| Hope everyone had as good a Christmas as me. My first London Christmas could not have been better. I am so grateful to Graham, Clare & family for including me in their special day and their perfect gifts. Also must thank 45 Park Lane for their generous & unique gifts and The Dorchester for my breakfast in The Barbican on Christmas Day. The Legendary Sukhothai, Bangkok The Sukhothai, Bangkok Sunday brunch had to end the Thailand part of my 'Epic Trip' and I also wanted to, finally, swim in their pool. I, therefore, booked a two night stay and was so glad I did. My Suite with a Stunning Bathroom/ Dressing Room & Japanese Toilet in the Guest Bathroom I had been allocated one of the hotel's recently refurbished suites. Think you will agree, from my photo, that the bathroom/ dressing room is impressive. Aspects of The Sukhothai, Bangkok remind me of The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, which is a very good thing. Khun Pack, A Pink Weekend Financial Times & The Sukhothai, Bangkok Pool Khun Pack brought me a pink paper copy of The Weekend Financial Times in the pool. The Sukhothai, Bangkok has another green Thai swimming pool. The Famous Sukhothai, Bangkok Sunday Brunch I already devoted a post to The Sukhothai, Bangkok Sunday brunch in 2018 and think the quality of the food may have got even better, if that was possible. The live band & singer were fabulous & there were even fellow guests who were also at Amanda Hyndman's leaving party at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park. Leaving is Difficult But 'Tippy Saved The Day' I arrived very late & left early. Packing at 4am was not my best idea. Tippy had a card from the staff for me and checked my suite and so prevented me leaving some of my Japanese teddy bears that have so many memories attached to them. A true Bangkok heroine. Qatar Airways Business Class. No Qsuites - Despite Booking and Rebooking I booked a Qatar Airways plane with Qsuites and, when that plane was changed, rebooked and paid more fees for a plane with Qsuites, only for that plane to be changed again. Despite these irritations, the lounge and congee on the plane were good. The Sunday brunch, & my recently refurbished suite, at The Sukhothai, Bangkok would have rated '6 teddies' but Tippy's actions rates a '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) score. She prevented me leaving Igor & Paula, from Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo & Four Seasons, Tokyo at Marunouchi, behind. Tip: talk to Chef Frederic at The Sukhothai, Bangkok Sunday brunch. |     |
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Capella, Bangkok: Cote by Mauro Colagreco - A Legendary Meal - Bangkok, Thailand - October 20249/12/2024
 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.  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.  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!
 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.  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.
 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.  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.  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.
 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 is taken extremely seriously here in Bangkok with elaborate makeup, costumes and pool & foam parties.
 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.
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The AuthorsSi Frew has lived in the UK, Bermuda, Qatar, Cyprus & the Cayman Islands. During this time he met Whoopi Goldberg (in Claridge's), Mike Tyson (in the Concorde Lounge at JFK) , Gordon Ramsay (in the Doha Four Seasons), Chris Eubanks (in The Dorchester), Cherie Blair (in Bermuda & again in the Doha Four Seasons) etc. There are funny stories attached to all these interactions, feel free to ask Si about them when you meet him. Archives
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