travelog - SEL

The First Class/Business Class Cathay Pacific Lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. An Oasis of Calm During the Chinese New Year Exodus - Bangkok, Thailand - February 2019

1/2/2019

It was pandemonium in Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok the Friday before Chinese New Year 2019. However, the Cathay Pacific First Class/Business Class Lounge was an oasis of sophisticated calm.

The dim sum, phad thai etc from their Noddle Bar made me remember why I like flying with Cathay Pacific. I once undertook a 16 hour flight with them from Hong Kong to Toronto, before returning home to Bermuda!

A '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) 50th birthday year continues.

Sofitel So, Bangkok; Christian Lacroix & #travelblog www.sifrew.com - More Dreams Come True!!! - Bangkok, Thailand - November 2018

8/11/2018

Meet Greta, a Christian Lacroix dressed teddy bear specially created for #travelblog www.sifrew.com by Sofitel So, Bangkok.

Pinnpratch at Sofitel So, Bangkok created her and she is a spectacular piece of art.

I have named her Greta, after someone I adore in Puna del Este & she will be accompanying us to 'the wedding' of some of our best friends in Thailand tomorrow.

Feeling so blessed here in Bangkok.

The Louis Roederer Champagne Sunday Brunch at Sukhothai, Bangkok is the Best in the World - Bangkok, Thailand - November 2018

6/11/2018

I have sampled brunches in Qatar, Cayman Islands etc but never anything like the Louis Roederer champagne brunch at Sukhothai, Bangkok.

As soon as I met F&B Manager Botan I knew I was in for an exceptional experience. There was Wagyu beef, Unagi sushi, oysters from Jersey, live music inside and as much Louis Roederer champagne as you could drink.

I will certainly be returning to try this brunch again after the Thai wedding I am attending and before I leave the Far East later this month.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - a brunch that is the manifestation of luxury with the quality of the food. My Tip:- speak to Botan. I am going to Four Seasons Seoul after speaking to her!

Restaurant Suhring - Michelin Starred German Food Exquisitely Reinvented in Bangkok - Bangkok, Thailand - October 2018

5/11/2018

I met my Old Salopian friend at Shrewsbury School but we reconnected at Four Seasons in Chicago and now regularly meet in Bangkok. We always have an epic meal there and Restaurant Suhring did not disappoint.

Restaurant Suhring

There seems to be a trend for German food in Bangkok at present and Suhring is the Michelin Starred pinnacle.

It is ironic that our last epic Bangkok meal was at Gaggan and Gaggan Anand helped to finance the Suhring twins in this new venture.

It is based in a stylish villa and services there could not be faulted.

It was unfortunate they messed up my very dry martini. The miniature food at Suhring looks like a gimmick but was impeccably executed & the duck main course was divine.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(6 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - the bill at this restaurant will take your breath away but it is a temple to fine dining. They messed up my very dry martini but so did Eleven Madison Park in New York. The Suhring Twins personally saying goodbye meant that did not 'drop a teddy' for this. My tip:- leave lots of time for your Bangkok driver to find this place in the bad traffic. I ended up being 40 minutes late.

We met at Shrewsbury School but now meet in Bangkok. Shrewsbury International School is now in Bangkok too.

It was unfortunate they messed up my very dry martini. The miniature food looks like a gimmick but was impeccably executed & the duck main course was divine.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: An Unbelievable Stay, Even for a Mandarin Oriental Celebrity Fan, in Their Dame Barbara Cartland Suite - Bangkok, Thailand - October 2018

25/10/2018

My 'last' night at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. My face says it all about an evening with senior staff from Mandarin Oriental's Head Office in Hong Kong, having spent the previous evening with a senior member of staff from Jardine Matheson.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is one of the world's legendary great hotels. It has been open for more than 140 years & is known as the 'Grand Dame' of Bangkok. I get nervous before each stay at this iconic hotel that it will not be possible to match my last experience but my stays keep getting better, which is truly unbelievable.

This time 'new' GM Greg & legendary Guest Relations Director Mayuree waiting outside for me in the steamy Bangkok heat; I was given the Dame Barbara Cartland suite; lunch with GM Greg; the pool staff welcome me back as an old friend & even presently me with a teddy bear of their own; and a final evening drinking with senior staff from Mandarin Oriental's Head Office in Hong Kong, having spent the previous evening with a senior member of staff from Jardine Matheson, blew my stay out of the water.

