During my very short 4 day trip back to the states, I spent 2 days visiting friends in NYC and also rushed up to NH early on Saturday morning to spend some time with my family. My mom had planned a big bbq for me on the Sunday before the 4^th and invited the entire family over for some burgers, hot dogs, home cooked Chinese food and alcohol. Besides the yummy food and drinks, I was so excited to see all my baby cousins who despite being shy, eventually all warmed up to me after picking blueberries in my mom’s garden and painting toenails. I also spent quality time with my parents catching up while playing mahjong. July also happens to be the birthday month of 3 of my cousins so to celebrate, we got the prerequisite poopa cake aka ice cream cake and guests also brought a chocolate cake and fruit tart for those who aren’t fans of ice cream. After dinner, my brother and his friends set off our own little firework show in our backyard. It was everything I wanted my 3^rd of July to be.

NYC is absolutely magical around the fourth of July. Everyone is eagerly anticipating getting off early on Friday, preparing for BBQs and strategizing which seats have the best view of the many fireworks that are set off around the island. I was particularly excited to be able to spend an itinerary packed day running around basking in the buzz of the frenetic energy of the city. What made it even better was the wonderful sunny, humidity free weather we had that day.

The Met: Hoping to beat the crowds, I rushed to the Met as soon as I left the apartment to wait in line for the highly touted Alexander McQueen exhibit “Savage Beauty”. Even though I arrived at 10:30, I still had to wait an hour before I was allowed in. Unfortunately, I was unable to take any pictures while inside but trust me when I say it is definitely worth it if you are a fan of fashion and art. It is a concisely curated 100 piece exhibit that includes McQueen’s infamous “bumster” trouser to his alien platform shoes from his Spring 2010 collection. The clothing is grouped into thematic rooms complete with music and videos from his previous shows as well as specially designed headpieces and accessories. Even if you don’t fully comprehend McQueen’s designs, you can at least appreciate the craftsmanship and detail that goes into every piece. After the exhibit, I spent another hour revisiting some of my favorite areas in the museum, which include the Rooftop Garden, The Temple of Dendur, The New American Wing, Medieval Armor and the Greek Statues.

 
M3 Bus: If it’s a nice day and you have the time, I recommend taking the public bus to get around the city. There is a perfect route that goes from the Met directly to the East Village that goes down 5th Avenue past the fancy department stores various NYC landmarks.

 
Momofuku BarBar: I met up with my East Village dining partner Nikko at Momofuku’s recently opened duck centric restaurant BarBar that took over the old Milk Bar space for lunch. The décor was slightly renovated, all the glass counters that used to stock sweets were removed and replaced with handsome wood but it still retained the same casual atmosphere as the Milk Bar. Nikko was starving and ordered the rotisserie duck over rice with lettuce and chive pancake while I got the duck sandwich with spicy mayo and peppadews and Sprecher root beer. Both items were extremely filling and the duck was nicely cooked throughout and another plus is that it’s a cheaper alternative than Momofuku Ssäm or Ko.

Sei Tomoko 13th St.: I’m going to give a quick plug to my reliable hair salon in NYC. I’ve been going to them since I was a junior in college and have never been disappointed once. Each appointment lasts approximately an hour and includes wash/massage/cut and blow dry. They are particularly skilled with Asian hair since all the stylists are Japanese. The best part is the price that usually ranges from $35-60, a bargain in a city of $100 haircuts.

The Standard Grill: One of the latest additions to the ever expanding Meatpacking District, this restaurant/bar is conveniently located under the first section of the Highline. Just a warning, the absolute largest party they will accommodate is 7 people. We tried squeezing 9 and two of our dining companions had to sit at a romantic table a stone’s throw away. The food is typical American fare; I ordered the Alaskan Black Cod while my friends tried the bass, steak and burger and we all split the “The Deal Closer” a massive bowl of chocolate mousse and whipped cream and the rhubarb crostata with cinnamon ice cream and strawberries. To be honest, the food was ok but not one of the more memorable meals that I’ve had in the city. I think the restaurant is popular mainly for the beautiful people watching.

