Talad Liab Duan – Night Market by the Highway (ตลาดเรียบด่วนรามอินทรา)
There’s just something about the chill atmosphere of a night market in Bangkok that is so soothing. I’m not a big shopper for all sorts of knick knacks. But just walking through stalls and stalls of things that I don’t need but still love to look at is just simply – fun.
Talad Liab Duan is a very popular market for the locals because prices for clothes, toys, make up, fashion accessories and even knock off luxury items are affordable for the locals. Of all the times I’ve been there I don’t see a lot of tourists. I’m pretty much the only idiot with a camera. You can also find second hand camera equipment too.
Be prepared for the crowds of locals on weekends…
Talad Liab Duan in Thai ตลาดเรียบด่วนรามอินทรา means night market by the highway or expressway. As you’d guessed it, this particular night market get its name from the adjacent highway.
This very popular local hotspot is open every day but doesn’t start to get busy during the evening times and closes around or after midnight. Because every vendor inside pretty much make up their own hours. If a certain stall is quiet with no customers they’ll close early. If a restaurant runs out of main ingredients they’ll close early as well.
Highway Steak & Pasta – A decent restaurant for pork chops but haven’t tried their beef steaks yet…
Speaking about food – and when is it not a good time to talk about food? All the restaurants are located under one aluminum roof covered building. You can find all sorts of Thai classics from egg or rice noodles with chicken feet in a spicy broth to fried hot dogs and tofu skin. Barbecued squid, Chinese dim sum and buns and foods from Isaan are represented. It’s pure food bliss.
160THB for 8oz. grilled pork chop with some spaghetti and fries. Not bad at all…
For this night however we opted for some pork chops over at Highway Steak and Pasta. This place was packed full of customers too. I was salivating waiting for a seat and some poor guy who was sitting down caught me eyeing his pork chop while we waited for a table.
There are many hawker style food vendors and I even saw a small shop with a mookata setup though I don’t think they do buffet style. It looked more like an a la carte type joint.
This area also has a handful of pubs and bar establishments nearby and I’m guessing those close around 1am or perhaps later into the night. Seems like a very popular watering hole for Thai teens. There was even a pub with a live band playing.
Any time is a good time for waffles…
And yes there are loads of places to get your dessert fixes from ice cream to ice shakes to shaved ice desserts.
Prepared chicken feet ready to be served on top noodles… drools…
So what kind of stuff can you find in Talad Liab Duan night market?
They’ve got a little of almost everything. There’s even a small petting zoo with sheep. You’ll find mostly knock off items though from watches, handbags and clothes. There’s even a place selling well used heavy construction tools (hmm I wonder from where), used car stereos and used boots that are still in decent condition. I’m guessing this could be a place where thieves offload their “wares”.
In these types of outdoor markets you may find antiques. But you really have to know what you’re looking at though because today I know there are many things that are made to look older then they really are. I saw many old lamps and trinkets as well as toys. There is even a section on old movie posters and commercial signage. But I can’t tell if they were made decades ago or a few days ago. You can always ask but since I wasn’t interested I never bothered to ask. This is probably a place you want to go to find things to sell on eBay.
Otsuka Tiger Sneakers… Quite sure those aren’t genuine…
Aside from all the dubious items there are small makeshift nail salons and handmade arts and graphic t-shirts from starving artists. You’ll see that a lot of the vendors selling fashion items and accessories are young entrepreneurs, out there working under hot lights to make an honest living. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Thailand.
Hey! I made an artsy fartsy photo without realizing it…
All the restaurants at Talad Liab Duan open on weekends…
WHEN TO GO AND HOW TO GET THERE
As one of Bangkok’s most popular night market, it is open daily, though things don’t start becoming lively around 6pm or 7pm. Because most of the vendors probably have day jobs elsewhere or finished with school for the day. Also it’s cooler in the evenings when the sun starts going down.
Talad Liab Duan night market is most likely not anywhere near where your hotel is. There are no MRT or BTS stations nearby. Not even close. So the best way to get there is by taxi. I don’t recommend going there even if you’ve rented a car. There is no parking at all unless you arrive there early on. My wife and I always take a taxi.
And don’t worry there are plenty of taxis in the area waiting in the area or passing by. So you’re not going to have a problem at all getting back to your hotel.
My wife slapped me when she saw me take this photo. I swear it was completely innocent…
I estimate that it will cost roughly around 150THB by taxi (with no traffic) if you’re staying at a hotel in the Sukhumvit/Pratunam area. Show the driver this ตลาดเรียบด่วนรามอินทรา or the map above. Talad Liab Duan is one of the most famous night markets in Bangkok so any taxi driver should be able to find it without no problems.
There are plenty of night markets in Bangkok that is probably closer to where ever you’re staying. But if you want to roam around some place where you can count the amount of tourists on your hands then Talad Liab Duan will satisfy your adventurous instinct.
Many fashion accessories geared towards the ladies…
Be prepared, the ground where the vendors make shop are not paved so there’s plenty of sand and gravel. And there are public toilets but you’d have to pay a couple of Baht to use them.
If you’re a frequent visitor to Bangkok and have already been to a lot of night markets but seeking something different – Talad Liab Duan is a must visit.