Dinner in Nahm, one of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants on the San Pellegrino List - Bangkok, Thailand - March 2016

9/3/2016

It was almost strange to want to eat in Nahm, as Australian David Thompson's Thai restaurant that started in The Halkin hotel in London. However, the London restaurant has a Michelin star (the first for a Thai restaurant) and Mr Thompson is regarded as one of the best chefs in the world regarding Thai food. I, therefore, decided it was a must visit on my 4th time in Bangkok.

Thai Afternoon Tea at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok with Louis Roederer Champagne; Meeting with Amanda, the General Manager; Tour of the Refurbished Authors' Wing & Seeing Perfect Mayuree from Guest Relations - Bangkok, Thailand - March 2016

8/3/2016

In the Authors' Lounge flanked by GM Amanda, in her gorgeous 'yellow for Monday' outfit, & brilliant Mayuree.

I wanted to see the refurbished Authors' Wing at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and meet GM Amanda & Mayuree from Guest Relations again.

What better way to do this than by coming for afternoon tea, said to be the best in Bangkok, if not in Thailand.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok - November 2015

15/11/2015

I was nervous that my second stay at the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok might not live up to the first. However, as soon as I got into the BMW Series 7, was handed freezing cold towels and the classical music was put on I knew I was completely wrong.

At the hotel I was handed a flower garland before I entered the doors and welcomed back with genuine warmth. I was taken up to my suite to check in, staff on the way said “welcome back Kuhn Simon” with cheerful enthusiasm. I was back at my Bangkok home.

Business Class Flight with Bangkok Airways from Bangkok to Koh Samui - November 2015

8/11/2015

I got a taxi to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport for a third time on this trip. It was a ‘TB free’ taxi but I am not sure that justified the 600 Baht charged this time. At check in there was a teddy bear on the counter, which ‘we’ took as a good omen.

Dinner at The Royal Bangkok Polo Club - November 2015

6/11/2015

I was honoured to be invited to the ‘Members Only’ Royal Bangkok Polo Club (part of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (‘RBSC’)) for dinner. This is the most exclusive sports facility in Bangkok and has links to King Rama VI.

Tour, Facial & Lunch at the Okura Prestige hotel, Bangkok - November 2015

5/11/2015

I decided I wanted to experience a bit of Japan in Bangkok and what better way than a visit to the Okura Prestige hotel. It is said to be one of the best hotels in Bangkok. Okura hotels are to Japan, what the Mandarin Oriental is to Hong Kong.

Halloween 2015 & Foam Parties

4/11/2015

Halloween is taken extremely seriously here in Bangkok with elaborate makeup, costumes and pool & foam parties.

The Perfect Very Dry Martini in Bangkok

2/11/2015

If you want a perfect very dry Grey Goose martini head to the 9th floor of the Sofitel So in Bangkok.

Here you have stunning views over Lumpini Park, while being served by staff in Christian Lacroix uniforms.

Dinner at Bo.lan - The Most Innovative Thai Restaurant in Bangkok - October 2015

30/10/2015

I was very excited about trying Bo.lan. After a month in Thailand, I wanted to experience the best of Thai food. The chefs here were trained by David Thompson at Nahm but they serve “proper Thai food”.

Lunch at Jojo with the Four Seasons Director of PR for Thailand; Social Media Discussions; & Tour of St Regis, Bangkok

29/10/2015

Having stayed at St Regis New York, and eaten in St Regis Doha, I was thrilled to be invited to the St Regis, Bangkok for lunch with Mrs Chutimaporn Kasemsuk (Director of PR for Four Seasons Thailand).

Dinner at Gaggan, Bangkok - which the San Pellegrino List regards as the world’s best Asian restaurant - October 2015

28/10/2015

Having eaten in the San Pellegrino List’s former best US restaurant, Grant Achatz’s Alinea in Chicago, I was enthusiastic to try El Bulli trained Gaggan Anand’s “progressive Indian cuisine”.

Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok - October 2015

27/10/2015

I went to Shrewsbury School and decided it would be interesting to visit Shrewsbury International School while in Bangkok.