Thailand, A Photo Diary 4/4

And here comes the last part of our Thailand series, hopefully not the last of our visit to the land of smiles. A first time tourist or visitor or traveler should not go to Thailand and leave without seeing any of its famous wats or temples. You go to Thailand for these.

It was the hottest day of the year in Bangkok when we ventured into "the city where anything goes but the traffic". From Pattaya, where we were based, we took a bus going to Bangkok. Travel time is around 1-2 hours depending on the traffic. We alighted on a metro train station, very much like the Philippines' MRT, and boarded the train going to the port where boats and ferries set sail on the Chao Phraya River. Stations 8-9 take you tourists to the most popular temple grounds. 

Ferries and boats ply the river Chao Phraya 

A mix of modern and traditional structures

A station along the Chao Phraya River

Growing up in the Philippines, I am already accustomed to the madness of Manila. In a way, navigating Bangkok is quite easy but the sweltering heat, hotter than Manila, made the journey challenging. Bangkok, when translated into its 26-word Thai name, will trump all tongue twisters you've ever encountered. So in the essence of saving space, I'll just type its shortened name, Krung Thep or "City of Angels." Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, sprawls along the banks of the Chao Phraya River, home of some of the grandest temples in the world. 

Shops and motorcycles line the streets outside the Grand Palace

We decided to begin our tour in the biggest of them all, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. Both temples are inside a vast ground that most tourists flock every day. The former, the Grand Palace, was the residence of the former kings and their families but today, it's mainly used  for royal ceremonies like Coronation Day. The latter, the Wat Phra Kaew, is the holiest temple in Thailand. It houses the most sacred Buddha image, the Emerald Buddha. Entrance fee is 500 baht. 

The complex is crowded with people but a must-visit nonetheless

The roofs reach the skies.

No entrance to most temples.

E touching the surreal walls of the temple

Wonderful colors; blue is a fave.

Towering over us

Gold statues every where

This is heavy noh?

Entrance to an Angkor Wat miniature

Incredible work of creativity and sense of religion

My vision turned gold.

Behold the guard!

There is a dress code that each visitor must follow when visiting Thailand's temples. Men and women must be dressed appropriately: covered shoes, no sleeveless shirts, and clothes must cover the legs. When we were shopping for our outfits, I kept reminding Eyecandy of these rules. Her frustration on having limited choices drove her crazy. Her frustration drove me crazy... with laughter. 

Respite from the heat

The temple of the Emerald Buddha

Removing shoes is a must before entering the Wat Phra Keuw. You might be surprised when you see the Emerald Buddha. It's not tall; it doesn't grand. It's a mere 66 cm tall and with all the flowers, offerings, and rails surrounding it, it's hard to even see it closely. But the Emerald Buddha is a heavyweight in spiritual and historical significance having been traveled across the Indian subcontinent, Laos, and finally settling in Thailand over 200 years ago. It is the holiest image if the Buddha in Thailand. It's so sacred, no photography is allowed inside the Wat Phra Keuw. The Buddha is actually made of jade.

The palace grounds

The Grand Palace

Spot us! Hehe.

We were truly awed and amazed by the temples inside the Grand Palace. The entire place is well-designed, lavish, and beautiful. It's a place you won't find anywhere else (unless of course you see replicas or miniatures of the place). Every nook and cranny offers view of the magnificent temples and structures. It's a brilliant piece of artwork spanning 945,000 square meters. Just wandering around half of the place made us so tired. Add that to the hottest temperature ever and we were done with the Grand Palace.

After half a day of touring, we head to the exit.

We sought a cold escape in a small restaurant just outside the main gate and ate lunch. After resting a bit, we hailed a tuk-tuk, an auto rickshaw almost similar to the Philippines' tricycle. It can carry 2-3 persons at a time. It's great for navigating short distances.