Recently my wife and I went over for a little getaway over at Koh Samet. The first island I went to since I first got back State side. And I must say after freezing my butt for a few months in NYC, thawing my ass out on nice soft sand of Koh Samet was mighty nice. Here’s a quick guide on getting to Koh Samet for a refresher.
This time we chose to stay at the 3.5 star rated Vongdeuan Resort. It is situated on the southern crescent tip of Vongduean beach. They claim to be the second biggest resort on Samet and maybe they are. For me, it was the low season and the price was just about right for what I was willing to pay for a place to stay close to the beach.
Ao Vongdeuan (Ao means beach in Thai) is quite a nice stretch of beach…
I booked 3 nights which cost me around $93USD per night. But I booked a beach house villa which wasn’t exactly on the beach but near enough. Though it is one of three cottage type rooms just yards away from it. Otherwise if you book the other room types it’s a bit further inland but the rates are cheaper. My wife and I are beach bums so getting a place closest to the beach for us was a top priority.
Also remember upon check you have to leave a 1000THB deposit. Remember to get a receipt. Once you check out you must present that receipt to get your deposit back so remember to keep that piece of paper in a safe place.
One of the Thai style houses at Vongdeuan Resort…
And I think one of the best features of Vongdeuan Resort is that all the rooms are small little houses. They have modern cottages and Thai style houses with nice terrace space to sit outside. And that’s great because every guests has their own space to stretch out and relax.
Our villa was about 40 square meters including bathroom…
As I mentioned I booked a beach house villa. There are only 2 of these types of villas so if you want to stay in one you probably have to book in advance. I made my reservation about a month beforehand without knowing there were so few so I got lucky I suppose. But then again it was the low season.
A quick tip: If you’re lucky enough to book a beach villa when you check in ask for B1, you’ll get a better view of the beach from your terrace or window. I stayed in B2 which was behind B1 which was close but had lesser view of the beach. Might as well get the villa with a better view – after all it’s the same price.
Forgot to take photos of the bathroom which was spacious and clean too…
And the room was clean though the mattress was just a tad bit hard for my taste. But that didn’t matter because after a full day of sightseeing and eating I could sleep on a bed of rocks like a baby.
Ao Vongdeuan is one of the nicest beaches on Koh Samet. The sand is very soft and the water is clean and clear like most of the beaches on the island. You’re not going to find a problem getting something to eat nearly every resort has a restaurant serving Thai and Western food.
Sometimes you just feel like a pork chop…
My wife and I sampled a bit of both. And according to her the Thai food is not so great. And we have tried several Thai dishes at several other resorts on Vongdeuan beach except Vongdeuan Resort. But to me the Western style food which I had a lot of was not so bad but the prices are not cheap.
Fresh fried fish with tamarind sauce. This was one of the best Thai dish we had on the beach…
I had some pizza and burgers over at Tom’s Pizza which wasn’t too bad. But again, it’s not cheap as is most food served on the beach is expensive. That pork chop dish pictured about cost me 450THB about $13.50USD based on current exchange rate.
You can find cheaper food but you have to get out of the resort area which requires renting a scooter which cost 500THB a day at a vendor near Vongdeuan Resort or you get out to the road and flag down a passing songthaew (truck taxi).
Breakfast served at an outdoor setting from 7am until 10:30am…
Breakfast is included in the rate so I guess if you’re on sort of a budget you can save some money there. But you’ll be eating the same stuff over and over as they don’t change their buffet breakfast choices at all. Not that I’m complaining. I pretty much eat the same stuff every morning in Bangkok anyways.
The Good and the Bad
I like Vongdeuan Resort because I really enjoyed my stay. Now I’m not really too picky about anywhere I stay as long as it’s clean. And it is. However one night there was a power outage twice. That might be out of the resort’s responsibility so no big problem. But of all the times I’ve been to Samet this was the first I’ve ever experienced.
A nice lady at the reception desk. Wish more of the resort staff were like her…
However, to me the resort staff, not all of course, though a few my wife and I have come across could perhaps just be a little more polite. We’re not asking anyway to kiss our asses or bend over backwards. But at least look alive and cheer up when speaking to guests. This didn’t just occur once but a couple of times in separate days.
Be sure to hold onto your ticket. They’ll collect your ticket on the ferry boat…
This skiff will take you to a ferry boat off shore…
Vongdeuan Resort offers guests free pick up from Ban Phe pier and drop off on the waters of Vongduean beach. So don’t wear your best pant and shoes, you’ll get wet up to possibly your knees. Off course they’ll get as near to the beach as possible and they’ll carry your bags too.
A big ferry boat with plenty of seats back to Ban Phe pier…
They’ll also take you back to the Ban Phe pier the same way too after check out. Which is always why it’s good to find a hotel that provides free ferry boat transport and there are quite a few in Koh Samet that do. But there is a schedule so keep that in mind.
Vongdeuan Resort Ferry Pick Up and Drop Off Schedule (as of May 2015)
From Ban Phe Pier: 10:00am and 1:30PM
From Vongdeuan Resort to Ban Phe Pier: 8:30am and 11:30am
Note that even though the ferry boat is scheduled to leave Vongduean Resort at 8:30am and 11:30am because they load guests’ luggage first there could be 30 minute or longer delay.
