#bangkok cafe hopping

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[tuktukinbangkok]

Discover the Flavorful Streets of Bangkok with JustXplore's Tuk Tuk and Food Tours

Bangkok, the bustling heart of Thailand, is a city that never sleeps. It's a place where ancient traditions blend seamlessly with modern life, and the streets are always alive with the aroma of delicious food. For those looking to truly experience the essence of Bangkok, there's no better way than hopping on a tuk tuk in Bangkok and embarking on a food tour with JustXplore.

The Charm of Tuk-Tuks

Tuk-tuks are an iconic part of Bangkok's landscape. These three-wheeled, open-air vehicles offer a unique and thrilling way to navigate the city's vibrant streets. Riding in a tuk-tuk is an adventure in itself, with the wind in your hair and the city's sights and sounds all around you. JustXplore's tuk-tuk tours are designed to give you a comfortable and exciting journey through Bangkok's bustling neighborhoods.

A Culinary Journey Like No Other

Bangkok is a food lover's paradise, and JustXplore's food tours are curated to take you on a culinary adventure that you'll never forget. From bustling street food markets to hidden gems only locals know about, these tours offer a taste of the city's diverse and delectable cuisine.

Street Food Delights

One of the highlights of JustXplore's food tours is the opportunity to sample Bangkok's famous street food. Picture yourself biting into a crispy, golden pad thai, or savoring the rich and spicy flavors of a bowl of tom yum soup. The street food scene in Bangkok is legendary, and JustXplore ensures you get to experience the best of it. You'll visit renowned street food stalls and try dishes like mango sticky rice, grilled satay, and som tam (papaya salad), each bursting with authentic Thai flavors.

Hidden Culinary Gems

Beyond the bustling streets, JustXplore takes you to lesser-known eateries that are beloved by locals. These hidden gems offer a more intimate dining experience and a chance to discover unique dishes you won't find in typical tourist spots. From family-run restaurants serving generational recipes to trendy cafes blending traditional and contemporary flavors, you'll get a comprehensive taste of Bangkok's culinary landscape.

Cultural Insights and Local Expertise

JustXplore's tuk-tuk and food tours are not just about eating; they're about immersing yourself in Thai culture. Your guides are passionate locals who know the city inside out. They'll share fascinating stories about Bangkok's history, culture, and culinary traditions, giving you a deeper understanding of the places you visit and the food you eat. Whether it's explaining the significance of certain ingredients or sharing anecdotes about local customs, these insights enrich your experience and make your tour truly unforgettable.

Why Choose JustXplore?

JustXplore stands out for its commitment to providing authentic, immersive experiences. Their tours are carefully crafted to offer a perfect blend of adventure, culture, and culinary delight. Here are a few reasons why JustXplore's tuk-tuk and food tours are a must-do in Bangkok:

Expert Guides: Knowledgeable and friendly guides who are passionate about their city.

Curated Itineraries: Well-planned routes that showcase the best of Bangkok's food scene.

Safety and Comfort: Well-maintained tuk-tuks and a focus on guest safety.

Authentic Experiences: Opportunities to explore off-the-beaten-path locations and eat like a local.

Book Your Adventure Today

Whether you're a seasoned traveler or visiting Bangkok for the first time, JustXplore's tuk tuk and food tours offer a unique and delicious way to explore the city. It's more than just a tour; it's an adventure that engages all your senses and leaves you with unforgettable memories. So why wait? Book your tuk-tuk and food tour with JustXplore today and get ready to discover the flavorful streets of Bangkok in a way you've never imagined.

Experience the thrill of the ride, the taste of authentic Thai cuisine, and the warmth of Thai hospitality, all with JustXplore. Your Bangkok adventure awaits!

[drivehub]

Navigating Bangkok's Minimalist Café Scene with Drivehub: A Traveler's Guide

Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand, is not only known for its bustling streets and vibrant nightlife but also for its thriving café culture. Among the myriad of cafés that dot the cityscape, minimalist cafes have emerged as popular destinations for those seeking simplicity, tranquility, and a perfect cup of coffee. In this article, we'll explore the minimalist café scene in Bangkok and discover how Drivehub, an innovative car rental application, can enhance your café-hopping experience in the city.

Exploring Bangkok's Minimalist Cafés:

Hands and Heart: Tucked away in the bustling neighborhood of Sathorn, Hands and Heart is a hidden gem known for its minimalist décor, specialty coffee, and serene ambiance. The café's clean lines, whitewashed walls, and Scandinavian-inspired furniture create a calming atmosphere ideal for enjoying a quiet cup of coffee or catching up with friends.

Graph Café: Located in the trendy Thonglor district, Graph Café is a haven for design enthusiasts and coffee aficionados alike. With its sleek, minimalist interior adorned with geometric patterns and industrial accents, Graph Café offers a stylish setting to savor artisanal coffee brews and delectable pastries while soaking in the creative vibes of the neighborhood.

Casa Lapin x49: Situated amidst the leafy surroundings of Sukhumvit Soi 49, Casa Lapin x49 is a charming café renowned for its minimalist aesthetic and specialty coffee selection. The café's understated elegance, punctuated by warm wood tones and ample natural light, provides a welcoming retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life, making it the perfect spot for a leisurely coffee break or casual business meeting.

Gallery Drip Coffee: Nestled in the historic Phra Nakorn district, Gallery Drip Coffee is a must-visit destination for art lovers and coffee connoisseurs alike. Housed within a converted shophouse, the café boasts a minimalist interior adorned with contemporary artworks and vintage furnishings, creating a unique blend of old-world charm and modern sophistication. Guests can enjoy meticulously brewed drip coffee while admiring the curated selection of local artworks on display.

With its burgeoning minimalist café scene and vibrant urban atmosphere, Bangkok offers a delightful array of coffee experiences waiting to be discovered. With Drivehub as your trusted companion, exploring Bangkok's minimalist cafés becomes not only convenient and flexible but also an enjoyable journey filled with memorable moments and delicious coffee delights. So why wait? Download the Drivehub app today and embark on a café-hopping adventure in the heart of Bangkok's bustling metropolis.

[kl-foodie]

This Is Where You Can Find Insta-Worthy Crookies In Kuala Lumpur

Famed as a viral pastry hybrid, Crookies are creating a lot of buzz on social media. Invented by a Parisian pastry chef named Stephane Louvard in France, Crookies are essentially a fusion of a buttery croissant and chocolate chip cookies.  This Cafe Has The Most Insta-Worthy Crookies In KL Hopping on the trend, many bakeries and cafes across Bangkok, Hong Kong and New York have also started…

[travelsandroadtrips]

6 Unique Cafes for Your Cafe Hopping While in Bangkok

Bangkok and its surrounding areas are full of lovely cafes waiting to be discovered. In this video, we would like to share with you unique six cafes to check out on your next Bangkok trip. The first 2 cafes are located in Nakhon Pathom, a province which is about less than an hour’s drive from Bangkok, depending on traffic condition. 1. After the Rain Coffee & Gallery 45 8 Song Khanong, Sam Phran…

[beautiful-world-travel]

Phuket

Phuket, located in the Andaman Sea, is the largest island in Thailand. Known for its white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and vibrant nightlife, Phuket is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. But there is much more to this island than just the beaches and the nightlife.

Getting to Phuket

Phuket is accessible by air, sea, and land. The island has its own international airport, the Phuket International Airport, which is the second busiest airport in Thailand. Many airlines, including Thai Airways, Emirates, AirAsia, and Jetstar, operate flights to Phuket from many destinations around the world. There are also ferries and speedboats that connect Phuket to the nearby islands and provinces. If you are traveling from Bangkok, you can take a bus or a train, both of which are affordable and comfortable.

