The Best Of Thailand | Travel in Thailand with Ashley

Park Society on the rooftop at the Sofitel So Bangkok makes an excellent gala dinner venue for a high end group

If you are familiar with the Seafood Market concept where you buy your fish and then negotiate with the chef to have it prepared to your taste, then you have the beginnings of the Park Society concept. Throw in stunning views, designer theme decor and open up the culinary choices and you have the Park Society concept. 

This looks similar to your kitchen at home

Meats, cheeses and ingrediants are displayed along with their prices

Tables with a view...indoor setting

Chefs at work once you have told them what you want. You can also come back after being seated to find out why your order is taking longer than it should or simply to see that your chef is not adding too much oil or chilli!

A DJ Console

Lounge style seating

Outdoor seating at Park Society

There are three of these salas above the restaurant. They have to be reserved in advance and offer you a stunning view of Bangkok's skyline.

This restaurant is only open in the evenings from 6 pm till 1 am.  I think this restaurant can be compared to the likes of Sirocco, Vertigo and Moon Bar.  It would make a stunning gala dinner venue for a high end MICE group or even for  honeymooners.

Sofitel So Bangkok makes a 5 element ultramodern statement

The location is at the junction of Sathorn and Rama IV Roads at Lumpinee Park, next to the Dusit Thani and HSBC.  When you cross the threshold of their designer entrance, you know that you have entered a living and breathing space that will excite your creative palate. 

The 9th Floor lobby that frames Bangkok's impressive skyline and Lumpinee Park

The Earth room theme - Stylish and Mythical is an enfolding haven adorned by Thai primeval wall paintings - mythical creatures, shadows flickering in the light

Earth theme bathroom

Earth theme rain shower

Earth Theme entrance door

Wood Theme - Calm and affectionate gives you a feeling of entering a calm oasis. Murals sketched on silk evoking old Siam, alive with colour and the touch of a master

Wood Theme loveseater

Wood Theme room

Wood Theme bathroom

Water Theme  walk in closet

Water Theme...Sleek and Sophisticated. Organic curves like flowing water. Onyx glowing against cool dark marble. Drink in skyline panoramas from every vantage point. 

Water Theme bathroom with a view of Lumpinee Park and Bangkok's skyline

Metal Theme...Pure and Elegant...Frenetic Bangkok comes to a halt. A collage of metal, whites and glass. A transcendence of time and space.

Bathroom amenities at the Sofitel So Bangkok

A minibar that is free at last:)  No last minute delays because your hotel cashier says you consumed a Coke that wasn't even there when you arrived!

All 238 rooms and suites feature Apple® Mac mini with fully integrated entertainment and guest services; enhanced with the latest iPad in all suites. Guests are invited to Stay Connected with broadband internet and free WIFI throughout the hotel.

 

Pattaya's Hard Rock Hotel wears a totally new upmarket look

 

If you used to associate the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya with just the Beach Foam X party, think again!

I was very surprised upon walking into the Hard Rock Hotel to find that the 15 month renovation has resulted in a very good upmarket product. The lobby looks posh and cosy if a little boutique as they have taken a large section of the former lobby to create a new lounge. 

The rooms too wear a very plush look with a colour scheme which is almost corporate. 

 

 

Worth checking out on your next leisure trip or MICE trip to Pattaya!

 

Ao Nang Beach Krabi is as lively as Krabi gets which is still quite slow comparatively

Ao Nang beach at Krabi was the first of Krabi's beaches to be discovered.  It is still the busiest of Krabi's beaches which is still quite slow compared with say Patong Beach in Phuket or Pattaya Beach.

This is the jump off point to go to Railey's Beach or for the four islands tour.  The beachfront has shops that sell stuff you get in every tourist paradise. 

Beach road Ao Nang Beach Krabi

Koh Kai Krabi

Tourists coming back from the 4 islands tour Krabi

 

Ao Nang Beach Krabi

Cliffs guarding Ao Nang Beach Krabi

Bikinis on sale at Ao Nang Krabi

Local transporation at Krabi

A dive shop

 

A bag shop at Ao Nang Krabi

My images of Koh Chang Thailand

It rained cats and dogs over the weekend. So the colours of the sea are far from the brilliant emerald, turquoise blue and acquamarine that they should be. In spite of that I have been able to capture some colour here...wouldn't you agree ?