Getting to places in a tuk-tuk

Inside a tuk-tuk

While stuck in traffic, Eyecandy and I can't help but notice the pink taxis in the road. And of course, being Pink Tarhas, we can't help but smile seeing how cute the color is. It's even glistening in the daylight. It looks like... candy. Haha. 

Well aren't you a sweet-colored taxi!

Our next stop is the nearby Wat Pho, another popular temple in Bangkok. This temple is said to be older than Bangkok itself having been around since the 16th century. Whoah! It houses the longest reclining Buddha in Thailand. I saw pictures of the reclining Buddha in the Internet but I was so amazed when I saw it up close. Now I know why no photo can ever capture it in its entirety. It's quite difficult to do so. 

Near the doorway of the temple.

First, a glimpse...

Then a full view of the face.

My attempt to get a full shot of the reclining Buddha

The reclining Buddha is 45 meters long! The soles of the Buddha are inlaid with mother of pearl to show 108 auspicious laksana (characteristics of the Buddha). There are 108 bronze bowls in the corridor symbolizing the laksana. People can drop coins in this bowl. It is believed to bring good fortune. 

 The sole of the reclining Buddha

Outside the wihaan housing the reclining Buddha, the compound opens up to 91 chedis (stupas or mounds), four vicars (halls) and a bot (central shrine). The Wat Pho is also known as the birthplace of the traditional Thai massage. The temple is home to the Traditional Medical Practitioners Association Center, a school for Thai massage and medicine.

The stupas and other structures in Wat Pho

A chedi.

The details are amazing!

Another must-visit wat is the Wat Arun located at the opposite river bank from the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. The Temple of Dawn is a vast complex too and climbing up the prang (tower) is a must, along with seeing the porcelain-embedded exterior, murals and the sacred banyan tree. However, we were content to gaze at the Wat Arun from the river. 

The Wat Arun complex in the Thonburi bank

The Wat Arun prang (tower)

Seriously, we were too tired to visit another temple complex. Our bodies were aching for air-con (yes, we were actually dreaming of Riyadh by this time... and screaming 'please AIR-CON!!!' LOL!). We visited the malls after. (What's a Pink Tarha trip without a visit to the mall?! Hehe.) 

Shop til you drop!

The Siam Center, one of Bangkok's oldest shopping centers, has been renovated and is now offeringthe latest in Bangkok's fashion scene. The third floor, dubbed as "Fashion Visionary" has Thailand designer brands. We also found a store which carries Jeffrey Campbell! For a time, I think we hyperventilated upon seeing the shelves of Litas, Night Walks, and other JCs! We had to walk away forlorn because we couldn't even buy a pair. Hehe. We also saw the Cath Kidston store. If Shoegarfreeruby was with us, she'll be happy with Siam Center.

OMG, JCs!!!

We crossed the open area to the next mall, Siam Paragon, one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia featuring luxury brands. It also houses the Siam Ocean World, the largest aquarium in South East Asia. We strolled around a bit and decided to go back to Pattaya already having had a full and fun day in Bangkok.

Where the posh shop.

We missed quite a few tourist spots in Bangkok. We didn't get to visit the famed Chatuchak Weekend Market (sayang, I was ready to exercise my bargaining prowess) and the Floating Market. But there are other times, yeah? Next time we visit Bangkok, we wouldn't dare miss these!

We arrived Pattaya around 9:00 in the evening and because Eyecandy was still looking for some adventure, haha, and because we missed getting down and dirty with the Thai crowds (I mean experiencing the weekend market), we went back to a night market we passed by on our way to the hotel. Because we didn't know the name of the place, E had to describe the place to the driver. Good thing, they knew what she was talking about.

It was the best decision ever to venture out into the night and into the crowded night market (thank you, E, for dragging my ass to this, haha).  It was a whole bunch of sensory overload as we discover the goodies awaiting us! We were so drawn to the street food, because we've always wanted to try the street food in Thailand. South East Asian countries are known for their street food and in Pattaya, we found a LOT. 