Rainbow City/The Lot on Tap: The Highline welcomes it’s first beer bar by Tom Colicchio’s. The outdoor bar seats about 350 people and has a few food trucks for those who get hungry after a long day of drinking. There isn’t a huge variety of beverages but prices are reasonable; the only major downfall is that it closes at 11 pm, the same time as the Highline. Situated nearby was the AOL sponsored art installation called Rainbow City. I’m still not sure what it was about but it was fun to revisit my childhood bouncing against colorful inflatable objects. For more information, visit their official site http://www.aolartists.com/rainbowcity.

The Park: This spacious bi-level lounge/club brings back memories of my graduation week in college where we danced till the wee morning and fell thigh deep into the stinky feet infested Jacuzzi water. The tub is no longer there but the good music, creepsters and strict dress code still remain. The Park was also the setting for the early beginning of the Cyn/Jay relationship that eventually blossomed to a recent engagement. We might have fallen under the older demographic that night but we could still party until 3 am like we were 22 again.

For my company outing trip this year, we had the choice between going to Sabah, Malaysia or China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou). Due to my inability to get a visa on time, I couldn’t attend my first choice and ended up in Malaysia. Since it was a free trip, I couldn’t really complain too much but Sabah was not necessarily on my top 10 travel destination list. Our trip was only 5 days and 4 nights but it felt twice as long.

The highlight of our trip was the resort; we stayed at the 5 star Shangri-La Tanjung Ari Resort overlooking the South China Sea. The amenities, especially the gym, were incredibly nice. Each room also had a balcony with a view of either the water or lush foliage. We spent almost everyday basking in the sun and laying out by the picturesque pool drinking Tiger beers hidden in a trashcan from one of our rooms. If you ever stay at this resort though, make sure you know how to swim or bring your own flotation devices. We have a couple of coworkers who weren’t the best swimmers and the lifeguards took notice and wouldn’t allow them to leave the shallow end. If you’re a fan of the beach, this is not your type of island. The water is very cloudy and usually harbors jellyfish while the sand is pretty rough on the feet.

Besides lounging all day, we also made it into the city center a couple of times. There were quite a few malls but none of them compare to the ones we have here in Taipei. Something worth buying in Sabah is cheap shoes; in particular a local brand called Vincci that usually ranges from $15- 50 USD on sale. The rest of the malls resemble giant unfinished outlet type stores with barely any customers on a Friday evening. When we were tired from shopping, our company was kind enough to arrange for all of us to have 90 minute massage sessions at South Sea Sanctuary Day Spa. Now don’t be put off by the sloppy outside décor and location; trust me, it’s worth the $40 USD for a very thorough oil body rub (even if it was uncomfortable for some of the guys in our group who had a very “hands on” male masseuse).

The food in Sabah was probably on par with Boracay; basically nothing to write home about. Our tour organized meals consisted of seafood that were too tedious to crack and eat. We had a buffet style Chinese meal on another island where we had to fight with aggressive mainland China tourists including grandmas. Our best meals were the ones we ate on our own like the Hai Nan chicken that we snuck into the hotel bar, the Chinatown garlic and soy sauce stewed meats and Little Italy where six of us ordered and ate 7 dishes in under the span of 45 minutes.

We did attempt to see a bit more of Sabah besides our hotel that included a day trip to Dinawan Ocean Park for a team building activity. The best part of the entire day was riding a small tourist boat that sped through the choppy waves so quickly it felt like we were on a mini rollercoaster ride (except I think I was the only one who enjoyed it). On the island, we had the options of snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, foot massage or riding the banana boat. I chose the later two and I must say that the banana boat was quite fun especially when they flipped us over at the very end. On our last day, we went on a quick drive by tour of some of the city’s more famous landmarks that included Menara Tun Mustapha and Kota Kinabalu City Mosque.

For those who like really relaxing and laid back vacations on a reasonable budget, then Sabah might be the place for you. But I was so bored out of my mind that I went to bed by 11 pm every night, woke up at 8 am to work out and finished reading Murakami’s The Wind Up Bird Chronicles (I highly recommend) over the course of my entire trip.

