Oct 30, 2015 |
It’s the middle of August in Hanoi. It was hot, humid and utterly uncomfortable. The heat mercilessly drains your energy with every step you take along the narrow winding streets, past zipping motorbikes and friendly old Vietnamese women selling fruit and vegetables.
But this is post is not a rant on how much I hate Hanoi and its despicable soul sucking heat. Matter of fact I love Hanoi. I love it despite its heat and humidity amongst the city’s mass of hectic cacophony glory. I love Vietnam.
The wonderful people of Hanoi having fun on a hot sultry night…
So what if Hanoi is not ideal period to visit in August? At least the hotels in the city are very affordable at that time. And there are plenty of dessert and cà phê shops all over to duck into and load up on the classic Vietnamese coffee or what I affectionately refer to as rocket fuel.
I’ve been to Ho Chi Minh a couple of times this was my first trip to Hanoi. And I’m still kicking myself on why it took me so long to visit this wonderful capital of Vietnam. And there are more places I’d like to visit as well but so far I’m just hopscotching along as I go. But one reason why we were in Hanoi was because we wanted to visit Halong Bay and Ninh Binh province which are a few hours away by car near the northern coast of Vietnam.
Aside from the friendly people, wonderful culture and architecture, you all know how much I love food. Travel and food goes hand in hand after all. And while in Vietnam you gotta have the quintessential Banh Mi.
So I did a search on Tripadvisor on which restaurant has the best Banh Mi in the vicinity of Hanoi’s Old Quarter where I was staying. And I found Banh Mi 25, which was just a 5 minute walk from my hotel. I found it with a little difficulty because the streets of Hanoi are small with many twists and turns.
They have a small menu but I ordered a sandwich with everything on it which cost around $1US. Their Banh Mi are small though. Luckily I ordered 2!
I eagerly made my way back to my hotel to scarf those babies down and when I did I was surprised I was full. And my wife had a worried look on her face because I looked like a rabid dog eating its last meal.
A very beautiful lake in the Old Quarter of Hanoi…
To help me digest we planned a walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the evening. There’s a very interesting story or legend relating to the lake which you can check out here on the ol’ wikipedia. But long story short it has something to do with a sword, a golden turtle and a local god. And there are still turtles in the lake that are quite famous.
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is about 2 kilometers around. Which is a good walk to work of those sandwiches. Those Banh Mi sandwichs, still think about them yummmm….
In the lake resides Jade Island. This is an entrance to it across the Huc Bridge…
But I got hungry after walking around. Because it was so hot and I was dripping in sweat that the calories poured out of my skin. Luckily around the halfway mark we spotted a Pho restaurant.
I’ll probably get booed for this but the best Pho hands down is still back in NYC’s Chinatown. I’m not saying I don’t like Pho in Vietnam. I just haven’t found Pho anywhere else in Vietnam that matches my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in NYC.
Yummy Pho goodness…
The restaurant I went to in Hanoi is called Pho 24. It’s a chain of Pho restaurants I’m used to in Ho Chi Minh City. And my wife enjoys it so I’m not complaining at all because the Pho powered me back up for another round of wandering around Hanoi.
Hanoi is certainly one lively city during the night. Everyone is about and about. The cyclos are merrily on their way with tourists snapping pictures happily. Locals are in the parks, around the lakes, sitting down and chatting with friends or simply strolling around. There’s certainly romance in the air. And I mean that literally.
I know, it’s a blurry photo but you get the point…
Lots of wedding photos were taken all around the lake, mostly in the areas where the backgrounds are more scenic. But wedding pictures were also taken out in front of Hanoi’s posh malls which near southeast corner of Hoàn Kiếm Lake.
As always heed the traffic signals. There are lots of traffic on the road…
Hoàn Kiếm Lake is the center of activity for Hanoi’s locals, from morning to night. There’s no doubt about it. You can tell despite the high humidity everyone is out to enjoy the night.
But that’s not all there is to do around the Old Quarters of Hanoi at night. If you’re there on the weekends there is a night market located about a 5 minute walk due north of Hoàn Kiếm Lake. But a word of warning, even though it’s night the temperature is still warm and humid. I know, I keep mentioning it’s hot but it is.
