, after which, after we crossed to the opposite side, there was the Royal Bangkok Symphony Music School, both of which, I was surprised to know, were literally opposite each other. 

Bangkok: New Foods

Breakfast this morning consisted of organic eggs and pumpkin toast that we had bought the day before. 

I added a couple of frozen strawberries for sweetness and color. 

There's nothing more pleasant than having a flask of hot coffee on the table together with a plate of beautifully fried eggs and perfectly fried thin toast that you break apart and dip into EVOO that you've specially brought over from home. 

Let's just say the strawberries really did add a light, fresh, sweet to the savory. 

We did some work in the room during the morning. 

In the afternoon we headed out to a new place for lunch.

Located on 231 Soi Charoen Rat 4 in Khlong San, Original Pad Kra Pao 1993 is known for their varieties of basil-based dishes. 

Pad Kra Pao is, literally, stir-fried meat with holy basil. There're spicy and non-spicy versions, and this diner here close to the Wong Wian Yai BTS station is famous for her authenticity. 

I can't remember just what their entire menu entails, but there's Pad Kra Pao with Ground Beef, Trip Beef, Crispy Pork, Trip Pork, Chicken, Seafood, Squid and Shrimp. 

Then there's Minced Beef omelet, Minced Shrimp omelet, Minced Pork omelet, then Tom Yum Kung and Pork Sukiyaki. 

There were so much to choose from we didn't quite know what to take, so we chose a plate of Holy Basil rice with Beef, and for me, a plate of Mama Basil Beef. 

We also got a bowl of Tom Yum Soup, the clear version. 

When lunch finished, we took a Grab to Platinum Mall. 

I needed a wardrobe update, and I wanted to see if there were styles in this fashion megamall that met both the criteria of carpeted meeting room, and stifling tropical heat. 

Not easy to find, gotta admit, but thankfully, from a shop right at the back of the mall somewhere amidst the maze, I found some. 

It wasn't that there weren't any single-color, or single-style outfits- no, there were, quite plentiful, even- but it were either the fabric or the color or the style that didn't suit, and although there might come a day where we can dress in comfortable pajamas-like outfits for the meeting room, that day is still far, and right now I'm glad for what I managed to find. 

Linen is probably one of the best fabrics for our type of weather. 

Better yet if there're colors to choose from, and this afternoon I bought myself one of latte brown, one of dove blue. 

It wasn't just me who managed to find what I needed. 

In the midst of all the 100-150B elephant pants, my friend managed to find some of linen.  

And he bought three. 

Armed with our shopping, we headed for a foot massage at The Forest Massage. 

I often refer to this place as being near the iconic Baiyoke Sky Hotel (it is literally just behind) but the actual address is in fact 181 Soi Ratchaprarop 3, Thanon Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi. 

It's not difficult to miss, however, a full wall of (decorative) green leaves decorate the building, and all you need to do is to head towards the correct Soi- maybe you'll need to turn left turn right a little- look for the unit with this whole wall of green and the big "THE FOREST" sign, and you're there. 

It's a soothing place- one which we like- and, yes, amidst the lovely spa music playing overhead, I fell right asleep. 

For dinner this evening my friend wanted to try a new place, so down Soi Ratchaprarop 3 we walked, made a left, walked down under and past the Ratchaprarop Airport Rail Link above our heads, and down towards Rang Nam Alley, also in the area of Thanon Phaya Thai, in Ratchathewi.  

Kuang Seafood is an unassuming restaurant right at the mouth of this alley. 

It's not difficult to find- just walk down the road until you find a row of tanks outside a restaurant- and there you are. 

Perhaps it might have been lovelier weather in December (there's sometimes more wind) but not this evening that was a little bright, and a little humid, but no matter, the place was welcoming, somewhat familiar, and service was prompt and good. 

Entering the restaurant of Kuang Seafood I wondered whether I the non-Thai speaker might speak either Mandarin or English. 

The staff looked like they were fluent in Mandarin, but they spoke fluent English, so, yep, I decided not to try. 

There're plenty of dinner options on the menu. 

I can't remember what all their options are- there's definitely seafood of all kinds, fish of all kinds, squid, vegetables, even a bit of poultry- but their popular dishes range from the Crab with Rice Vermicelli, Stir-fried Prawns with Broccoli, Smoked Duck and their variety of soups. 

One of their most recommended dishes are the crabs, so this evening we decided to go for a Crab Yellow Curry, a Steamed Snapper Fish with Soy Sauce, and, because I was thirsty, a fresh coconut. 

The Crab Yellow Curry was so good that even though it's been a few months since I had it, I still can remember the taste, and yes, right now at 1150pm on a weekday night in June, I'm missing it already. 

Perhaps it were the element of surprise that I remember, because, see, at first I had thought it was going to be (just) a (typical) bowl of yellow curry with a few pieces of crab parts thrown inside. 

But (embarrassingly) I underestimate the Thais.

And (embarrassingly) I underestimate the Thai-Chinese. 

Because right now I can say this with absolute conviction. 