When to visit Phuket

Phuket has a tropical climate, which means it is hot and humid all year round. The best time to visit Phuket is between November and April, when the weather is dry and pleasant. This is also the peak season, so if you plan to visit during this time, be prepared for higher prices and bigger crowds. May to October is the low season, which means you can find better deals on accommodation and flights. However, this is also the rainy season, and you can expect heavy rain and thunderstorms, especially in September and October.

Things to do in Phuket

Explore the beaches: Phuket is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and there are plenty to choose from. Patong Beach is the most popular beach in Phuket, and it is known for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment options. If you are looking for a quieter beach, head to Kata Beach or Karon Beach, both of which are known for their pristine waters and picturesque views.

Visit the Big Buddha: The Big Buddha is a 45-meter-tall statue located at the top of Nakkerd Hills in Phuket. The statue is made of white marble and is one of the most iconic landmarks in Phuket. The view from the top of the hill is also breathtaking, and you can see the entire island from there.

Take a cooking class: Thai cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines in the world, and if you are a food lover, you should definitely take a Thai cooking class in Phuket. You can learn how to make some of the most popular Thai dishes, such as Pad Thai, Tom Yum, and Green Curry, and impress your friends and family when you get back home.

Visit the Phuket Old Town: Phuket Old Town is a historic district located in the heart of Phuket city. It is home to some of the most beautiful Sino-Portuguese buildings in Thailand, many of which have been turned into cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops. You can also visit the Thai Hua Museum, which showcases the history and culture of Phuket.

Island hopping: Phuket is surrounded by many beautiful islands, and you can take a boat trip to visit some of them. Phi Phi Islands, James Bond Island, and Similan Islands are some of the most popular islands near Phuket, and you can enjoy activities such as snorkeling, diving, and swimming while you are there.

Visit the Tiger Kingdom: The Tiger Kingdom is a popular tourist attraction in Phuket, where you can interact with tigers of different sizes and ages. You can take photos with them, pet them, and feed them under the guidance of trained professionals. It is a unique experience that you should not miss if you are a fan of big cats.

Where to stay in Phuket

Phuket has a wide range of accommodation options, from budget hostels to luxury resorts. If you are looking for a cheap option, you can stay in one of the many hostels or guesthouses located near the beaches. If you want to splurge, there are many five-star resorts that offer private villas, infinity pools, and stunning views of the Andaman Sea. Here are some of the best places to stay in Phuket:

Banyan Tree Phuket: Banyan Tree is a luxury resort located on the shores of Bang Tao Bay. The resort features private villas with their own pools, spas, and balconies with ocean views. There are also several restaurants, a beach bar, and a fitness center on the property.

Kata Rocks: Kata Rocks is a five-star resort located on Kata Beach. The resort features modern villas with private infinity pools and ocean views. There is also a spa, a fitness center, and a restaurant on the property.

The Naka Island: The Naka Island is a secluded resort located on a private island just off the coast of Phuket.

[hudsonbaytravel]

 Phuket: Phi Phi Islands and Maya Bay Day Trip with Lunch Explore Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, and more on this full-day speedboat trip from Phuket. See the world beneath the waves with 3 snorkeling stops and enjoy a buffet lunch. Tour the paradisical Phi Phi Islands, and explore Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh on a guided speedboat day trip from Phuket. Dip below the waves with 3 snorkeling stops and tuck into a buffet lunch by the beach. Start your morning with hotel pickup and a complimentary coffee or tea with cookies. Hop on a speedboat, and make your way to Green Island for snorkeling while observing marine wildlife. Continue to Phi Phi Leh island, featured in iconic movies, including "The Beach." Sightsee along Maya Bay and Loh Samah Bay by boat before taking a swim in Pileh Lagoon, known for its emerald water encircled by limestone karst cliffs. Bring your camera to Viking Cave and see its bird nests. At noon, arrive at Phi Phi Don island. Here, regain your strength with a buffet lunch at a beachside restaurant. After, enjoy free time to discover this lush island with its many shops and cafes. Stop by Monkey Beach to catch a glimpse of the monkeys who call this beach home. Then, head to Nui Bay to swim, snorkel or soak up the sunshine. Finally, visit Khai Island and relax on its pristine shores or enjoy the water before a return transfer to your hotel. Book Now #bangkok #BangkokPost #bangkokthailand #ethical #trip #triples #elephantsanctuaryday #elephantsanctuary #elephantsanctuarybles #elephantsanctuaryphuket #éléphant #elephant #elephants #elephantart #tour #tourist #tourpackages #bankoktour #phuket #phuketthailand #phuketbeach #phuketisland #phuketfoodies #phuketisland

[hempowerment]

7 Must Visit Bangkok Cafes

Bangkok is a large city the size of London, in both population and land mass, and can be overwhelming for first time visitors.

Most tourists head for the temples, Khao San Road and street food, but for people living in Southeast Asia, is a popular weekend break for spas, desserts and cafe hopping.

 Although a cake and latte might not be at the top of your Bangkok to-do list, the city is home to many lovely cafes which can punctuate your holiday with little oases of calm and caffeine.

This is my must-visit Bangkok cafe list. It’s not exhaustive, and mostly revolves around Thonglor and Ekkamai. These neighbourhoods are adjacent and is the prime area for cafe hopping in Bangkok. I’ve included each cafe for different reasons: some for the decor, some for the atmosphere, and some because they have fabulous food and coffee!

1. Roast

Roast is located in The Commons, which is an eco-friendly mall, open-air with wood laminate flooring and greenery in little planters, and full of ‘artisanal’ shops and cafes. It’s one of the most hipster buildings I’ve seen in my life. When I went there, there were people sitting on the benches dotted around the building, working on their Apple computers and drinking lattes. It’s that kinda place.

The basement is called the Market Floor. It’s little food stalls in an industrial-chic space, more like the Food Hallen in Amsterdam or Gotham West Market in NYC, than the food stalls on the streets of Bangkok. There’s coffee here too: Roots, the more coffee-focused companion to Roast.

Roast is not so conveniently located in the basement. You have to climb the stairs to the very top.

When you do get there it’s an airy, light-filled space. The menu comes in the form of a little magazine. They do brunch, of the eggs benedict variety, and it looks fabulous. We had Roast iced tea (iced tea with lychee rose syrup and lychees, pictured) and amazing shakes: creamsicle and salted caramel. The salted caramel comes with a Pretz stick.

Roast

Unit #T1 (Roast), The COMMONS 335 Thonglor Soi 17, Sukhumvit 55 Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110

Closest station: BTS Thonglor

2. Shugaa

Shugaa is a dessert cafe and the main reason you need to go is because it is beautiful.

The space is beautiful, the desserts are beautiful. The decor is apparently sugar-themed, hence the geometric shapes reminiscent of sugar crystals. Everything is in soft, pastel shades. There is a small bear family made of, I imagine, fondant, sitting on the counter.

While it’s obvious that a lot of thought and care goes into the creation of the desserts, they run a little sweet for me, and heavy, for how sweet they are. These are substantial desserts. The different tiers of dessert are stuck together with syrup.

You know how on Bake Off: The Professionals people are sticking shards of sugar together with syrup and a blowtorch like they’re David Smith? Like that kind of industrial strength welding syrup. It’s instagrammable but if you like eating cakes you can do better.