Factor in that there are shoulder to shoulder sweaty tourists and locals too walking up and down the narrow one street night market. So there’s plenty of body heat going around making the experience uncomfortable. Wear some comfortable loose fitting clothes, drink plenty of fluids and carry a towel cause you’ll need it.
I haven’t bought anything though my wife bought a bunch of small little coin bags with traditional Vietnamese motifs to take home as souvenir gifts. The more you quantities you buy the better discounts you get is the standard rule.
Hanoi’s Night Market is narrow but goes quite far and as far as we walked we couldn’t make it all the way through. There were too many people and as much water as we were drinking it was all coming back out via sweat.
Classic Vietnamese coffee with coconut cake, a real knockout combination…
Luckily, Hanoi is coffee heaven. There are many small and large cafes. We’ve picked quite a few during our stay in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and each and everyone we were happy. Vietnamese coffee is one of the best in the world. And they are proud and should be and you can see it in many of the small coffee shops.
This was our first night in Hanoi. It was a wonderful day and an awesome start for our trip in Vietnam And we’ve booked a day tour that starts early in the morning. A couple of posts on those day tours coming up soon. And even though I had that super powered Vietnamese caffeine coursing through my veins I was so tired at the end of the night experiencing all that Hanoi threw at me I still slept like a rock.
Jul 29, 2015 |
A Nice Budget Pet Friendly Hotel in Hua Hin
I’ve always been a fan of Ibis hotels. But when I found out that the Ibis Hua Hin allows cats and dogs into guest rooms I became an even bigger fan!
Toby our blue tabby cat loves to travel too. That’s cause he’s got the wayfaring travel bug. But there are not a lot of hotels that allow pets in Hua Hin. Last I checked there were about 5 in and around Hua Hin. But some pet friendly hotels in Hua Hin are too expensive. And the cheaper ones had some really bad reviews.
However, the Ibis Hua Hin was just right in every aspect. It’s a clean hotel though the standard guest rooms are only 20 square meters. Though their space saving furniture design doesn’t make you feel claustrophobic. And the bed is pretty comfortable too. It’s a short 5 minute walk to a beautiful stretch of Hua Hin’s beach. The service from hotel staff is friendly and courteous.
Reasonably Priced Hotel in Hua Hin but Skip the Breakfast
And it only cost me 1400THB per night including taxes, that’s about $40USD at current exchange rates. The downside is they charge 200THB for breakfast. Normally, it’s 250THB but if you pre-pay for breakfast at check in the Ibis gives you a 50THB discount. We stayed for 3 nights so breakfast for my wife and I totaled 1200THB. That’s nearly the price for an extra night.
Now, I wouldn’t mind paying for good food. But the breakfast at this particular Ibis was truly unimpressive and certainly not worth 200THB. It’s a mix of Western and Thai dishes with not a whole lot of variety. We stayed there for 3 nights and the food just got boring. There’s no egg station where you can order up a fresh cooked omelet or scrambled eggs. Many hotels these days even in the 2 star range has an egg station.
Still A Good Value Hotel to Stay if You’re Bringing Your Pet
Okay, so I’m not staying there just for the breakfast. Most important factor we made on deciding to choose Ibis was because it’s pet friendly.
No pets over 10Kg are allowed however. While staying there I saw quite a few guests with pets. All of them had dogs and from what I saw we were the only ones with a cat. Some guests even had 2 dogs. And pets are not allowed in the dining area as well as the swimming pool. And you can’t leave them alone in the room.
But there were several times we had to leave Toby in the room during the day. If you’re a cat owner then you know already cats sleep during the day. So taking him out during that time is like carrying a sack of rice around for nothing.
There’s room under the sink for a litter box, that’s where we put it…
We just waited until room cleaning was done before leaving our little guy to rest in the comforts of an air conditioned room. What a lucky guy!
Ibis is a very pet friendly hotel in Hua Hin…
No pets allowed at the pool…
But guests with pets are allowed to eat breakfast in the lobby area. Though pets are not allowed in the swimming pool area.
Good Location, Reasonable Rates, The Ibis is Okay in My Book!
