Bangkok Trip During Thailand's Official Period of Mourning (Part I) 泰国国丧期间的曼谷旅行

Together with my hubby, we flew to Bangkok for a short getaway recently. Our Bangkok trip was booked months ago, we were going to attend the 70th anniversary celebration of Thailand Hainan Tan clan. The celebratory dinner was cancelled when Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away on 13 October 2016 in Bangkok. Since we could not get a refund for our air tickets and accommodation, we decided to go ahead with our trip.

Taking the earliest morning flight out of Singapore, we arrived in Bangkok before 10 am. Feeling famished, we decided to have our breakfast in the city - in Terminal 21 Shopping Mall near our place of accommodation.

Delighted to find our favourite Santa Fe Steak House restaurant opened at 10 am on a Saturday. We ordered their promotion sets of Grilled Chicken Chop and Kurobuta Pork Chop Steak that came with soup and salad. This breakfast cost us less than S$16 (394 baht).

The basement level of Terminal 21 Shopping Mall is having a Thailand Food Fair, delighted to find lots of Thai food. We bought some snacks before checking into our hotel.

Contacted a Thai friend who came to bring us to pay tribute to His Majesty the Late King Bhumibol. The considerate guy brought us some black ribbons which is an acceptable way to mourn in lieu of black clothing.

Thailand is in an official period of mourning, it enters a year-long mourning period. To show respect for the feelings and sensitivities of the Thai people, we followed the mourning protocol and prepared sombre-coloured attire to wear in public places.

Next we went to Erawan Shrine to give offerings because it was four-faced Buddha's birthday week. There was also low key celebration for the famous shrine although many devotees came specially to celebrate the annual festival.

Our friend had to attend a function so we went for dinner by ourselves. We were attracted by this eatery's promo banner and ordered some dishes. Pleased with my order of delicious Pork Belly fried with bacon bits and basil, shared the appetising Grouper Soup and noodle with hubby. The deep fried chive dumplings' (65 baht) skin was thin and crispy, but hubby was not impressed with the filling. He finds it smelly. haha.....

Hot chrysanthemum tea for two was 100 baht, notice the distinct yellow colour compared to the very pale yellow chrysanthemum tea in Singapore? This dinner cost us 637 baht, includes 10% service charge (S$25.50).

After dinner, we used the Skywalk to get to Mahboonkong Shopping Mall (MBK) we brought some red bean cakes from Singapore for a friend Mr Soh who opens a gem stone jewellery shop there.

He was busy with a customer, so we gave him the cakes. In return, he gave us a box of yam cakes from Taiwan and gave me a good discount for a pair of jade ear-rings. We thanked him and took our leave.


本来我与先生去曼谷参加泰国海南陈氏公会70周年庆典, 但因泰王蒲眉蓬辞世而取消。这让我有更多时间拜访泰国的朋友, 还见了我的同乡长辈们和泰国学生们。这次还能挤出一点时间逛逛曼谷的名胜。

泰国国王蒲美蓬辞世, 我们前往悼念。在泰国的国丧期间, 为了尊重泰国的文化, 我们外出时尽量穿黑白或深色的衣服，以表哀悼。曼谷的购物中心和各个夜市，都正常接待游客。我们注意自己的言行，更避免谈论王室任何事务，以免惹祸上身。

每年11月9日就是四面佛神诞的大日子, 祈福还神的场面十分热闹。今年四面佛神诞仪式放低调, 先生与善信们到来诚心敬拜。

Terminal 21 购物中心地下层举行泰国美食展, 这些地道的泰式佳肴吸引了我驻足欣赏品尝, 让我惊喜连连。有几样泰国小吃给我留下难忘记忆。很可惜我怕行李超重, 不敢买太多, 回国后很后悔买太少! 呜呜 。。。

在Terminal 21 购物中心地下层的Santa Fe Steak House是连锁平价牛排店, 有各式美式口味的排餐。早餐吃黑猪肉猪扒, 好奢侈! 两份好吃的肉扒套餐花不到 S$16。

在Lee Cafe (Central World分店) 吃晚餐。这里吃的是中式泰菜，将中式口味混入泰菜。

石斑鱼汤加了柠檬汁, 好特别的味道, 汤好喝! 用猪油炒三层肉, 加培根和九层塔去炒, 然后淋在白饭上。我捞饭吃, 泰美味了! 韭菜饺的皮薄香脆, 韭菜太多, 我先生不喜欢吃。