Shugaa

27 The Residence at 61 Sukhumvit Soi 61, Wattana, Bangkok 10110

Closest station: BTS Thonglor or Ekkamai

3. Fill in the blank

Another cute cafe in Ekkamai, this is pretty much across the road from Shugaa with a totally different vibe. The feeling of this cafe is kinda Scandi/Japanese, light and breezy with lots of wood (including an indoor tree!).  A great place to chill with a laptop or a book, they have some English and Japanese language local magazines with articles on trendy things to do and daytrips, etc. We went on a weekday and there was one (very friendly) member of staff. The place was pretty empty, just us and a laptopper.

There was a selection of cakes in a display box next to the counter but we didn’t have any as we were going to Shugaa after. I had a caramel iced latte instead which had cream drizzled with caramel syrup, very picturesque and not as sweet as a caramel Frappuccino. I also liked that it came with a little glass of water. Of all the cafes I’ve seen in Bangkok, I wish we had this one in London.

Fill in the blank cafe

28/10 Sukhumvit 61 Alley, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110

Closest station: BTS Thonglor or Ekkamai

4. Audrey Cafe

Audrey is an Audrey Hepburn themed/inspired cafe. Normally I’m not into themed cafes, but I like frilly pink cafes and Audrey is the super frilliest pinkest cafe of all. It’s a mini chain with a few different branches, but the one at Thonglor has a fountain and a little rocking horse (!) in front, and is well placed for a day of cafe hopping. Inside the tables are marble-topped and there’s Hepburn quotes on the walls. Some of the staff are dressed in little maid outfits which is interesting but service is a little slow.

We ordered some pastel-coloured drinks: Sakura Glazier (pink) and Audrey on my Mind (light teal). They’re sweet frappe-style and very photographable, I’m like 99% sure the colour is artificial. The pricing is in line with London cafes: as you can see from the sign in the picture it’s 135 Baht for Audrey on my Mind, which is about £3.20.

They have a pretty solid food menu if you’re hungry, it goes way beyond typical cafe food and enters the realm of pizzas, tacos and fried rice, but it was pretty hit and miss. We weren’t really going to order food but while we were there, a little girl was celebrating her birthday (it feels the right kind of place for a little girl’s birthday and a girly afternoon) and her table had a lot of food, all of which looked pretty good. So we capitulated. We got the deep fried chicken wings with nuts and caramel, stir fried morning glory, fried rice and sliced pork loin salad. I was hoping the deep fried chicken wings would be like pok pok chicken wings - they’re were, disappointingly, not. The sliced pork loin salad was the best thing followed by the morning glory, the fried rice was too salty. The little girl’s birthday party had ordered the tom yam pizza and when theirs came out I kinda regretted not having gotten that instead of the fried rice.

The desserts are meant to be good but we felt so sugared up after the drinks that we didn’t want any.

Audrey Cafe

Soi Thong Lo 11, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110

Closest station: BTS Thonglor

5. D’Ark Coffee

D’Ark seems like a pretty typical modern cafe: exposed lightbulbs, wood, etc. etc. I went on a rainy weekday morning for coffee and there was only one other person there. But! Their coffee is great! They have different beans you can choose from and roast their coffee in house, and you can choose how you want it made: Aeropress, cold brew, Trinity One (which I don’t think I’ve seen before in a cafe). I went for a normal iced latte and decided to go all out and add their housemade salted caramel butter sauce, which is seriously amazing. I strongly recommend getting whatever coffee you like there and adding the salted caramel butter sauce. The coffee itself is not sweet so the sauce isn’t overwhelming.

D’ARK

651 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110

Closest station: BTS Phrom Phong

6. The Asia Cafe

The Asia Cafe is a tall, bright cafe although it doesn’t have the window action of many Bangkok cafes. It’s bigger than it looks with an airy feeling. I like the giant wood cubbies behind the counter with piles of baguettes. I don’t think they’re real though. It seems to be...socialism themed? IDK. I say that because their front window has pictures of three dudes with little red stars, whom I think are (from LTR in the picture above): possibly Allende? maybe Ho Chi Minh? And some other dude I don’t recognise - his giant moustache + beardlessness stumps me.

I went because I heard they have sea salt coffee which I’m curious about, and also they have free rusks, and I like free things.

Sea salt coffee turned out to be an iced espresso topped with a salted creamy froth, kind of like the froth on cheese bubble tea but not cheesy. I really really like it this, the faint saltiness with the slightly bitter coffee go really well together and is refreshing, a little like when you have bitter unripe guava or grapefruit with salt.

The rusks are in a jar on the counter. I looked at the jar and was like, Can I have one? And the barista guy was like, Yes. You just kinda grab one from the jar, they’re rusks, they’re good.

I recommend this as a pit stop to revive yourself if you’re walking around Thonglor on a hot afternoon. It’s well located along a main road, the cafe has a relaxing atmosphere, is well air-conditioned, and has many plug sockets for your electronics and sea salt coffee to recharge yourself.

The Asia Cafe

159/15 Soi Thong Lor 9,Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Tan, Watthana

Closest station: BTS Thonglor

7. Caturday Cat Cafe

Caturday is Bangkok’s cat cafe. It has huge windows and is bright and airy, far more than Lady Dinah’s in London. There’s no cover charge, you just order a drink and you can be there for as long as you like - I think that’s why despite it being the most adorable of the cat cafes it’s also the busiest and most chaotic. They do food there though we didn’t have any. We had a Thai iced tea and an iced lemon tea, of the two the iced lemon tea was more refreshing, especially after walking around in the heat.

The cats are very sweet, in particular the little grey kitten. Like other cat cafes expect half the cats to be asleep and to be basically ignored by the other cats, although a few come and hang out with you especially if you sit quietly and drink your tea and ignore them.

This is by far the cutest cat cafe I have been to, ever. Granted I’ve only been to two, in Amsterdam and London, but still. There’s a giant cat mural of cats in a fairground, illustrated Caturday glasses and little coasters (I ended up buying one as a souvenir), and it’s all a pastel-coloured cat wonderland.

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[shijiujun]

5, 9 and 22 for the end of the year asks!! 🥰 hope you have a great 2021 😊

HEYA!!!! <333

5) TV show of the year?

This year has been so ridiculously long I’ve more or less mixed up the shows I watched this year and the year before hahahaha but I’d say My Roommate is a Detective, no surprises there!!! Out of Netflix though, I’d say the Queen’s Gambit hahahaha 9) Best month for you this year?

January before COVID happened ;-;

22) Favorite place you visited this year?

Like most people I don’t think any of us visited many places this year hahahaha I was basically stuck at home, but I guess it’d be Bangkok in January - I was still working half in Bangkok in Jan, and I recall doing my last cafe-hopping day with my supervisor two days before COVID news broke out globally, and then it was a mad rush to get home ;-;

- End of Year Asks here - 

[maydaymemer]

Reviewing every Hitman level - Part 2: World of Assassination

Part 1 here: https://maydaymemer.tumblr.com/post/635416983034380288/reviewing-every-hitman-level-part-1-the-ps2

WoA1 (2016):

ICA Facility - 3/5

Both Freeform Training and The Final Test are okay. There’s just enough there to be enjoyable, but I wish Freeform had Contracts mode since I think that would bolster replayability. As infamous as Final Test is for newbie Contracts some of them provide more interesting gameplay scenarios than Jasper’s basic route.

