Bangkok has been awesome so far. It was great riding the BTS and seeing all those buildings posted here in real life. I was also suprised by how many people speak English here and the number of British tourists. There were some Lebanese tourists who chose to speak English with the Thai vendors. Oishi green tea drinks are everywhere and taste yummy. Not to mock any Thais, but Bangkok is more mixed and cosmopolitan than I thought. The white skinned people still stick out though.
The dogs on the beach at Ko Samet were really cute.

1. Where can I buy ice cream in a "hot dog bun", perhaps with corn on top? I read that Thais like to eat ice cream this way.
2. Where do Thais tend to purchase their clothes and school bags? Current stuff that is more unique to Thailand and perhaps Asian than Europe or North America. Many of the stores I've been to in MBK and elsewhere seem to be oriented primarily toward tourists. Tonight I'm going to Siam Square... maybe it's better over there.
---Where is a good place to purchase a messenger bag? I've tried all over MBK (and back home too).

Thanks SSC dudes.

1. Look around schools at 3.00 pm weekdays, the ice-cream men tend to sell their. They sell it from little mobile stalls, so there really isn't a set place/time.
2. Near MBK there is this store called "Suksaphand" with school supplies galore. Its right next to the National Stadium...ask around. Across from Central World Plaza there is also a store called "Naraiphand", which should have unique Thai stuff. If all else fails, go to Chatuchak Market (Metro: Kampaengphet Station; BTS: Mochit)

Oishi green tea drinks are everywhere and taste yummy

1. Where can I buy ice cream in a "hot dog bun", perhaps with corn on top? I read that Thais like to eat ice cream this way.

Seems green tea are come from Taiwan indeed

AND
Give U one now ~~~~~~ :)
http://tinypic.com/b7j511.jpg

The dogs on the beach at Ko Samet were really cute.


Exact sentiment with double quotes. :)
Maybe you shld consider staying at the western shore.

What beach did you stay at on Ko Samet?

---Where is a good place to purchase a messenger bag? I've tried all over MBK (and back home too).
What kind of messenger bag are you looking for? Something similar to Timbuk2 (http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/categories.t2?categoryId=1) in style, straps and material?

Yeah, Siam Square is a good place for shopping local style clothing, and to see what people wear. Pratunam and Baiyoke markets have tons of stuff, but much of it is crap imo and many styles are aimed for exports to the middle east, India and Africa.

Does anyone else here think the current green tea trend is overkill? Walk into a 7eleven and half of the drinks are variations of green tea.

What beach did you stay at on Ko Samet?
Ao Prao... but I hiked to almost the end of the island (Niu Na Nok I think). Next time, I'll hire a bus or something. I saw some roads and I just walked in the general southward direction.... but spent like an hour walking up different trails trying to find the exit out from Wong Duan.


What kind of messenger bag are you looking for? Something similar to Timbuk2 (http://www.timbuk2.com/tb2/catalog/categories.t2?categoryId=1) in style, straps and material?
Well kinda. Some Thais walking around seemed to have smaller ones.

Yeah, Siam Square is a good place for shopping local style clothing, and to see what people wear. Pratunam and Baiyoke markets have tons of stuff, but much of it is crap imo and many styles are aimed for exports to the middle east, India and Africa.
It seems to be a step above Pratunam for sure. It has a more active feel to it too.


Does anyone else here think the current green tea trend is overkill? Walk into a 7eleven and half of the drinks are variations of green tea.
Is this a Thai thing? Us North Americans only recently got the green tea Starbucks drink that Asia had for so long. You guys have a lot of different moon cake flavors that are not available here either.

I tried out MBK's movie theater... very nice seats. When they played the spot about the King, I was not quite sure what was going on. Thais really like their royalty. :)

Ao Prao is pretty upscale and nice, what did the bungalow cost?
I was there three weeks ago.. slept at Ao Wong Duen and took a motorbike between the beaches.. the sunset viewpoints in the southern parts are quite nice.
Good island for walking between beaches... and plopping down at some beach restaurants here and there.

Well kinda. Some Thais walking around seemed to have smaller ones.
Not sure exactly what style you are looking for if it wasn't available at MBK ;) Maybe the usual suspects of the weekend market, Siam Square, Pratunam or victory monument area got it.

Ao Phai, Ko Samet.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/BODYholic/DSC01994.jpg

Not sure exactly what style you are looking for if it wasn't available at MBK ;) Maybe the usual suspects of the weekend market, Siam Square, Pratunam or victory monument area got it.


And Suan Lum Night Bazaar :)

Ao Prao is pretty upscale and nice, what did the bungalow cost?
About 4300 baht, split three ways.

I was there three weeks ago.. slept at Ao Wong Duen and took a motorbike between the beaches.. the sunset viewpoints in the southern parts are quite nice.
Yeah, I thought about renting a bike, but I heard that riding a moterbike is nothing like riding a normal bike. With Ko Samet's roads, I wasn't going to start risking. The southern areas were really attractive because there were really no one else there. Very peaceful.

Not sure exactly what style you are looking for if it wasn't available at MBK ;) Maybe the usual suspects of the weekend market, Siam Square, Pratunam or victory monument area got it.
I found a good-enough bag at a department store. Thanks though.

Kuanteen: Thanks. There was a ton of school-clothing stores in an area across the MBK to Siam Square bridge. :)