A rather relaxing morning followed by another big Journal Entry catch up.
Besides the daily night market that takes place near my apartment, Chiang Mai also has a unique Sunday Night Market located in the central part of the old city. It’s a 30 minute walk away; I’m going to check it out.
The market begins in the square around Tha Phae Gate. It opens at 4pm, and I arrived around 5:30pm. Hence, it was still daylight during my time at the “Night” market!
More from the square. (Yes, that’s a Starbucks sign to the right)
It may be hard to tell from this picture, but it’s very crowded as you look down the street.
I didn’t stay very long…
Instead I did some exploring of the nearby neighborhood, and came across Wat Buppharam. a Buddhist temple. This is Dhamma Hall. Can you spot Donald Duck eating a bowl of noodles out front?
Funny!
A short walk away is the entrance to Wat Saen Fang.
(apologies for the orientation of the photo; I was listing to the right a little!)
Stupa
Ordination Hall
(listing to the right again! ugh!!)
An ordination hall is the most sacred, consecrated building within a Buddhist monastery complex, specifically designed for monks to perform formal rituals, most notably the ordination of new monks.
Scripture Hall
Chanting Hall
(yes, more leaning! brother!)
Monk’s House
Mongkolsanmahachai Gate
I think I visited this temple at a good time – both because of the nice late-afternoon light, and the fact that there was nobody else here.
There were a few young monks outside doing cleanup duties. And I found this interesting: they were scrolling through their mobile phones while they worked!
Just an interesting building that I passed by on my way to…
…my nightly ritual – dumplings and a smoothie! (you’re welcome Holly! Hahaha!)
(while my main meal in Bangkok was breakfast, I have transitioned into a dinner guy in Chiang Mai!)
(because you all know how much I love to cook. Hahaha…NOT!)
There was a morning or evening option, and I chose the morning. A pick up at my apartment was included in the cost of the course, but the market where we were starting was only a 20 minute walk away, so I met the instructor and other students there at 9am.
I arrived at Kad Kom Market a little early, and did some exploring on my own…
Peppers and (pumpkin?) seeds drying in the sun.
This is the meat stand. The orange items just below the lamps are motorized fans, twirling around to keep the flys away.
Note the QR code in the lower left. Surprised to see that level of technology at this market!
I’m now with our cooking group. We went around to the different market stalls with our instructor, Aek, purchasing the various fresh ingredients that we’ll be using today.
Here Aek is buying some prawns.
We’ve now made the drive from the market to the cooking school.
There were 8 of us in the class, the maximum capacity. The breakdown was:
Couple from Paris
Couple from the Czech Republic, now living in Barcelona
Two friends from Antwerp, Belgium
Woman from North Dakota
We will be preparing (and consuming!) a 5-course meal during the 4 hour class. For each course, we had 4 items to choose from, except for dessert, where there were only 2.
(We typically each prepared our own courses, but in this case there were only two of us who chose the pumpkin/coconut dessert, so we worked on it together)
The final two courses are ready to eat!
Wow! That was fun, and very good. And I’m stuffed! There will be no smoothie and dumplings tonight!
Taking into account the mid-afternoon heat and the distance from the school back to my apartment, I accepted the ride that was included in the price of the course.
At 5:30am, a porter came through our car waking everyone up. (to be fair though, we were warned last night that this would happen) Not a huge deal for me; I wasn’t sleeping that well anyway (no surprise!).
The overhead light in our car was on all night, and being in the upper bunk, I was right against it. The curtain helped a little, but not much. And with the curtain closed, it got a little warm. I ended up opening it on the end by my feet.
Shortly after the wake up announcement our bunks were transformed back into seats. Breakfast orders were taken, and I’m guessing the dining car was open, but I passed.
I was able to get some (fairly) nice sunrise pictures from my seat…
We arrived Chiang Mai station at 7:11am (4 minutes early!). I’m very impressed with the Thai railroad’s punctuality! So, the trip ended up taking about 12 1/2 hours. I have to say, I enjoyed it! (But I like train travel, and I’m a little weird…)
Some scenes of the Chiang Mai Train Station…
I prefer Chiang Mai to Bangkok. It’s more laid-back, has many cultural and recreational activities, and offers a cooler climate.
This is my third visit to Chiang Mai. The first was during my Thailand trip 20+ years ago. I returned 15 years ago, in March of 2011. This was when I was working in Yokohama, and my trip was a result of the devastating earthquake that occurred in Japan on March 11th. Due to the damage sustained by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, there were concerns about radiation poisoning in the air, water, and food of the surrounding area. Our company therefore made the decision to send their expats away for a couple weeks. I could have went back to the States, but chose Chiang Mai instead.
(And today, 15 years on, I have not yet experienced any (noticeable) effects from the radiation. Hopefully that will continue!)
I’ve booked an apartment here via Airbnb. I was hoping for an early check-in, but the unit was occupied through this morning, so the cleaning crew needs to do their thing first. I’ve been told that my key will be available at 1pm. The complex where I’m staying has a baggage storage room; I’ll head there first and then do some roaming around.
The ride-hailing app used here is Grab (similar to Uber). I could have booked that and spent 5 USD to get a ride to my apartment, but it’s such a beautiful morning (65 degrees), I decided to do the 40 minute walk instead. I’ve got plenty of time, right? Plus, the walk felt good after the long train ride.
Google Maps took me down this interesting alleyway…
…where I came upon this cool old Ford.
The Chiang Mai Samakkee Charity Foundation
It is a Chinese temple and charitable organization
Wat Si Don Chai Temple
Okay, I’ve made it to my destination.
The Astra Condominiums
Lobby
Sign posted at the entrance to the Astra. It’s kind of funny, because there are numerous Airbnb listings for apartments in this complex. Plus, I saw several tourists hanging around the lobby.
After dropping off my bag, I was back in wandering mode…
I ventured into a mall to relax a bit, and came across this smoothie stand. Mmmmmm…
You know I had to get one! Mango/coconut. 60 THB (2 USD). Tasted great! Rivals Panda Tea in Tonga!
The Museum of Broken Relationships. Interesting…
It’s one o’clock, time to get the key to my apartment…
One bedroom apartment
I’ll be here for two weeks
(for the observant ones among you, the clock is broken; in case you’re wondering why I waited until 4pm to check-in!)
42 USD / night
Gym
Rooftop Pool. It’s nice, but actually very small for this large (16 story) complex.