Lee Cafe (Central World分店)
3rd Floor
Open Daily : 11.00-21.00 Tel 0-2646-1838

新加坡友人苏先生在 MBK 开了一家宝石首饰店。从新加坡带了豆沙饼去拜访他, 他送了我们一盒来自台湾的紫玉酥。我买了一对玉耳环, 他还给我特价。

Polo Jade
Mahboonkong Shopping Mall (MBK)
2C - 52/2
Open daily : 11 am to 9 pm

Thai Pineapple Fried Rice 泰式黄梨炒饭

My staff delivered two beautiful pineapples to my house this morning. When my son saw it, his eyes glittered with joy. He asked me to cook Thai pineapple fried rice with it.

The ripe pineapples looked so juicy, it is a waste to fry rice with it but since my son is craving for it, I shall make the dish.

I sliced a pineapple and scooped out the flesh, leaving a hollowed fruit to be used as a serving bowl.  *smiles*

Since it is a last minute 'order', I have to rummage through my fridge for ingredients. Fortunately, I have some steamed rice and some roast pork belly left over from last night's dinner.

My son doesn't like seafood and he loves Chinese sausages, so I made some changes to the authentic Thai pineapple fried rice recipe and cooked with whatever ingredients I had on hand.

Method :

Heat wok and pour a little oil to stir fry the shallots and garlic. Add the dried shrimps, sliced Chinese sausage and roasted pork belly to fry until fragrant. Put in the rice, then the egg. Throw in the spring onions and cubed pineapple with some pineapple juice. Stir fry until well mixed and the rice grains have absorbed the pineapple juice. Scoop the rice into the hollowed pineapple.

Topped with some pork floss before serving it. The sweet and sour pineapple fried rice was so tasty that my son finished the whole pineapple fried rice by himself. haha....


早上公司职员送来两粒黄梨, 儿子看了, 告诉我突然想吃泰式黄梨炒饭。他太久没吃了, 想念那带有点酸甜味的黄梨饭。黄梨已经熟透了, 我切开它, 又多汁又甜。

还好昨晚有点剩饭剩烧肉。儿子不爱海鲜, 我就用腊肠和烧肉还有新鲜黄梨丁, 快手快脚炒了饭, 而且还有模有样的盛进黄梨壳内。像不像泰式黄梨炒饭? 哈哈。。。

泰式黄梨炒饭做法 :
热锅, 放入油把蒜米、葱片爆香。再加入虾米, 腊肠和烧肉炒匀。再倒进米饭。打入一粒蛋。加入黄梨丁和汁, 洒上一些葱花。把饭装入黄梨壳内。

儿子把这粒黄梨炒饭吃得精光, 胃口真好! 哈哈。。。

Memorable Moments In Bangkok 难忘曼谷之旅

Whenever I travel to Bangkok with my hubby, the first and last place he would visit is the Erawan Shrine. Occasionally he would hire a troupe of traditional Thai dancers to perform in front of the shrine. Always packed with devotees from all over the world, many tour guides like to bring busloads of tourists here too.

Early every morning, we would see a row of monks sitting by the side of pavements and many Thais would respectfully kneel before each monk and offer them food. Some street hawkers sell ready packed food for the monks, the locals just buy the amount they required and offer them to the monks.

I couldn't resist entering this sweet Hello Kitty restaurant hahaha..... Actually we spent some money for refreshments just to take a few photos, but it seems my hubby enjoyed himself more than I do.

Pretty and cute decor, food is so so..... we had fun and enjoyed the silly photo shoots.

Chanced upon this authentic Thai dessert shop at Chatcuchak weekend market. Fascinated, we watched them make the pretty desserts. Bought some to try but they were too sweet for us.

At Chatcuchak weekend market, I would always seek out his guy. I have always enjoyed the tea pulling performance by this handsome guy. My hubby would tell you I would be gawking at the handsome guy every time. Look at the guy, which normal woman wouldn't!? (Ahhh, fortunately hubby didn't notice my saliva dripping..... )

His iced tea tastes better than the other stalls. Trust me  :D

Probably because we were on vacation, food in Thailand (even fast food) tastes great. At times, we would try new offerings on the menu of a certain fast food restaurant.

