Musings by Grace Chng

Yup, I’m in Bangkok for a system-shut down holiday. Been here for 48 hours, slept 14 hours at a stretch but didn’t taste or smell any thai food. Don’t get me wrong, I like thai food except that I prefer to eat at the local places and where I’m staying at the Shangri-la, there aren’t any Thai food places for miles … at least as far as I can see. The shops in front of the hotel offer tailoring, t-shirts, luggage and jewellery. I don’t need any of them.

There’s an Indian restaurant with one page of Thai food like pad thai - fried kway teow - green curry and fried vegetables. Somehow I don’t think it’s quite authentic. So today, I set off for Siam Paragon, that huge shopping place that I thought would have at least some Thai food. Well, I discovered Thais - and perhaps Japanese - like Japanese food for there’re several sushi, sashimi and ramen eateries. Then there’re rows after rows of Thai sweets like mango with rice. I bought some tiny coconut-based pancakes which were scrumptious but sure as hell it’s full of sugar! (means extra hours at the gym).

I saw a Thai restaurant and ordered chinese soup - my tummy can’t take the spicey tom yum - and fried flat noodles with pork. I got the soup, no surprises there. But the noodles - some horfun with english pork stew with carrot on top. Quite yucky! Swallowed a couple of mouthfuls, walked up and paid. There weren’t any other Thai restaurants around. Guess I’ve to rely on my friends who’re taking me out tomorrow night. Yippeee!

Shangri-la hotel is by the chao praya river. Like all the shang properties, the grounds are large and there’re many places one can go to, curl up and read a book. Either the economy is really bad or it’s not the peak holiday season cos there aren’t many people around. So sitting by the river for breakfast and later by the poolside to read a book - was peaceful. I burrowed into the deepest cushioned seat in the lounge, had a cuppa of tea and read my book, without any interuption. So peaceful. (Alright, my phone was on silent.) I lurrrvvveee me doggies - uno, latte, sandy and zach. They are, oh, so cute and really know what you want and dominate you in the only way pets know (you’ve to be a dog owner to understand this), but hey, no sound of barking, no need having to say “go to your corner” is just great.

At Siam Paragon, the supermarket and the eating places were busy, not crowded, just busy. The brand names boutiques were empty except for one-two people walking in and out. Economy must be bad or is it because it’s a weekday? Kinokuniya on the 4th floor was crowded, to my surprise. For visitors who need an English book badly, Kinokuniya is good.  The english section is quite large and it carries the latest titles. I’d brought 2 books and 2 magazines with me, I’ve finished one book already and getting through one magazine. I’m afraid the remaining reading material won’t last, so I bought Free, the latest book by Chris Anderson. Okay, I was on the lookout for the book, so it was part temptation and part fear that I would run out of books to read.

While most of my friends would be astonished that I haven’t tasted my first tom yum, I’m not so worried. I’m hear for the whole system shutdown. I slept all the way on Tiger Airways, got to the hotel, had lunch, ready my book and slept from 4pm to 6am the next day. It’s been great.

I recommend this kind of getaway. It’s like a cruise to nowhere. Now I understand about the holiday/summer cottages that the Jane Austen and her ilk write about - it boils down to getting away from the humdrum of everyday work, it’s about recharging. For me, it’s cutting out the handphone, curling up to read the book and enjoying my gym workouts without worrying about the time!

• End of leave, July 24, 2009
• Meat and more meat, March 8, 2009
• Sichuan Kitchen, Las Vegas, Embracadero, January 19, 2010
• What to see in Vegas, October 30, 2008
• Listening to a book, April 28, 2009