After getting settled in, and resting up, I decided to head back to the food court at the mall for dinner…
Next to the smoothie shop is this dumpling stand. How convenient!
I can see myself becoming a regular at this place! And interestingly these stands do not accept cash – either credit cards (perfect!) or prepaid cards bought here at the mall (with cash).
I ended up doing 25k steps today. A new personal best for the 2026 Winter Escape!
Friday, February 27 – Chiang Mai
I led off the day with a swim in the pool. Up there at around 9am, and it was a little chilly! I was the only one around!
(I made reference to the cool mornings here, but it ends up getting about as warm as Bangkok. The daily temperature range is mid-60s to about 90 – quite a gap!)
Followed the swim with a grocery run.
Travel Note: I mentioned that I will be staying here for two weeks. I foresee this being a low-key, relaxing stay. That means these Journal Entries could be rather boring. Apologies. In fact, I may not even document every day, if nothing interesting takes place (like my London philosophy of the last couple years).
Oh, today I received a response from the Tonga airport security officer:
“We have reviewed our cctv and monitored your blue checked bag. I can assure you that your blue bag wasn’t opened at any point from check in service desk to loading burrows.”
I don’t buy it, but not unexpected. The only other time it could have been taken was on the receiving end in Fiji, but there is no baggage x-ray, or any time for that matter, on the back end. At least Tonga airport humored me with a conversation!
I got a little bit more travel planning done, and then headed out for some dinner. Care to guess where I’m going?
This is the mall with the food court, and the grocery store.
Back for some dumplings!
Tonight I upped the count to 10 dumplings (they’re kind of small) – 80 THB (2.50 USD). With an orange/pineapple smoothie. And Wow! That was good! My new favorite smoothie flavor.
Chiang Mai is kind of known for its Night Market. It operates every night of the week. Rather touristy, but still interesting.
Back to Wat Si Don Chai Temple
Saturday, February 28 – Chiang Mai
Another morning swim to lead off the day. I went up there a little later today, and a couple lounge chairs were already occupied. Nobody swimming though; just me! It felt good, but I think I stayed a little too long; got a little sunburn! May have to skip the pool tomorrow…
Much of today was spent on Journal work. I was way behind. I shouldn’t call it work though; I enjoy doing it.
Yes, I’m back to the same place for dinner! I mixed it up a little though. Tonight I have 10 pork pot stickers – 80 THB (2.50 USD). They were great! And my new fav smoothie – orange/pineapple.
I know it’s boring to go back to the same place every night, but it’s:
(As you may have inferred, breakfast has become my main meal of the day since I arrived at the Volve Hotel!)
Today is going to be a kind of travel admin day. On Wednesday, I’m taking the overnight train to Chiang Mai. I booked the trip through the agency 12Go.Asia, and I have to pick up the ticket at their office in Metro Mall here in Bangkok. In addition, I’m hoping to kill two birds by also buying a new hair clipper at the mall. (I’m getting a little scruffy!)
The mall is part of a combined BST/MRT station, so that will make the journey pretty simple. Since I was visiting the area, I did a search to see if there was anything worth checking out nearby (off-the-beaten path, of course!). A couple parks looked interesting…
The first park is right next to the BTS station.
Chatuchak Park is one of the oldest public parks in Bangkok. It was built on land formerly owned by the State Railway of Thailand, in dedication to former King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), on the occasion of his birthday on December 5, 1975.
A nice bit of greenery amongst the urban sprawl of Bangkok.
Noticed this fella swimming in the lake!
It’s not very busy because I’m visiting in late morning. The locals will be here either early or late in the day, to avoid the heat.
I think the heat is causing the sunflowers to droop!
The heat was getting to me a little too! Time for a break in the shade.
Right across the street is Queen Sirikit Park, a botanical garden which is part of the larger Chatuchak Park complex. It was established in 1992 and named after Sirikit, Queen of Thailand, to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Well, this was a nice diversion! Time to pick up my ticket at the mall…
Some more Chinese New Year advertising.
I think is New Year related as well.
New Year’s resolutions maybe?
And here’s my train ticket pickup location.
Unfortunately, Metro Mall is just a little underground strip with mainly food options. Finding a replacement hair clipper here wasn’t going to happen. I ended up using Google Gemini to find a mall near my hotel which would have a store that sells hair clippers.
I was directed to Gateway Mall, and…
…the store Home Pros (their sign is ahead on the 2nd level).
Success! I ended up spending more than I wanted, 2,190 THB (71 USD), but this was the only type of hair clipper that Home Pros offered, and it was the last one they had! (I tried getting a display model discount, but no. I needed Matt the negotiator with me!) I suppose I could have tried finding a less expensive one at a different store, but I didn’t really feel like searching all over Bangkok to save a few dollars.
One thing I like about this clipper is that it charges via a USB cable. I was worried that it would have a Thailand plug; that would result in my having to find a Thailand-to-U.S. adapter in order to charge it when I got back to Madison; and on the rest of this trip, for that matter. (A U.S-to-Thai adapter would be easy to find, not sure about the other way around. I’m guessing they’re out there though!)
(After getting back to the hotel I did a search to see how much I would have paid to buy the same thing in the States. It was around 60 USD. Not that much more, thankfully. And I think I remember seeing this same clipper at the duty-free shop at the Brisbane airport. I thought about buying it then, but didn’t. Probably would have cost a little less there too. Oh well…)
After my exorbitant purchase, I decided to save some money and walk back to the hotel! (only one BTS stop away!)
Cool street art
A short walk from my hotel is Mae Varee, a shop known for selling Bangkok’s most famous Mango Sticky Rice. I had to try it!
160 THB (5 USD). A little pricey for Thailand, but I think it’s a popular item with tourists. (Can’t believe I’m buying this!)
Besides the mangoes, there are three types of sticky rice, roasted mung beans, and sauce (sweet milk).
I had to ask the staff at the hotel how I was to prepare/eat it. I ended up basically throwing it all together. Not sure if that was correct, but it tasted pretty good!
Tuesday, February 24 – Bangkok
I’m starting off the day with Salted Caramel Banana French Toast and a couple of fried eggs. Yummmm!
This is my last full day in Bangkok. I asked Gemini to find me a less visited hidden gem. Let’s see where it led me…
Some Bangkok street scenes as I make my way from the BTS station to my destination…
The Bangkokian Museum (also known as the Bangkok Folk Museum) displays what upper middle-class homes looked like in Bangkok during the early to mid-20th century.