I like Vongdeuan Resort. I don’t have any major complaints about it at all and according to most reviews they are popular. As for the resort staff it’s not a big deal at all either. Who’s knows maybe they’re just tired. Though there are plenty of other resorts to check out on Koh Samet that I am interested in checking out when I go back.
Read reviews and find discounts for Vongdeuan Resort in Koh Samet.
Travel Information on Getting to and Exploring Koh Samet
Just this past week my wife and I went over to Koh Samet for a little get away from the hectic noise and heat of Bangkok. Depending on who you ask, some will say Koh Samet is a gem of an island. Some will say it’s not because it’s not far away enough from Bangkok so you still get a bit of the pollution often associated with big cities.
In the beginning I was in the latter camp and believed that you’d have to get as far away as possible from Bangkok if you want to swim in a sea of Listerin clear blue waters.
A slow ferry boat ride to Koh Samet takes about 35 minutes…
If you want to compare all the wonderful islands Thailand has to offer – it’s hard to beat those you’d find in the Andaman Sea surrounding Phuket. Or even deeper south on the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Samui’s pristine crystal clear waters is a prime example of some serious beach getaways.
Getting to Koh Samet from Bangkok
Koh Samet is located in Rayong province – due southeast of Bangkok. Taking a mini van or also called mini bus is the easiest option. Mini bus companies will take you to Ban Phe Pier in Rayong. From there you can purchase ferry boat tickets to Koh Samet for around 100THB round trip.
However, if you’re staying at a mid range resort in Koh Samet you should check if they have a complimentary ferry service from the pier to the hotel and back. It’ll save you some money and time. I stayed at the Vongdeuan Resort on Ao Vongdeun (Ao in Thai means beach).
There are public bus services at Ekkamai Bus Station which is your cheapest mode of transport choice. But a lot of people say the mini bus service is better because it’s a lot quicker and convenient.
This is the Ban Phe pier ticketing office for boats to Koh Samet…
Here’s where you can catch the mini bus to Ban Phe Municipality Pier within Bangkok:
Victory Monument – From 6am to 6pm, fare is 200THB, takes about 3 hours (could be quicker) to reach Ban Phe pier.
Khao San Road – Only 2 departures – 10:00am and 1:30pm, fare is 250THB, about a 3 and half hour ride.
My wife and I drove down to the pier. It’s a 3 hour leisure drive through Rayong not including the bathroom breaks and quick visits to nearby attractions along the highway.
Free parking space at the pier but tough to find a free spot…
If you’ve chosen to rent a car instead, there is free parking spots at Ban Phe pier. Or you can find a place that will let you park for a fee. Since there were no available parking spaces at the time we found a place to park for 100THB a day at another pier.
This is Ko Samet’s primary ferry boat pier…
All ferry boats arrive at Nadan pier located on the north side of the island. The ferry ride takes about 35 to 40 minutes. Since Samet is a national park in Thailand you have to pay a one time entrance fee:
Entrance Fee For Foreigners Visiting Koh Samet (as of May 2015):
Adult – 200THB
Ages 3 to 14 – 100THB
Ages under 3 and 60 and over free entrance
Since we were staying at Vongdeun Resort we used their complimentary ferry service and they also have an office at Ban Phe Municipality pier. So the resort’s personal ferry took us straight to our hotel with no hassles. It’s really worthwhile to book a resort on Koh Samet that provides complentary roundtrip ferry service. It’s important to find out also what the ferry boats’ time schedules are too.
Also any resort on the island may have offices at a different pier so you should also note where their ferry departs.
Vongdeun Resort has an office directly opposite from Ban Phe pier ticket office…
Getting Around Koh Samet
However, once you’re off the ferry boat your options for getting to where ever you are staying is rent a motorbike if you know how to ride or use the truck (songthaew) taxi service which are really green painted pick up trucks with 2 rows of seats.
These taxis don’t use meters and the rates are fixed and cost depends on distance. From the pier to Vongdeuan Resort it would cost 250THB if you want to hire one outright. Otherwise it’s about 30THB per person to Ao Vongdeun but you have to wait until the pick up truck is filled with customers. The most taxis charge is 70THB to Ao Pakarang which is the furthest beach area in Samet.
The southern most tip of Koh Samet…
Which ever area you are staying at, the best way to really get around is by motorbike. The island is 7km across and 4km wide. There are only three main roads and the roads are not full of cars, thankfully. We rented a motorbike for 500THB for a full day with free gas. All rental shops stock automatic motorbikes.
A nice bowl of seafood tom yum for lunch…
Fresh fried fish with tamarind sauce…
Renting a motorbike is also a good idea so you can get around and check out other places to eat food. There are some cafes and Thai hawker stands throughout the island. If you’re married to a Thai lady like I am you’ll know Thais are quite picky about food. And they’ll go far and wide in search of a good meal and make it quite clear that they don’t like the food by not touching it again after one single first bite.
