January 28, 2006
Something To Love In Bangkok (Day 122)
For the first time, in 3 visits, I actually wish I didn't have to leave Bangkok.
After a muggy morning trying to figure out train tickets and a crappy treadmill workout, Jared and I found ourselves sitting at a busy Khao San cafe trying to figure out how to spend our last day in Bangkok and our last day together.
We decided we would roam one of Bangkok's many malls, and after flipping through Timeout Bangkok for a few minutes I found what I was looking for and began to read outloud:
Siam Paragon will, by the end of 2005, have over 2500 luxury stores and boutiques. The front is a grand entrance of over 200 meters of cascading waterfalls. In addition to shopping, the complex contains a gymnasium, family bowling alley, IMAX Theater, a 15 screen "noble class" movie complex, an 1,800 seat opera theater, a Garden Walk, an Enchanting Lagoon, as well as Siam Ocean World. The food court features a variety of cuisines and is world class. There is also a gourmet market.
I looked up at Jared and in an instant, it was decided. Siam Paragon, here we come...
After an exhaust wrapped tuk tuk ride, we arrived at the largest mall area I have ever seen. With Siam Center, Old Siam, Bangkok Central Mall and Siam Paragon, this jam packed shopping district must have taken up more then 250 acres. We focused, and quickly made our way to Siam Paragon.
As we walked through the glass doors into the crisp savory air of the Siam Paragon Food Court, we did not realize that with one step we had climbed out of a smoggy noisey hell, and stepped into a sweet tantalizing food lovers heaven.
Annie's Pretzels, Swensens, Dairy Queen, 3 bakeries, 4 sweet shops, 5 delis, 3 coffee shops, 2 Japanese restaurants, a pita place, Mc Donalds, a spice shop, a tea shop, countless bistros and cafes, Thai specialty counters, East Meets West fusion restaurants, 2 buffets with Indian, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican and Chinese; Italian cafes, French bistros, burger joints, a Subway, not to mention a gourmet grocery store the size of a small Walmart in the back. The place was absolutely amazing.
And, it wasn't just because of the scale, the place had class. It was nothing like the food courts at home. It was crisp and clean, with different styles for every seating area; with cool blues as the main color scheme and cascading waterfalls to serve as both dividers and visual pleasantries. And the food, the food was of gourmet quality. I wouldn't have been disappointed if any of the items I saw ended up on my plate at a "five star" restaurant.
Jared and I wanted everything...which was to be expected. If there is one thing you could say about the 2 of us is that we love good food. We've always been excited to enter a new city and spend an evening at one of it's best restaurants sipping wine while savouring 3-5 course meals, coffee, appertifs and all.
After roaming around for half an hour or so, we decided on sushi. We were seated by a walkie-talkie wielding hostess and quickly tackled the 20 page menu. We decided on three items before settling in to enjoy the view.
The restaurant was probably the size of a Walgreens drugstore but you'd never know it because each table was a well secluded booth that allowed privacy while also being bright and airy. The area was modest yet artfully decorated, with palm trees and a blue color scheme similar to that of the outside food court. The space was large and full of a chatting Saturday lunch crowd, yet it wasn't loud. The sushi was excellent and prepared at lightning speed. We were in awe.
This is something America has not achieved. If we produce things on a large scale they almost always tend to be crap, and if a restaurant is more then 30 tables and as fast as McDonalds, the food guaranteed tasteless. If the average American mall could accomplish this level of quality in it's food courts, everyone would frequent them for Saturday night dates, not just puberty stricken teenagers. Until today I didn't think it was possible for a mall food court to serve the same quality meal as the "five star" Zagat acclaimed restaurant up the street, but it can, and it is good.
After lunch Jared and I stocked up on goodies for our upcoming journey in the gourmet grocer. As I walked I tried to soak in the sights, smells and feel of the market. It's funny how a brand of soap can make you feel at home, or how a type of cheese can make you jump for joy.
So today, as I leave Bangkok for the 3rd time, I wish I was still there. Still there sitting in the Siam Paragon Food Court, which at this time would be dark and quiet with a few humming janitors buffing the 100,000 sq ft floor. There, in the quiet darkeness, I would sit and wait, in anxious anticipation, for it to open the next morning.
http://www.siamparagon.co.th/intro.htm
After a muggy morning trying to figure out train tickets and a crappy treadmill workout, Jared and I found ourselves sitting at a busy Khao San cafe trying to figure out how to spend our last day in Bangkok and our last day together.