Over the long Dragon Boat Festival weekend, I decided to escape the city for a nature filled getaway. Ever since I first arrived in Taiwan, everyone had told me to visit Hualien, a small city situated on the east coast bordering the Pacific Ocean. It’s a short 30 min flight from Taipei or in my case, a 3 hour bus/train ride. We arrived around noon on a Saturday and checked into our quaint bed and breakfast located just outside the city center, chosen specifically because it was located by the water. How little did I underestimate the power of great photography, because the B&B looked more like a 3 story family home and the breakfast provided every morning was Taiwanese style hamburgers and juice boxes delivered from a breakfast place nearby. After dropping our luggage off, we headed into the city to grab lunch at wonton place 液香扁食 that was strongly recommended by our cab driver aka our personal chauffeur for the weekend. Personally the wonton was not that special but clearly many other people disagreed with me since there was a long line to enter even around 2 pm. Always up for dessert after a meal, we went in search for mochi, one of Hualien’s most renowned snacks. Even though we went to a chain store, the glutinous mochi shell was super moist and the inside peanut and sesame filling was the perfect grainy texture. The best part was that they also sold taro flavored ice cream mochi, perfect for a hot day.

We got back to the hotel around late afternoon and rested a bit before trying to catch the sunset by the water. However, I noticed that the hotel was separated from the water by a large highway and a steep climb down slippery rocks and breakers. Once we did manage to get near the water, we were told that nobody actually goes swimming in it since the waves are so dangerous. As for the sunset, little did we know that the sun actually set behind the mountains in the back of our B&B and all we caught was a blue haze.

The following morning, our driver picked us up bright and early to spend the day in Taroko National Park, a 45 min. car ride away from Hualien. Our first stop along the path was the Shakadang Trail, a narrow trail built along the river cliff surrounded by sheets of rock on the other side. The trail is fairly long but most visitors only walk about 1.5 km in and then back. I was especially looking forward to this area because I had read on Wikipedia that you’re allowed to swim in the river but due to recent rock slides, visitors are no longer able to go in which was extremely disappointing since the water looked so clear and refreshing. To be honest, I didn’t keep great track of the names of the other trails we went on, mostly hiked across suspending bridges, through tunnels and along rocky paths but I do remember on our way back, our last destination was the Eternal Spring Shrine. It’s a beautiful shrine built in the mountains with beautiful views of the park and what makes it particularly memorable is the Changchun Waterfall that runs through it.

After a day of walking around the heat, our driver was kind enough to fulfill my wish to dip my feet in some cold water by taking us to 七星潭 (Seven Star Bay), the closest thing to a reachable beach in Hualien. Dipping my feet was the only thing I could do since the waves were pretty fierce and even while standing on the shore, there was a chance of easily being knocked over. In addition, the beach along the water is filled with pebbles and smooth rocks which doesn’t make laying out very comfortable. Maybe that’s why there were less than 5 people with bathing suits on, including us.

On our very last morning before going back home, we had to drop by the 24 hour buns place that our driver recommended yet again called 公正包子店 to pick up a batch for Garry’s coworker. They were pretty tasty but probably not worth the 30 min wait in the hot hot heat. The next time we go back to Hualien though, we’re going to try to be more adventurous and take up river tracing and white water rafting. For those who would like to stay at a quaint B&B my the beach, below is the place we stayed at. We paid 2,000 NT per night so try to negotiate the price. If you don’t have a car, speak Chinese and would like a personal guided tour of Hualien and Taroko, please give our driver a call. For the entire weekend that he spent with us, almost a total of 12 hours over the course of 2.5 days we only paid 3,500 NT total.

Hotel Website: http://www.blueocean-a.com.tw/map.html

Driver Mr. Lee: 0912-226330

It was another rainy afternoon the other weekend and fortunately there was another museum that I hadn’t explored yet but this time in Hsinchu. Garry and I originally thought we’d be able to escape the weather in Taipei by fleeing to a city that generally receives less rain but we were wrong. Never without my trusty Taiwan guidebook, I discovered a little known glass museum located in Hsinchu Park that was once a guesthouse and banquet hall to the Japanese royal family and high ranking officers in the 1930s. The glass industry used to be quite large in Hsinchu which is why the Council for Cultural Affairs opened this space over 10 years ago, to revitalize and promote new glass artisans.

