| A Taste of Adventure on The 'River of Kings' | |||
| UPDATE : 7 September 2009 | |||
| The Chao Phraya River by night really is a 'must see' experience for any visitor to the capital. While there are several dinner cruise operators in Bangkok, Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa has built a reputation for being among the finest due largely to its authentic set menu of delicious Thai dishes, which seem to perfectly compliment the picturesque setting of a genteel nighttime cruise along the 'River of Kings'. A quick 'hop' across the river Since the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa is located on the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya, you'll need to hop on a (free) shuttle boat that the hotel operates from a pier right outside Saphan Taksin BTS station. Once the sun goes down, the hotel's pier looks particularly impressive as it is lit up by flaming torches, which only adds to the exotic setting. In some ways it is difficult to imagine, yet somehow the menu has been tailored to 'fit' with many of the historic sites encountered during the cruise. Before setting off, a traditional Thai appetizer known as Mieng Kam is served. This dish comprises chapu leaves (Piper sarmentosum) folded into a cone shape and then filled with dried shrimp, slices of roasted coconut, as well as other ingredients used in popular Thai condiments, such as chili, ginger, lime, peanuts and red onion, topped with a popular Thai sauce. Without wishing to give too much away, I will just point out that the recipe used for this sauce on the Manohra is somewhat different to those found at other restaurants, and it is particularly delicious. It provides a real taste of 'Thainess' before your river adventure gets underway. Hot stuff A spicy and sour fruit salad dish was served along with some spring rolls for starters, followed by a bowl of Tom Yum Kung ('sour and spicy shrimp soup'), one of the kingdom's best known culinary delights. This dish is almost synonymous with Thailand, and in a similar way, so are the first two major riverside attractions during your cruise – Wat Arun ('The Temple of Dawn') and Wat Phra Kaew ('The Temple of the Emerald Buddha'). These dishes boast many of the most significant flavors found in Thai cuisine and this point during the meal – as we took in the sparkling lights of Rama VIII Bridge - signaled the start of the Manohra's return journey to the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa. As we wound away back along the river, guests were served one of the kingdom's best known desserts – Khao Niew Mamuang ('Mango and sticky rice topped with coconut milk'), along with a beverage, such as fruit tea or coffee. I found this to be a relaxing phase of the meal, and I noticed a nice gentle, cool breeze blow across the river as we slowly eased our way towards the end of our journey. There are two menu options when it comes to this nighttime cruise package. The Silver package includes five dishes and costs 1,250 baht ++ (US$36.75), while the Gold package, featuring nine dishes, costs 1,990 baht ++. Please note that the menu changes every Wednesday, so if you have particular demands with regard to your diet, it may be worth checking in advance. It is also possible to organize a pick up by the boat from Saphan Taksin pier – we suggest you call ahead for further details. For further information, or to make a reservation, call Tel: +66 (0)2 476 0022, extension 1416. Transport connections: Train: Take the BTS skytrain to Saphan Taksin station. From here it is a short walk to the pier from which a free shuttle boat operates. | |||
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 4 มีนาคม พ.ศ. 2553
A Taste of Adventure on The 'River of Kings'
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