We decided we would roam one of Bangkok's many malls, and after flipping through Timeout Bangkok for a few minutes I found what I was looking for and began to read outloud:
Siam Paragon will, by the end of 2005, have over 2500 luxury stores and boutiques. The front is a grand entrance of over 200 meters of cascading waterfalls. In addition to shopping, the complex contains a gymnasium, family bowling alley, IMAX Theater, a 15 screen "noble class" movie complex, an 1,800 seat opera theater, a Garden Walk, an Enchanting Lagoon, as well as Siam Ocean World. The food court features a variety of cuisines and is world class. There is also a gourmet market.
I looked up at Jared and in an instant, it was decided. Siam Paragon, here we come...
After an exhaust wrapped tuk tuk ride, we arrived at the largest mall area I have ever seen. With Siam Center, Old Siam, Bangkok Central Mall and Siam Paragon, this jam packed shopping district must have taken up more then 250 acres. We focused, and quickly made our way to Siam Paragon.
As we walked through the glass doors into the crisp savory air of the Siam Paragon Food Court, we did not realize that with one step we had climbed out of a smoggy noisey hell, and stepped into a sweet tantalizing food lovers heaven.
Annie's Pretzels, Swensens, Dairy Queen, 3 bakeries, 4 sweet shops, 5 delis, 3 coffee shops, 2 Japanese restaurants, a pita place, Mc Donalds, a spice shop, a tea shop, countless bistros and cafes, Thai specialty counters, East Meets West fusion restaurants, 2 buffets with Indian, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican and Chinese; Italian cafes, French bistros, burger joints, a Subway, not to mention a gourmet grocery store the size of a small Walmart in the back. The place was absolutely amazing.
And, it wasn't just because of the scale, the place had class. It was nothing like the food courts at home. It was crisp and clean, with different styles for every seating area; with cool blues as the main color scheme and cascading waterfalls to serve as both dividers and visual pleasantries. And the food, the food was of gourmet quality. I wouldn't have been disappointed if any of the items I saw ended up on my plate at a "five star" restaurant.
Jared and I wanted everything...which was to be expected. If there is one thing you could say about the 2 of us is that we love good food. We've always been excited to enter a new city and spend an evening at one of it's best restaurants sipping wine while savouring 3-5 course meals, coffee, appertifs and all.
After roaming around for half an hour or so, we decided on sushi. We were seated by a walkie-talkie wielding hostess and quickly tackled the 20 page menu. We decided on three items before settling in to enjoy the view.
The restaurant was probably the size of a Walgreens drugstore but you'd never know it because each table was a well secluded booth that allowed privacy while also being bright and airy. The area was modest yet artfully decorated, with palm trees and a blue color scheme similar to that of the outside food court. The space was large and full of a chatting Saturday lunch crowd, yet it wasn't loud. The sushi was excellent and prepared at lightning speed. We were in awe.
This is something America has not achieved. If we produce things on a large scale they almost always tend to be crap, and if a restaurant is more then 30 tables and as fast as McDonalds, the food guaranteed tasteless. If the average American mall could accomplish this level of quality in it's food courts, everyone would frequent them for Saturday night dates, not just puberty stricken teenagers. Until today I didn't think it was possible for a mall food court to serve the same quality meal as the "five star" Zagat acclaimed restaurant up the street, but it can, and it is good.
After lunch Jared and I stocked up on goodies for our upcoming journey in the gourmet grocer. As I walked I tried to soak in the sights, smells and feel of the market. It's funny how a brand of soap can make you feel at home, or how a type of cheese can make you jump for joy.
So today, as I leave Bangkok for the 3rd time, I wish I was still there. Still there sitting in the Siam Paragon Food Court, which at this time would be dark and quiet with a few humming janitors buffing the 100,000 sq ft floor. There, in the quiet darkeness, I would sit and wait, in anxious anticipation, for it to open the next morning.
http://www.siamparagon.co.th/intro.htm
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When Tom and I were in Bangkok, we stayed across the street from Siam Paragon, and well, this is hard for me to admit, but we spent an entire day within the confines of the A/C shopping mall. And dammit, it was AWESOME.
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