One of the nicest beach on Samet…
There are shops renting scooters for 400THB for 1 day plus free gas. However the place that we rented from was a few minutes walk from us on the beach near our resort and charged 500THB. Just a fair warning though that the roads are hilly. You’ll find rolling hills along the way which makes a harrowing ride. But the good news is there are virtually no cars at all since Koh Samet is quite strict on vehicle control.
Golf carts are also available for rent and cost 2000THB for 1 day. It’s only a two seater and kind of pricey if you really think about it. But certainly a safer alternative when you don’t know how to ride a scooter.
Praw Bay is the quietest beach with only one resort…
Though Vongdeun beach where the resort we were staying at is not too shabby either. Though with a motorbike you have the freedom to go around and check out other beaches easily. There are 18 beaches on this island. You won’t need to check all of them out as some are better than others.
My favorite 3 beaches on Koh Samet:
Praw Bay
Ao Hin Khok
Ao Vongdeuan
Ao Hin Khok – A very nice long beach…
Though main roads are in fairly good condition (though with lots of speed bumps) the roads leading to the beaches are not paved so do be extra careful.
Ao Vongdeun – This is the beach outside of the resort we were staying at…
There are other smaller islands surrounding Koh Samet you can check out. For those, you have to book a tour. Usually you can find island tour packages right at your hotel lobby. Or if you’re staying at an area north of Samet there are shops that can book a tour for you. Take a walk along most beaches and you’ll find a booking agency too. You can pretty much book a tour anywhere.
You’ll find many island tour agents all over Samet…
Depending on the tour you choose a lunch is included in the afternoon. And if they’ll take you to a snorkeling spot a snorkel kit and life jackets are provided. But I highly recommend buying your own snorkel kit for hygiene reasons. But there are other items you should have too:
Your Essential Island Hopping Kit Bag:
Waterproof Dry Bag – Since you’ll be bringing a bag it might as well be waterproof.
Beach Shoes – Wear these to protect your feet from sharp rocks and broken sea shells.
Snorkel Kit – Should buy your own. The ones provided on tours are well used and I doubt they are sanitized after use.
Don’t forget to bring band aids too. Sometimes it’s hard to judge how deep coral or rocks are and I’ve seen a lot of people shred their knees and shins. Me included. And be sure to buy your sun tan lotion before you get on the island or else you’ll end up paying 2 to 3 times the normal price on Samet.
Might be a good idea to bring some toilet tissue too. Every island have toilets but no paper.
Nongboom Tours speed boat…
Two Tour Companies I’ve Used Before in Koh Samet:
Nongboom Tours
Shairbuay Tours
These two companies I have used on a consistent basis whenever in Samet. Of these two, I think Nongboom is the better one. Sometimes Shairbuay will skip certain locations on the itinerary and won’t even tell customers. They could’ve done it because of weather, time constraints or whatever circumstances but it would be nice if they could simply say something.
Now I don’t know if Nongboom has done the same since every speedboat has a different crew. But so far, Nongboom has taken the tour group we were on to every advertised snorkeling or beach locations.
Shairbuay Tours speed boat…
Although this recent visit was in late May, weather wise it’s not ideal and considered the slow season. While my wife and I was there the waters were choppy and quite rough. So it’s not really suitable for snorkeling. And the water wasn’t as crystal clear as it could be due to the rough surf.
And although there were still plenty of fish that come up when you’re tossing food to them they don’t really come out until the waters are calmer. I asked the locals what are the best times for snorkeling and was told starting from November on to January. Though I’ve been to Koh Samet before in mid February and the water visibility was excellent too.
Some indigenous life at Koh Kudee…
Koh Kudee – Lots of chicken and rabbits too…
The more I visit Koh Samet the more I am beginning to enjoy the island. For my wife and I we like Samet because its a good beach getaway choice. Especially when we have certain time constraints and have to get back to Bangkok.
But if you don’t want to spend a whole lot of money and a whole lot of travel time and still want to enjoy beautiful island life with a Mai Tai in hand and soft fine sand under your feet – Koh Samet is not a bad option.
Flying 14 hours sitting in economy sucks. Especially when you’re tall. But I’ll let you in on a little known secret on how you can score yourself more leg room. No this isn’t a trick for getting a free upgrade to first or business class seat your flight.
But if you’ve got yourself an economy ticket and want more leg room – then read on my friend.
For the past 3 years I’ve been flying Korean Air exclusively from New York with some layovers in South Korea and then on to Bangkok and vice versa. So I’ve been racking up some air miles. Plus I have a Korean Air credit card for earning additional miles.
Oh sweet sweet leg room…
As of writing I’ve got 80,000 miles stashed and all saved up for an upgrade. My 6 foot tall frame is aching to be cradled by Korean Air’s prestige class seats. Or even upgraded to Korean Air’s famous Kosmo Suites? A man can only dare to dream.
But until now – I’ve been requesting seats located near the exit row. Usually the aisle side. As you can see from my pic above, there’s plenty of leg room. And the person sitting next to you won’t have to wake you up if they have to head to the toilet.
Tell Me More… How Do I Get A Seat Near the Emergency Exit Row?
You can’t reserve these seats. Even if you’ve purchased your ticket online. Travel agents can’t help you here either.
The only way to get these coveted poor man’s first class seats is to request it at the airline’s check in counter.