Oyster omelet fresh from the makeshift pan

Raw ingredients for a good soup or dish; choose and they'll cook it!

The popular pad thai is a favorite so we had to get it. Also a serving of oyster omelet which a Thai lady was cooking in what seemed to be an upside down drum covered in frying oil. There were exotic food like crickets which we balked at. We moved on and spotted stalls of really cheap maki and sushi rolls. I had to get a styro of those. Eyecandy spotted a weirdly-shaped corn dog and fried quail eggs. The meat in their barbecue is flat instead of long so we have to try them too. 

Would you dare?!

Weeee! I love these!

Crackers good for snack time

While roaming around, we stumbled upon a couple doing caricatures and that's when we decided to have ours done. It was pretty cheap at only 160 baht. With the frame, it's 400 baht.

Sundrenched and Eyecandy :)

I think the artist got us down pat. What do you think? ;)

The receptionist in our hotel might be curious as to why we were bringing heaps of plastic bags. Well, it was our way of toasting our stay in Thailand... street food party! We opened every thing in our hotel room and savored each bite. True to what we've always known, street food rocks! Thailand rocks!

Goodbye, Thailand! (at the Suvanabhumi Intl Airport)

Ahhh, Thailand. You've had your moments of torturing us with your heat and traffic (also one of your daughters almost made us miss our return flight because she forgot to set our wake-up call!) but we are very happy that we get to see you and experience the best that you have to offer to the world. Truly, you are the land of smiles. Until we meet again and we get to say, Sawaddee! (Just so you know, we're doing the wai.)

Muscat below

We flew via Oman Airways back to Riyadh. We stayed a record-breaking 12 hours in the Oman Airport waiting for our connecting flight from Muscat to Riyadh. I didn't know how we survived that layover but we did. Oh, I think the Premium Lounge and Costa Coffee helped. Lol. 

We arrived at noon, we leave by midnight

I truly enjoyed this trip with Eyecandy. It's our first trip outside Saudi Arabia and it was crazy and amazing at the same time. We kept each other insane. Looking back, it was a LAUGH TRIP. ;)

This being our last entry on Thailand, we would like to thank the person who made all this possible. He was the first person to support The Pink Tarha. And more importantly, he supported us every week day  in Riyadh. Our daily life is so different now that he's no longer here in Saudi Arabia. To the best boss ever, thank you very, very much! KOB KUN MAK KRAB! ~ Sundrenched

Revisit our Thailand adventure:

Thailand, A Photo Diary 1

Thailand, A Photo Diary 2

Thailand, A Photo Diary 3

Entertaining Eats in Benihana

I owe you the fourth entry to our Thailand (mis)adventure but looking at the past few entries in the blog, I noticed something missing... food posts. I know that The Pink Tarha has been serving as a guide to your palates so here I am inserting a restaurant feature.  

Ever wonder where the new restaurants are sprouting up? Before, it was in Tahlia Street but that area is now crowded with coffee shops and restaurants that are either burgers or Italian. And it's always a busy street packed with vehicles, youth, police cars, and the perennial cruising muttawas come night time. Imagine, one of our thrills is crossing Tahlia Street at night because it's kind of impossible to do so with all the activities going on in there. 

Anyway, the North Ring Road, just outside the city center, is becoming a hot pot spot for new restaurants. Or even old ones that are branching out. 

The financial district, on the North Ring Road

Benihana, for instance, has opened this year in Exit 6. Benihana Restaurants are traditional Japanese hibachi steakhouses which feature teppanyaki, a Japanese cooking method that cooks food in an iron griddle. Benihana was founded by Hiraoki Aoki in New York in 1964. It has currently over 100 franchises in the world. Benihana in Riyadh is a boxy restaurant from the outside with its prominent logo displayed both in English and Arabic. It's quite the popular dining place nowadays that you'll have to line up before you can secure a booth. Is the wait worth it? Here's our experience...