The museum itself is not very large, only 3 floors high. One floor features the historical evolution of glass through many centuries and cultures from Mesopotamia to Art Nuevo. Another section is devoted to the glass industry in Taiwan that began with glass beads from the Paiwan aboriginal tribe and more recently the glass produced in Hsinchu for tech and science industries. A highlight of the museum is the Jail of Glass on the first floor with its glass bars, toilet and walls. The top floor features the work of new artists and explains the different glass treating techniques that go into every piece. To be honest, we spent probably less than an hour wandering the museum since it’s so small but for only $20 NT, it was worth it. Due to the “no photography” policy, I could only manage to sneak in a couple of photos while Garry stood watch for me.

While we waited for our ride, we spent some time walking around the museum grounds. In a separate building, you could watch a glass artisan mold little miniature sculptures and in another, a full size oven firing away glass vases. Also as mentioned before, since the museum used to cater to high ranking Japanese members of society, there are still old Japanese style homes preserved around the complex situated on miniature ponds full of green algae. If you’re really into glass art and so inclined to explore your artistic capabilities, there’s even a DIY store across the street from the museum.

 

 

I apologize for the lack of updates but I haven’t done anything terribly exciting nor inspiring recently especially with the weather being crappy for a good majority of the weekend. I suppose one good thing about rainy weekends is that you have a plethora of museums to choose from to occupy the day.

My girlfriends and I had been planning to visit one of Taiwan’s largest art museums since we received free entry tickets to the temporary Marc Chagall exhibition but with our different schedules, it took us approximately a month to finally organize the outing. The National Palace Museum is part of the Palace Museum in Beijing and houses a permanent collection of over 677,687 pieces. The last time I went to this museum was over 8 years ago with my family but personally, I was never really interested in Asian art so it doesn’t compare to the Met or the MOMA in my eyes.

When we arrived to the special exhibition hall on a rainy Sunday afternoon, we were greeted by a mob of families, couples and students waiting to enter. The exhibition had already been open for a good 3 months already so I was very surprised that there were still so many people waiting for it. In addition, I had rarely seen any children at fine arts museums before especially with exhibits that feature nude bodies, but the National Palace seemed like a daycare center that day. There was a good amount of children under 10 running around, being pushed around in strollers or squatting/sleeping on the floor. The crowd and noise was so stifling that I could barely get up close enough to the paintings to see what they were never mind read the captions. In total, we spent approximately 45 minutes in the entire museum.

What we were supposed to view were the 118 pieces of artwork by one of France’s most renowned painters who was even the pioneer and friend of Pablo Picasso. His most famous painting is “’L’Anniversaire’, naturally inspired by his wife as most of his work is. Chagall’s trademark, which was evident even from 5 meters away, is his use of vivid color to express a variety of emotions even under the bleakest circumstances, specifically living as a Jew during WWII.

For those who want to visit the National Palace Museum in the future, here are just a few tips.

1.) Go on a sunny day where most families are frolicking outside.
2.) If you decide to go on a rainy day, bring a plastic sleeve for your umbrella and keep it with you at all times otherwise you may risk someone stealing it from the hundreds left outside the exhibit.
3.) If you’re there to see a special exhibition, go first thing in the morning when the museum opens.
4.) If you don’t have tickets for the exhibition, skip it completely and go straight tothe gift shop where you can most likely view the entire collection between the prints and books.

 

Since arriving inTaipei last September, I have yet to eat an amazing piece of steak so when my coworker sent out an email titled “Take a Big Bite of Meat”, I was eagerly onboard. We gathered at what looked like a typical butcher shop on a late Saturday afternoon only to discover that it’s the store front of one of Taipei’s hidden restaurant gems, Taylor Butchery. In the front, there’s a wide selection of different cuts of USDA beef and lamb, accompanying sauces and salad while the freezer further back houses the seafood. Somehow the price of purchasing the meat/seafood is about the same as the price if the owners were to cook it and serve it to you in the store, so obviously we all opted for the later.