Ibis Hua Hin provides guest free shuttle service to most areas in central Hua Hin along Phetchkasem Road. The furthest I think the shuttle will take guests is to Hua Hin Night Market. But you have to make reservations ahead of time at reception. I forgot to take a picture of the shuttle but it fits about 9 to 12 people.
You can also walk to the popular Cicada Weekend Night Market, it’s south of the hotel about a 10 minute walk. The hotel shuttle service can take you there as well.
I really like this hotel. Even if I wasn’t traveling with Toby I would still stay at the Ibis Hua Hin. And although their breakfast is bad I can easily overlook that. But I think most people will like this hotel because it’s a clean hotel with friendly service and not a far walk to the beach.
Read current guests reviews and find discounts for Ibis Hua Hin.
How To Get There
It’s super easy to find this hotel. Go down Petchtkasaem Road (Highway #4) heading towards Khao Takiab. It’s the first hotel you’ll see at the entrance of Khao Takiab.
Jul 13, 2015 |
After my wife spent 5 days at her university campus in order to fulfill her course requirements she met a friend who works at the Amari Vogue Krabi Hotel. She told us it’s a really nice 4 star hotel located on Tub Kaek beach.
At the time we were planning on heading to Kanchanburi instead for a little getaway. But after seeing pictures and reading reviews of the Amari Vogue Krabi I was intrigued. And Tub Kaek beach is well known for beautiful Krabi sunsets.
Amari Vogue Krabi – If you love privacy and seclusion this place will not disappoint…
Our minds were made up in a flash. I booked my flights though Air Asia. Then booked one of Amari Vogue Krabi’s deluxe room at Agoda.com for this review. Our round trip plane tickets cost $250USD. Our 3 nights stay at the Amari Vogue including taxes and breakfast set me back $421USD.
I might’ve overpaid for the plane tickets because I bought them with only a week left before departure. However, the Amari Vogue Krabi was a deal. Due to low season I paid $140 per night (including some member point discounts via Agoda).
A view of the hotel property while waiting to get checked in…
Small Hotel, Big Beach, Super Friendly Hotel Staff and a Big Surprise
When we arrived at hotel’s open air reception area we felt a nice ocean breeze. The air was so clean. We could hardly see any guests out and about. This property has only 57 rooms so it’s a small hotel and just right if you don’t want to be shoulder to shoulder with huge tour group guests. But there are plenty of friendly hotel staff all around to take care of your needs.
We were checked in by a lovely lady who led us to our room which was down a series of steps. About midway down the length of the hotel property we finally reached our room.
It’s not a far walk and I was psyched to see if we would get a deluxe room with a view of the beach. She then led us through the hotel’s spa and up a flight of stairs to room #3201.
We got upgraded to a Spa Suite!
When she opened the door to our room my wife and I were impressed. It was all wood furniture all done up in traditional Thai style. A huge four poster bed with mosquito nets.
And the mattress and pillows were so comfortable. The balcony had a view of the ocean. However there were a row of tall coconut trees in front. But we were not complaining.
Then she opened another set of doors that revealed a room with two massage beds connected to the bathroom. Complete with a jacuzzi bathtub and a shower/steam room. Doing a quick check up online these spa suites are 70 to 80 square meters.
Now I know I definitely booked a deluxe room that didn’t have all the bells and whistles and are only 50 square meters. So, we got upgraded! But the lady who showed us our rooms never mentioned it. But we were grateful and I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to remember her name.
You’re probably thinking just because we got a sweet room upgrade this is going to be an automatic favorable review. Well I’ve have had room upgrades yet still have had bad experiences. Just take a look at my stay in Pa Prai Villa Plantation review. You can always rely on me for honest hotel reviews.
There are also many small swimming pools and even a private one near the beach. Now I wasn’t planning on using the pool. But I did plan on using the fitness room. And it was a small room and it felt like they just stuck late 90’s equipment inside an office space. I know the Amari Vogue Krabi is a smaller property and they can’t just build a big gym. So it’s not a big deal. But I think they can do better.