Benihana in Exit 6: bachelor section's entrance

Welcome to the teppanyaki master! (Family section entrance)

Retro photos in the reception wall

The first time we went to Benihana last March, it was fairly new, so we're pretty much lenient on the cook and the service. There is what we call a "soft opening" anyway so even if the cook in our booth made mistakes that are quite funny (like throwing the salt canister outside the booth instead of into his hat), we let those things go. After all, we enjoyed the company.

Salad with ginger dressing: interesting

Succulent catch

My favorite skill has something to do with the egg. :P

Slicing like there's no tomorrow: the fast and the flurry (of activity).

Benihana is Japanese for safflower. Thus the logo.

The squid is slightly tough to chew in but well-flavored.

The verdict on our first visit was that it was just okay. I mean, the food were expensive compared to other restaurants that offer the same dining structure: a booth good for families and friends with teppanyaki tables and wooden chairs. The ambiance and the interiors of the place are probably worth the little extra. The chef was a bit still unsteady with his exhibitions but he made a good effort. 

*****

The second time I ate there, this time to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary (31 years y'all, yey!) last April, I was more prepped for a better service. After all, they were already a few months into their operations in Riyadh. The restaurant is crowded with a line of 5 families ahead of us and it was already 10:30 in the evening! We decided to wait because we saw that there was a steady stream of diners going out. The waiting area was quite a nice place to stay in; but people can also wait in their cars just in case it gets really full. After around 30 minutes, we were already seated in a booth. Coincidentally, it was the same booth I ate in on my previous visit. :)

Take two.

The teppanyaki tables already had a glass separating the chef from the diners. Someone must have been scared with all the flying knives and utensils, hehe. Or the splatter of oil from frying the goodies. Haha. Anyway, the glass partition is a welcome addition. In a group of 3 or more, order the usual mains and the chef can divide it according to how many are you in the table. The entrees are good for sharing. 

There's a glass divider now.

The chef cooking our fried rice.

Our chef, this time, is more experienced and friendly. He was able to properly execute the drills of cooking our seafood plate consisting of shrimps, lobster, and scallops. The seafood pieces came to our plates succulent. I especially love the scallops. The chef also did the utensils and food flips and in fairness, they weren't flops. ;)

Tender steak cuts.

The Hibachi Steak (New York strip steak) was cooked medium well upon our request. I forgive the seasoning which tasted like the usual soy, salt, and pepper. It tasted ordinary, like something I can whip up in our kitchen (and I don't even cook! Hehe!). But the tenderness is amazing. The chicken teriyaki was lacquered with the right amount of sauce. The heaps of vegetables and rice cut through the savory wonders and provide much-needed relief from the piquantly pleasant viands.

I know I should have taken photos of all the food we ordered but I was riveted to the fun "show" happening right before my eyes (thus no photo of the lobster, the scallops, the chicken teriyaki, and the... oh, I missed a lot, haha!). I wonder if there's a school that teaches us how to properly "play with food" like what the Benihana chefs are doing. Anyway...

My FAVORITE.

I love the salmon sashimi, which I solely devoured. I love it that I'm the only sashimi loving person in our family, hehe. The coral flesh of the salmon displayed prominently in one of the boat dish was a sight to behold. The pieces were moist and tasty. I like that it was placed on a bed of crushed ice. It kept the salmon cold and fresh.

A tray of yummy rolls.

The specialty rolls were delicious also. I'm pretty sure we ordered an eel hand roll (the triangular kind of sushi) but my brother ate it quickly. He said it was the most expensive food he ever had. One roll for SR 60! 

Our drinks were like most of the "cocktails" in Riyadh restaurants. They sound and read better in the menu that they actually taste. Mine was a Pina Colada of some sort. It was too sweet. I had to order a soda and water after just a few sips. 