The catch is if in case of an emergency, you have to man up and help with evacuation. I kid you not. Every person sitting directly in front of the emergency exit doors are handed a safety brochure when seated. It’s basically an illustrated pamphlet with instructions on how to open the doors in the event of an emergency.
With spacious leg room comes great responsibility…
While at the check in counter the agent has to be sure you are physically up to the task. Before printing out your boarding pass with your exit row seat assignment.
Not everyone knows that you have to request these exit row seats. People just assume the ticket agent randomly stick passengers where they please. For those that do know that’s not the case. And have to make sure they get to the check in counter and ask as soon as possible.
Because, depending on the size of the airplane these seats are very limited and the rule is first come first serve. Which means lining up near the check in counters as early as possible.
Luckily because I have over 50,000 Korean Air miles I qualify for their Morning Calm membership which means there is a separate and much shorter line for checking in. And even then I try to get on that line an hour before the counter opens for check in process.
Korean Air 380-800 exit row seat chart…
There’s catch though. These poor mans’ first class seats are always adjacent to where airlines seat passengers with infants. If you’re bothered by crying babies you best bring ear plugs or noise canceling head phones. Plus it’s also where a galley and bathrooms are located. Which means there could be a lot of commotion near you.
And of course since it’s still the economy section the seats are not wide as first class and are uncomfortable on long haul flights. But having all that leg space to stretch out is still better than nothing.
As of writing, certain airlines are starting to wise up. Some are starting to charge extra for emergency exit row seats. Which is really greedy. I think if you’re willing to take those seats, and help out in case of an emergency, does this mean the airlines have to start paying exit row passengers??
But even if the extra charge is nominal it’s probably still worth it. Especially if you’re tall and need extra leg space. So if you want these seats, make sure you speak with your favorite airline and ask about their policy on scoring those sweet sweet cheap seats with leg room.
One Big Tip for Getting Upgraded on a Flight
Here’s a little bonus tip for getting a chance for an upgrade. No matter which airline your prefer you should really sign up for a frequent flier membership. I know so many people that fly a lot yet don’t sign up for mileage programs.
Way back when I was flying strictly with Thai Airways I was upgraded to their premium economy class right before boarding from a flight from BKK to JFK. It was a packed flight and the ground crew had a group of passengers that wanted to sit together in economy.
There was a seat available in premium economy so I was upgraded so that another economy passenger could take my seat. I was a Royal Orchid Plus member with some miles built up on my account so the ground crew gave me the upgrade. It wasn’t an upgrade to their famous first class seats but hey I was happy.
So, moral of the story is airlines give upgrades to loyal flyers. If you don’t have their loyalty member card they won’t upgrade you in such a situation.
Sure, it’ll take time to build up those miles. But really if you’re going to fly a lot on a certain airline fill out a loyalty program. The benefits in the long run are worth the few minutes.
No matter which city I travel to in Asia each and every single one has it’s own special vibe. Ho Chi Minh City – formerly Saigon in Vietnam certainly has its own special soul. The sight of hundreds of motorbikes whizzing through narrow streets. The sounds of grilling meats coming from the sidewalks.
Mopeds and motorcycles rule the roads in HCMC…
And the lively chatter from locals sitting low on boxes sipping the finest Vietnamese coffee after finishing their early morning deliveries. Ho Chi Minh is a charged city with an old world charm.
One of HCMC’s most famous tourist area is Ben Thanh Market. For those planning to explore HCMC Ben Thanh Market is the usual first stop. Though some would say the area is too touristy. But that’s the price to pay for a city progressing at light speed.
Fresh meat anyone?…
More fresh meat…
Ben Thanh Market is still where locals come to shop for groceries to take home or even where small restaurants buy stock. Fresh meats and fresh fruits line the outer sections as a wet market. While in the inside you can find whole fresh coffee beans, local snacks, a section on authentic Vietnamese food. So the place is not a total tourist trap.
A payload of fragrant dried shrimp…
Classic Vietnamese Pho…
You can also find many local handmade goods. Lacquer with mother of pearl designs seem to be very popular. Be prepared to brush up on your haggling skills as nearly everything is priced high. Ben Thanh Market is also the place to find fake brand name handbags and all sorts of branded pseudo luxury leather goods and watches reside.
Ben Thanh Market is also filled with local shoppers…
But that’s not all this little neck of the woods has to offer. Just walk right outside around the area and you’ll find more restaurants and local activities. Since the area is heavily visited by tourists many shops mainly restaurants are open with English menus. One thing that I always keep an eye out for are the Ban Mi shops. But I never just duck into any ol’ Ban Mi sandwich shop. I made it my mission around the afternoon lunch rush to look for a shop that had a line of customers out the door.
An awesome Vietnamese sandwich shop…
There are lots of shops selling the quintessential Vietnamese sandwich all over HCMC. And even if it took a little while to search one out it is so worth it. And seemingly guided by instinct I succeeded. Just past a roundabout, weaving and dodging mopeds, past a row of mechanics welding metal I saw a line of Vietnamese waiting patiently. As I came closer I hit pay dirt.