The Showstopper/Paris - 4/5

In most of these reviews for WoA levels I’m judging both the mission and location at the same time. As for Paris there’s level design when it comes to the geometry itself but I think the targets leave a lot to be desired. I’m a little harsher on Blood Money and WoA because their rating systems are a lot less flexible than previous games, so they have to make up for that with highly manipulatable targets. Sure I can kill either target anywhere I want but due to Victor standing in a lot of crowds that’s not going to get my SA unless I use accidents, which even then can backfire if a non-target gets caught under them. Victor and Dalia are likeable assholes but I couldn’t find many good ways to manipulate them and break their scripting. There’s still ways sure, the coin is a godsend, but not as many as say Robert Knox in Miami. If IO brought back the escalations this could be bumped up to a perfect score based on level design alone, but right now it’s way too simple and reliant on doing what the devs want. It was their first true attempt at this new style so it’s understandable they were a little squeamish at giving total freedom.

Holiday Hoarders - 3/5

This is a fun little distraction. Unfortunately Harry and Marv don’t react to distractions but their routes are long and they’re alone most of the one which makes up for it. It’s easier to get SA with these guys without using opportunities than it is with the main mission targets. The challenges are also fun, requiring you to stop the targets from stealing from the palace then becoming Santa to kill them.

World of Tomorrow/Sapienza - 5/5

The first masterpiece of the new style. Highly manipulatable targets, great level design and great potential for Contracts. I’m still finding new things about this level, from kills I’ve never done before two areas I didn’t know I could go to. It took a while to grow on me but it’s definitely one of the best maps IO has ever made.

The Icon - 3/5

This bonus mission relies a little too much on scripted kills. There’s still ways to break that scripting but the level is really pushing them as something you need to try. Not a bad thing, they are fun kills, but it’s not a level that holds up and gets better on replays like the main mission. You’ll still find ways to kill Bosco without the Rube Goldberg routine, but not as many as the near limitless possibilities of Francesca and Silvio have.

Landslide - 4/5

This is much better, less of a reliance on the mission stories/opportunities and the scripted moments themselves have lots of variants. You can snipe Marco in the graveyard from afar rather than setting up the electrocution kill, you can drop a chandelier on him as a bodyguard while he meets the lawyer rather than becoming him yourself. You can also just hit him with the Sieker and plant an explosive on the toilet and book it. Great bonus mission.

The Author - 3/5

Getting the targets to meet is a good way of creating your own kills, either partaking in the meeting, watching from afar or letting Craig Black flee. But the routes themselves around up to snuff. Akram stays in his tiny apartment until you ring the bell and Black spends way too much time reading.

A Gilded Cage/Marrakesh - 5/5

This level has really grown on me. I used to say “it’s okay but it is a bit of a disappointment compared to Sapienza”, then “it’s a pretty good level it’s a little unfairly maligned” to “this is one of the best maps in the series and I don’t understand why people don’t like it.” The map does have the big problem of its middle section being pointless but the routes of the targets themselves, their synergy, how manipulatable they are and how easy it is to kill them in all kinds of different ways suit only is an absolute treat. You can snipe Zaydan in his office and no one will find him, you can lure him into the room next to the prisoner and strangle him and you can lure him into the toilet and push him to his death. With Strandberg you can electrocute him sure, but that’s intended, instead you can follow him into his office (keep in mind, in the suit) and when he’s in that area no one goes in you can strangle him, or you can toss a coin into the toilet and if he hears you can drown him. The mission is criminally underrated and I think it’s on par with Sapienza.

A House Built On Sand - 3/5

It’s alright but it suffers from a lack of suit only options for manipulating targets via Mission Stories. The rooftop meeting is actually good for getting non-story related kills like dropping the cafe sign on Kwang, or you can just strangle him when he gets there. It’s neat. You can do something similar with getting rid of the guy the fortune teller is talking to, enabling a suit only kill by distracting the fortune teller when he talks to Mendola. That’s what I like about the scripted kills, when you can do shit with them the devs might’ve not directly intended, or are just secret ways to do them. I love missions that give me a lot of either that or ways to create my own kills, which you can do with AHBOS but since it’s a bonus mission and one set around the crowd it’s a lot more difficult with the rating system we have currently, so having more ways to use mission stories/opportunities for the purpose of getting different kills they weren’t meant for would’ve improved this level.

Club 27/Bangkok - 4/5

This level is really poorly designed but I like it anyway. I think it’s the atmosphere but also Jordan Cross as both a character and a target. He’s really interesting but he’s also fun to manipulate and try to take out suit only, of which there are multiple ways to do so without using stories. Even then I do like using the USB story occasionally for suit only runs because it’s so cool. Ken Morgan is a pretty terrible target, not that manipulatable, personality wise he’s really generic and his short route is out in public a lot so it’s a bitch to get him. I’ve gotten an SA kill on him in that little table he phones at but it wasn’t easy. Jordan makes up for it, however, even if getting to him is overly linear due to a lack of climbing in this very vertical location the options you have for actually killing him are numerous and you can really make a suit only run your own with him.

The Source - 2/5

This mission, on the other hand, is just bad. Every time you start you have to jog up flights of stairs to get to the targets, and while they have decent routes good luck intercepting them before they do that ritual that takes ages to finish and come back down. The targets also suffer from being too close to eachother, it’s almost pointless. At least there’s some cool challenges, I’m pretty sure you can use a sniper rifle on a gas canister from the other side of the hotel and get SA but don’t quote me on that.

Freedom Fighters/Colorado - 1/5

The entire location is garbage, I’ve played some pretty neat contracts but overall it’s a boring place whether you’re in the main mission or not. Rose and Graves have decent routes but Berg and Parvati are terrible targets. Sure you can manipulate them if you’re doing suit only but that requires a lot of movement and stealthing via an area that’s hostile to you without a disguise. Almost everything interesting is given to either Rose or Graves, which makes me think this would probably be a lot more fun as a mission if Berg and Parvati were just used as people for those two to interact with as part of their route or mission stories. It’s a very flat map with lots of walking, WoA 2’s maps have a large amount of movement too but they have shortcuts and verticality to remain engaging. Easily the worst map of the trilogy.

The Vector - 3/5

The map lost a lot of its flow with the WoA 2 changes to explosions, but it’s still a pretty fun, frantic mission with random targets to spice things up. It’s also go bushes and accidents everywhere leading to a lot of flexibility, even if you use up a kill there’s always more nearby since the targets can be pretty much anywhere - even clumped together - which is randomness done right considering the short long of the mission.

Situs Inversus/Hokkaido - 4/5

Pretty good mission and a great location. Erich has tons of ways to kill him despite not even being an NPC and more of an objective according to the logic of the engine, and Yuki has a pretty good route with lots of variance, my favourite kill method being sniping her in her private area of the restaurant. I discovered it recently, usually no one sees her. I would say the level design is better than the target design, which is good because Hokkaido is a great jumping off point for secondary content.

Patient Zero - 4/5

This is a great experimental mission. Like Vector but on a larger scale this mission could go different every time. The Virus means anyone in the mission could become an additional target and your playstyle can vary from subtle and sneaky to panicked to mass murderer depending on how much you fuck up or don’t handle the virus effectively. I’d say that WoA 1’s version was a little bit better, I think WoA 2 changed something about like guard placement or just general glitchyness which can make it a pain sometimes. Hopefully H3 fixes it.

Hokkaido Snow Festival - 2/5

This was a free mission made for WoA2 so I’m not going to shit on it too hard, but it’s not very good. It’s overall way too easy to finish this level in under a minute by starting as the ninja, going to the helicopter, shooting an icicle over the target and leaving immediately. That creativity I love about Hitman isn’t really encouraged here, which is a problem with bonus missions in general but it’s at its most pronounced here.

