book01

Chapter 2
Welcome to Bang Cock!

Sukumvit, right behind the Thai Farmers bank on Soi 4. Or try the Indian restaurant Maharajah on Soi 8, right outside the Crown hotel. If you want American fast food, McDonald's is located on Soi 17 at the Robinson's department store. If you want great Thai food, just eat at the Nana coffee shop at the Nana hotel. It's is open 24 hours and has excellent Thai dishes. Although the free breakfast buffet (if you stay at the hotel) is not so great, the lunch buffet is good and just about anything you order off the menu in the evening will be delicious. I love the pad Thai noodles with chicken. One place I really like is the Landmark hotel, located on Sukhumvit, between Soi 4 and 8. They have an expensive but excellent daily lunch and dinner buffet. Yum! I'm telling you, when it comes to food the Thais really have it together. I'd say it's worth going to Thailand just to eat... both food and pussy.

The Ambassador hotel still has their tasty lunch buffet at the Ambassador Cafe (located inside the hotel... ask for directions at the front desk as it's a bit tricky to find). Get there early, right before noon and prepare to eat like a king. The price dropped down to 199 baht ($5) last year in September (1999) making it worth every penny. However, after eating the daily lunch and dinner buffet at the Landmark hotel, (Sukumvit, between Soi 8 and Soi 4), I don't know about you, I got a bit spoiled.

By the way, if you do eat at the Ambassador or Landmark, which is a first class hotel, dress up a bit. If you show up in a tank top, shorts and sandals, they probably will not let you in.

For a sample of the local dishes at very affordable prices, try the food stalls inside the Robinson's Supermarket, Soi 17 (the supermarket is downstairs in the basement). This is where the rich Thais enjoy their breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you go with a friend, eat lunch or dinner at the MK restaurant inside the Robinson's supermarket. It serves those melting pots where you order individual items that all mix into this pot and are served like a soup. Fantastic!

The two hotels I recommend you stay in are either the low budget Crown hotel located on Soi 8, or the more luxurious Nana hotel located on Soi 4. The Crown hotel will run you about $15 a night and the Nana, $25. The Nana is the best of the two, but more expensive.