The Main House (ca. 1937)
The property was donated as a museum to the city in 2004 and the interiors are arranged in the style indicative of the World War II era.
Library
Living Room
The teak flooring is beautiful.
Grandmother’s Room
The Ancestor’s Room
Mother’s Bedroom
The Big Bedroom
The Original House (ca. 1929)
Bedroom
Office
View from second floor of the Original House, with the rear of the Main House ahead.
The Bangkokian Museum is hard to find and isn’t well known – there were only 6 other visitors while I was there. It’s a simple, discreet museum with a bit of a ‘frozen-in-time’ vibe. Perfect!
Admission Price: Free entry (Bonus!)
I enjoyed my visit to the museum. Well worth the time and effort!
Spotted this Toyota Land Cruiser FJ25 (ca. 1955-60) on my walk back to the BTS station. Very cool!
(Based on the condition of the tires, I guess it’s a permanent fixture on this side street. Somebody keeps it spotless though!)
Wednesday, February 25 – transit from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
For my last meal at the Volve Hotel, I went with the full breakfast (wanted to fill up for the long trip ahead of me!)
Checkout was at noon, so my morning was rather leisurely.
My train didn’t depart until 6:40pm; after checkout I took advantage of this nice space at the hotel to work on my Journal.
Travel Note: You will be seeing the Volve Hotel on my list of favorite accommodations. Not only is the breakfast amazing, but it has all these other things going for it:
Friendly and helpful staff
Close to the BTS
Fast WiFi
Good A/C
Great shower
Comfortable bed
Complimentary snacks & drinks in the room, replenished on a daily basis
Noon checkout
The only drawback was the noise from the adjacent road. I have my earplugs though, and slept great.
Sidenote: Today marks 2 weeks since my last correspondence with the Vanuatu airport security officer regarding the theft of my hair clippers. I decided to send him a follow up note, checking on the progress of his investigation. We’ll see what happens…
I ended up leaving the hotel around 3pm. A little early, but I was taking the BTS and MRT to the train station, and wanted to avoid rush hour (especially when taking a bag with me).
I arrived at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station around 4pm.
This new station opened in January, 2023.
The station is nice, but rather sterile. St Pancras it is not!
There’s a nice little food court in the station.
Food is allowed to be taken on the train (no alcohol though), but I thought it would be fun to check out the dining car during the ride to Chiang Mai.
The overnight route: bottom to top
The boarding area for the train (beginning at 6:20pm)
At 6pm on the dot, a pre-recorded song was played over the PA system at the train station. I guess it was the Thai National Anthem, because all of the locals stood up. So I joined them!
Travel Note: I think I’ve mention this previously, but it’s worth repeating: A great source for worldwide train travel information is the website The Man in Seat Sixty-One.
I booked a seat in the 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper car. This particular train is relatively new; entering into service in 2016. Cost of the ticket: 48 USD.
When I first visited Thailand 20+ years ago, I took the overnight route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. I’m trying to remember what that train was like, but sadly, can’t. (and have no digital photos to refer back to)
(I do recall my 2012 overnight train ride in Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang. That was much more rustic than this!)
Berths are arranged open plan, on either side of a central aisle.
During the evening and morning part of the journey, there are face-to-face pairs of seats on each side of the aisle. The young woman who sat across from me might have been from Germany. We didn’t talk much; her traveling companion sat across the aisle from her.
My duffel bag was stored under the seat.
We departed Bangkok at 6:41pm (1 minute late!).
Shortly after, I made my way to the dining car.
Passengers could also choose to have meals delivered to their seats. I guess many did that (or brought their own food), because this car wasn’t very crowded.
(A few people attempted to sit in here without ordering anything. They got the boot!)
I ordered one of the set menu options. This one consisted of:
Thai Jasmine Rice
Red Curry with Roasted Duck
Clear Soup
Spring Rolls
Watermelon
Water
190 THB (6 USD)
It was good! And it was nice to chill for a while in the dining car.
Just as I got back to my seat, the attendant arrived to make up the sleeping berths.
The first steps were to pull together each pair of seats to form the lower bunk, and to fold the upper bunk out from the wall.
He then arranged a mattress, pillow and fresh clean bedding on each berth, and hooked up the curtains on each bunk for privacy.
I had the upper.
Getting ready for bed.
This screen in the car displays:
Train: 09
Car: 9
Estimated Arrival Time: 7:20am
Time of Next Stop: 8:15pm
Train Speed: 12 km/hr
Outside Temperature: 32 degrees C
Inside Temperature: 23 degrees C
Okay, time to hunker down for the night! See you tomorrow…
My plan for today is to visit the Old City part of Bangkok, around The Grand Palace.
But first…
…breakfast! I went with the “Full Breakfast” today. The menu indicated that there was a choice of how the eggs could be prepared, so I went with fried. Well, I guess the server took that to mean I wanted additional fried eggs, hence the extra plate of eggs! Oh well, couldn’t let them go to waste!
I’m getting a kind of late start this morning. That’s a little concerning, because I know the area I’m visiting is very touristy. We’ll see how it goes…
My journey will begin on the Skytrain, followed by a transfer to the subway.
Stairway from the Skytrain ticketing area up to the departure platform.
I mentioned previously that the Skytrain (BTS) is cash only; but the subway (MRT) accepts contactless credit card payments at the entrance gates. This was a big advantage for me this morning (and on the return later in the afternoon).
This is the massive queue waiting to buy tickets at the MRT station.
And here’s the line at the gate for those using a credit card!
Priority Seat notice on the MRT – to include Monks!
Upon arrival at the MRT station, I noticed basically all of the departing passengers were heading to the exit for The Grand Palace. Not a surprise, I guess. However, on the directory of exits I noticed the destination for one was a Flower Market. I think I’ll check that out first. The road less traveled…
This is one of the entrances to the market.
The Pak Khlong Talat is Bangkok’s largest flower market.
Originally, Pak Khlong Talat was a fish market, located on the banks of a canal (pak khlong means canal mouth in Thai). It gradually transformed into a wholesale fruit and vegetable market in the early 20th century, before becoming a major flower market in the 1950s, supplied daily by growers from all over the country.
Came upon this shrine inside the flower market.
There are also some food stalls within the market.
