Welcome back to the legend of Chaophyra River

Racing MO boat on Chao Phrya river

Fall Autumn room review: Mandarin Oriental BKK

The room itself of MO BKK remains of my ultimate satisfactory standard, from sound proof, room amenities, air-conditioning system to bath room comfort...etc. I especially like the ventilators inside the cabinets. So far I haven't seen other similar facilities like that. Service-wise, the service level staff still keep their certain professional standard. However, the security team has been of some notable concern and further on the senior management too, yes, senior management. As my friends took another flight to arrive a few hours later than me, I went out to check the street condition if there was some flooding around the MO area. So naturally I put on my sandals. At that time, I got a sms from my friend that it was another 10 minutes they would be reaching the hotel. So under such circumstances, I decided to stay around the area outside the hotel entrance since I was aware that waiting in the hotel lobby with my sandals on isn't appropriate. Then when it was time I thought my friends should have arrived, I went back to the lobby to welcome my friends for their first time coming to MO. However, the security person rudely questioned what I was doing there and even claimed that putting on sandals is not allowed in the hotel. I immediately told him the reason why I was outside the hotel lobby area as I was well aware of that. Unfortunately that security person didn't have any apologetic manner. I promptly went to the front office for bringing up a complaint. In the meantime, my friends arrived and so I had to make it brief. Anyway, when I returned to the room, the house manager called for a serious apology. So I took it and further explained the inappropriate manner of the security team. Then as I recall last year, another friend of mine was warned at the entrance from the riverside and questioned if he was staying there. I then wrote to the senior management that why this group of people being Asians having such a miserable discrimination to Asians, especially when I noted a no. of caucasians wearing sandals in the hotel lobby or restaurants...etc. The disappointment is that the senior management replied only after we left the hotel - took 3 days. So I didn't reply to their "form A" reply. Having said that, I still enjoy staying at MO as far as I won't bother to care about their senior management.

The Spa, Mandarin Oriental BKK

Brought my friends to try this place, and repeated what my local Thai friends often said to me "try the spa of Oriental Bangkok once in a lifetime", after my another relayed message "try to stay at Oriental Bangkok once in a lifetime. Turned out there are quite a no. of "once in a lifetime".

Chill out at the pool of Mandarin Oriental BKK

The complimentary snacks served at the pool of MO BKK have been in a more diverse variety, from Sushi, Mango cheese cake, melon lollipop to rice crackers and some very interesting drink too. You wouldn't get hungry by the pool.

Back to Mine with my best friends, at Le Normandie, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Finally I could bring my high school friends to this place. I was under the pressure if Le Normandie could deliver a good job. On the food, it did and surprisingly it's in quite a big portion as compared to the past. The lobster bisque (photo 8), foie gras mango mouse (photo 6) are awesome. However, there was a slight mistake. They often mixed up the ordering of the dishes to be served. Though for the first round, they claimed "they won't do it wrong", but then the mistake repeated. Anyway, this isn't a big deal but since I was responsible for the group, I gotta bring it up for the manager's attention. The manager responded quickly to the issue and so as to make up for the mistakes they offered some dessert wine. The group didn't take wine. So he came up with a raspberry sorbet. Again, while we act to be a reasonable complainer, we ought to be a considerate customer. So we enjoyed the sorbet. This place is still my favourite.

The scene seen the most - shuttle boats of Mandarin Oriental BKK

BKK, night time of 22nd Oct

1. MO put this sandbag wall to protect their Chinese restaurant China House.

2. Don't let it mislead you. It's not from the flooding the news talked about. At this section of the soi (side street) to MO, when the river tide is high, there will be some water coming out like this. In general, this area is often with some slight flooding. If some foreign reports don't know how it comes from, they would apparently put it as the headline "MO in blood" these days.

3/4. Silom road getting prepared.

5-8. Bottled water is gone, food too and even dried squid. Tourists like us should not get any. Should leave them for the locals as this would be a long time fight for them at least a month.

Poolside lunch by Verandah, Mandarin Oriental BKK

Verandah has further proved herself to be the 2nd best MO outlet (1st be Le Normandie of course) to me. Tried their Chef's salad by the pool (actually tried their burger 3 hours ago) and an encore for their iced mocha. I really like the way they make iced mocha. Very aromatic dark choco (unsweetened) and fine coffee hijacks my taste buds from not letting go. This is what I call "to die for". Veradah or the whole MO makes the very best bread that really set my soul on exile to wonderland. The surprise never ends. I am thrilled to taste their dark choco. tart with passionfruit sorbet. So melty dark choco. and yet not too sweet. The passionfruit sorbet is mixed with some crushed pistachio. This is so inspiring to me. Passionfruit is pretty sour but the pistachio nut's flavour enhances the citrus aroma. Highly recommended. *this pool is so warm that I can even sweat in the pool. Amazing.