2 God-tier Levels 2 Missions

3 Good-to-Great Levels 5 Missions

1 Average-to-Good Level 6 Missions

0 Bad-to-Mediocre Level 2 Missions

1 Really Bad Level 1 Mission

0 Horrible Missions

For the WoA games I’ve split up levels and missions in the totals. I think it gives a better indication of the quality of each game. WoA part 1 is a good start for this new style but I feel it suffers from inconsistent level design. While Part 2 can feel like they played it safe by basing the design philosophy off of Sapienza for almost every location, WoA 1 has some levels with outright sloppy design like Bangkok, wasted space or locations that are just plain bad. Something the sequel fixes and more.

WoA2 (2018):

Nightcall/Hawke’s Bay - 3/5

Hawke’s Bay really suffers from one exit and a mandatory objective. If you could exit via a car or if some guards were posted at the house before you got in it’d make the rest of the mission up to par with the actual assassination of Alma, which is great but unfortunately a small part of the mission. It’s a neat little puzzle box location ruined by some forced tutorialisation and sloppy story integration.

The Finish Line/Miami - 5/5

The perfect Hitman level. Everything from the geometry to the target routes is perfect. Hitman levels have a problem where sometimes one target is better than the other, this is one of those rare exceptions where both targets are equally fantastic with a balance between scripted kills and having a route that’s ripe for manipulation and creating your own kills even without doing so.

A Silver Tongue - 2/5

As good as Miami is it can’t save this boring target. His route is a small triangle which is a giant missed opportunity when he’s right next to bar area which is mostly unused in the main mission.

3-Headed Serpent/Colombia - 4/5

I’ve made an effort recently to play this level a whole bunch because it used to be my least favourite. I think after really getting familiar with it this is one of the times the rating system used in Blood Money and the new games really lets down a great location. There are cool ways to snipe the Rico and Jorge, poison Jorge with a cocaine brick, blow Andrea up and kill Jorge in the bushes that make this level so much more fun to play, but the rating system discourages bodies found or collateral accident which instead force you to do a lot of walking to each target to get up close and personal. I like how interconnected and intricate everything is, but I don’t like being forced to use that every time I play. It should be a rare luxury rather than a require part of dealing with the level.

Embrace of the Serpent - 1/5

Terrible terrible terrible. A target with a shit route in a small area that’s “repurposed” by just covering it in guards. Not to mention the missed opportunity of making the target a poacher but not giving us a way to make an animal kill him, when there’s an animal in the main mission that can kill a target. For shame, IO.

Chasing a Ghost/Mumbai - 5/5

Another God-tier level and an atmospheric masterpiece. The Maelstrom has one of the best routes in the series and the other two aren’t so shabby either, with ways to get them out of their fortresses for manual kills like the smoke and the laundry foreman. Having a target not locatable via instinct is so cool, and the Maelstrom goes places I don’t expect him to sometimes. It fits his character that his behaviour is as mysterious and varied as he is, leading to lots of ways to kill him. The only problems level design wise I have other than the rating system is the fact that there’s no big area you can climb up to survey and snipe the whole area due to its weird horizontal layout, and there’s lots of disguise swapping that doesn’t make sense. Why can’t I go into the Crows’ hideout as Vanya’s guard? They’re on the same side. The mission also has mission stories with lots of variance and experimentation, which wouldn’t save the mission if it did have bad routes and experimentation without that but it’s the cherry on top to have scripted kills that can feel unscripted with how you do them. Like suit only Kashmirian strategies, poisoning Dawood’s glass as the actor or using the script opportunity to blow him up in the bathroom. And not to mention that Dawood Rangan is one of the best targets in the series personality wise. He’s so awesome.

Illusions of Grandeur - 2/5

Basil Carnaby’s route is actually not bad, making the chawed a hostile area is kinda neat but all that is thrown out the window when the dude offers to hypnotise you. He takes you upstairs alone, you jab a poison syringe in his back then you leave the level. I don’t know what IO was thinking. What a waste of a pretty reskin of Mumbai.

Another Life/Whittleton Creek - 5/5

A brilliant sequel to A New Life. The clues thing can get old but I won’t let that get in the way of two fantastic targets. Nolan’s route is filled with accidents whilst Janus can be lured out of his home with a couple of coin throws, even then I would say Janus’ house in general I would single out as being one of the best single areas of gameplay in the trilogy. Guard placement, security cameras and enforcer choice is perfect.

A Bitter Pill - 3/5

This mission’s okay. It’s basically just a full level version of Janus’ house but security is way too easy to get past. If they just locked the basement door this mission would be so much better.

The Ark Society/Isle of Sgail - 4/5

Mediocre targets let down some fantastic vertical level design. Sgail is very fun to stealth through and explore but the Washington twins are kind of boring compared to Janus from the previous mission. They’re not outright bad, there’s lots of non-story kills you can do since they’re highly manipulatable, but their routes are usually taken through crowds and take to long to get to those areas. It’s great for Contracts mode however, with the most markable NPCs of any level, in fact the Constant has a pretty good route which is unfortunate since the whole point of the level is NOT to kill him.

Golden Handshake/New York - 3/5

Great level geometry that’s fun to sneak around, this level is also great for Contracts mode, but I feel the actual objective while fun is mostly there to make up for a mediocre target route. You can kill Athena anywhere anyway with some knock outs or items so manipulating her to go someplace else to try new kills isn’t that attractive an option. Plus her route is very short.

The Last Resort/Haven Island - 4/5

This is one of my favourites level design wise, all three targets have enjoyable routes with even Tyson being manipulatable via coins to get him out to his balcony. However what kills the levels for me is the viewcones. To give some context IOI decided to change sightlines for NPCs just for this level in order to accommodate the wide beaches of the map. As it wouldn’t make sense for a guy not to see you jogging on an empty beach you’re not supposed to be if he’s looking into the distance. This was a terrible idea and means you’re never sure when you’re going to be seen doing something or not. I understand the reasoning but some areas like the villa were clearly designed for smaller viewcones, and I think consistency of mechanics trumps realism any day.

The Last Yardbird/Austria - 3/5

The first of WoA 2’s three sniper missions. It’s decent but due to it being the first they made it’s a bit too simple and becomes very repetitive on replays. Most target manipulations are cryptic and slow, and a larger problem with Sniper Assassin is due to it being a shooting gallery you tend to just pick one strategy that works and stick with it, you don’t tend to experiment like you do the main game.

Pen & the Sword/Hantu Port - 3/5

This one is my least favourite of the sniper maps. While manipulations this time are faster and simpler the map being so wide and open means you’re going to get caught when you don’t think you should’ve. I played all three sniper maps again recently and this was the one I gave up getting silent assassin with. The strat I usually used for grinding just didn’t work consistently like the ones for Himmelstein and Siberia

Crime & Punishment/Siberia - 4/5

This is the one where they finally go it right. Crime and Punishment is a legitimately great mission, sniper or otherwise. The riot mechanic gives way to a lot of variance and experimentation that actually consistently works, there’s lots of ways to change target routes in subtle ways that make sense (like killing a guard that was meant to get someone for the target, so the target walks over there himself) and the design isn’t so wide bodies are getting found left and right. Whether you’re starting a riot or playing it quiet it’s an excellent Hitman-style shooting gallery.