Our first course was a bit of a bonus, a coworker’s sister generously baked home kneaded rosemary bread fresh from the oven that morning that we devoured with imported olive oil and pepper. We had to seriously restrain ourselves from devouring all the loaves for fear that we would not have enough room for the other plates. Next up was a simple garden salad topped with old reliable Paul Newman’s Italian salad dressing. It was nice to have a bit of green to cleanse the palate and prepare for the protein fest to come. Luckily none of us had any food allergies so that chef was quite free with our menu and served up a wonderfully filling seafood plate consisting of fat meaty prawns, succulent scallops browned in butter and some sort of white fish that I didn’t know the name of. Afterwards, I was pretty full already but the best was yet to come; 2 slices of Angus steak that just needed some Grey Poupon and sea salt as seasoning. I think after all the guys consumed their 3^rd pieces of steak (they took most of the girls’ second portions of meat), everyone was ready for a long nap.

The best part of the whole dining experience besides the food and affable service was the wallet friendly price tag of $800 NT. I highly recommend this restaurant and definitely call ahead for reservations or pick up some meat to go and cook it at home.

Tip, if you decide to eat at the restaurant, don’t forget to bring your own bottle of wine!

Address: 台北市長安東路2段234號
Phone Number: 2777-5337

Our final location on our backpacking trip around Thailand was the peaceful island of Koh Phi Phi; it was a welcomed rest after all the activity in Chiang Mai. Somewhat similar to Porquerolles in France, Koh Phi Phi is not the easiest place to get to. We had to first fly to Phuket and spend a night there (I would not recommend Patong Beach to anyone) and then take a ferry from the shady town side to the bay around Koh Phi Phi and get on another taxi boat to the shore. But once we arrived, we realized it was totally worth the hassle for the view of the serene turquoise water and the isolated beaches.

We spent most of our first day relaxing by our bungalow on Long Beach and then headed into town during the evening for dinner and a bit of dancing in celebration of a friend’s birthday. I was quite surprised that there was even a party scene since it was described as a far less touristy island than Phuket. But I guess any island will eventually be discovered and slightly tarnished by the foreigners. A few Singhas later though, we joined in on all the fun dancing barefoot to the US Top 40s greatest hits and occasionally splashing around the water to cool down. We however did not have enough liquid courage to participate in the Limbo and Double Dutch games at Apache and Slinky nightclubs. Overall that night was probably the most fun, free spirited dancing I had done in a very long time, mainly because I didn’t have to wear heels!

The following morning, we got up bright and early to go on a private longboat tour around Koh Phi Phi Lay (a smaller island) for some swimming and snorkeling. Our first destination was the fabled Maya Beach where “The Beach” was filmed. We were very fortunate to get there early in the morning before all the other boats arrived; my favorite view was of the colorful longtail boats lazily drifting along the shore against a blue backdrop. I also got a chance to go snorkeling for my second time ever. In actuality, I didn’t even need to stick my head under since the water was so clear, I could see the schools of fish from my seat in the boat.

Restless after hours of lying out in the sun and finishing 3 books in the process, we decided to try our strength by going rock climbing. Along with Krabi and Railay, Koh Phi Phi is one of the premier rock climbing destinations in Southeast Asia primarily because the view from the top overlooks the gorgeous beaches of the island. I had never rock climbed outdoors before so it was quite a scary experience especially when on my second run up, my friend belaying me dropped my ass 5 feet. Other than that little mishap, I quite enjoyed the freedom of carving my own path up the cliff and testing my perseverance. My highest achievement was a 20 meter climb rated a 6/10 on the difficulty route scale.

I felt a little bit sad to leave our oasis but was more than ready to get back into the real world after a 2 week long vacation. Besides, I can only get so dark otherwise people in Taiwan will mistake me for Thai or Filipino.

