Spring Break in Bangkok (2013)

Day One April 3

Arrived in Bangkok and checked in to our hotel. I met with a thyroid nutritionalist at an international hospital and then we ate...Italian food, in Thailand.

Day Two April 4

This was the first day of the conference and in the evening we had drinks and dinner with colleagues and P&C (Patty and Chris). The restaurant was kind of like Asian fondue. You pick meat and or veggies, and a broth to cook them in. We also ordered noodles. It seemed bland at first, then all the flavors really started coming out and it was real good.

After dinner we picked up some sim cards for our phones. You might think you wouldn't need your phone when on vacation, but if you want to book something (like dinner reservations, appointments, massages, or excursions) they need a number to call you on. So, unless you want to give them your hotel number and wait around there, pick up a sim card. And of course it made connecting with your group much easier. All you do is buy a sim card from a local carrier, then go to a small market (7/11, circle k, mini mart...) and buy minutes.

After that, P&C showed us the place to go for reflexology. Phillip and I both got one hour of reflexology and I got a manicure/pedicure. Our combined total cost was 35$. And Reflexology is NOT just a foot rub or foot pressure points. Its all that PLUS a neck, back, shoulder, head and face massage with your clothes on. Incredible. Phillip said at one point he looked over to me and I had three people working on me.Very very nice.

After that bliss, Phillip found a tailor and negotiated to get six custom shirts made. The man insisted he have the whole suit made to go with it, but we tried explaining that we are teachers....we don't wear suits to work. He didn't understand so we just said No thank you.

Day Three April 5

We heard about a French bakery located next to the conference hotel-it was stocked with fresh croissants and coffees. Once we finally found it, we made sure to stop by each morning before the conference. We had an assortment of flavors during our time there: chocolate, almond, fruit, ham, cheese, ham and cheese, plain, honey yum yum.

After the Conference this day, there was a hosted cocktail hour. Lucky for us, they had beer and wine flowing all night long. We got to catch up with colleagues from other districts and Phillip got to catch up with old teachers from when he went to school in Saudi. Everyone drank like they were free from Saudi. Well, I know I did. Somehow we ended up on a ferry into town and had another go at reflexology #2. It was both the most amazing and least memorable reflexology thus far. When I woke up from it, we realized 90% of the customers were also from the conference. I think we caught the ferry back, although maybe we walked?

Day Four April 6

Conference was just a half day today so we ventured to the weekend market with P&C. We ran into Rachel and Kevin and Tayio (and grandma) on the sky tram...they we're headed to the same place. This market is just tons of people lined up on the street playing music and selling things. Then you find your way "inside" and get lost in the alleys and turns of this semi underground marketplace. They barter and bargain so Phillip had a blast with that. We found many great gifts and cheap sunglasses.

Then of course I had to go to the bathroom. Well, I didn't have to go but I knew I would need to and I wanted to find it before I actually had to go. So we finally found it, and THIS was the most unusual bathroom experience so far (not grossest, just unusual). You have to pay, but first you have to figure out how much (2baht) and then you have to figure out if that is a coin or a bill, then you give it a go. I gave her two large coins and she yelled something but with a big smile. I think she yelled "oh you silly girl, that is 20baht, THIS is 2baht" and she took one of my big coins and gave me five little ones. Then showed me to open my hand and she took one of the small five and yelled "2baht!". So, I am pretty sure I originally gave her two 10 baht coins, she took one and gave me five 2baht coins, then took one as my payment. I watched her put it in a little coin machine and the gate opened for me. Someone behind me must have also been foreign because I heard the woman laugh and yell "This 2bath!" again.

Of course I had GO GIRL with me the whole time. I didn't need GOGIRL for this one, however, the toilet paper came in handy. There was none in the stall, not even a place for any. When I went to the sink to wash my hands I saw that the TP is located in one area near the sinks. You have to get it before you pick a stall. Humph. ... I survived

The four of us took a dinner recommendation and had amazing Thai food at a place called Suk11. I had veggie spring rolls, coconut soup, veggie stir fry, rice, the most amazing coconut milk ice cream, and a beer.... For $12.38. And it was AMAZING. I could easily get used to that. We got in late, sweaty and exhausted and instead of meeting friends at a jazz bar, we walked down the street to another reflexology. This makes for #3.

Day Five April 7

French bakery for breakfast again. The conference was bustling and we did some networking. Phillip picked up his custom shirts from the tailor (they are very slick). Just in time because this was the night of the conference Gala so we made our way to the dance floor and tore it up with a few rounds of the Hustle. Beer and wine flowed again and there was even a shout out to the Saudi participants and how much they probably appreciate the booze. The music got pretty lame so we called it a night. Unfortunately, NO reflexology this day.

Day Six April 8

Today was another half day conference and the last day of the conference. After it ended we had lunch with P&C then Phillip and I explored with no plans. We ended up taking the ferry to a flower market and local restaurant. The flower market was more of an indoor farmers market. One person sells coconuts (shaved, whole, creamed, milked...any way) someone else sells lemongrass, ginger, meats, you name it. There were also flower vendors too. I got nervous when I saw dirty random cats and dogs just wandering around all around the "fresh produce".

It was still cool though. We took another food recommendation and it was also fantastic. The menu was the Thai (thank goodness for pictures). A lady finally came out with an English one. We ordered papaya salad and something else. Papaya salad is very good. It's sweet but boy the spice sneaks up on you. Beer did NOT help, coconut sorbet did, a little.

When we went back to town we decided on reflexology....and as the woman was taking me to my chair, the person passed out in a deep sleep next to my chair was Patty, Chris was doing the same thing in the chair next to her. This makes for #4 reflexology.



Day Seven April 9

Today was spent at the hospital, by choice. If you have never heard of it , Bumrungrad is a top notch international hospital located in Bangkok. It's incredible, and I feel strange talking so highly of a day spent at a hospital, but it was that amazing. In short, we are both healthy. Phillip desperately wanted and needed a haircut so we ventured around for one. Luckily we found one that was situated right above ANOTHER restaurant recommendation. We had Mexican food in Thailand, and it was really good. Have I had better, of course, but this place knows what they are doing. And, the chef and owner are from California. On our way back to town we saw Meg and her family. We did another reflexology (this makes for #5) and then searched for someplace that makes coconut ice cream. Success all around. We ended our evening at an amazing hotel with orchids, live music and classic drinks.

Day Eight April 10

Today we Checked out of our hotel ad headed out for Thai cooking school. Amazing, Awesome, Delicious! We started by gathering at the woman's house, she gave us baskets and hand fans and we walked to the nearest market. There she showed us typical Thai ingredients and how/why they are used. We piked up some items and then explored the alley some more. Then she demoed how this would work. We were given recipe/note books and a working station. She would demonstrate a segment of a course then say "now you try" and we would go to our stations and chop chop chop.

She was all about beauty and presentation. She was confident in the flavors. I was amazed at how simple the dishes were. She was very helpful with altering my ingredients to make them more veggie and anti seafood. Look at LINK. We eventually made our way back to the hospital to pick up our comprehensive reports. The hotel we were at was a basic standard hotel, I've stayed in better..and worse (Newark New Jesery...that was interesting) so we decided to stay one night at a nicer hotel. So, after we got reports from the hospital, we switched hotels, explored china town street food and discovered an authentic Chinese reflexology ... this is #6

Our new hotel was stunning. Not fancy or posh, but extremely unique and just my taste. I was so very impressed.

The next morning we checked out and caught a flight to BALI. Stories from Bali are coming your way but here is a sneek peek..