This is the entrance to a smaller flower market, just across the street.
I’m now outside of the market. Not sure what this place is, just liked the entrance!
Across the street is the entrance to the temple of Wat Pho, best known for its huge reclining Buddha.
I went inside, but it was packed with people. Pass.
(I’ve visited here previously, during my trip 20+ years ago)
A peak inside the Wat Pho complex.
Travel Note: While walking around the outside of Wat Pho, I got a “Go Badgers” shout out from a man exiting the temple. Finally! And it turns out he’s from Madison, on a two week tour of Thailand. Small world!
It’s hard to tell from these pictures, but this area was jammed with people. Needless to say, I gave up and never made it to The Grand Palace (visited that 20 years ago too…).
It was a good day, regardless, with a lesson learned: Seek out off-the-beaten path areas of Bangkok!
I think I mentioned that breakfast is included here at the Volve Hotel, and it’s very good!
They offer a selection of fruit, bread, juice, yogurt, and vegetables…
…and also a choice from an a la carte menu. Today I went with Eggs Benedict, with salmon instead of Canadian bacon. Also had some guava juice and Thai lemon tea. It was great!
Thai Baht. 1 USD = 31 THB.
My only previous visit to Bangkok was a little over 20 years ago. I traveled here during one of my breaks while working in Kuwait. One thing I remember enjoying was my tour of the Jim Thompson House, so I’m going to make a return visit today.
I’ll be taking the Skytrain (BTS) to the Thompson House, with only one transfer.
Pretty quiet at the Thong Lo Station this morning.
I changed trains at a station that is adjacent to Nimibutr Stadium, and…
It’s common for the BTS stations to be connected to shopping malls via an elevated walkway.
I feel like I’ve told the Jim Thompson story previously in this Journal, but I’m not sure under what circumstance that would have been. In any event, here’s a brief summary of his (very) interesting life…
Jim Thompson was an American businessman who helped revitalize the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. Born in 1906, he was trained as an architect, but quit his job in 1941 to enlist in the military. At the height of the Second World War, Thompson was recruited to serve as an operative in the OSS (the forerunner to the CIA). In 1946, he went to work as a military attache in Thailand.
In 1948, Thompson co-founded the Thai Silk Company Limited. The firm achieved a coup in 1951 when designer Irene Sharaff made use of Thai silk fabrics for the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, The King and I. From then on, the company prospered.
In the spring of 1967, Thompson vanished from Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands while out for a walk. His disappearance from the hill station generated one of the largest land searches in Southeast Asian history and remains one of the most famous mysteries in the region. Over the years, many theories have been advanced to explain his disappearance, but no definitive answer has ever emerged.
Sadly, an investigation in 2023 by the Thai authorities found that Thompson had smuggled a large number of antiquities from Thailand and sold them in the United States and the United Kingdom. The objects removed by Thompson include items from the Si Thep Historical Park during the 1960s.
The Museum opens at 10am. I arrived a little early, but fortunately the museum shop and cafe were open.
Beautiful silk products on display.
Dating to 1959, The Jim Thompson House consists of a combination of six traditional Thai-style homes, primarily constructed of wood, and various old Thai structures that were collected from all parts of Thailand in the 1950s and 1960s. He designed it as a place live and to showcase his Southeast Asian art collection.
After purchasing my ticket (250 THB / 8 USD), I was assigned to the English-speaking group, who’s tour began at 10:10. Very efficient! There were 16 of us in the group; the tour lasted 45 minutes. Following the tour we were free to roam around the grounds, but not back inside the house.
Here are a few photos from the visit…
It’s interesting, we were allowed to take pictures in the house, but other people could not be included in the photo (unless they were friends or family visiting together as a group). I kind of like it, but have never encountered that rule before. Imagine trying to enforce it at the Louvre!
Very impressed! I’m happy I returned to The Jim Thompson House. Two decades later! It’s as nice as I remembered. And happy to see it’s been so well maintained.
The house sits on Khlong (canal) Saen Saep across from Bangkrua, where Thai Silk Company’s weavers were then located. This patio faces the canal, which is just beyond the structure in the background.
Khlong Saen Saep
A water taxi service operates on the canal.
Following the JT House tour, I was on the BTS back toward my hotel, but got off one stop early to check out a park.
Benjakitti Park dates to 1992, and covers 180 acres.
There’s a nice walking/jogging/biking path that runs around the lake.
Surprised to see leaves on the ground. An early autumn?
On the right is the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
A nice visit. I’m glad I made the diversion to check it out!
Time to make my way back to the hotel. I’ll bypass the train and walk instead. Will take about an hour.
I have to say though, I feel like I’ve been incredibly lucky during my travels when it comes to weather, including on this trip.
The one time that sticks out as being rather unlucky was my visit to Nepal. It happened to take place as the remnants of a Typhoon passed through! Not a lot of rain, but major cloudiness. I was hoping to see the Himalayas and Mount Everest, but that didn’t happen, well at least from ground level. I ended up booking a tourist flight on Buddha Air to get above the clouds to see the highest mountain on Earth.
Bonus picture: Everest from the Buddha Air cockpit.
So, I did take advantage of the poor weather situation and got some work done today – mainly Journal stuff and prep for my trip to Bangkok tomorrow.
By late afternoon though I was ready to get out, regardless of the rain.
As part of the New Year’s celebrations, the Esplanade is putting on a series of free concerts called Cool Classics. I’m going to make my way over there to check out tonight’s performance.
(And actually, by the time I left the hotel the rain had stopped. The walk to the harbor was a dry one!)
It was an interesting performance by a trombone and tuba duo. (The woman speaking is a composer, a couple of her works were part of the program) They played 4 pieces that lasted about 30 minutes. A nice evening diversion. And did I mention that it was free?
I’m back on the rooftop of the Esplanade, pleased that the rain remains absent!
The clouds have a cool effect on the skyscrapers, reflecting their lights and partially obscuring them in some cases.
But of course it started pouring rain on my walk back!
Fortunately there was a metro station close by that I could escape to.
And by the time I got to my station, the rain had stopped once again.
Friday, February 20 – transit from Singapore to Bangkok
I had a leisurely morning because my flight to Bangkok wasn’t until early afternoon.
