From: randy@halcyon.com (C. Brandon Gresham)
Subject: Re: Thailand recommendations ?
Organization: Northwest Nexus Inc. (206) 455-3505
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 10:06:15 GMT

cliff@hal.com (Cliff Neighbors) writes:

>I'm going to Thailand in January and am interested in 
>any useful suggestions/tips/etc.  Fun excursions, wild adventures,
>special places, good references, pitfalls, places to avoid
>and so forth will be appreciated.


Hotel  
Regular
Oriental Hotel, 48 Oriental Avenue, very expensive and very close to heaven. 
Even if you dont stay there, be sure to drop by in the late afternoon to sit in the lobby and enjoy the classical music and enjoying the ambience. 
Narai Hotel, 222 Silom Road, friends recommend it. Good location, See travel agents, discussed at the end, for good rates. 
Ambassador Hotel, Soi 11, Sukhumvit Rd., also recommended by friends who said to ask for a room in the old wing at about $40 for a double room. 
Many of the Western bachelors from Saudi Arabia stay at the Nana Hotel or the Rajah Hotel because there are lots of prostitutes about. I would not choose either of these places though the coffce shop of the Nana serves a good Thai lunch. The Saudi bachelors tend to stay at the Grace Hotel. 
Alternative
Bangkok Christian Guest House, 123 Saladaeng, Soi 2, Silom Road, 233- 6303, 233 2206, fax: (662) 233-5444. 
About 660 baht for a double with breakfast. Quiet missionary elientele. Between the Dusit Thani and the Oriental 
House by the Pond, 230/3 Sukhumvit Soi 22, 258-0020-1, Telex: 21527 
One bedroom suite in an old style house was $14/day in 1987. We felt very safe as the ground floor is the headquarters of a security service. It was nice to have the space to sprawl out and to just Ieave a note to have the refrigerator filled by the servants to our specification. This is for long stays, e.g. a month or so. Ask for Tepi 
Shopping
Jewelry
Thai Gem Factory, 912-918 Rama IV Rd, 233-3636 or 234~4056 Ask for Tip.
Recommended by friends who have done business with this shop. I bought sapphires here for a ring and had them use one of their settings. They custom fabricated a pair of sapphire earrings to our specifications to match the ring. It is a very nice shop and there is no pressure but good service. 
Amour Creations, 44/1 Oriental Plaza { shopping center near the Oriental Hotel } 234-1320-9 Ext. 72 
This shop is on the second floor near the ladies room. They have beautiful necklaces of semiprecious stones and beads in lovely colour combinations. The first time I went in I intended to buy a necklace that matched a new dress. I ended up buying three and wanted more. Also have nice leather bags. I have since been back for more necklaces and have sent instructions\design ideas ahead with friends and she has always surprised me with delightful creations.
There are several more interesting shops in Oriental Plaza.
Asian Design Jewelry 23/4 Soi Nanatai, Sukhumvit, Bangkok 10110, Mr. Chao Techasathian, 252-1384
We haven't had any work done by him; but he was most accommodating when we were trying to determine what sapphires and gold chains to buy. He let us take them with us to compare with other stone across town. He was the supplier for one of our friends who ran a small jewelry bwiness. 
S.J. International, 8 Phyutai Road, 245-0667 
Stone Wholesaler. 
Bangkok Gem Exchange, 805 Dusit Thani Building, 233-4260, Telex: 82763
Extenive collection. Friends have been very satisfied with their purchases. Ask for Richard Brown. 
Dressmaker
Doreens, second floor of the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel . 
I had them copy a blouse and pants and also work from pictures. The garments were very well constructed and fit nicely and were ready in 24 hours. They have some silk in the shop or will work from your fabric. This shop is not the cheapest but provides good quality. I had things made cheaply at other shops  on an earlier trip and never wore them. 
Mens Tailors
I cannot recommend a mens tailor in Bangkok. We have tried threeArt's at the Oriental, very expensive; the one across from Doreens and a cheapy near the Nana Hotel and none have proved acceptable. 
Dress Shop
Khanitha, 3 locationsIntercontinental Hotel shopping arcade; Siam Center 3rd floor #362 and the Oriental Plaza 
Interesting and elegant ready to wear mostly in silk and nice accessories in snake skin 
Jim Thompsons Silk Company, 9 Surawong Rd near intersection with Rama IV Rd 234~4900 
REALLY beautiful Thai silk and cotton. Expensive by Bangkok standards but no one else has these colors and textures. Mens ties are about $10 { when buying ties in Thailand have your husband try them to sure they are long enough). They have upholstery/drapery fabric and dress weight fabric by the yard, ready to wear in their fabrics, accessories and decorating/housewaresplacemats etc.Once when we were they had some very interesting ethnic jewelry.
The Golden Triangle, shop 304 in River City, 234 9365 ext 304, Telex: CHAI BKK TH 
Moderately priced to expensive hll tribe pieces and western clothes fabricates from hill tribe fabrics. Also antique textiles and jewelry and Ikat material. 
John Fowler, several locations including Plnchit Arcade and near the Dusit Thani. 
Reasonably priced ethnic pieces and western clothes fabricated from ethnic fabrics.
Stuff
Antiques
Thai House, 720/6 Sukhumvit, near Soi 28, 392-7178
Looks junky but has interesting pieces. Bought a Burmese wall hanging from them in 1985 from their display at the Sunday Market. 
Crafts
KinareeUnicorn Art Co., 57/5-7 Wireless Road, 252-0733, 252 485, On third Ploor behind the Soho Restaurant
Hill Tribes Handicraft Sales
Four times a year. Usually held at the International School on Sukumvit Soi 15. Organized by the Womens AssociationInternational Church.
Sites/Sights
Jim Thompson House, 6 Soi Kasemsong II across from National Stadium on Rama I Rd. 
Several old Thai houses brought together and filled with Asian antiques. A little out of your way but we felt it was worth the trip. Monday-Friday, 0900-1530. 
Weekend Market, every Saturday and Sunday at Chatuehak Park off Phahonyothin Rd