23,000 Vietnamese Dong for a sandwich, about $1USD. What a bargain!…
It is so good. After sinking your teeth into that awesome goodness of salty pate – mixture of cold cuts with tangy carrots and radish wrapped with that warm crusty but soft in the inside baguette and I bet you my life’s savings you can’t help it but order one more to take back to your hotel room.
Gently warmed baguettes. I’d sleep in there if I could…
And as I recall, everyone who stood on line ordered more than one. As the saying goes, when in Rome, you eat like the Roman’s do so go buy a dozen or so. The name of the shop is Banh Mi Huynh Hoa. Go there, you won’t regret it.
There’s no shortage of good food found on HCMC…
Local street vendors cooking their own food is a common sight…
I always love taking a stroll…
After scarfing down your sandwiches take a stroll through the lanes and side streets are a real treat. A part of traveling should involve taking in the scenery. Checking out what the locals do and what they’re up to.
Fresh seafood grilled on open flames at Ben Thanh night market…
So what else is there to do? Starting around 5pm Ben Thanh market’s side street’s are filled with street vendors selling pretty much everything you saw inside, except for the wet market items. You’ve got plenty of chances to buy those t-shirts, odds and ends and knick knacks for souvenir hand outs. It’ also quite the popular place for seafood too.
Xôi Ngọt sold outside the market…
You still have plenty of chances to gorge on fresh fruit and specialty Vietnamese sweets Xôi Ngọt. These colorful sticky rice treats are sold throughout the day. But are perfect with as an after meal dessert with a fine cup of Vietnamese coffee.
To recap, Ben Thanh Market area is located in district 1, Ho Chi Minh City – though many locals still call the city Saigon. There are plenty of hotels near the market and most of them are priced from $50USD to $100USD. So if you’re plan is to stop off and check out this area I recommend booking hotels around Ben Thanh Market.
HCMC, a cosmopolitan city coming soon..
It’s a wonderful city holding onto old world charm. Though not too far off you’ll see a changing landscape of tall skyscrapers amidst rows of shops selling high end luxury goods. I much prefer the old but progress if done correctly and with much respect to the old is always a good thing.
My wife and I traveled to Singapore last year to checkout Universal Studios Singapore. And we stayed at the BIG hotel located in the Bugis district. It’s a great area with many shops, restaurants and markets including a building full of hawker stands Singapore is so famous for.
Bugis Junction in downtown Singapore…
BIG hotel is a boutique styled hotel with modern flair. It’s one of Singapore’s newest hotels built recently in 2013. It’s located on the corner of Bencoolen Street and Middle Road, so it’s super easy to find. And taxi drivers shouldn’t have any difficulties getting you to the hotel.
BIG hotel public area has plenty of space to lounge around and about…
The hotels design is quite interesting and I nearly missed the entrance because I first saw a wall full of liquor bottles. The ground level of the building entrance is split into two levels. The top level is a posh restaurant and bar and the bottom level is the BIG hotel’s reception area. Complete with a large sitting area with a big flat screen TV with the news on and a cafeteria that doubles as the breakfast service area.
The deluxe room we stayed in at BIG hotel Singapore…
Checking in was a cinch and the room I booked was a deluxe room that set me back $150USD including breakfast and taxes. Deluxe rooms are only 13 square meter. But the way that the furniture and such are arranged you feel like there’s more space. There’s even small closet space which is a miracle for such a tight space. I think the key factor why we didn’t not feel so confined is the ceiling is quite high.
One of the best mattress I’ve had the honor of sleeping on…
And the bed mattress is awesome. Out of all the hotels I’ve stayed in I would say BIG hotel’s mattress is on my top 5 best list. Plus the room is well lit and pretty much everything that is plugged in you can control with one panel by the desk. There’s supposed to be a tablet to control all the lights and the TV too but I couldn’t find it. And we were only in Singapore only for a few days so it didn’t really matter. It could’ve been in front of my face but I just never noticed it. Sometimes things just fly right over my head.
Lots of channels to keep you entertained…
There television is mounted right in front of the bed and they’ve got a big selection of in house movies with the recent hits plus more movie channels. They even had the Discovery Channel. Hey, sometimes you just want to kick back and relax after a long day of exploring. The room even has USB ports to charge up your phones or tablets. And the internet Wi-Fi access was free and quite fast.
BIG hotel’s breakfast buffet…
BIG hotel also has a small gym too. I just caught a glimpse of it but the gym looked decently equipped but the rooms was a bit tight. I would’ve went in for a little workout but after eating my way through and around Bugis Junction a little bit of cardio wouldn’t have done me any good. There’s an awesome food center filled with hawker shops, just ask anyone at reception desk for directions and I’ll bet they know where it is. It’s only like 5 minutes walk towards Bugis Junction.
I mentioned already that breakfast was included in the room rate. To be honest their breakfast is not the greatest. You’ve got very few choices, some bread, some eggs, chicken franks, fruits and not much anything else. It’s just that if a hotel charges $150USD I think BIG hotel can do a little better. Okay, maybe a lot better. But overall, I still like BIG hotel and the next time I swing back into Singapore I’d probably stay there again.
APA branded hotels are a familiar sight all over Japan. It’s yet another one of those short transit business hotels that are also very popular for travelers who don’t need a posh room nor services. This time around my wife and I stayed at the APA Hotel in the Itabashi ward of metropolitan Tokyo.