House built on stilts at Ao Supparod Bay

Beach at Ao Supparod

Bang Bao Bay Koh Chang Island

Bang Bao Bay Koh Chang Island

Klong Praew Koh Chang Thailand

Koh Man Nai which can be seen from the Gai Bae viewpoint. The best sunsets can be viewed from here.

The car ferry that plies from Thamachat Pier

 

Salakphet Seafood and Restaurant Koh Chang serves some of Thailand's best and freshest seafood

What do you think crabs this size cost ?  Would you believe that this plate of crabs cost USD 20 only  ? 

What do you think this garoupa cost ? Besides being delicious, it set me back only USD 15. 

Tom Yum Kung, the signature soup of Thailand at the Salakphet Seafood and Restaurant tasted quite unique.

Salakphet Seafood and Restaurant is a fishing village, diving school, resort and restaurant that organises boat trips out to the islands as well. They usually sell only to Thai tour groups and I have been to Koh Chang several times without even having heard of Salakphet. It is probably one of Koh Chang's best kept secrets only known to the locals who have invested a good deal of time on the island.

If you turn left as you come off the Thamachat ferry at Ao Supparod and drive for about half hour, you will come to Koh Chang's highest peak and best seafood restaurant. 

It is very rare to see houses built on stilts in Thailand but I saw it here. The villa which is priced around USD 170 is an idea I'd definitely like to try out some time soon !

The restaurant has friendly staff and has a very local feel. 

 

Aiyapura Resort & Spa at Koh Chang helps you rediscover the meaning of tranquility

Imagine yourself on a tropical island. Koh Chang where the Aiyapura is located is the second largest island in Thailand after Phuket and has South East Asia's best rain forest cover. Imagine immersing yourself into an easy chair and an interesting book simultaneously. There is only the drone of fishing boats as they make their way in with their catches as the Aiyapura is located on a river with lush green hills on the opposite side of the river.  Well you don't have to imagine. You can have all this at the Aiyapura Resort and Spa managed currently by Furama hotels. Peacocks thrown in complimentary:)

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The Garden Villas at the Aiyapura were my favourite out of their various categories of accommodation that include Deluxe rooms, Premier rooms, Pool Villas and Royal Pool Villas.

The other villas look kind of dated to me. In fact the entire resort is stuck in a time warp. This is its drawback and its charm. Located on 40 acres of land with only 87 rooms and villas, the resort offers you space, plenty of family activity including a children's play area, kayaks, mountain bikes and a swimming pool. 

 

The villas have a hammock and a couple of easy chairs

A fishing boat coming in with its catch.

I would recommend this hotel to honeymooners, couples, families and to anyone looking to be far from the madding crowd and wanting to commune with nature.

 

Samet Island can be an ideal venue for honeymooners looking for some peace and time together

Take in a sunset that is disturbed only by the lapping of waves. 

If you get away from the busy Sai Kaew Beach and settle for one of the quieter beaches, you are likely to have the beach almost to yourself. 

If you wish to go upmarket, then there are a choice of restaurants at upmarket hotels like the Le Vimarn

These fire jugglers move from beach to beach and you are sure to be treated to one of these shows.

The relatively undeveloped island of Koh Samet is just a hop skip and a jump away from Pattaya

 

 

 

 

 

What do you have just outside the gates of Khao Yai National Park ?

The areas surrounding Khao Yai have become very fashionable European looking enclaves. This Italian complex below adjoins the Juldis Resort & Spa. A lot of Thai tourists seeking photo opportunities and simply a weekend out frequent these enclaves. The well heeled have begun to acquire their second or third residential property in Khao Yai's posh ozone rich real estate developments. Khao Yai is a far cry from what it was even five years ago. Let's hope that development is eco friendly though it is bound to come at the cost of the park's animal habitat.