We have a to-eat list before going to Bangkok. When in Bangkok, before retiring to bed every night, we plan what to eat the following day. We pounced on every delicious food wherever we went. We were awed by a huge selection of yummy food everywhere, at any time in Bangkok.

Regrettably we would come back with a few kilos heavier. Resistance is futile. hahaha.....

We also had some memorable adventures looking for delicious food on the streets of Bangkok.

Late one night, looking for Thai Teochew kway teow soup (flat rice noodles) brought us to Mr Tan, a 2nd generation migrant from Chaozhou, China. All of us were glad to converse in Teochew, especially Mr Tan because his children only speak Thai.

A hardworking man who spends his life hawking noodles on the streets of Bangkok, he was very keen to learn about our life in Singapore and in Chaozhou. He has never travelled out of Thailand.

My hubby and I had a satisfying meal of Thai Teochew flat rice noodles. We also tried his recommendation of roast pork belly. Because we speak the same dialect, I think my bowl of noodles were laden with more ingredients. Kakinang mah.



旅游曼谷多次, 我有几个难忘的回忆。

每年我先生去曼谷拜四面佛时, 我会陪他去。他一下飞机就去拜四面佛, 要回国之前又去拜多一次。偶尔他会请传统泰国舞蹈员在四面佛前表演, 答谢佛恩。

偶然在Chatcuchak周末市场发现正宗的传统泰式甜点店。看着师傅们做甜点, 受不了买了一些回酒店吃。不过这些甜点也太甜了吧!?

我一直很喜欢这个帅哥拉茶。我先生会告诉你，我每次都目不转睛地盯着帅哥看。正常的女人都爱看帅哥嘛! 幸好老公没看到我流口水。。。 哈哈哈! 他的拉茶比其他摊位的好喝​​。我说的。

在寻找泰潮粿条汤时, 遇到摊主陈先生。我们用潮州话交谈。陈兄难得有人跟他讲潮州话, 乐得请我们喝茶因为他的孩子只会说泰语。

勤奋的陈兄一生在曼谷街头卖面, 从未离开泰国。他非常渴望了解我们在新加坡和中国潮汕的生活。我发现我的粿条汤好像有特别多食料。家己人嘛!

Or Tor Kor (OTK) Market @Bangkok 曼谷Or Tor Kor 果菜市場

After shopping at Chatuchak (aka JJ Market) Weekend Market, we walked through the underground level of the MRT to this fruit and agricultural market, Or Tor Kor Market.

It is a big, airy (no aircon) and clean market where we found all sorts of live seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits. We saw some red pomelos, beautiful big mangoes, huge Thai durians and pomegranates... prices were pretty expensive compared to those sold by street hawkers, but the fruits are of a better quality. I bought my favourite mangoes and a pomegranate.

There is also an awesome ready to eat or take home food section. Fantastic selection.

Since we were staying a few days in Bangkok, I could only buy dried foodstuff to bring home. There is a section dedicated to dry goods, I bought salted fish, aromatic spices and more.

I bought a kilo of preserved diced radish to cook my hubby's favourite chai poh neng (radish omelette). This Thai sweet preserved radish is so delicious, we cooked it often.

Simply love the convenience of this market where I found all the ingredients I need for my Thai dishes. I had a blast buying various spices, sauces and dried foodstuff for cooking Thai dishes.

Although it was almost 4 in the afternoon, the live seafood stall still had a large selection of fresh prawns and lobsters for sale. You can also buy charcoal grilled gigantic prawns. We were so stuffed eating snacks at JJ weekend market that it was impossible to to find space for these delicious seafood. ish.

Looked at the cooked food longingly but had to passed them on as there were simply too many places on our to-eat list of Thai eateries that we want to go to.

Maybe next trip I will plan a longer stay in Bangkok and takeaway ready to eat food to my hotel for my meals. The market closes in the evening.

How to go : take public transport to MRT Kampaeng Phet station
The closest BTS skytrain station is Mo Chit.