Though this hotel is in a very quiet neighborhood there is a JR train station just a short 3 minute walk from the hotel doors. From there you can hop on the train and in 2 stops you’re in all the action of the Shinjuku district.
Itabashi JR Station – Only a short 3 minute walk to APA Tokyo Itabashi Hotel…
So like a lot of 2 or 3 star business hotels in Japan the APA Itabashi is a basic no frills hotel. Services are always good in my opinion in any Japanese hotel. Hotel staff are always friendly and quick to assist guests. But this hotel has no swimming pool or gym which is common for the types of hotels. There is free Wi-Fi which to me is way more important.
A little late night snack near Itabashi JR station…
I mentioned that Itabashi area is very quiet. It’s mostly a residential area. But there are many restaurants. We arrived late at night and after we checked in at the APA Itabashi we walked a few minutes out to the main road just opposite Itabashi JR station and found a ramen restaurant. I forgot to take a pics of the restaurant. If you’re in front of the train station just look straight and you should find it. So if you’ve arrived to the hotel around 9pm and everything else is closed go give them a try. There is a McDonald’s near the station too and as I recall opened pretty late.
There’s also an Italian restaurant right across from the hotel. They serve large servings of all kinds of spaghetti and decent pizza. It’s a lively restaurant with super friendly staff. My wife and I were there during Halloween and we played some sort of guess the weight of the pumpkin game. We lost. But we still got a piece of candy. It was a really fun place with good grub. I took pics but because the interior was very dark the shots came out poorly.
APA Hotel Tokyo Itabashi Ekimae – This is the small double room I booked…
So the rooms at the APA Itabashi are small. Okay, that’s not a shocker. It’s not a complaint as I am quite used to it. Their small double bed rooms are 12 square meters. It is what it is because most hotels in Japan in the $125 and under price range cost that much. There’s a small desk with a wide screen TV that nearly takes up the entire table space. A small fridge plus a hot water kettle with bags of Japanese green tea. And our room is clean. Though the bed sagged in the middle but my wife and I still slept fine. Sightseeing and walking around exploring is the best sleep medicine.
Door in the middle leads to the bathroom with a shower/bath tub…
The last time I stayed at this hotel was back in October 2013. I booked the room through Agoda and paid $120USD per night. But I just checked Agoda as I wrote this post and saw pics of the APA Itabashi and noticed that the hotel looks renovated. The hotel lobby looked totally different than the time I was last there. And just doing a random price check saw that a small double bed room cost around $90USD for the month of July with taxes included. Too bad I’m not planning on going to Tokyo then.
I like this hotel a lot. Taking a stroll through a cool October night through the hotel’s neighborhood was nice. And because the train station was so near we could hit a lot of the major tourists destinations easily. APA Itabashi is easily one of the easiest hotel for me to recommend to anyone looking to visit Tokyo.
(Just a quick note. APA hotels are all over so be sure you have the right address for the hotel. The first night we arrived in Tokyo we checked in at the wrong hotel called APA Ikebukro. A total rookie mistake. It was a $10USD mistake since we had to hop on a taxi to take us to APA Itabashi which was only a 5 minute taxi ride.)
Seoul has a lot of wonderful neighborhoods but I mostly stay in Myeongdong, a really popular shopping district. Why? No matter what day of the week it is – Myeongdong is always busy and full of locals wandering around, shopping and enjoying meals in groups. It’s a trendy shopping area popular with young fashionistas and wide eyed tourists looking for good grub and unique Korean fashion and cosmetics.
Sure, you can pretty much say the same for many other areas in Seoul, but to me Myeongdong has its own unique energy and buzz. And that’s coming from a guy who’s not a big shopper!
And when the night rolled and as the night got even colder there were more people out on the streets. And that’s just the weekdays. Can you imagine the weekends? Even when the temperature is cold and frigid it doesn’t seem to deter anyone at all from walking around and bumping shoulder to shoulder with strangers.
Myeongdong comes alive at night… And it was cold too…
There are a lot of stores. Many are international brand name shops but I think most were local Korean stores though. Keep your eyes open because there are stores on top of stores. A lot of shops are stacked on top of one another. So if you’re not looking you might miss a cool little hip cafe serving hot waffles and specialty hot chocolate or perhaps a unique shop with hand made tchotchkes.
Sweet, sweet sticky honey fried chicken…
For anyone who enjoys food, and who doesn’t? It’s hard to walk around Myeongdong trying to figure out what to eat. There’s just so many yummy choices to pick. Korean BBQ, French Bistros, Italian Pizzas, skewers sold on the streets and everything else in between. Don’t even get me started on the varieties of Korean sweets and dessert shops.
Lots of shops in Myeongdong…
It’s even harder as a solo traveler since dining seemed like a communal affair. And the food portions are priced for 2 people. Usually, the rule of thumb everywhere when it comes to dining is to go where the locals go. It’s a no brainer to go wherever there are more customers than empty seats.
