Bangkok has us!
Just kidding!
I saw Bangkok in all it’s glory on our very last night in Asia. I wanted to surprise Lili so two months ago I made reservations at the greatest and, thanks to the Hangover 2, most popular upscale spot in Bangkok. Sirroco. You know the scene where the guys meet Kingsley? That was filmed at Lebua, the hotel where Sirroco is. There is also another scene where the guys are sitting on the steps in utter failure of losing Teddy.
63 floors above the traffic and hawkers is a view unlike anything else….and no one was hungover so we thoroughly enjoyed it.
With a Skybar and live jazz band we had the best table in the place- I know this because our hostess told us so! We arrived just in time to see the final moments of sunset and grabbed photos by the Skybar.
We reminisced about the highs and lows of our trip. Here’s what we liked best…
Best Aiport: Samui Airport
Why? Because at 6am they offered all the passengers in the departure terminal complimentary breakfast pastries, drinks, and wifi. The airport also has very comfy chairs & the gate feels less like an airport and more like a hotel lobby.
Runner up: Taipei Airport
Why? Hello Kitty Gate & playground. Need I say more? OK I’ll say more. Bubble tea and surprisingly unique small exhibits like the orchard garden and food of Taiwan display.
Best Accommodation: Five Stones Hostel, Singapore & Edsa Shangri-la, Manila
Why? We only stayed at two hostels, first in Singapore and then in Taipei and both were wonderful experiences. Surprising I know! Both places were extremely helpful and gracious, provided lockers with locks, and clean beds in all female dorms. Five Stones wins out because of the creativity in design (and the complimentary ear-plugs ;O) See the photos at my old post here.
The Edsa takes the prize because of their breakfast buffet. Yes there is a fat kid locked inside me.
Best Activity/Sight: Tie between ATV’s, Koh Samui & Reverse Bungee, Singapore/ White Temple, Chiang Rai
Why? Lili and I both picked the white temple, Wat Rong Khun, as our favorite site but we disagreed on the activity. Lil picked ATVing on Koh Samui and I chose the Reverse Bungee simply because I still laugh every time I watch this video.
Runner-up: Genitalia shaped rocks in Koh Samui ;O)
Best Meal: ArAma Cafe & Bodhi, Manila
Why? Because we are half-Filipinas and love our Filipino food so naturally we both picked places in Manila. Lil picked the place where she ate the best chicken adobo and I picked the only place I could get vegetarian skewers. Win-Win!
Without going into detail, but still worth mentioning..
Best night-life: Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia
Best transport system: MRT in Taipei
Best airline: Cebu Pacific (for playing games with us on board)
Best beach: Boracay
Best drinks: Iced Choco, Poppies Restaurant in Bali & Bubble Tea, Thailand and Taipei
Best view: Singapore River Cruise
Best over-all goes to….the Philippines! No surprise there. We were most excited about the Phils, plus we lived like superstars at the condo and even got to see a few A-list celebs at the Awards show. The beach on Boracay helped sway the vote as well.
And now for the worst…instead of recalling the worst meal (Manana in Boracay) the worst traffic (Manila) and the worst sight (Ayutthaya) let’s just give the overall worst award. It goes to Kota K for worst hotel, worst food, and for being the least liked place we went to. Refer to my other post on booking trips…I learned my lesson.
It was a great 5 weeks. At Sirroco Lili and I toasted to our travels and memories and to the future, which as of now is as vast as the ocean for us both! It may be the end of an awesome trip but it’s only just the beginning!