I don't know how Singapore's chili crab is, I don't know how Thailand's chili crab is, but this- this mountain in a dish here- this Crab Yellow Curry at Kuang Seafood was one of the best I have ever had. 

If this was meant to be a curry, I don't think I have ever, ever, ever had a gravy of curry this thick, this creamy and this smooth. 

Now that I think about it, the texture felt a little like that of sharks' fin, which, although I haven't eaten it for years, I'd had it oft enough during birthday dinners at Chinese restaurants to remember the texture and taste. 

What really surprised me, however, was the egg.

And the abundance of it. 

So good did it make the gravy that I didn't want to leave it behind long after the sweet, bouncy, tender flesh of the full sized crab had been finished.

And even though I ladled myself an extra two bowls of the gravy to eat just on its own, there was still plenty left behind. 

Pity I wasn't able to bring it back. 

Would've gone so well with instant noodles otherwise. 

It wasn't just the Crab Yellow Curry that I liked. 

The Steamed Snapper was just as amazing too. 

First off, the fish wasn't charged by weight. 

It wasn't one of those things where such and such a weight was charged such and such a price. 

But that also didn't mean that the fish was small. 

No way.

It filled the whole plate.

What I particularly liked about this fish was that it had been deboned. 

i didn't have to worry about finding tiny bones in the fish as I ate my way through it, trying it first with the sauce it had come in, then dunking it in the curry gravy afterwards. 

It went pretty well with the latter. 

There'll be more dishes that I want to try the next time I come. 

Like this Crab Tang Hoon dish that had in fact caught my eye, and which, having had it once at a crab restaurant in MacPherson back on the island, I wanted this time, being in BKK, to try. 

We took a Grab back to Urbana Langsuan afterwards.

I had been anticipating a nice, quiet evening with my laptop and my music and my phone. 

Instead, to my great disappointment and distress, I found myself having problems with Cloudtalk. 

Not with the app- that was working fine- but with the remaining credit that showed I only had $1.50 (in the demo) even though I had applied for the Starter package and thought it already activated. 

What made it even more confusing was that I couldn't top up the amount.

Apparently it couldn't deduct from the GXS card. 

I panicked.

My friend got irritated and pissed. 

And back we were, reminiscent of the first night when we arrived, struggling to find alternative options that, whilst available, were sadly unsuitable for both the narrow timing and the need.

Bangkok: Massage and Dinner

The day began better today. 

Nervous wreck that I was, I can't say that it began as well as I had hoped it would- we were still affected by the events of last night- but Rebtel worked- thank God- and getting through to that landline without drop made for a relief.

Just to be safe, however, I downloaded Cloudtalk and Cloudtalk 360, which, thankfully, had verified company details in less than two hours the night before and so I could get onto their demo package right away. 

It was necessary to apply for a Starter package though, and whilst I wish I didn't have to- it was a little troublesome- that's how things work, and that's how things had to be. Perhaps we had complicated things a little by adding on what we thought was a local SG number, only to find out that after application, one still needed to submit this and submit that to some authorities and wait for it to be approved. 

Still, it worked, and I was glad. 

This morning we ordered in a Grilled Tuna Melt sandwich for breakfast.

From Bartels.

 

Their standards have never failed to impress me. 

What's strange, however, is that whilst on many an other morning, this sandwich made for a most comforting meal, today felt a tiny bit different.  

Maybe because we were still sleepy.

Maybe because we were still affected by the s***a** of a responsibility that I still had to do and the consequences of it all. 

But coffee, and a huge dollop of tuna mousse with green pesto, slices of mild cheddar, Parmesan and mayonnaise on crusty warm bread made things feel better. 

Breakfast over we headed out for a Thai massage at Chao 9 down the road.

Strange it is a little that it's taken us all this time to come, especially since this is one place with a most charming garden that's got a beautifully landscaped stone pathway, a small fountain pond at the side, and trees with overhanging vines, flower pots on the walls, and leaves. 

An hour later, we headed down the road to Lemon Farm where today we bought a loaf of bread, a box of organic eggs, bags of our favorite organic tea, little packets of green curry paste, and a bag of organic green tea that got my friend charmed. 

And because we hadn't had time to go TOPS or 7-11, we decided we'd get small packets of pistachio milk to blend with the frozen strawberries that my friend had Grabbed in the night before. 

Morning we got some work done, then later in the afternoon we headed out towards Siam station, to Siam Square, where we stopped at Thai Thai (another one of our favorite places) for a 5-in-1. 

I can't remember whether I fell asleep. 

Most likely I did- if not the entire time, then at least a while. 

5-in-1 massages tend to make me do that. 

I think it's the way the nerves on the soles of my feet get relaxed first, after which the heels and ankles get a good rub down, releasing whatever tension there is on the nerves and blood vessels there, then the calves and the knees. 

If there's one thing I love about the Thais and their massages, it is that they aren't formulaic. 

They are genuine therapists, and they have pride in what they do.

Never has it been that one session is the same as the other.