3 God-tier Levels 3 Missions

4 Good-to-Great Levels 4 Missions

4 Average-to-Good Level 5 Mission

0 Bad-to-Mediocre Level 2 Missions

0 Really Bad Levels 1 Mission

0 Horrible Missions

As you can see where Hitman 2 excels in pure level design it flops hard when it comes to the bonus missions. Hitman 2 is still my favourite game in the series, I’m very biased towards it and its specific levels, but I’m not close minded and I hope IO can take the little failures and huge successes of Hitman 2 and deliver the magnum opus of the series with upcoming third part of WoA.

And that means the totals for the whole franchise are (and if you want to correspond this to a tier list it basically means S, A, B, D, E, and F, respectively):

12 God-Tier Missions

29 Good-to-Great Missions

21 Average-to-Good Missions

8 Bad-to-Mediocre Missions

5 Really Bad Missions

1 Horrible Mission

[touristhai]

Top 20 places in Thailand that you must explore in 2020

Thailand is a blend of picturesque landscapes with rich cultural heritage.

The land embodies a soul of its own, enthralling the people who visit it. Welcome the beginning of a new decade by visiting Thailand this 2020. From the tranquil sight of Buddhist temples perched on the mountains, the quaint villages filled with the simplicity of traditional Thai culture, to the azure blue oceans meeting the white sands of Thailand’s Beaches, there is much to explore on your next visit to Thailand. We shall guide you through places to explore during your visit. The magic of the land will undoubtedly give you reasons to keep coming back. Let us present to you the Top 20 places in Thailand that you must explore as we head into 2020.

1. Chiang Mai

An amalgamation of traditional culture merging with modern Thai architecture, Chiang Mai is the largest city in Northern Thailand and is a prominent tourist destination.  Breathe in the rich history as you walk around the streets of Chiang Mai’s Historical Centre and gaze upon the old city walls and the Buddhist temples nestled within it, like the Wat Phra Singh (Gold Temple). Take a relaxing break and stop for a cup of coffee at one of the many cafes & restaurants, rejuvenating amongst the natural beauty of the region. Once the sun sets, don’t forget to take in the sights of Chiang Mai’s bustling night markets. They offer an assortment of products for sale from the Northern Thai, Burmese & Lanna cultures.

2. Mae Hong Son

Nestled between the North-Western corner of Thailand, Mae Hong Son is a premier adventure tourism location in Thailand. Rent a bicycle & ride away as you watch the picturesque landscape blend into the ocean’s horizon. There are over 1,800 curves along the sprawling bike racing tracks that Mae Hong Son has to offer.  If you’d rather take in the scenic beauty over a walk, you may do just that! Take a pleasant stroll across the hillside, offer prayers at Phra That Doi Kong Mu, or simply relish a delicious choice of Thai cuisine at one of the many restaurants located here.

3. Rayong

Rayong, the capital of Rayong Province is located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. It’s a popular tourist destination owing to its scenic beaches and vast stretches of picturesque landscapes. Visitors here can opt to go island hopping or relax and engage in a variety of water-sport activities. One may also visit the Ban Phe Seafood Market, enjoy an exotic fruit buffet at Suan Lung Thongbai, Suan Lamai, Suan Sangdad or other local orchards, experience the visceral beauty of Mu Koh Samet National Park or simply take a stroll through the quaint Yomjinda road during their stay at Rayong.

4. Chiang Rai 

Not to be confused with Chiang Mai, although both should be on your itinerary of places to visit in Thailand during 2020. Chiang Rai has situated just North-East of Chiang Mai. Not fond of crowded, hustling & bustling places? Would you rather enjoy the solitude that comes with exploring the land? Then Chiang Rai would be the perfect place for you! Take in the sights of orange-robed monks offering daily prayers at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and admire the sound of the Khun Korn Waterfall cascading in the backdrop. Some of the other notable locations to visit here would include the Baan Dam (Black House), Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple) and Wat Rong Suea Ten (The Blue Temple)

5. Ayutthaya

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ayutthaya has located a mere 2 hours’ train ride away from Bangkok. Ayutthaya was originally founded in 1350. Brimming with rich history and culture surrounding its origin, Ayutthaya is a hotspot for any archaeologist or history enthusiast to visit. While you must pay a visit to all the temples here, don’t miss out on Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet.

6. Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi is a hidden seaside gem located on the banks of Chanthaburi River. It is the capital of the Mueang Chanthaburi District. From exploring the quaint riverside communities, hiking among the lush landscapes of Khao Khitchakut National Park & offering prayer at King Taksin Shrine, there’s much to do during your visit to Chanthaburi. If you’re simply looking to relax, why not visit some of the tranquil beaches here? Come, experience the stunning sight of sky & sea at Kung Wilman Beach and let the sea breeze rejuvenate you.

7. Khao Sok National Park

Declared in 1980 as the 22nd national park in Thailand, Khao sok sprawls an impressive 285-square mile range across Southern Thailand. On your visit here, you can spot the elusive Rafflesia, the heaviest flower on Earth that’s native to this land. Immerse yourself within the serenity of the forest. Enjoy the reflection of the sun set across the majestic lakes and indigenous huts you may find floating along these lakes.

8. Krabi

Krabi, located on the west coast of southern Thailand is a world-famous tourist hub. Home to the iconic Phi Phi Islands & Railay Beach, Krabi has cemented its position as a must-visit spot for any intrepid traveler.  The gleaming blue waters and white sandy shores make the ambience of this place very relaxing and perfect getaway from the hustle & bustle of the mainland. There are about 150 islands & islets around the Krabi coastline for those interested in island hopping. One can also witness the tranquil sight of Wat Tham Sua or spend the afternoon strolling through Krabi Town.

9. Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is set on the famous river Kwai and located just two hours away from Bangkok. While replete with prolific history of the World War 2 era, Kanchanaburi has emerged as a trending tourist spot. It is home to the prominent bridge connecting Bangkok and Rangoon. It was even featured in the French novel based movie ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’. Other attractions to explore here include the Erawan National Park and Sai Yok National Park.

10. Udon Thani 

Udon Thani is the provincial capital city in northeast Thailand (Isaan). The place is an important hub that connects the region with the rest of Thailand & Laos. Udon Thani is a top destination for history enthusiasts as it is home to one of the world’s earliest bronze age civilizations ( at Ban Chiang ). There are beautiful attractions sprawled across the city for one to explore, a notable one being the City Pillar Shrine. One may also choose to have a fun-time at the Playport Udon Thani Water Park or spend a relaxing afternoon at  Phu Foi Lom Eco Park.

For reading More visit: Top 20 places in Thailand that you must explore in 2020

[bites-kms]

HK Bars: Re-loaded

It’s vox populi that Hong Kong nights are great. The city is alive between the tetris buildings, live music venues, the poured-to-perfection drinks and the incomparable chill and fun vibe people foster. This is a re-vamp of the previous bar-hopping post on Bars in HK. This time, I had the opportunity to explore further and different neighborhoods with friends and fun colleagues. 

Iron Fairies  LG, 1 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.

With sister locations in Bangkok and Tokyo, this bar is undoubtedly great and one never gets tired of visiting either this or any of the other locations— and, in all cases, it’s quite unlike anywhere else in the city. Sutton’s establishments, one very well renown interior designer and bar entrepreneur, are known for mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, eclectic decor, and The Iron Fairies is no exception. Indeed, this is one bar you’ve got see in person to believe. In LifeStyle Asia Editor in Chief, Micheal Alan words’ the “metal-making tools line the walls, vials of ‘fairy dust’ hang from the ceiling in clusters and — most incredible of all — some 10,000 preserved butterflies dangle overhead, suspended on tiny metal rods (...) are incredible. Watching them sway back and forth is simply mesmerizing”. I guess I’ll have to go to the Tokyo one to make an Iron Fairies hat-trick!

