Tag: Thailand

5 Popular Night / Weekend Markets in Bangkok to Visit

5 Popular Night / Weekend Markets in Bangkok to Visit

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown. Chatuchak Weekend Market ALL KINDS OF SHOPAHOLICS  Chatuchak Weekend Market is hugeeeeee! The market has more than 15,000 booths, selling almost anything that you can think of. Yes, literally 

List of Massage Places in Bangkok, Thailand

List of Massage Places in Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown. There are so many more massage places in Bangkok. We couldn’t possibly have the time to try every one of them. We were only able to try out Health 

Bangkok April 2015 | Massage Places in Bangkok (Reviews)

Bangkok April 2015 | Massage Places in Bangkok (Reviews)

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown.

There are many massage options in Bangkok, but not all have good hygiene practices. Even the staff at our accommodation told us to go to a shop that’s clean.


Health Land 


One of the more reputable and clean massage places is Health Land. It is also in the affordable range, though not dirt cheap. But this is also the reason why the place is populated with tourists and tour groups.

But.. the online reviews are not fantastic. Some complaints:

  • The ambience is average (you get what you pay for).
  • Some staff expect tips from you.
  • Service and quality are getting bad. Staff can be rude. Service hurried.
  • The massage hours are shorter than stated.

Branch Visited

We visited Health Land Sathorn, because it was on our way to Asiatique. And it was supposedly less crowded than the branch at Asoke, which is located in a more touristy area.

Our Experience

When we first reached, the whole place was crowded and messy. We were not sure who to look for and when we found a staff available, we were asked to pay for our services and wait at the sofa. We were seated for quite some time. And I started to wonder if they know that we have paid? Kinda relieved when our names were called out. But it felt like we were in a hospital/clinic, our names were called and then ushered to a room.

Verdict – 7/10

In my opinion, the skills were average. The strength was either too little or too much. In the end, I decided to ask her to use more strength than not. Though it was overall quite painful, I managed to doze off for a while! I wasn’t too impressed with the masseuse’s skills, but for Mr S, he was satisfied with his massage.

One of our masseuses was friendly, the other not. We gave them tips and went to the lobby, where we were given a cup of tea. The cup was cleared as soon as we finished the drink.

After my experience, I must agree that the online complaints as above have their valid points. Probably would try out another massage place next time!

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Tip, Pricing & Outlets

Tip

Make an appointment beforehand to avoid a long waiting time. The Heath Land staff understand English. If not, you can ask hotel front desk to help you make an appointment. :)

Pricing

Aromatherapy Body Massage: 1.5 hr, 950 Baht
Traditional Thai Massage: 2 hrs, 500 Baht

Outlets

Health Land Sathorn

Business Hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm (Mon-Sun)
Getting There: Surasak BTS (8 mins walk, 500m) / Chong Nonsi BTS (10 mins walk, 650m)
Address : 120 North Sathorn Rd. Silom, Bangrak Bangkok 10500
Telephone : +66 (0) 2637 8883

Health Land Asoke

Business Hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm (Mon-Sun)
Getting There: Sukhumvit MRT Station (5 mins walk, 350m), Asok BTS (6 minutes walk, 400m)
Address : 55/5 Sukhumvit 21 Rd. (Asoke), Khlongtoeinuea, Wattana, Bangkok 10110
Telephone : +66 (0) 2261 1110

For other locations, visit healthlandspa.com.


D&D Health Massage


Branch Visited / Directions

We went to D&D Health Massage because it was near to Evergreen Place Bangkok, where we stayed. D&D was just beside Asia Hotel. Come out from the side entrance near to the Naraya Store. Once you exit, turn left into the direction away from the main road. It’s on your left in just a couple of minutes.

D&D Health Massage

Our Experience

We had high expectations of this massage place because one of our hotel staff recommended it, even though he doesn’t go for massages. He told us that this shop was cleaner than the one along the main street, beside 7-11.

But we should not have taken his word lightly – of not liking massages.