Huge open air market selling just about everything imaginable. Great place to photograph people. It is arranged by type of merchandise for example plants and garden supplies or food- both prepared and ingredients (which is one of my favorite parts) Among the things we have bought are a hammock, some cheap bronzeware, rose cuttings, a Burmese wall hanging and breakfast.
Tours and Shows
Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In
UsuaUy we avoid organized tours like the plague but this is one that we thoroughly enjoyed in Bangkok. The Oriental Hotel runs a tour to Ayutthayathe ruins of the ancient capital of Thailand and to Bang Pa-Ina former summer palace of the kings. It Ieaves about 8am., you can go up on a boat and return by bus or vice versa A delicious buffet lunch is served on the boat. You get to see all the activity on the river from air conditioned luxury. The ruins are interesting and the palace is charming.
Muang Borang
A large park outside Bangkok where a wealthy industrialist has assembled examples of architecture from all over Thailand. We recommended it after our first visit; but have reconsidered after a subsequent visit.
Floating Market Tour
Our floating market tour was a rip-off! The only thing floating were boats full of tourists and the debris in the canals. 
Dancing Shows
I believe that most of the large hotels have traditional Thai dancing shows. We saw the one at the OrientaL One or two nights a week they serve a buffet of Thai foods and have a nice floor show with colorful costumes and dancers who pose for photos after. 
Food
We love Thai foodit is one of the reasons we've been back about every two years and hope to continue returning in the future. Unlike many tourists, we eat freely from the street stalls and have never been sick. We try to pick places where the ingredients and the food handlers look clean and where they do a good business with the locals. Generally avoid ice and water except in the big hotels.
Restaurants
The Toll Gate, 245/2 Soi 31, Sukhumvit Road, Tel; 258-4634
They serve Thai food cooked in the Royal manner but served in cosy surroundings. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. 
Laikhraim, Off Soi 49 Sukhumvit, turn down the Soi opposite the hospital.
Excellent. authentic Thai food. Worth the effort to find it. You may be the only farang there. (The heat of the food reflects the mix of their clientele.) 
Bussaracum Restaurant, 35 Soi Pipat off Convent Rd
They have and each day on the restaurant page of the Bangkok Post.  This place is clean, lovely and the food was great the first several times we went. Was said to be one of the finest in the citydinner for two ran about $25. Make a reservation and they will seat you downstairs where they have lovely ladies playing gentle music. On later visits it was not so great. Marriott bought it and it is now full of tour groups. No restaurant can withstand that abuse.
NeilsTavernnear the American Embassy
This place is a genuine American steak house, a treat for us since we haven't been in the USA for some time. The attraetion is Kobe beefas tender and delicious a steak as I can remember and Phuket lobster. About $36 for two with drinle~ 
Oriental Hotel: 
Lord Jims, seafood buffet luncheongood. 
Thai Night Buffet by the river, tame sampling of wide variety of Thai food. Safe choice if the street stalls dont tempt you. ( Now replaced by their restaurant on the other side of the river, DJit Pochana. 
Normandy, French food, very good and expensive. 
Chaing Mai
Second Largest City in Thailand, located in the Highlands of the North
The big attraction here is the hill tribes people and their handicrafts. You dont want to hear about the kind of places that we stay in Chiang Mai. Friends recommend the Dusit Inn, it has a good central location and was, a pleasant and reasonable hotd There is a Night Market in the center of townask the hotelfor directionsthat you should not miss. Tours ean be arranged from here to visit various tribes and view the heart of the illegal heroin trade. If you stay in the remote villages, recreational dru
gs are readily and cheaply available. BUT illegal activities are always risky business.
Saving Money on Thai Travel:
If you are not restricted to a particular airline, make your arrangements through Thai Airtines. Our experience flying with Thai has been very pleasant, comparable to flying on Singapore Airlines. Friends just returned from two weeks in Thailand with all tours and hotels arranged by Thai and were very pleased with service and the price. 
A.T. Travel & Trade Ltd
 Attn. Lee Pramukeehai 8/3 Silom Rd opposite Soi Saladaeng Bangkok 5, Thailand Telephone 233-3247, 234-5292 telex MONTEN TH 81160 ATTN ATRAVEL 
We have used this company for extensive airline reservations. In one case we had to cancel a significant portion of a trip once we got to the States. Lee refunded our money, although to get the refund in US.Dollars we had to wait until friends were headed to Bangkok to pick it up. Friends tell us that they make hotel arrangements here at a 40% savings, plus additional savings on tours and flights. 
Thailand Tourist Servlce
Attn: Susan BramleyP.O. Box 126521/2 Nana tai Soi 4Sukhumvit RoadBangkok 10112Tel: 252-6577,251-2769,252-2029,251-0746,252-2657Telex: 81056 TTSTRAV TH

We have used this company for extensive travel reservations

	We normally eat at the DJit Pochana at 60 Sukhumvit Soi 20. The surroundings are not as nice as the one across from the Oriental, but your fellow diners will all be Thai.
	Guest Houses for under U.5S.$/night.
	We prefer three to five day walks in the hills with a local guide. Most people take day trips in buses. Friend say: Avoid the Elephants Working trip. Weve never been tempted; but have trekked for a day with people riding elephants - no necessarily the best way to go either. The trails, such as they are, were never created with that sort of bulk in mind.
	Currency control rears its ugly head.
	The Oriental hasnt offered any deals, yet.


These notes are the result of trips approximately every two years from 1980 to 1991.
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