Iron Fairy by LifeStyle Asia  The Woods  G, L, 17-19�� Hollywood Rd, Central, Hong Kong.

This was a great venue where I met my friend Sammie from Singapore. It’s an eclectic bar, around the main area of LKF, where a mirror door disguises it, and a museum-kind-of-display about different cocktail elements merged with design fashion runway aesthetics is part of the charm. Drinks were delicious and music was great. It’s a fantastic alternative to the mainstream happening in the neighborhood. I dared to have a different approach to an old fashion and it was delicious, with a little of spices and herbs. Great choice. Foxglove + Frank’s Library  18 Ice House St, Central, Hong Kong.

This is a great hidden speakeasy featured as a deluxe umbrella shop. Delightful venue, with even more striking and delicious drinks, with super charismatic bartenders made our stay a memorable one. There was this jazz band playing stellar music and then a Philippine guy took the mic and literally brought the house down with his songs (I mean, Frank Sinatra “Fly me to the Moon”, of coz!) and voice. It was so much fun!  There’s a little speakeasy within the speakeasy called “Frank’s Library” and it serves a smaller, more selected list of drinks, in a library setting that isolates the music from Foxglove, turning this little bar into a cozier, more familiar one.  The Old Man- Ernest Hemingway  Lower G/F, 37-39 Aberdeen Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Photo Credits: The Old Man - Ernest Hemingway Website Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to this one. I did have nights to spare, but some of them I just strolled around, got lost and experience some great night walks and dinners, where I ended up with food-commas and completely exhausted. But I’m gonna write it down so I don’t forget to go next time I’ll visit the hood. It was honored as one of the World’s Top 50 Bars in 2018, so it’s a set date for sure. With unique decor, on its website one can read the true inspiration and homage this place gives to the author: “He was a sophisticated drinker, a lover of fine spirits, and a true connoisseur who sought out the best bars from Paris to Pamplona. The Old Man honors Hemingway by taking inspiration from his novels, history, and folklore, and by using novel ingredients and culinary accoutrements – thereby paying tribute to the spirits and cocktails he loved.” Damn... just realized I walked by its door so many times... I guess this time wasn’t meant to be! Piqniq R/F (Rooftop) HQueens, 80 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong.

This is a nice surprise in the middle of Central HK. After a beautiful Yayoi Kusama art piece and strong pink and red decor that highlights the instagrammable worth of this rooftop, one finds a breathtaking terrace in the middle of Hong Kong skyscrapers with an unforgettable view of the bay and the mountains. A solo glass of prosecco, in between dinners and another bar date closer to the hotel, was exactly what I needed to bond with Hong Kong. 

Sevva  10 Chater Rd, Central, Hong Kong.

This was a fantastic double recommendation from my friend Mau and my friend Angelica. I remember Angelica mentioned it the first time I went to HK but, as it was expected, I was on its door and didn’t manage to find it properly. But this time, I went and enjoyed one of the few last nights with my ex-boss. We managed to find it and dare to take the elevator to the beautiful heights of its bar. It had a great drink list which I decided to pass on and go with my default and solid choice of prosecco to quench my thirst on this warm and cloudy Hong Kong night. We toasted for the good times and for the success we had over these days regarding our pitch.  It was a great experience which definitely made me grow as a professional and as a leader, where I needed to juggle, define, forecast and ask for the resources I needed to make it happen, that included a physical trip to this city to lead in-house workshops. 

Skye  Hong Kong, Causeway Bay, Gloucester Rd, 310號27樓

Skye Bar, provided by Pullman Hotel in Trip Advisor. Promise, this would be my last cheat-recco since I didn’t make it to this one either - although I managed to go to the Ozone Bar at the Ritz Carlton. This bar is similar,  it’s part of the Pullman hotel chain, and the literal cherry on top it’s its funky rooftop bar. Looks fun and with a memorable view.  Ophelia Shop F39A & F41A, 1/F, Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen's Rd E, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

What a bar! Also, quite hard to find in a small pedestrian street in Wan Chai, on a third or four floor, without a sign on it’s outside facade. It’s completely hidden to the naif eye. But this bar, on top of its completely outstanding fashion, hosted by a hot, tall, blond, thick-accented and not quite friendly Russian, is something to experience at least once or twice in a life time. They allowed us to seat on a reserved table since we arrived early and then, when prime time started, the weirdness also made their appearance. This bar has actual women laid down on it’s shelves and bars, with fans, burlesque and S&M outfits, as part of the kitsch decor. I didn’t know how to feel about that but certainly caught my attention and was something I’ve never seen before (and trust me, I’ve seen some weird s*it over the years and trips!)

Ping Pong 129 Second Street L/G Nam Cheong House, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong.

What a beautiful and great recco from my friend Pink. I wish we had made it together, but I saved the best for last. Hours before leaving to the airport and after a blogging session in a beautiful cafe near to my hotel (where I almost leave my credit card!) I went for a second-to-last drink to toast for this comeback to Asia and this amazing time in Hong Kong. Below a hidden normal door with no actual sign but an bull-eyed window that, after a closer look one realized is a ping pong paddle, there’s a long stairs that leads you to the best and probably only “Gintoneria” I’ve ever been to. People get crazy with Tequila or Wine bars, but man, this one, was finding Neverland for me. What a fantastic idea. More than Gintoneria, it was paradise. This beautiful neon means “Take care of your body. Seriously, can it get any better than this?? I ended up talking to a video designers and producers from China with rusty English but with tons of willingness to talk to me and make themselves understood from Shenzhen, and actually followed my company on Weibo and managed to connect to FB to follow and add me as a friend. What a great, great finding and an even more fantastic night, today’s font and dear memory! 

[jatupoom]

ชอคโลแลตเย็น ฿150 แถมที่รองแก้ว (เอ๊ะ อะไรแถมอะไรกันแน่ๆ) เอาจริงๆ จาก (อดีต) cafe hopping รสชาติโอเคอยู่นะ #BNK48 #bnk48cafe #bnk48thecampus #food #foodie #foodpics #foodporn #foodstagram #yummy #delicious #foodreview #photo #huawei #p10plus #huaweip10plus #igers ‎ #igth #igthailand #igersthailand #igers #thailand #jumpinth #bkk #bangkok (at BNK48 Café) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm49mTjn3OF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lrm4bxdyghzh

[chaletnz]