A simple dessert

Dessert came in the form of ice cream. And well, ice cream is ice cream. What's not to like? It's the universal frozen dessert. 

Benihana is a good restaurant for celebrating an occasion with families and friends. With quite the hefty price tags in their menu and the distance from the city center, it's not your average restaurant that you should frequent. But yes, if you're looking for a restaurant that can satisfy your teppanyaki cravings of high quality meat and seafood, go to Benihana's. Your kids will also enjoy the skills of the chef, who is not only a good cook, but also an entertainer. Benihana is a good place to gather your family and friends. The more the merrier!

Sophis-tea-cated. After a meal, this helps in digestion. ;)

Also, it's nice to cruise along the North Ring Road at night. The buildings in the financial district is a sight to behold at night. All those lights! Ah, I wonder how much energy these buildings consume. 

Glittering in the night sky. Not stars.

Have you been to Benihana's? Share us your experience in the comment section below. Check the map here if you're deciding on going. Benihana is open from 1:00PM to 12:00 midnight. The last time we were there, they weren't taking reservations by phone. First come, first serve only. Not sure if they already changed their policy. Just in case, their number is below. ;) ~ Sundrenched

Benihana

Exit 6, North Ring Road

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

T: +966-11-4157878

100 Lucky Juans

There are millions of Filipinos working in the Middle East. We're pretty sure majority of the OFWs in the Middle East wants to go home to the Philippines as often as they can. The Pink Tarha wish for it every day, that's for sure! But then, flight fares of over 30,000 pesos set us back from doing so. Ever wished to fly to back to the Philippines in more affordable rates? Like say, for 5,000 pesos or 499 dirhams one way?

Cebu Pacific is making our dream come true with its soon-to-be-launched flight from Manila to Dubai and back! Even for us here in Saudi Arabia, it would still be pretty much affordable to travel to Dubai from here and take the Cebu Pacific flight from Dubai to Manila! Yey!

Before the first flight of this route in October 2013, Cebu Pacific, in cooperation with GMA, is now giving OFWs in the UAE an opportunity to win a seat in this momentous flight with their 100 Lucky Juans contest! If you're a subscriber of GMA International Channels in the UAE, you will get a chance to come home to the Philippines for free by simply visiting the 100 Lucky Juans promo app in the official Facebook page of Cebu Pacific. 

And as we said on our earlier entry,  OFWs in the UAE... joining on is as easy as juan, two, three!

1. Log in to your Facebook account. Visit https://www.facebook.com/cebupacificair and LIKE the Cebu Pacific Official Facebook page. Look for the 100 Lucky Juans Promo Facebook application and click "Enter Now" to join. (Or okay, simply click here.)

2. Answer the question, "How will I make my homecoming in the Philippines fun?" Answer it by any of the following entry types: a. 2-minute video format, b. 1 photo collage format,  or c. 200-word (or less) text/story format. Don't forget to put a title!

3. Complete the form with your name, contact details, and other important info... and you're DONE!

Submit your entries from May 13 to August 18, 2013. Seven winners of round-trip tickets from Dubai to Manila will be chosen per week. If you're entry is chosen, you will be one of the lucky 100 Filipinos on board the historic October 7, 2013 flight of Cebu Pacific from Dubai to Manila! (Make sure you're okay to go on vacation on October 7 because the flight to Manila's date is non-movable but you can choose your going back to Dubai flight dates within October 8 to November 30, 2013.)

We know that this offer is for DBX-MNL only, but hey, if you win... your flights are free! And anything free is awesome! It's a great opportunity to see your loved ones without spending hard-earned fulos on your airfare. You can use the saved cash to treat them in a vacation to any of the Philippines' beautiful destinations. That's where your lucky streak continues because... Cebu Pacific flies to 34 of these places. Learn more of these destinations in Cebu Pacific's official magazine, SMILE. 

So whaddya say? Join the 100 Lucky Juans contest now and try your luck in becoming a UWInner!