Besides, my and wife got a pretty good workout hiking up a national park just 200 meters from the entrance of the Amari Vogue Krabi. Unfortunately we only made it up about three quarters of the way. We weren’t prepared because there were lots of rocks and we were wearing flip flops.
Since it rained in the morning the rocks and soil were slick. We had to make the decision to go back or risk spraining an ankle and that would be bad.
The trail was 3.7 kilometers long and supposedly there is a great view up on top. We went around 9am after breakfast and the weather was cool with the tall trees providing adequate shade. But I can imagine it being too hot if we went for the hike in the afternoon. So it’s best to do the hike early in the morning.
Speaking of breakfast I think the Amari Vogue Krabi has just the right amount of choices. Since they’re not a huge hotel they don’t have a huge spread. Though what they have is certainly enough. Breakfast starts from 6:30am and ends at 10:30am.
They have some Thai and Japanese choices. Even Chinese dim sum. And of course there’s the American breakfast option of eggs cooked to order and bacon. They even had pork sausages which is the first I’ve seen in a hotel, though they don’t have it every morning.
A good hearty breakfast in my book…
But you can see the Amari Vogue is keeping up to date on todays health issues. This is the first resort I’ve ever seen carrying gluten free breads and cereals. They even have fruit smoothies and an herbal ginger drink for detox. And they make their own fruit jam. It’s those little details that impress me a lot.
Tub Kaek Beach – The Perfect Spot to Watch the Sunset in Krabi
Having a beautiful beach is just one part of the equation to a resort’s success. And Tub Kaek is the beach front that makes the Amari Vogue so much more impressive. It’s a long beach and the Amari is the last resort on the north end of Tub Kaek beach so it’s a lot more secluded.
There are beach front hotels in the vicinity. But luckily no noisy bars and clubs. So if you want peace and quiet you’ll get it here.
A view of Amari Vogue Krabi from Tub Kaek beach…
Though from what we were told the waters of Tub Kaek are much more beautiful during high season. During our stay it was low season. The waters were a little bit rough with the tide going in and out so the waters were not as clear as it could be during our stay.
But if you want to swim in clear water, Hong Island (a review coming soon) is not far away. You just have to hire a long tail boat to take you out there.
Tub Kaek Beach – Not a lot of people so you feel you have the whole beach to yourself…
That said, my wife and I still enjoyed our walks and dips in the waters. It’s best to swim in the mornings when the tide is higher.
But the beach is perfect for a romantic walk when the tide is low and you can see thousands of baby crabs scuttling towards the waters or digging themselves a hiding spot under the sand.
Now the drawback to staying at a hotel that is private and secluded is you’re going to be far away from the usual tourist destinations. Though many, including me, would consider that a pleasant drawback.
Amari Vogue mini bus has enough room for around 10 to 12 passengers…
However, if you’re the type that likes short jaunts into town the nearest one is called Ao Nang. Bars, restaurants, cafes, Thai massage shops, tour companies and ATM machines can all be found along Ao Nang.
Many massage shops in Ao Nang charging roughly the same rates. Foot massages cost about 200THB for 1 hour…
And Ao Nang Beach is not so bad considering all the commercial businesses nearby. The town is sort of U shaped, not so big and very easy to navigate and walk around.
Ao Nang Town – You can get there via Amari Vogue’s shuttle service. But it’ll cost each passenger 100THB one way.
Ao Nang town is about 20 minutes away by car. But if you didn’t rent a car or a motorbike the Amari Vogue has a shuttle mini bus service 3 times a day going to Ao Nang and back.
Though, they charge 100THB per passenger per way. Now to me, that’s a bit pricey. Personally I think it should be free or maybe half the price because it’s not that far of a drive.
Ao Nang Beach in Krabi
Getting to Amari Vogue Krabi Hotel from Krabi International Airport
Just like in Phuket if you take a taxi from the airport to your hotel you’re going to pay higher than normal taxi prices throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. There are no metered taxis in Krabi. You pay a flat rate and the prices increases depending on the distance.
You can find a few taxi operators inside Krabi International Airport…
Now the Amari Vogue Krabi is one of the furthest resorts from Krabi International Airport. We hired a taxi from the airport and the cost was 800THB and the journey took 40 minutes.