When we were hovering outside to assess the massage place, a staff beckoned us in. And when we asked for the prices, he remained vague and kept asking us to sit. When we insisted on knowing the price first, he asked his manager to speak to us. We easily agreed on a price. I reckon we paid more than the usual price.

Verdict – 5/10

My suspicion of us paying more than the quality of service was further confirmed after we experienced their massages. The massage service was also shorter than the stipulated time. The massage pressure was not enough – I felt the masseuses were being lazy. And when requested for more pressure, it was over the top. Never the sweet spot.

Not going to visit again.

Pricing

Shoulder and Foot Massage: 200 Baht for ~50 minutes (though agreed 1 hour)


 

There are so many more massage places in Bangkok. We couldn’t possibly have the time to try every one of them. But here’s a list of other massages places in Bangkok for consideration, or to try at your own risk.

What are some massage places you would recommend? :)


You may also like to read: Itinerary OverviewAsiatiqueChatuchak Weekend Market, Victory Monument (Boat Noodles)

Photo Credits: Health Land Source

Travels 23 April 2015 | © 2015 Joogo Travel
Bangkok April 2015 (Day 4) | Soi 38 Street Food & Terminal 21 Mall

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 4) | Soi 38 Street Food & Terminal 21 Mall

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown. Soi 38 Bangkok Street food  If you are one who likes to find authentic local taste by eating street food, you should not miss this 40-year old iconic place at 

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 4) | Platinum Fashion Mall & Soi 19 Wanton Mee

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 4) | Platinum Fashion Mall & Soi 19 Wanton Mee

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown. Shopping at Platinum Mall Quick Facts of the Mall Platinum Fashion Mall is purportedly Thailand’s largest wholesale and retail shopping mall. The fashion mall has 2 wings. Wing 1 (Zones 

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 3) | Victory Monument

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 3) | Victory Monument

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown.

Victory Monument in Bangkok Thailand is a large military monument that stands in the middle of a major traffic roundabout.

The monument was erected in June 1941 to commemorate the Thai victory in a brief conflict waged against the French colonial authorities. But it became an embarrassment in 1945 when the Allied victory forced Thailand to return the territories to France. Many Thais regard the monument as an inappropriate symbol of militarism, and a relic of a discredited regime. Nevertheless the monument remains one of Bangkok’s most familiar landmarks. – Wikipedia

The surroundings of the Monument bustles with life. Other than shopping malls, eateries and night market, this area is also a busy transportation hub where you can hop on to buses and vans to bring you to other provinces. We were approached a couple of times by touters from these companies.

Being a major intersection, you can imagine the stream of endless people hanging around this place.

Victory Monument 2 -travel.joogostyle.com

 


Boat Noodles (Kway Teow Rua)


After our day at Chatuchak, we stopped by Victory Monument for dinner, which was on our way back to the hotel. Awesome boat noodles for dinner! You don’t want to miss this. My must go back place when I return to BKK.

Boat Noodles are originally sold at river canals on floating boats. Now, you can find many stalls selling it on land at Victory Monument.

Victory Monument 3 -travel.joogostyle.com

Directions to Where I Ate:

  • Alight at Victory Monument BTS and head towards the giant monument. Keep walking and you will transit into the skywalk.
  • You will reach a “T-junction”, turn right and keep walking along the skywalk. We didn’t expect it to be quite a walk away from the BTS, about 8 minutes? We almost gave up, thinking we had missed the place.
  • Be sure to look down from the skywalk every now and then, to spot a canal. You will see 3 different boat noodles shop with their staff wearing different shades of t-shirt – pink, purple, and orange – this is to differentiate from one another.
  • Once you spot the canal, get down from the nearest flight of stars and walk past the pink, purple and get to the “orange shop”. This eating place is air-conditioned and crowded.

Another Option:

If you are not one who likes to walk too much, or if the above-mentioned shops are closed, you can consider trying this 24 hour shop – Kuay Jap Anusawaree. Turn right at the skywalk and the get down at the first flight of stairs to find it at a corner. p.s. They serve a slightly different dish – kuay jap, a peppery soup full of kuay teow noodles and bits of pork offal, liver and blood tofu, at 30 baht.