There have been times when the therapist places more attention on a particular area on the sole of my foot. 

There have been times when the therapist moves her skillful hand along the calf only to come to a particular spot, pause, and then press hard before working the direction down. 

Then there have been times when whilst massaging my shoulders or hands they come to a specific spot, pause, and work on that area. 

It's never always the same. 

What makes it so hospitable is that they're always ready to make sure you're relaxed. 

Sometimes they get more cushions, one for the back, one for you to hug. 

Other times they notice you trying to fall asleep and offer you a disposable warm eye mask that you can place over your eyes, darken the room, and sleep.

They don't laugh at you if you snore.

They don't laugh at you if you wake up bleary. 

But they do tell you to please be quiet if you do a loud video call whilst having the massage. 

I've not done that, of course.

But I have snored. 

It was nearly five when we finished, so off it was to NAMA at Centara Grand for what has now become our newest favorite Japanese buffet. 

It was a huge variety of familiar favorites that we ordered this evening.

We began with a plate of freshly shucked, chilled oysters that, to my surprise, didn't taste briny, with a small plate of what I think is Hana Maki, or salmon sashimi wrapped around sushi rice with a dollop of mayonnaise and ikura on top. Here I think they added a bit of Mentaiko. 

Our special boxes- a highlight of NAMA's dinner buffet- arrived on the table soon after. 

This is a dish that never ceases to delight. 

I don't know if it is the colors, the way they have arranged everything so prettily in the box, or the variety. 

For one thing, the variety does not disappoint. 

Few are the places where you can enjoy a variety of sashimi as plentiful as this. 

The first thing that always attracts me is the presence of fatty tuna, and tuna. They don't have a lot of slices- more like two of each- but that's happy enough for me. 

Especially since they have salmon, fatty salmon belly, abalone, sea urchin, and what I think might be either flounder or cuttlefish. 

Sometimes the abalone is a little hard to eat- you need a lot of powerful wasabi to ease the taste along- but I always try to take a little bit, if I don't manage to finish it all. 

Are there favorites in this special box? 

I guess I'm someone who likes her fatty tuna and her fatty salmon and who doesn't mind a bit of adventure eating cuttlefish and sea urchin and abalone with a huge dollop of wasabi. 

More seafood followed after that in the form of a plate of marinated salmon, scallops, and something else which I now cannot remember.

My friend took a fancy to the salmon. 

I too, but I liked the scallops. 

Maybe scallops are my thing. 

I don't mind them whether they're prepared raw or grilled or fried or steamed. 

There's this very clean taste to them that you don't get with other types of seafood, like prawns, which are best when grilled or marinated but don't taste the same after they've been boiled for soup. 

I am not a fan of soup-boiled prawns. 

I like them lightly boiled, or steamed, or fried, or marinated or grilled. 

That's it. 

There were some shrimp here this evening that had been marinated in some sort of soy sauce (I think) where they were savory and full of both taste and chew. 

These prawns weren't mushy (like some others are).

Neither were they so small and skinny that you felt like you were eating nothing at all.

Nope, there was a it of springiness to them which made eating them prawns/shrimp a joy. 

A couple platters of cooked food came around this time. 

There were the grilled scallops in Mentaiko sauce, a favorite of ours that we always order not just for the scallops, which I love, but because we like Mentaiko sauce and love dipping in some of the other foods. 

There were the plates of beef that we wanted- one was a (small) piece of wagyu steak (I think), one was a huge slice of grilled beef over sushi rice, and then there was a plate of very well done fried rice with tender wagyu on the side. 

My friend liked the fried rice, said there was beef oil and beef jus in it. 

We had a bowl of ikura.

And then we had more cooked seafood in the form of a delicious crab broth and grilled mantis prawn. 

This crab broth is also one of our favorites. 

Not only does it look aesthetic- they have it ladled into the shell of a crab- but the broth itself is thick and rich and comes with little bits of crab inside it. 

Then there was the mantis prawn scared me a little but the meat was sweet, boing boing fresh and in a perfect chew. 

Deciding that we still had space for a bit more food prior to dessert, we went back to the sashimi-style after, this time, ordering two versions of flounder, and salmon. 

Flounder is not a fish I often take- not every menu has it- even if it be one of the most popular fish this side of the world for its clean taste and fatty fish benefits- and so we try to order some whenever chance presents itself. 

I don't remember the sauce drizzled on top of the thinly sliced flounder, but I think it was slightly sweet (maybe teriyaki?) and it went so well with the clean-tasting fish that had only a very, very faint hint. Texture wise, it did feel a little slimy though. 

By this time we were approaching the two-hour mark so to the dessert counter we went for what is probably my favorite part of the meal. 

Sugar.

Offhand now I can't recall whether or not I took any ice cream.

I might have, I might not have. 

Thank God then that I have pictures, and so I can be confident that amongst all the varieties of cakes and desserts that they have in their chiller, I got myself a blueberry cheesecake, and a ice-cold daifuku filled solidly with cold fresh cream inside.