Bangkok: Thonburi and Beyond

First off, a Blacklane limo pick-up at Suvarnabhumi Airport. It is a long flight into Bangkok, and a ride in a Blacklane car will help you decompress, as the driver navigates through the notorious Bangkok traffic.

When booking your hotel, ensure that a request for a "river view" room is made. The lights in the evening from the Bangkok skyline and river boats are magical.

A Longtail Boat Tour ala James Bond through the klongs (canals) of Thonburi, culminating in a visit to Wat Arun (The Temple of the Dawn). You will have an idea as to why Bangkok was called the "Venice of the East" back in the day.

I stayed at the Millenium Hilton, and my daily morning trips to "The Beach" pool area, to lounge and swim while enjoying views of the Bangkok skyline, were definitely worth waking up for.

I conquered my fear of vertigo at the King Power Mahanakhon Skywalk. It sits on the 78th floor, atop the new Standard Hotel Bangkok, with a glass "tray" that took me several minutes to finally step on.

After a day of non-stop moving around Bangkok, book a Thai Traditional Massage at the Anantara Spa. Your feet will thank you.

As mentioned in #1 above, Bangkok traffic is notorious; I don't recommend taking taxis as you will spend more time sitting in traffic than moving. The city's public transportation system, however, is efficient, clean and reliable. Take the new Gold Line from the IconSiam Thonburi station to get to Central Bangkok & other parts.

A visit to Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha), to view the world's largest solid Gold Buddha cast in the ancient Sukhothai era. Make a small donation, light incense sticks and ask for blessings.

Day Trips:

Day Trip to Ancient Capital City of Ayutthaya; will transport you back in time.

Visit the up and coming Ari Neighborhood, Bangkok. This is becoming known as the "hipster" neighborhood of Bangkok. Young Thais and expats come here to hang out in the cool cafes, galleries and stores.

SookSiam at IconSiam: This is the Indoor Floating Market & Food Court (with AC, yay) which is the big draw in the basement. I had my favorite Gai Yang (Grilled Chicken), Khao Soi (Nothern Curry Noodles & Mango Sticky Rice regularly here.

0/0 Arabica: Located on the 1st Floor of IconSiam, this minimalist design cafe' was founded in Kyoto, Japan. My beverage of choice here after having lunch at SookSiam is their Iced Spanish Latte.

Jodd Fairs Danneramit: Jodd Fairs is the newest and hippest Bangkok Night Market. Aside from Thai food stalls, it has an almost overwhelming number of vendors offering sushi, gelato, clothing, shoes and more. The big draw here is for the Leng Zap Tower (Volcano Ribs). It's a commitment, so bring friends.

Mott 32 at The Standard Bangkok: Dim Sum is one of Cantonese cuisine's gifts to the world. I had dim sum several years back at Mott 32 in Hong Kong. The Bangkok location at The Standard Hotel did not disappoint in terms of the quality, service and room design. It is very popular with locals, so ask your hotel concierge to make a reservation.

Vesper Cocktail Bar: This bar is located in the lively Silom district, near The Standard Hotel. It recently was ranked #12 in Asia's 50 Best Bars Listing. Their claim to fame is putting a twist on traditional cocktails using Thai ingredients. I had a "Dirty Vesper" which had an infusion of fish sauce and was pretty good.

Wang Lang Market in Old Thonburi: Wang Lang Market in Old Thonburi is a great place to go for a local Bangkok experience. I like stopping by here for the range of authentic and traditional "khanom" (desserts). Best bets are anything with pandan and coconut ingredients.

Yaowarat (Old Chinatown): Thailand has had an influx of Chinese settlers ever since it was the Kingdom of Siam. In Bangkok, they settled in Yaowarat. The action here starts around 6 PM in the evening when food stalls are set up along Yaowarat Road. Be on the lookout for grilled seafood, noodles, dumplings and my personal favorite, oyster and mussel omelets.

Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Lobby: This brought back memories of family get-togethers at the Peninsula Manila and Hong Kong. When you need a respite from the buzz of Bangkok, Afternoon Tea at the Lobby of the Peninsula is the perfect solution. Any location on the Peninsula consistently provides a sense of tradition, civility and service. The pastries and drinks are always top-notch.