Back in Bangkok

We awoke too late for the hotel breakfast buffet so we walked to a nearby cafe that looked quite cool but it was closed (even though it was meant to be open at 11am...) with limited options we found another hotel with scraps left on their buffet which we declined. There was no other choice but some 7/11 snacks and then a speedy checkout of this hotel. We took a Grab car to our long awaited final hotel of Bangkok - Conrad. I felt out of place immediately as a backpacker in this fine establishment but nonetheless we were given our room keys and marveled at our executive upgrade room. We headed out again for a day of shopping starting at the MBK centre which was amazing and full of so many cool tshirts and bags and shoes and whatever else you could want! Olga bought a duffel bag for all the extra luggage we had accumulated on our trip and I came close to buying some pretty good fake Nikes... the sales girl of course gave me her "special price" of 1000 baht but once I had tried them on and had exposed the uneven stitching, non existent padding and minimal comfort I offered her 700 but she refused so I simply put my real Nikes back on and left. Next we headed over to the Siam Center to meet up with Hannah and Wes as they passed through Bangkok. They were starving so we decided to go and have an early dinner in the Siam foodcourt. I chose fried chicken with cashew nuts, Hannah and Wes went for green curries and Olga bought a lemon chicken dish that looked so good that a random girl came over and asked where she'd bought it so she could also get one! After dinner we ordered a Grab back to Conrad and we all hopped in the back but Wes got confused and opened the driver's door thinking it was the passenger side and he scared the living daylights out of the poor driver who probably thought he was being carjacked! We did a bit of a tour of Conrad and then thought we'd sit in the hotel lobby and enjoy a beverage with the soft jazz music that was being played live. Wes was immediately told to leave when he sat down because of his flip flops and singlet so we went out in search of another bar that would allow these backpacker types in! 15 minutes of walking later we realised there weren't any other bars in this area so we had to go into the first one we found and sit right at the back. But one look at the menu and we gasped at the prices! Luckily we could slip out the back between the planter boxes undetected by the waitress and run away to 7/11 to buy cheaper drinks and take them up to our room. Olga had some Breezers and Hannah, Wes and I shared a bottle of Hong Thong Thai whiskey with ginger ale, coke and lime soda mixers. We drank and chatted into the night and took some selfies before they walked themselves back to their hostel and we slept in bliss in our giant super soft bed.

[gotchibi]

Menjelajahi Tempat Wisata Asyik di Bangkok dengan Kapal

Mumpung gue lagi di Bangkok nih, gue bagikan pengalaman menjelajahi tempat-tempat wisata di pinggiran Sungai Chao Praya menggunakan Kapal. 

Gue membeli one-day-pass-tour yang memungkinkan  untuk hop-on hop-off kapal. Biayanya tiketnya sih B180 per orang untuk satu hari tour. Eits, pas nyampe di depan tempat penjualan tiketnya, duit tunai dalam Thai Bath nya kurang. Waduh, masa kudu nukar dulu? Saat dalam kegalauan inilah, gue melihat sebuah papan kecil yang digantung di kaca dengan tulisan “Online Booking”. Oh, ternyata tiketnya bisa dipesan secara online. Dengan klik beberapa fitur, akhirnya gue berhasil membeli tiketnya secara online. Bahkan karena beli online, gue dapat potongan 30B. Lumayan banget! 

Yuk, tanpa berlama-lama, mari beriwisata mengunjungi destinasi di sekitar Sungai Chao Praya. 

Rute Kapal

Gue memulai rute perjalanan dari dermaga di Sathorn (Central). Karena gue memulai trip ini sekitar pukul 2 siang. Dari dermaga di Sathon, kapal hop-on hop-off yang gue  tumpangi singgah di dermaga River City untuk menurunkan penumpang yang mau menjelajah tempat ini.  Gue sendiri memutuskan untuk tidak berhenti dulu di dermaga tersebut dan dermaga-dermaga berikutnya hingga tiba di dermaga terakhir sebelum kapal kembali ke dermaga semula.

Tempat perhentian setelah River City berturut-turut adalah dermaga Lhong 1919, Ratchawongse, Pak Klong Taladd, Wat Arun, Tha Maharaj, Thonburi Railway, dan Phra Arthit. 

Dalam perjalanan kapal balik ke dermaga di Sathron, gue mulai berhenti di beberapa dermaga persinggahan untuk menikmati obyek wisata setempat. Berikut adalah beberapa obyek wisata yang saya kunjungi. 

Phra Arthit Pier

Phra Sumen Fort 

Kapal berhenti untuk menurunkan penumpang di dermaga Phra Arthit Pier. area ini dulunya dikenal sebagai pusat kegiatan politik dan seni. Kini,  area ini dipenuhi dengan ragam restoran, cafe, bar yang berada dalam bangunan tua yang masih mempertahankan arsitektur dengan menggunakan material berbahan kayu. 

Salah satu obyek wisata yang menarik di Area ini sadalah Phra Sumen Fort (Benteng Phra Sumen). Benteng ini dibangun oleh Raja Rama I untuk melindungi kota dari invansi penjajah. Kini, area disekitar benteng telah berubah menjadi Taman Suan Santichaiprakarn, yang digunakan untuk menyelenggarakan ragam acara, termasuk Festival Teater Bangkok yang diselenggaran  setiap bulan November. 

Tha Maharaj Pier

Tha Maharaj Pier

Setibanya gue di dermaga ini, gue berkeling sebentar untuk menikmati suasana di area mall Tha Maharaj Pier. Kemudian, saat mata memandang gambar makanan penutup lezat, kaki gue pun enggan melanjutkan langkahnya. Akhirnya gue pun masuk ke cafe makanan penutut, namanya “After You” untuk memesan Mango Sticky Rice Ice Cream. 

Manggo Sticky Rice at After You Cafe

Wow, nikmat banget sih makanan penutup ini. Terus terang, baru kali ini gue makan makanan penutup yang sedemikian mantapnya. Rasa mangga di dalam es krim nya begitu nyata. Bubur ketan di dalam rotinya pun begitu nikmat. Tak terasa gue sudah duduk lebih dari 30 menit. 

Ahh, nikmatnya makanan penutup ini nggak hanya membuat gue semakin bertambah chubby (seperti namanya got chibi, he he he), tapi juga membuat gue mesti menunda kunjungan ke beberapa obyek wisata di daerah ini, seperti The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok National Museum, City Pillar Shrine, dan Wang Lang Market. Semoga di kunjungan berikutnya, gue bisa mampir ke destinasi tersebut. 

Wat Arun Pier

Wat Arun Pier

Salah satu ikon tengara (landmark) di Bangkok adalah The Majestic Pang (Menara Khmer-Style) dari Kuil Down yang menjulang tinggi. Konstruksi bangunan ini dimulai pada masa Raja Rama II (1809-1824) dan berhasil diselesaikan pada masa Raja Rama III (1824-1851). Untuk masuk ke tempat ini, pengunjungi dikenakan biaya tiket masuk B50. Tempat ini buka setiap hari 0830 - 17:30 waktu Bangkok (sama dengan WIB di Indonesia)

LHONG 1919

Sebenarnya sebelum mampir ke Lhong 1919, kapal yang gue tumpangi juga berhenti di beberapa dermaga seperti Chinatown (Yaowarat), Ratchawongse Pier, dan Pakklong Taladd. Mengingat waktu yang terbatas, gue memutuskan untuk melewati 3 (tiga) tempat ini (semoga lain waktu dapat kembali ya) untuk mampir di Lhong 1919. 

Lhong 1919 awalnya dibangun bersamaan dengan proses pembangunan gudang tua dan kuil untuk komunitas Tionghoa. Area dengan luas 6,800M2 ini dibangun pada masa pemerintaan Raja Rama IV (1851-1868). Tempat ini lebih cocok disebut sebagai Coworking Space dengan beragam tenants didalamnya. Selain kuil yang dapat digunakan untuk bersembahyang bagi para pemeluk agama Budha, gue juga melihat toko-toko kecil yang menjual ragam kerajinan tangan unik. Tak lupa di tempat ini pula, gue temukan berbagai spot menarik untuk berfoto, terutama untuk keperluan supaya tetap exist di Instagram.

Sekian dulu acara berbagi ceritanya ya. Untuk lebih serunya, hmm, monggo datang langsung ke Bangkok :)