Victory Monument Boat Noodles 4 -travel.joogostyle.com

The “orange” restaurant we went to was crowded with locals and not tourists. This made the whole experience even more authentically Thai. But this also explains why most staff were reluctant to take our orders, because they couldn’t speak English well. Regardless, we somehow managed to order some delicious bowls of food!

We were initially confused about – how to order, the meaning of Noodles Thicken soup, etc. But we decided to risk it and order few bowls to try.

Pricing and Dishes:

  • Each bowl costs only 12 Baht, but that’s because it comes in really small portion.
  • You can choose from 4 flavours (the first four in menu) and order 2 other sides – crispy crackling pork and fried dumplings.
  • The water served is also charged at 12 Baht.

Victory Monument Boat Noodles 7 -travel.joogostyle.com

The Dishes and Verdict

Later I read somewhere online that the Noodles Thicken with Pork / Beef is actually thicken with pig’s blood (fully cooked), and thus the name. We tried, but there wasn’t the smell or taste of blood.

I like Sour Soup with Pork best!

Brewed Bean Burd in the menu should be “Brewed Bean Curd”. It is served with pork crackling and in a hot pink soup (from fermented tofu paste).

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Side Dishes

… are just side dishes. We ordered these only once. Focus on the noodles!

Victory Monument Boat Noodles 6 -travel.joogostyle.com

Rumour has it that if you finish 20 bowls (easily done if you are in a group of four), you will get a big bottle of Pepsi free!

Victory Monument Boat Noodles 5 -travel.joogostyle.com

 


Shopping


After a whole day of shopping at Chatuchak, I wasn’t prepared for a 2nd round at Victory Monument. But it’s a futile attempt to resist as I walked around the night market. There were more locals than tourists shopping here. There are a few Shopping Malls situated along the BTS Victory Monument’s Skywalk.

Victory Monument -travel.joogostyle.com

However, for me, the real gem was the Outdoor Bazaar located underneath the Skywalk. Here you can find Chatuchak-style shops and food. There are much street style fashion here. Though one downside of this Bazaar was that the prices were not displayed, unlike at Chatuchak.

10:00am – 10:00pm (daily) (p.s. recommended to go in the night.)

 


The Waffle


The first time I noticed “The Waffle” was when I saw 2 ladies rushing to the kiosk with no customers, early in the morning at Mochit BTS.

Then later in the day, the kiosks at Mochit and Victory Monument BTS became relatively crowded. Though we were very full with boat noodles by then, we decided to follow the crowd and see if the waffles are really good.

The Waffle -travel.joogostyle.com

Pricing and Verdict

There’s a variety of flavours to choose from. We got 3 assorted flavoured waffles for 50 Baht. And they were yummy!

Locations

You can find these kiosks at 7 BTS stations including Victory Monument, Mochit (2 kiosks), Ratchathewi, Chidlom, Asok, Surasak, and Chong Nonsi. You can also find them in shopping malls, and other transportation stations.

Where else would you recommend to shop or eat at Victory Monument?


You may also like: Bangkok Overview ItineraryChatuchak Market, Asiatique

Photo Credits: 1/ Asiatique Ferry Pier Signage and Price list Source, 2/ Collage of Boat Noodles Source

Travels 23 to 26 April 2015 | © 2015 Joogo Travel
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Bangkok April 2015 (Day 3) | Chatuchak Weekend Market

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 3) | Chatuchak Weekend Market

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown. About Chatuchak Chatuchak Weekend Market is hugeeeeee! The market has more than 15,000 booths, selling almost anything that you can think of. Yes, literally anything, even animals! The goods at 

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 2) | Asiatique the Riverfront

Bangkok April 2015 (Day 2) | Asiatique the Riverfront

Bangkok Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get from BKK airport to downtown. About Asiatique  Asiatique is located at a former pier which belonged to East Asiatic Company (owned by a Danish). Many of the original buildings have been refurbished and the