About halfway on to the resort our driver stopped outside of a tour agency. He does this out of the blue and if you ask he’ll tell you he’s going to the toilet.
Once your driver is in the office a guy comes out and tries to sell you some tours. This is business as usual and quite comical. Just say no and they leave. It’s the same in Phuket.
For your return trip from Amari Vogue back to Krabi International just speak with the same driver and they’ll charge the same 800THB rate. Which is what we did. Because the Amari charges 1200THB for the same ride.
I honestly don’t know if there is a cheaper way to get to Amari Vogue Krabi. Not unless you rent your own car and stay there longer. I suppose you can catch a mini bus or a songthaew down to Ao Nang and from there get a taxi. But I have a feeling you won’t be saving that much money.
But I’m a New Yorker. And I’m used to paying $45USD from lower Manhattan down to JFK airport. So to me, 800THB which is around $25USD (based on current exchange rate) for the same distance is a price I can handle.
If you’re staying at the Amari Vogue Krabi, be sure to ask what time the sun sets. You don’t want to miss it. It’s beautiful…
The Amari Vogue Krabi is a wonderful hotel and just perfect if you want a romantic getaway with a wonderful and natural surrounding. But a beautiful resort in a wonderful natural surrounding means nothing if you’ve got bad hotel staff.
One of this hotel’s strong points is the friendly and well trained staff. Every Amari staff that we encountered could speak a fair amount of English. Not too many four star hotels can make this claim. This and just many other reasons are why my wife and I would not hesitate to go back to Amari Vogue when we visit Krabi again.
Read current reviews and find discounts for Amari Vogue Krabi click here.
Jul 10, 2015 |
Or Tor Kor Market (ตลาด อ.ต.ก.) – A Durian Aficionado’s Heaven
I’m going to put it out there right now that I’m not a huge fan of Durian, the so called “King” of all fruits. I’ll eat it a little of it just to satisfy my wife’s fruitless attempts to convert me to a durian lover. I don’t go bananas over it like most durian fanatics do. You’re probably wondering why you should go on reading this?
Because I know there are a lot of people who love this fragrant pungent fruit. So I’ve asked friends, friends of friends and associates where they go for the finest most rank smelling durian in Bangkok, regardless of season.
And the majority tell me they head to Or Tor Gor, a popular farmers market where Thais with cash go to get their durian fix. It won’t be cheap. But if you love durian more than I love a juicy ribeye steak than something tells me you won’t mind spending some cold hard Baht.
Aor Tor Kor Market next to Kamphaeng Phet MRT station exit #3
Or Tor Gor is a popular and easy to reach market that is still off the tourists’ grid even though it’s a measly 200 meters from the southern entrance of Chatuchak Weekend Market. And JJ Mall is about 400 meters away near the western entrance of Chatuchak. So there are quite a few spots to visit in a day if you’re in the area.
#3 Station entrance/exit nearest Aor Tor Gow Market. Notice the no durian allowed sign?
This wet/dry/food market is well known to Thais with cash and can buy the best and freshest fruits year round. But there’s more to this place than high quality fruit including the best durian found in Bangkok. Aor Tor Kor has a food court with a wide variety of familiar Thai favorites and classics such as som tom, grilled giant prawns and many other prepared foods you can take back to your hotel room.
In Thailand, it could be a lot cheaper to buy food and take home than cooking…
But do remember that hotels don’t allow guests to bring in durian. Even BTS and MRT stations have a strict no stinky fruit policy. If they see you carrying a fresh bag of durian they will deny you entrance. And the guards do check, particularly at the Kamphaeng Phet MRT station near the market.
Forget the potato chips and junk food, plenty of healthy nuts can be purchased at Or Tor Gor…
It’s all about the Durian Baby
There are at least 6 or 8 shops that sell durian year round inside the market. However, the best time to indulge and buy with decent prices is around the months of July and August. Although the official season for durian in Thailand runs from late months of April through September.
Durian farmers will tell you quality durian is a fickle fruit to grow and harvest. The weather and time including a host of other factors play a major role on taste and quality. And Or Tor Kor market vendors only select the best or have connections with farmers that keep their special stock because they know they can sell their higher quality durian at a higher than normal market rate price.