Here are a couple more New Year’s images as I prepare to depart Singapore…
In my hotel’s lobby. Oranges, specifically Mandarin oranges and tangerines, symbolize abundant luck, wealth, and prosperity during Chinese New Year due to their vibrant, gold-like color and their names sounding similar to words for luck and success in Chinese dialects.
At a grocery store in the metro station.
I’m now on the train to the airport. I posted this mainly to point out how clean the floor is. Amazing!
The metro station at the airport.
Sorry! One more New Year’s display – this one at the airport.
The departure area in terminal 2 at Changi Airport.
I don’t think I’ve encountered this before: Automated baggage drop off. You print off the label, affix it to the bag, scan the tag at the drop point, place the bag on the conveyor, and you’re issued a receipt. Slick.
I did a double take here. This custodial worker is using a scraper to clean the floor. Do you think you’d see this taking place at LaGuardia or LAX? Hahahahaha…
Travel Note: I have a one way ticket to Thailand, but was not asked by a Singapore Airlines agent about an onward ticket…because I didn’t meet with an agent due to the automated baggage drop. However, like Singapore, I had to complete a Thailand online digital arrival card within 3 days of my flight to Bangkok. The information required included my departure details from Thailand, so maybe that will negate anyone asking me about it. We’ll see what happens at Bangkok immigration…
(There is no cost associated with obtaining the Thailand Digital Arrival Card)
Like my arrival at the airport, the Singapore departure immigration check was completely automated – passport scan and facial recognition. And there was no security checkpoint before or after immigration. That’s weird! Well, it turns out the check was done at the gate. Still, seems odd to me…
Okay, this is absolutely the last New Year’s reference you’ll see! Cute little airport shop though…
Our Dreamliner awaiting departure to Bangkok.
The seating configuration was 3-3-3, and I’d say the plane was 3/4 full. I had a window seat with nobody next to me, which was nice. The service on our two hour flight included hot towels (in economy!), and a nice meal of chicken pasta with a class of wine. I love Singapore Airlines! (The cost of the flight was 233 USD). I could have saved a few bucks and went with a low-cost carrier, but no.
Travel Note: I needed no cash in Singapore. Perfect! (Chuck is cringing as he reads this!)
We landed around 2:30pm in Bangkok, which is one hour earlier than Singapore (I am now 13 hours ahead of Madison). The line at immigration was fairly long, but was moving pretty quickly. This may be due to the fact that the immigration agent asked me zero questions! Not “Where are you staying?”, “When are you leaving?”, etc. I can only guess that, like I mentioned earlier, all the pertinent information was already provided in the Digital Arrival Card submittal. No questions required!
After doing some research, I came to the conclusion that the no-brainer way to get from the airport to my hotel is by train. And it’s not just because of the cost. It’s mainly due to the fact that traffic in Bangkok is brutal. The drive to the hotel would be excruciating.
The train journey is not going to be painless however. They make you work for it: Three different train lines requiring separate payments to each. Here’s how it played out:
From the airport I had a 25 minute ride on the City Line. I could use my contactless credit card for payment on this leg; by just tapping the card on entry and exit. It was actually pretty nice, because most people were not using that option, and instead waiting in line to buy a ticket. There are separate gates dedicated to the contactless user, which were basically unused. From there, I transferred to…
The MRT (subway) system; a short walk from the City Line. This was pretty straightforward, and I could use my contactless card again. The journey was only for one stop. My final connection was to…
The BTS (elevated skytrain) system; another short walk from the MRT. This was a challenge though; because it was rush hour and the station was packed. I was also going to have to buy a ticket; using cash. When I got up to the kiosk to make the purchase everything was going smoothly until I attempted to insert the banknote for payment. It kept spitting it back to me! Ugh! I eventually gave up and joined the queue to buy the ticket from an agent at the counter. Not a big deal I guess; just frustrating in a unfamiliar environment. And I only had 2 stops to go for this leg.
The total cost of the 3 trips was 77 Thai Baht (2.50 USD).
My hotel was only a 5 minute walk from the BTS station.
On the first train from the airport.
The BTS Train
Welcome to Bangkok! (View from the BTS elevated walkway)
I eventually arrived at the hotel at 4:45pm. To be clear though, I was being deliberate and taking my time throughout the journey. Making sure I wasn’t rushing myself; that’s when I make mistakes with things like getting local currency and boarding the proper train.
Sadly, it’s kind of a miserable day here (it ended up raining throughout the day), and most places are closed; seems like a perfect time to continue some travel planning and work on a massive Journal Entry.
Singapore Facts for Travelers
Vehicles operate on the left side of the road (like in the UK)
Singapore has four official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. English serves as the primary language for business, administration, and education. Everyone I’ve interacted with has spoken English.
Electrical outlets are the same as the United Kingdom
There are no issues drinking the tap water here. In addition, my hotel also offers a filtered water faucet in the bathroom.
It is noted on the immigration form that visitors are required to complete upon entry into Singapore that the following items are banned from entering the country: chewing gum and smokeless tobacco products (such as chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes)
Travel Note: I mentioned previously that my Spectrum Mobile Plan includes international coverage. Well, it’s been working great, with no connection issues…
It did stop raining by early evening, so I just walked across the street to the mall and roamed around a bit.
A cute display outside the mall…
…I think it may be related to Valentine’s Day.
The mall was surprisingly crowded for a New Year’s night! Many of the shops were closed, but this frozen yogurt place was hoppin’!
Oh, and I came across another fresh-squeezed orange juice vending machine! Of course I went for it!
Sidenote: This article in The New York Times caught my attention…
This is bad news for Japan, but great news for me! Hopefully tensions will remain in place until my Japan departure in early May.
Wednesday, February 18 – Singapore
Later this afternoon I’m going to walk over to Gardens By The Bay (adjacent to Marina Bay) to attend the New Year’s River Hongbao Festival.
But first, I made a final push to complete the remainder of my trip itinerary. And I think I’ve succeeded! Finally! All I have left to book is a two-week window of accommodation in Chiang Mai in early April, and the trains in Japan. I’m in no rush on the former, as there will be plenty of options. And the earliest I can make reservations for the latter is one month before departure (not there yet). The final itinerary is not the most efficient, but that’s what happens when you’re lazy and you wing it!
Okay, it’s about a one hour walk to Gardens By The Bay. I headed out around 4:30pm.
The Gardens by the Bay is an urban park spanning 260 acres. It consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden in Marina South, Bay East Garden with the Founders’ Memorial in Marina East and Bay Central Garden in the Downtown Core. The largest of the gardens is the Bay South Garden, where I’m going. Its Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the world.