在翟道翟区週末市场大买特买后, 往附近的Or tor kor果菜市场逛逛。Or tor kor 是一个很明亮、 干净、整洁的市场。没有冷气，东西价格很公道，而且种类齐全。市场一边是果菜市场，一边是熟食摊位, 布置得很有秩序, 有提供桌子和椅子以供顾客品尝购买食物。

水果很新鲜，但是价格也很贵, 要讨价还价的。水果摊卖的著名泰国“金枕头”榴槤，蜜芒, 石榴和红柚挺不錯的, 是买泰国土产的好地方。

海鲜比较贵一点。看看炭烧大虾螃蟹 。。。看起来好好吃喔! 市集里的各种泰国香料、调料种类相当丰富，有冬阴功、泰式咖喱、炒粉调料等。很多都是已经将各种香料混合搭配好的小包装，价格也不贵，我买了一些回新加坡DIY。

买1公斤泰国甜菜脯回新加坡煎菜脯蛋, 超级喜欢吃这道美味的菜脯蛋! 煮潮州糜配搭这道菜脯煎蛋 。。。现在写了还会流口水, 哈哈。。。

爱吃的我可一次过在此试尽特式泰食, 购买泰国料理食材。

这里的食物价格很公道，有时100泰铢就能让我吃饱。值得专门来一趟吃泰式小吃、水果和买特产。

营业时间 0830 - 1700

交通方式：曼谷MRT地铁站Kamphaeng Phet
                     BTS Mo Chit 站

Bangkok Chinatown Local Market 曼谷唐人街菜市场

Having been to Bangkok many times, the thought of going to Bangkok's Chinatown has never crossed my mind. On one particular trip, I was told to meet an elder for breakfast in Yaowarat Road early one morning.

Fearing that I would be late should there be traffic congestion, I went very early to Chinatown. Turned out I had more than 80 minutes to while away before my morning appointment.  -_-

Since I was in Yaowarat Road, I decided to take a look at its local market.

I was ecstatic to see many familiar Teochew food that are not easily available in Singapore. I wanted to buy some preserved food but was apprehensive about the smell. Plus I didn't want to look like a housewife who has just returned from marketing. haha.....

This local market looked clean, it was not wet and smelly like some of our wet markets in Singapore. It wasn't crowded, probably because it was a weekday.

There were many stalls selling ready cooked food. Seeing the plump steamed fish.... made me think of a steaming bowl of porridge to go with them. *Drools*

My favourite Teochew png kueh (Teochew glutinous rice cakes)!

Besides the usual savoury glutinous rice filling, they also have fillings of yam paste or red bean paste. Each piece costs 20 baht. *drools*

This dry goods store is stocked with lots of fish maw. What a waste! I couldn't shop for anything. The thought of me lugging bags of dried goods to business meetings was a good reason not to buy them.

It really upsets me whenever I think of this market because I didn't have a chance to go back to shop for my foodstuff during that trip.

Since I could not shop, I decided to take a stroll to my meeting venue. I passed by this traditional Chinese pastry shop Tae Loa Chin Seng Bakery which has been around for more than 70 years. Trays of freshly baked tau sar piah (flaky cakes with red bean filling) were being brought out. My stomach started growling......



曼谷唐人街菜市场在耀华力路 (Yaowarat Rd) 跟查龙恭路 (Charoen Krung Rd) 中間。有一次, 我在曼谷会议之前, 逛逛当地菜市場。

菜市场干净，不湿无异味, 里面卖的东西都大同小异, 看起来无异于新加坡的。这里的小贩多数说潮州话。看了一下这里的小吃，都跟潮州人的一样, 做法都一样。这里卖好些熟食, 看到这个潮州饭粿有2种口味 - 豆沙跟芋头, 1个卖20铢。

这家卖干货的商店出售鱼肚。下次有到曼谷旅遊的旅客应该到唐人街走走逛逛。老饕们記得晚上再來喔!

A&W Restaurant @ Bangkok 曼谷A＆W速食店

Do you miss these? It's not available in Singapore. Chance upon this long lost favourite when I was in Bangkok for a friend's wedding. It was two hours before a grand feast..., and my hubby simply must have this meal.

Oh well, we miss their root beer float and curly fries. Just love the A&W root beer float! Served in a frosty glass mug with a scoop of vanilla ice cream added to the drink.