I was looking forward to a break away from the touristy streets of Bangkok and connecting with nature in the jungles north of Chiang Mai. Upon arrival in the largest city in northern Thailand, we quickly rushed to the nearest travel agencies to a book a few tours. For only 1200 BHT, we secured a spot in a 2 day and 1 neck trek through Mae Taeng, a town with a population of less than 5,000 people.

On our first day, we started off with a stop at an orchid farm and the Karen Long Neck Village prior to the beginning of the hike. Also known as Giraffe Neck Women, they are originally from Burma but many fled to Thailand during the 80s and 90s due to military regime conflicts. I could not find one clear answer as to why these women wear the heavy brass coils around their necks, seemingly lengthening them but in actuality, the weight of the coils only deform the clavicle giving the illusion of a longer neck. When I asked our tour guide Tin, he said that they were traditionally worn to protect against tiger bites, which is why coils are also sometimes worn under the knees and around the elbows to protect against soft exposed joints. Another cultural reason is one associated with the idea of beauty.

After our brief visit with the Karen women, we drove another hour north to Mae Taeng where our trek up to the Red Lahu Tribe began. A quick lunch consisting of fried rice and watermelon provided the fuel for our 9K hike uphill in the middle of 30°C + weather. We finally reached the village around 4 pm in the afternoon where a cold shower was needed for all. I admit I was a bit surprised at our accommodations for the evening, I was certainly not expecting a 5 star hotel but I mistakenly expected some electricity. Our group of 8 all stayed in one traditional bamboo hut that held mattresses and much needed mosquito nets. To pass our time without TV or light, we bonded with our travel partners by telling stories, playing guitar and singing and exploring the village. The Red Lahu Tribe members even prepared us a traditional homecooked meal consisting of curry and rice. In retrospect, the experience was not that bad at all. Of course the worst part was trying to use the bathroom in pitch darkness with only a candle stick to guide the way.

The following day, we got up early and trekked downhill for 2 hours to an elephant farm. Along the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall in the middle of the jungle for a quick break to cool off from the heat. The elephant farm was really incredible; I had seen elephants at the zoo and in the safari but I had never been so close to one before. The ones on the farm were free to roam around without chains or restraints and we were even allowed to feed them. As part of our package, we were able to ride on top of the elephants for approximately an hour. They were all very calm and surprisingly agile especially while climbing uphill on a pretty narrow path. It was sad when our time with the elephants came to a close but we still had a full afternoon of white water and bamboo rafting. I think because it was the summer time but the rapids were not very aggressive so for the most part, it was a very smooth ride. We did even less work on the bamboo raft. Basically our guide just stood in the back and steered and paddles while we sat in the front enjoying the view and splashing some local children and monks who were playing in the water that day. Even though we initially thought the 2 day tour might have been a little on the touristy, it was probably the most educational and authentic Thai experience we had during the entire trip.

We spent our last full day in Chiang Mai acting like Tarzans through the jungles with our tour guide ‘Boston’ who was hilariously dressed in a hair ribbon and red cape. I have to admit, we were a little skeptical for our safety in the beginning when they jokingly mentioned that all the equipment was purchased at the local night market and was “Made in Thailand”. But after a few rides, all my fears subsided and the freedom of flight took over. The company we booked with was Jungle Flight and we definitely had to bargain it down to 1400 BHT since the original price was too exorbitant. I recommend the 5 hour plan since after the 2nd hour, your butt gets kind of numb from the harness and you get tired of waiting for the big group of Chinese tourists to stop fixing their hair and just slide down the zipline.

I recently got back from a 2 week vacation in Thailand that will be documented in a few separate blog posts. Far too much happened during the trip to lay it out anecdotally so as you’ll see, I’ve formatted the posts a bit differently. A disclaimer, everything is based on the 3 full days that I spent in Bangkok which was more than enough time to get a flavor of the city.