Normally at Or Tor Kor When the Fruit is in Season You Can Find Two Popular Varieties of Durian:
Monthong and Kanyao durian varieties are very popular now…
1. Monthong (หมอนทอง)
In Thai this variety of durian is translated as “Golden Pillow” because it’s quite big and fluffy. The outer husk is huge with spikes so big you can use it to do some serious damage when used in a bar fight. The Monthong name is known as the largest producer of durian with many of its prized fruits coming from prime farming real estate south of Thailand close to Malaysia. Which is another Southeast Asian nation famous for its durian production.
2. Kanyao (ก้านยาว)
Kanyao is a smaller variety of durian with smaller spikes but you’d still better be cautious when handling it. Its name translates to “Long Stem” in Thai though by the time it reaches the vendors in Or Tor Kor the stem is trimmed down for easier handling. Though you will see many vendors leave the stems on just for show and decoration.
If you stick a gun to my head and forced me to choose one of the two kinds of durian I would prefer Kanyao. It’s sweeter, kind of like pineapple but without the sour acidic taste. Some would say it taste like super ripe mangosteen. But even then I still limit myself a small piece just to appease my wonderful wife.
Vendors won’t hesitate to give prospecting customers a taste of their durian. So don’t hesitate to ask for a piece they are very willing to oblige.
As of writing, a durian vendor that we always go to charged 240THB for 80 grams, about 3 pieces of Kanyao durian. I can’t remember off hand how much the Monthong variety cost but I believe it was a bit more expensive because the pieces were larger. Prices fluctuate due to availability and season. Off season you can expect to pay 25% to 40% higher.
Wife buying some Kanyao durian. You can see the long stemmed durian in the background…
Or Tor Kor is open everyday from around 6am to 7pm. Though some shops close earlier. It all depends how much stock they have left. They carry a lot of seasonal items that normally don’t grow in Thailand such as cherry or strawberries from the USA to prized and super expensive cantaloupe imported from Japan and Korea.
Or Tor Gor vendors take great care in cleaning and presenting their goods to customers…
Ever buy a bag of mangosteens and rambutan and find it with a nest of ants? Or Tor Gor vendors know their customers have discerning taste. So not only do they carry fruits from the finest farms they also pretty it up and by that I mean they try to get rid of pests that could cause an insect infestation at a customers’ home.
If you’re reading this and it’s still July then this is the prime time to stuff your gut on durian in Bangkok, and Or Tor Kor is the best place to buy it. You can also find high quality durian at the Emporium Supermarket inside Siam Paragon Mall, but they charge much more. Also, while at Or Tor Kor, don’t forget to check out their rockin’ food court!
Jun 26, 2015 |
Not Same Same in Thailand…
Whenever I head back home and come across friends I have not seen in a long while they ask me, “Is it cheaper living in Thailand?”. It’s hard to answer that question without giving an example. So my example is the sandwich. Simple and easy to make.
But in a nutshell my answer is it really depends. If you can eat like the locals the answer is a resounding yes. If you eat like the way you eat back in the US then the answer is no. Let’s take the good ol’ sandwich for example and look at the prices.
When I was a kid one of the first things I ever made to eat on my own is a sandwich. There’s not a huge learning curve so it’s right up my alley. Ham, cheese, a heavy slather of mayo between two slices of Wonder Bread. And there’s a 98% chance that whoever reads this and is from the USA made the same too.
According to the Smithsonian every day 50% of Americans consume some form of a sandwich. And that sounds about right. Putting together a sandwich in the US is economical. Packing a sandwich for lunch to work is just one of the best ways to save money. And finding a grocery store with all sorts of cold cuts and cheese is easy peasy too back home in US.
It’s kinda like that too in Thailand. Though there are a few surprises or shall we call it sticker price shock…
Sandwich Ingredients and Costs
Whole wheat bread from Yamazaki 55THB (8 Slices)…
I always buy bread from Yamazki bakery. You can find them just about everywhere there is a Tops Supermarket. A bag of 8 slices cost 55THB, nearly $2USD. I like this style of bread because it taste good. But most importantly, it is not loaded with preservatives. You’ll find a expiration date right on the bag which is 3 days from date of purchase. But I find that if you stick it in the fridge it’ll last an extra 2 to 3 days.