Yes, I went to an Outback Steakhouse in Seoul. So what?…
But as I mentioned, as a solo traveler it’s hard to dine at the best restaurants alone. But because there are so many restaurant in Myeongdong, finding a decent restaurant to eat alone is not difficult at all. If you know me you know I love a good hunk of juicy steak! Even though there is one Outback in Bangkok where I live most the year, Thailand is not very well known for steak. I know Korea is a nation of beef eaters. So I took a gamble on an Outback Steakhouse restaurant in Myeongdong. It was busy with a long wait too. That’s a good sign.
I ordered up a medium rare rib eye. It was good. A little bit more on the rare side but it really satisfied my steak craving. I was a happy camper. And the meal came out to about $35USD which I recall is about the same price as the US.
Korean street food. It must be good if there’s a line of people waiting…
Eating in Seoul can be expensive. But like anywhere else in the world, even if it’s the most expensive city in the world you can and always find cheap eats on the streets. Seoul is no exception. However, knowing what to order and what’s in front of you aside from the language barrier is the obstacle that could be a little difficult to overcome. This is where having a Korean local as a friend could come in handy.
Hotel Sunroute Higashi is located in Shinjuku district of Tokyo. Like a lot of hotels in Tokyo a Metro subway line or JR East train station is not far away. This is one of the reasons why I chose to stay at this hotel. And also, it’s one of the most affordable business classed hotels that I know of.
And the area is quite nice as well. A Korea Town is located just five minutes walk due east from the hotel. Plus you can walk to the main hub of Shinjuku station and passing many high end shops and restaurants along Yasukuni-Dori Avenue in about 25 minutes.
And if you love those little tiny Japanese bars with colorful patrons then you might want to check out Golden Gai that is about a 10 minute stroll too. Golden Gai isn’t exactly a red light district. But if a red light district is exactly what you’re looking for then head over to Kabukicho, about a 20 minute walk east or just north of Shinjuku train station.
Also from Hotel Sunroute’s doors you can walk south along Meji-Dori Avenue and reach beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in around 30 to 40 minutes. And from there I’ve even walked down to famed Harajuku fashion district and Meiji Shrine in 20 minutes.
You can hit up a lot of popular sites and attractions in the area without stepping foot on a train if you’ve got the time. Of all the times I’ve visited these places the weather was always perfect and beautiful. Which just makes it better when you’re out and about exploring.
Hotel Sunroute is one of the biggest hotels in the area with about 300 rooms. And like any other 3 star business classed hotels in central Tokyo this hotel is basic, meaning no gym or swimming pool. Though there are a couple of computers for guests to use in the lobby.
But the hotel provides guests with free in room Wi-Fi internet access. Plus there’s even a cable for LAN laptop hookup.
The room that I stayed in was clean and even though the hotel was built in 2007 I think the rooms must’ve gone through a renovation process because it looked modern and up to date. One thing I really like though is the mattress. It was so comfortable I slept like a log.
A lot of hotels I’ve stayed in Tokyo have beds that are way too soft. It’s not a big mattress though but it’s just enough for two people because the room I booked was a semi-double.
And like any other typical Japanese hotel the rooms are small because they are meant for travelers on a short trip for business. So for tourists a semi double room could bit tight if you’ve got lots of luggage. Though if you can book a room with two twin beds you get a slightly larger space.
The bathroom is small and tight too but just like the rest of the room modern and clean. There is a small bathtub but even a 6 foot guy like me could fit inside as long as I tucked my legs a bit.
I’ve stayed at this hotel a couple of times, especially when I come across some good deals. The lowest I’ve paid per night was about $118USD per night in March. Not really cheap but considering it’s Tokyo it’s not super expensive either.
I really like this hotel a lot because the immediate area is quiet but you’ll still be near restaurants and convenience stores to grab food and drinks.
Here’s What’s Around Hotel Sunroute Higashi Shinjuku Hotel
Higashi-Shinjuku Subway Station (located right under the hotel with an entrance on the south entrance of hotel).
Golden Gai – A very popular spot with private bars. But you can find some bars welcoming foreign visitors.
Korea Town – Lots of Korean restaurants.
Kabukicho – Shinjuku’s red light district.
Isetan Department Store – Just a 20 minute walk south. Get to the basement food level by 7pm for excellent sushi sold at a discount.
Quiet beaches are a common sight in Prachuap Khiri Khan…
Just under a 45 minutes drive south of the beach side city of Hua Hin is the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. It’s an area that is still largely untouched and spared from massive development. So if you love mountains, acres of palm trees and coconut farms or even bands of roving monkeys, Prachuap Khiri Khan you will enjoy.
But it’s not only a place where you’ll find natural beauty. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported through time. Well at least a little. Because the area is largely undeveloped you will see a lot of locals going through their daily lives. And because most live by the coast you will find many small fishing villages with small boats docked by the bay. Freshly caught baskets of squid and dried salted fish line the houses of most locals to be sold to passing neighbors.
This was snapped at one of the many fisherman’s bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan. I only had an iPhone 5s at the time which is why the pic is so noisy. The sun lit the sky on fire as it set, it was beautiful…
Prachuap is not an easy place to get to. You will need a car or perhaps you can hire a driver. But having your own car is the best way to go in my opinion or at least a moped. Hua Hin is the place to go if you need to rent one. And it’s worth it.