Here are a few views as I made my way to the Gardens…
I’m back in the area where I visited on Monday – Marina Bay.
Looking across the harbor, with the Esplanade on the middle left.
Unfortunately, not a very picturesque day. A light rain would eventually arrive.
Looking across to Merlion Park and the Esplanade. (with St. Andrew’s white steeple in between)
On the boardwalk in front of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
This mall is located in the lower levels of the hotel. Many high-end stores and restaurants. I didn’t spend a lot of time here!
My favorite word!
River Hongbao has been a part of Singapore’s Lunar New Year celebrations since 1987. Originally held along the Singapore River to promote Chinese culture, the annual event has evolved into a major 10 day carnival.
The festival features massive, hand-crafted lanterns.
This lantern conveys a wish of Good Fortune and Great Wealth.
Prosperity
Blessing – two large carps leaping joyfully beside a cheerful boy.
The festival also has some rides for the children.
Galloping Into The Year of the Horse
The God of Fortune. He holds a Ruyi Scepter in his left hand – a symbol of power and the granting of wishes. In his right, a Cabbage, representing abundance.
Fireworks were slated for later in the evening, but I’m not a huge fan, and with the rain, I decided to make my way back to the hotel. Boring, I know!
Here are a couple views from along the way on the River Walk…
Sidenote: Now that I’m aware of them, it turns out the squeezed orange juice vending machines are pretty common around Singapore. I didn’t partake today though!
I didn’t sleep very well after my late arrival last night. Probably due to the 4 hour time difference from Fiji. A little jet lag.
My plan for today is to do my usual roaming; eventually heading to Chinatown to check out their New Year’s pop up shops.
Before hitting the road though, here are a few more pictures of my hotel…
This morning’s view from my room. The complex to the left is the Orchard Central Mall; also the location of the Somerset metro station, where I arrived last night.
This is a nice shared kitchen area…
…with some tasty treats!
The rooftop pool.
A view from the rooftop (opposite side of the building from my room).
The hotel’s exterior. The entrance is up the staircase on the left. My room is on the 6th floor.
The courtyard adjacent to the hotel’s reception entrance.
I’m on a mission to procure the first souvenir of my trip. The acquisition point is a 20 minute walk away.
Passed by this cute New Year’s display.
Interesting street art
Pretty!
I’ve reached my destination! And notice the Ferrari driving by; this is the land of the Crazy Rich Asians, after all!
I arrived right around opening. Took a look around, but wasn’t very impressed with the memorabilia they had on display (spoiled by London’s vault!). To be fair though, the upper level had not yet opened today. Would they keep the good stuff up there? Probably not.
Mission accomplished – my souvenir is a pin commemorating Chinese New Year 2026! Care to guess which animal is represented in this year’s Chinese zodiac cycle?? You’re close; specifically it is the Fire Horse.
My next stop will be a place I’ve wanted to check out since hearing about it from Holly after she visited Singapore a few years ago.
But first, a few scenes from along the way…
More cool street art. And a popular spot for group selfies, apparently! (see lower right)
This is the oldest surviving Christian building in Singapore; constructed in 1835 and consecrated in 1836.
And there’s a wedding taking place here later today! (See the tent set up off to the left)
While here, I met an Armenian family of 4 also visiting Singapore. They are originally from Iraq, now living in China. Interesting. I would have liked to talk to them more, but they were leaving as I was arriving.
A nice visit. Thank you for telling about this all those years ago Holly!
Okay, next stop Chinatown! But first…
Located across the street from the church is the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, displaying its Year of the Fire Horse banners.
This row of shops caught my attention as I made my way to Chinatown.
I like the mix of traditional and modern in Singapore.
New Year’s trinkets
Only a couple days until New Year’s – there are deals to be had!
The queue outside this shop seemed worth investigating.
I later learned that Lim Chee Guan dates back to the 1930s (see sign) in Singapore, selling bak kwa (barbecued meat slices).
The menu
I made my way back to the hotel via the River Walk…
A lot of walking today! (21k steps) Got back to my room around 3pm and promptly hit the pool!
(it’s fairly warm here, but not as severe as the islands!)
Sunday, February 15 – Singapore
This morning I worked on a Journal Entry and made a grocery run. Following that, I was ready for some more exploring.
Close to my hotel is Fort Canning Park; this will be my point of focus.
The Park covers approximately 44 acres, with a 156 foot high landmark hill, located in Singapore’s downtown core. The park is a major green space for the central business district and is known for its steep, scenic walking trails.
(for a size reference, Central Park in NYC covers 843 acres)
Let’s check it out!
I entered the park through this tunnel and was surprised to find this queue. And it wasn’t moving! I decided to head up to the front to see what was holding things up…
…and came upon this. The people in line were waiting for a photo op on this stairway. The Instagram Effect…
Well, I climbed up the stairs (without waiting) and came upon this nice trail into the park, called The Canning Walk.
Fort Canning is named for Charles John Canning, a British politician and Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was the first Viceroy of India after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the Crown of Queen Victoria in 1858, after the rebellion was crushed. This victory occurred around the same time as the construction of the Singapore fort; hence it was named in Canning’s honor.
This was originally the headquarters of the British Far East Command (ca. 1926). It is now a hotel.
Beneath the ground here lie the foundations for the Old Gunpowder Magazine.
This structure once served as an escape shaft from the Headquarters Malaya Command Operations Bunker. The bunker was used by the British for strategic planning during World War II.
This is the original entrance gate to the fort.
There are nice walking paths throughout the park.
A view of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and the steeple of the Armenian church.
One of a pair of cannons that was meant to shoot 9-pound balls. Playing a decorative role rather than a defensive one, the cannon was fired three times a day to announce the hour. It was also fired as an alarm, signaling town fires.
This Keramat (shrine) is a sacred place dedicated to Iskandar Shah, the last ruler of 14th century Singapore, before he fled to Melaka to escape an attack from the Siamese.
Fort Canning Lighthouse, originally built in 1903, was one of the 13 important lighthouses guiding ships crossing the Strait of Malacca. It was decommissioned in 1958 due to the increasing number of high-rises in Singapore blocking its visibility from the sea. This is a replica.