There is a certain brand of cheaper whole wheat bread you can buy in most major supermarkets and convenience stores such as 7-Eleven. I don’t buy the cheap stuff because it lasts about two to three weeks. There’s just something sinister about bread that takes that long to go moldy.
Good ol’ Oscar Meyer Ham or Bologne…
Every supermarket in Thailand has some sort of deli/cold cuts department today. The better ones are mainly located inside supermarkets with many expats or foreigners nearby. The best cold cut department I’ve ever seen is at the Emporium Supermarket in the basement level of Siam Paragon Mall.
But I don’t live anywhere near there so I purchase packaged Oscar Meyer ham near the deli section of a local Tops Supermarket at Central Ladprao.
Normally a 6oz. (170 grams) package of Oscar Meyer ham cost 164THB ($4.86USD). 170 grams is about 10 slices of ham. Yes, that is expensive right? And it doesn’t get any cheaper if you buy local produced ham.
Local ham is even more expensive too…
Swiss Chalet is a Thai brand of ham that is of good quality and sometimes I buy it when it goes on sale. Normally, it costs 98THB ($2.90USD) for 6 slices of ham, 200 grams.
Back in NYC near my local Key Food Supermarket I pay $4.99USD for 453 grams of quality ham. Right about now you must be thinking this can’t get any worse right?? Wait for it…
Your sandwich cheese options…
Allowrie is a Thai dairy company and their cheese is comparable to packaged Kraft Cheese back in the states. A pack of 12 slices cost 139THB ($4.13USD). In the US I stay away from the packaged sliced cheese and buy right from the deli counter.
Back in the US I know I can buy a whole pound of good quality American cheese for $4USD.
Imported swiss cheese ain’t cheap in Thailand…
Even though you’ll find a wide variety of block cheeses mostly from Europe and USA it’s expensive. Even the lower quality package cheeses have crazy prices. 10 slices of cheddar cheese from the Netherlands cost about $8USD.
In general dairy products are expensive in Thailand. Butter and in this case cheese are not common items found in the fridge as it is in most countries.
Mayo ain’t cheap in Thailand…
Condiments
Mayo, the glue that holds the sandwich together, is expensive as well. A 443ml Kraft Mayonnaise jar cost $3USD. That’s a small bottle and the way I use it would last me 8 sandwiches. I rather just make my own these days using Alton Brown’s mayo recipe. Eggs and oil which are essential in a mayo recipe is very affordable in Thailand.
99THB for a small bottle of mustard…
Sometimes I like to switch out mayo for mustard. But mustard is also a bit pricey. Luckily for my taste a little bit of mustard goes a long way. 340g of French’s Mustard cost $3USD.
Tomato and lettuce are affordable but not exactly cheap either. And it doesn’t help that I’m a bit picky about the raw vegetables I buy. You can save a bit of money purchasing vegetables for sandwiches at local Thai wet markets instead of supermarkets. But if you don’t live near one it could be a bit inconvenient. Also I find that vegetables in supermarkets are cleaner and better quality.
In general, it’s cheaper to eat Thai food outside then it is to cook Thai food at home. And also consider you don’t need to prep the ingredients and wash dishes afterwards. So you save time too.
A large bag of chips cost about the same in USA, about $3USD a bag…
However, for the sandwich, it’s actually cheaper to make at home than it is to buy it outside. There are many shops that sell pre-made sandwiches. You can buy a ham and cheese between two pieces of white bread for $1.75USD. But if you make your own sandwich at home it could cost you about $1USD but with lettuce and tomato.
I do miss the days I could make myself a hero sandwich, with a few inches of stacked ham and turkey with cheddar cheese and the works. Sadly here in Thailand, you don’t really have that choice. Hell, I can’t even find turkey cold cuts.
Granted a lot of the ingredients I buy for my sandwiches are all imported I can still tell you locally produced ham and cheese are not cheap and nearly the same price as imported.