The restaurant's mugs are collectors' item ....... some friends saw how several customers covered the mugs with their motorbike helmets and then smuggled them out.

Although there is a A&W restaurant in Johor Bahru, I don't want to waste time queuing to go in and out of JB due to frequent traffic jams at the Causeway.

At this branch in Bangkok, their signature dishes of Coney Dog, Curly Fries, Root Beer Float and Waffle with Ice Cream are still available.

你想念这美式快餐吗？新加坡想再吃也没有了。我在曼谷参加一位朋友的盛大婚宴前2小时, 意外发现曼谷有著名的A&W快餐连锁店 (✪‿✪) 。好久没吃这快餐了, 到现在还念念不忘! 老公看到它, 死都要吃。哈哈。。。。

太想念了！我点了久违的A&W 招牌饮料root beer float (独特的汽水加一勺香草冰淇淋)来喝。当然也要吃我的心头爱 ~ 蛋奶烘饼 (waffle) 。好怀念喔 〜 呵呵 。。。。

Eiah-Sae Hainanese Coffee Shop in Bangkok 益生老店海南咖啡店@泰国曼谷

In search of mouth-watering local foods is part of the fun of traveling. During my stay in Bangkok, I love trying out food recommendations from my Thai students and friends.

Waking up early one morning to look for the last authentic Hainanese coffee shop in Bangkok's Chinatown was a tough task. Finding my way through the unexpected, bewildering maze of side streets make me break out into a sweat. And my hubby was going for an important meeting at Bangkok's Central Business District in less than two hours' time.

Fortunately many of the passersby I stopped to ask for directions could speak Teochew and we finally found the last traditional Thai kopitiam (coffee shop) in Bangkok.

I was quite hesitant to enter the coffee shop which is patronised mainly by older men, and the shop looked rather dingy. We were dressed in smart office attire and stuck out like sore thumbs. LOL

We found an empty table and I went to the counter to order our breakfasts. The menu shows the typical Hainanese kopitiam fare such as soft-boiled eggs (kai luak), charcoal grilled toast with kaya (coconut egg jam) or condensed milk or sugar toppings.

I was glad that the staff understand and speak Teochew because I can't communicate in Thai language. hahaha.....

Eiah-Sae (Est. 1927) is a Teochew term meaning "benefits for a life time". And the Thai words on the signboard states that its coffee is freshly-brewed daily.

I ordered black coffee, milk tea and their signature kaya toast. The aromatic black kao kao (thick) coffee and tea are served the authentic Thai way. We were served free Chinese tea with our drinks. Glad for the Chinese tea because the coffee was too strong, the tea and kaya toast were too sweet. LOL

I was taking photos of the shop and struck up a conversation with the men sitting outside the shop. We communicated in Teochew, there was no native Thai customers. They were very kind to recommend me what to eat and interesting places to take photos in Yaowarat. Visiting Eiah-Sae was one of the ways to meet and engage with ordinary, local people.

As hubby was rushing to a meeting, we bade farewell and hurried off. Thanks to the detailed directions from the men, we were able to get to the main road fast.

Eiah-Sae 益生 103-105 Thanon Phat Sai Samphanthawong Bangkok 10100
Tel: 02 221 0549 Open daily : 6am - 6pm


益生老店 (1927年开始营业)是曼谷唐人街一家老字号咖啡店。据说是曼谷最古老咖啡店之一。

一早去吃早餐, 咖啡店位于唐人街内耀华力路上, 好难找! 但咖啡店确实很出名，随便抓个路人问问，他们都知道方向。嘻嘻。。。

我一到门口几乎就丧失了进去的勇气, 店铺看上去很邋遢, 客人大部份都是一些老伯。

菜单就类似我们海南咖啡店的传统早餐, 如半熟蛋，咖啡，奶茶和炭烘吐司 (炼乳, 加椰, 撒糖)。里面的服务员不懂中文也不懂英文，还好我会讲潮州话。点了咖啡乌, 奶茶和炭烘加椰吐司, 服务员还免费提供两杯中国茶。这泰式咖啡很香但也太浓了吧, 奶茶和加椰超甜! 还好有中国茶。呵呵。。。

出国旅游, 难得体验一下这种很地道又特别的咖啡时光。