This is Raffles House (3rd iteration). The original building was a wood and atap structure built in 1822 that was used as a place of residence by Sir Stamford Raffles*. It was later rebuilt as a neoclassical-styled Government House as the residence of subsequent colonial governors, but it was demolished in 1858 to make way for the construction of Fort Canning. The present structure – built on the same site – is a brick and tile building constructed in 2003.
*Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (1781-1826) was a British colonial official who secured control over the strategically located Singapore from local rulers in 1819, thereby securing British access along the Strait of Singapore and the nearby seas in the region, particularly the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
While Raffles was largely credited for the founding of contemporary Singapore, the early running of day-to-day operations was mostly done by William Farquhar, who served as the first Resident of Singapore from 1819 to 1823. Raffles legacy remains significant in Singapore however, with his name adorning numerous entities and institutions throughout the country.
The view from the house (with the iconic Marina Bay Sands in the background).
Gateway Entrance to the Fort Canning Green. Dating to the mid-1800s, this gate (and its twin across the Green) is one of the oldest examples of Gothic Revival style architecture in Singapore.
The green space was used as a Christian burial ground from 1822 to 1865. Over time, the gravestones became dilapidated and were removed.
Over 200 tombstones were chosen to remain; these were incorporated into a brick wall bordering the former graveyard.
Fort Canning Arts Centre on the Green
The Centre was originally the barracks of the British Army. The British chose Fort Canning as the headquarters of its defense bases in the 1920s to protect British interests in Southeast Asia.
A New Year’s display inside of the Arts Centre.
On the way back to the hotel, I passed by this building with…
…some colorful shutters!
It turns out this is the former Hill Street Police Station (ca. 1934).
Wait! What? Are you telling me that the classic 1980s TV police drama, Hill Street Blues, was based on this Singapore department! No way!
(BTW, I digress, but HSB had one of the all-time great TV theme songs. Check it out here.)
Monday, February 16 – Singapore
Today I’m going to head down to the waterfront, where the Singapore River empties into Marina Bay. It’s about a half hour walk from my hotel.
This attractive building is the former Methodist Publishing House (ca. 1908). It is located on the corner of Stamford Road and…
…Armenian Street. The street is one of the oldest in Singapore, dating back to the founding of the nearby Armenian church. It was turned into a pedestrian-only thoroughfare in 2019.
Cute shops on the street.
Originally the Tao Nan School (ca. 1912), this is now the Peranakan Museum.
The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall was originally the Town Hall (ca. 1862). In the early 1900s, a second public hall was built next to it, joined by a clock tower to form a larger complex.
Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles in front of the clock tower.
On the right is the Jubilee (pedestrian) Bridge connecting to Merlion Park.
View from Merlion Park
I’m now back on Jubilee Bridge, approaching the Waterfront Promenade, and the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The latter consists of two rounded structures: one housing a concert hall with about 1,600 seats; and the other a theater with a capacity of about 2,000 for the performing arts. It is nicknamed “The Durian”.
A Durian
View from the Waterfront Promenade.
As I made my way around to the other side of the Esplanade Theatres, I came upon this wedding photo shoot.
And outside the Theatres was this fountain. I was ready for a break on this warm day. So tempted to…
…cool off a bit! Felt great!
One side of The Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
As I went inside the theatre building, I came across this. Fresh squeezed orange juice, from a vending machine? I had to try it!
Orange squeezing in progress…
Filling up my cup!
Tasted great! And only 2 SGD (1.60 USD)!
I made my way up to this nice rooftop deck at the Theatres.
This venue is also part of the Theatres complex. It is the Singtel Waterfront Theatre, with a seating capacity of 550.
I’m now heading back along the River Walk. I like this sculpture alongside the Cavenagh Bridge!
The Sling was created sometime between 1899 and 1915 at the Raffles Hotel (there’s that name again!). Originally designed to look like fruit juice, it allowed women to consume alcohol in public without social judgment during a time when such behavior was frowned upon.
When Holly visited Singapore, her well-traveled grandfather insisted that she head to the Raffles for a Singapore Sling, his treat! A very nice gesture Jack! (BTW, The Raffles Hotel, founded in 1887, is considered an iconic, historic five-star landmark in Singapore) Here’s a link to the Long Bar at The Raffles Hotel. The price for their Singapore Sling is 44 SGD (35 USD).
The view as I enjoyed my Slings.
Another view from my River Walk seat. This one may look a little hazy. That’s because it’s pouring rain! The timing of my Sling break could not have been better! And I’m in no hurry…
Travel Note: Today is New Year’s Eve. The place to be tonight is Chinatown, where there will be a countdown (a la Times Square in NYC). I know it’s going to be packed. In fact, I read that the police restrict access to the area once a certain capacity is reached. I will not be attending. That begs the question: Considering my abhorrence of crowds and tourists, why did I want to be in Singapore for Chinese New Year? I just thought it would an interesting time to visit; taking in some of the less crowded sights and activities.
Well, this is my last day in the islands. A little over 5 weeks. It’s gone by kind of fast, but I think I’m ready to move on…
It was a rather lazy day. I did some prep for my trip to Singapore tomorrow – reviewed the immigration procedure, how to use the metro, and directions to my hotel via the metro.
Travel Note: Speaking of Singapore immigration, it’s required for visitors to complete an online Arrival Card no more than 3 days before traveling. It’s very straightforward, and doesn’t cost anything. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for travel to Singapore.
A little chill time on the beach.
And of course I was back at the Beach Escape for my last island dinner!
Tonight’s lead off is the Beach Escape Slide (the Baileys pulled me in!)…
It was good! And a little stronger than last night’s drink. Different bartender.
I was here early again today, around 5:15pm, and was the first diner. By the time I left though another 6 people had joined me.
Tonight’s specials. Nothing really jumped out at me (well, of the mains anyway)…
…so I chose the Garlic Prawns this evening.
I preferred last night’s tuna, but this was still a good choice. (29 FJD = 13 USD)
For dessert I did rely on the specials board: Homemade Lemon Cheesecake (12 FJD = 5.50 USD). The waiter told me it’s made from the chef’s grandmother’s secret recipe. Great story, I hope it’s true! (I’m so cynical!) Either way, it was wonderful!
But sadly, there will be no sunset tonight…
Friday, February 13 – transit from Fiji to Singapore
Today is going to be a long day. I have a 8:15am departure from Nadi airport, so I’ll be taking the 5:30am shuttle from the hotel (10 FJD).