You won’t run out of food options on the streets of Bangkok…
But there’s plenty of cheap Thai food all around where I live and travel often. I can get a small entree with rice for about $1.30USD to $1.60USD. Though I usually double my order because I can eat a lot. Even noodles I would order 2 bowls.
This tasty bowl of fishball with egg noodle and soup cost about $1.20USD…
It is still possible to live off of $10USD a day on food, assuming you’re only eating Thai.
So there it is. Familiar foods that we can readily and easily prepare back home can be expensive to make here in Thailand. Don’t get me started on cereal. A box of shredded wheats cost $8USD here but I remember back in NYC it cost about $5USD.
And there are no Costcos or BJ Wholesale Clubs here. Man, I miss those places.
Jun 12, 2015 |
Excellent Location and Not So Expensive…
Whenever I get asked where is a good place to stay in Kuala Lumpur I always suggest an area called Bukit Bintang. I’ve stayed in a couple of hotels in that area but the one I frequently stay at is called the Piccolo Hotel (called ANSA Kuala Lumpur Hotel today).
The Piccolo was built back in 2008. Yeah, it sounds old but it’s remarkably well kept. And although I’m not a 100% sure there must’ve been some renovation done sometime ago to look the way it looks.
ANSA Hotel superior room are about 30 square meters…
I always choose the superior rooms and for some reason on Agoda.com you get two rates, one cheaper and the other more expensive. So of course I book the cheaper ones which cost about $65USD.
I’ve booked at deluxe room a couple of times at the ANSA Hotel but to me there is not much difference in terms of quality between the two room grades. There’s free in room Wi-Fi internet access too.
Last time I went a superior room at Piccolo cost about $65USD per night with taxes included…
The bathrooms layout could be a little bit weird because the toilet and the shower is not in a separate room. There’s just glass separating those two facilities from the rest of the room. I suppose that’s fine if you’re staying with your spouse or close family but if you’re bunking with a friend it might be kinda uncomfortable due to limited privacy. Or maybe that’s just me.
Toilet and shower stalls in room…
So what’s so good about the ANSA Hotel?
It’s one of the hotels closest to the Bukit Bintang KL Monorail station. I always take the buses from KLIA2 because I fly in from Air Asia. I also take the SkyBus which is Air Asia’s official bus to KL Sentral where I take the KL Monorail line to Bukit Bintang. The SkyBus fare is only RM9.50 and the bus trip takes about 1 hour. A single journey fare from KL Sentral to Bukit Bintang cost RM2.10, very cheap.
At KL Sentral you’ll see it’s a major travel hub with trains and buses that go all over Malaysia. There is also a big mall attached to KL Sentral. Follow the signs through the mall and you’ll find the entrance to the KL Monorail. As I recall the station platforms are on the second floor.
And you’ll find a lot of shopping malls adjacent to ANSA KL Hotel:
- Lot 10 Mall – Cool food court in the basement.
- Sungei Wang Shopping Plaza – This place is kind of like the MBK Mall of Kuala Lumpur.
- Farenheit – A mix of luxury shops and local businesses.
- Pavillion Mall – A high end posh mall in the heart of Bukit Bintang.
There are a lot of other malls too just a bit further away like the Berjaya Times Square. You can walk there in about 10 or 15 minutes.
A huge plate of food at Food Republic in Pavillion Mall, with a drink it cost about $5.50USD…
Bukit Bintang is also a gem of an area for food. Indian, Arab, Chinese, you name it you’ll find it or a combination of it. It’s a wonderful food paradise. But because Bukit is a tourist area food prices are higher but still manageable.
I forgot to mention, you can also walk to Kuala Lumpur’s most famous landmark, the Petronas Towers in about 30 minutes. The Piccolo is a good hotel for exploring Kuala Lumpur. There’s a KL Hop on Hop Off tour bus that stops right in front of the hotel sidewalk.
Read guests reviews and find current discounts for ANSA Kuala Lumpur. (Note- On Agoda ANSA is rated as a 4 star hotel. Personally I think it’s a 3 at best, which is still good.)
KL’s magnificent Petronas Towers…