Transportation:
Taxis are readily available and are great for long distances especially to hide from the city’s heavy pollution but the most fun mode of transportation is the tuk tuk, an auto rickshaw that is surprisingly fast. It’s a great way to see the city and sometimes cheaper than a taxi and the rates are fully negotiable. We also took a couple of ferries along Chao Phraya River to get to Wat Arun temple but don’t be fooled by the 800 THB ferry tours. There are plenty of public transportation ferries that cost less than 20 THB for one way tickets.

Traveler Tip: The taxi from the airport to city center should not be more than 400 baht. Make sure that you only ride taxis that run by meter.

Temples:
Bangkok is an extremely religious and spiritual city containing too many temples to name. I admit I’m not religious so the only reason that I went was to admire the architecture and extravagance of it all but after going into a few, I have to say once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. There are only so many gold buddhas that I can see before it becomes redundant.

The first temple we visited was Wat Phra Kaew located inside the Grand Palace. This particular one is known for The Emerald Green Buddha that guidebooks describe as a tall dark greens statue carved from a jade stone that only the King is allowed to touch. Not knowing where it was or what it looked like, we asked a guard where it was located and apparently we had unknowingly walked by it in the Ubosoth. I guess 26 inches on a very tall platform is considered “tall”. What was impressive though was the amount of gold and jeweled stones that ornately adorned the temples and surrounding buildings. I had no clue Thailand was either so wealthy or a gold mine back in the day.

Wat Arun Rajwararam is another famous and recognizable temple due to its tall narrow stature. Visitors are allowed to climb the extremely steep steps to 2 different viewing terraces that offer magnificent views of the Chao Phraya River and the eastside of the city, particularly beautiful around sunset if there’s no smog. Surrounding the main tower are 6 Chinese style pavilions made of green granite.

Tip: Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed to be worn inside the temple area. You can rent clothes to cover up but occasionally there is a wait and it’s usually cheaper to buy an appropriate article of clothing at one of the nearby stands that hasn’t been worn by countless other people.

Night Market:
Coming from Taipei, night markets aren’t exactly new to me and Thailand ones are no different with the exception of one thing, ladyboys. The one I was particularly interested in visiting was Patpong otherwise known as the red-light district of Bangkok. The night market itself is pretty tourist friendly with the usual merchandise and a few bars and restaurants but even on that street, one can see hints of the prominent sex industry. From the ping pong show promoters to the questionable female go-go dancers/waitresses, the whole scene was particularly aggressive compared to Amsterdam’s district. Towards the end, I had trouble telling real women apart from ladyboys and I could see how some straight guys could be easily fooled as well.

Tip: Haggle like there’s no tomorrow. Ask another stand what the price is for the item, then tell the next stand what the price was from the last stand minus 10 THB. If that doesn’t work, slowly walk away and the vendor will usually chase after you. Another easy way is to buy more than one item at the same stand and try to get a buy one get __% off second item discount.

Floating Market:
While in Bangkok, we paid about 500 THB for one day trip outside to the city to the Damnoen Saudak Floating Market in Ratchaburi. Back in the day, this was the traditional way of selling produce and other merchandise between locals but now it primarily serves as a tourist attraction. There isn’t anything that you can’t find at local night markets in Bangkok but it’s worth a trip along the canals to see how some people still live in houses built on stilts.

Tip: Try the fruit and the mango sticky rice. Everything is super cheap and fresh and the later only costs 50 THB whereas in a restaurant, it usually costs over 120.

Khaosan Road:
Also known as a “backpacker ghetto”, Khaosan Road is filled with mostly European, Australian and Canadian tourists looking for a cheap bed, food and drink. It’s not exactly the most convenient location to stay if you plan to visit the rest of the city, approximately a 40 min drive from the airport without traffic. The road itself is lined with Western style bars and restaurants as well as street stands open till all hours of the night. The hotel that we stayed at (Villa Cha Cha) was one of the nicer ones in the area but regardless of where you stay, be prepared to hear moaning sounds at all hours of the night.

Tip: Best thing about living here was participating in the Songkran festival (Thai New Year) that’s celebrated from April 13-15. One of the traditions is to throw water on anyone walking through the area whether it’s with squirt guns, buckets, water bottles, etc. everyone partakes in the fun including elders!