Sidenote: Traveling on Friday the 13th? Maybe I didn’t think this through properly!
I booked the trip with Qantas, but the first leg to Brisbane was operated by Fiji Airways. And as it’s a one way ticket, when I checked in I expected the ticket agent to ask me about an onward ticket from Singapore. But no. Mmmmm. I’m thinking it may be due to the fact that Singapore requires the submittal of the online Arrival Card, which includes my Singapore departure information. (Cost of the trip: 593 USD)
The 4 hour flight to Brisbane on the 737 was packed. This kind of surprised me, because when I met with the agent at the Fiji Airways ticket office a couple weeks ago, she told me the flight was pretty much empty. Fortunately I was assigned an aisle seat when I checked in via the app a couple days ago.
On the flight I watched the movie We Are Marshall. The description noted that it was released 2006. Twenty years, and I had never seen it. Good movie; nice time killer on the flight. Odd though that a movie which depicted a plane crash would be an in-flight viewing option. I guess I thought that was kind of something airlines did not do. Didn’t bother me though (despite the fact that this is Friday the 13th!!).
Travel Note: This was my 8th flight on Fiji Airways during this trip. All were on time, run smoothly, with friendly flight attendants and nice inflight meals/drinks. Very impressed. (they were expensive though)
I had a 5 hour layover in Brisbane and then boarded a Qantas flight to Singapore. This was on a wide body A330 with 2-4-2 seating. While waiting in the departure gate area, it seemed to me like there weren’t very many people around. And when the agent announced that all zones would be boarding the plane at the same time, my suspicion (hope) was confirmed: This is going to be an empty flight.
And boy was it. I was in a row 50 window seat, and there was nobody in the rows in front or behind me. And many of the 4 seat middle sections were empty too; I could have moved there to stretch out, but decided to stay where I was. During his announcements, the captain mentioned that we were going to be traveling at an altitude higher than normal because there were only about 70 passengers on board. (lighter plane)
A dream situation, considering this was an 8 hour flight!
(I ended up talking with the woman seated to my right in the picture above. She’s from Singapore, but lives in Brisbane. She’s coming back to surprise her family for the Chinese New Year. Very nice. And she gave me some tips on what to do this week. Thanks!)
And as with my previous experiences on Qantas (many years ago now though), the service was great. I had a nice meal, 2 little bottles of wine, an ice cream bar, Tim Tams (!!), and a Cornish pasty before landing.
For entertainment, each seat was provided with its own tablet. It could either be held or attached to the seat back. Pretty cool! I watched Season 3 of Reacher. Eight episodes. That pretty much took up the whole flight. I was tempted to try and sleep a little, but since it was a daytime flight, I didn’t think that would be a good idea.
(In the photo above, you can see where/how the tablet attaches to the seat back)
We landed in Singapore at 8:45pm. And with their advance Arrival Card process, there was no waiting via the automated immigration system that utilizes passport scanning and facial recognition. And even with the quick pass through immigration, I only had to wait about 5 minutes for my bag. So impressed!
Catching the train from the airport to the city was pretty straightforward; took 45 minutes and involved 2 transfers. And I paid for the trip by tapping my phone at the metro entrance and exit gates (via the credit card stored in my iPhone’s wallet). The cost of the trip was 2 USD.
(I didn’t acquire any Singapore Dollars upon arrival. I’m going to see if I can stay a week in Singapore without using cash. I’m confident!)
On the train…
I arrived at my hotel around 10:15pm. Singapore is 4 hours earlier than Fiji. That means my shuttle departure from the hotel was at 1:30 this morning, Singapore time. Like I said, a long day!
I’m staying at the Lanson Place Winsland (173 USD/night; this is Singapore…during Chinese New Year!)
I didn’t sleep very well last night. Still ruminating about the baggage theft, I guess.
But then I stepped out on my balcony to this beautiful morning, and decided it was time to get over it!
However, before getting over it, I did send off an email expressing my displeasure to: both the CEO and Manager of Aviation Security of Airports Vanuatu Limited, also copying the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu. I don’t expect anything to come of this, but it made me feel a little better!
From that chop, you can tell it’s a little windy on the beach this morning.
But still a beautiful day to go for a walk. And it seems cooler here than in Port Vila.
After the walk, I returned to the hotel and relaxed a little; eventually doing some work on a Journal Entry.
Well, around 2pm I received an email from someone at the Port Vila Airport Security Office acknowledging my email, stating they were going to review CCTV footage related to the theft from my baggage. He therefore requested that I send him a picture of my bag, and one of myself. This was unexpected! I complied, as well as indicating my time of arrival at the airport, and what I was wearing. This is a nice first step. I’m still somewhat skeptical anything will come of it, but you never know…
I hadn’t eaten much today, and there is a restaurant nearby that I have read good things about, so I headed there for an early dinner around the time they opened: 5pm.
The restaurant is located within this hotel that provides simple (basic) accommodations.
Only one other couple was here for an early dinner.
A cute place. I sat at the far table. (that’s my trusty Lands’ End bag leaning against the post)
I chose the Island Life to lead things off!
It was very good. A little weak though; kind of overpriced (20 FJD / 9 USD).
The dinner menu. There were also some specials listed on a chalk board.
I went with the Fish in Coconut Cream. This is the Fijian dish that was recommended to me by the woman I met with at the Fiji Airlines ticket office a couple weeks ago.
The dish to the right is cassava, a woody shrub grown for its starchy roots. It didn’t have much flavor, but I dipped it in the coconut cream, which helped (a little).
And I later learned that the roots are highly toxic when raw due to the existence of cyanide! As a result, it requires thorough peeling, soaking, and cooking to be safe and edible. Well, all I can say is: I survived. They must have prepared it properly!
That’s a lot of tuna! And it was very good! (23 FLD / 10.50 USD) With a great price!
I finished with banana fritters (10 FJD / 4.50 USD). Also very good! And I’m stuffed!
An excellent meal. Tomorrow is my last night in Fiji, and I’ll definitely be coming back to the Beach Escape Resort for dinner!
As I finished dinner, the clouds overhead began to part. I’m hoping for a decent sunset on the beach…
Nice start!
And at the other end of the beach was this little rainbow!
The Ramada, where I’m staying, is the white building on the right.
A wonderful meal. A beautiful sunset. The perfect end to the day! Remind me, did I wake up in a bad mood?
