The Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya

Posted on June 21, 2018 by missuschewy

We visited two places on the second day of our Pattaya trip and The Sanctuary of Truth was one of them. Walked quite a distance from our Homeaway accommodation to this cafe called Good Farmer Homemade for breakfast as misterchewy found many positive online reviews.

We actually felt that the food was mediocre and slightly on the pricier side by Thailand standards. It was a good experience nevertheless. From Good Farmer Homemade, we took a Grab taxi to The Sanctuary of Truth. Journey was about 20 minutes or so.

When we reached, we were above ground level and could not see the entire wooden architecture as it was partially blocked from view. We had to descend a long flight of steps. Ladies are reminded to dress appropriately as a means of respect. Due to hot weather, I wore shorts and had to rent a piece of cloth to be wrapped around my legs before I could enter the grounds.

Mandatory shot with the signage.

Our first agenda at The Sanctuary of Truth – horse carriage riding!

The girls enjoyed the ride and were shrieking in delight, especially when the horse picked up speed. It was a nice experience admiring the magnificent wooden architecture while riding on the horse.

There was restoration work being carried out during our visit and all visitors were provided with helmets to put on as a safety precaution.

The weather was quite hot so we cooled with with some coconut drink and ice cream by the river.

The boat ride is also another highly recommended activity at The Sanctuary of Truth. The kids were particularly thrilled that we could feed the fishes with coconut flesh!

Paid 20 baht (less than SGD $1) for a bunch of grass so that we could feed the two horses before leaving The Sanctuary of Truth. Animal feeding is actually quite therapeutic!

For convenience, I recommend that you book your tickets for The Sanctuary of Truth via Klook. There are a few package options available for you to choose from! You will definitely get to enjoy some cost savings too 🙂

The Sanctuary of Truth
206/2 Moo 5, Soi Naklua 12, Naklua, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150

Opening Hours:
Daily
8am – 5pm

Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya

Posted on June 13, 2018 by missuschewy

If you had read my earlier post on our Pattaya trip outline, you would know that we spent our first day at Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya! I know it sounds crazy that we took a 6am flight out of Singapore but it’s not as though we had not done anything like this before. Haha! We just wanted to make the most out of our short trip!

From our Homeaway accommodation at Jomtien area, it took us about 30 minutes to reach Swiss Sheep Farm by car. The beautiful, charming and rustic Swiss-inspired architecture make Swiss Sheep Farm a nice place to visit if you enjoy taking photos. Besides that, there are many animals which you can feed at the farm.

The weather wasn’t the most ideal throughout our entire trip and it even rained on our way to the farm. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining when we reached but the skies were quite gloomy.

I got our tickets via Klook. Definitely very convenient as I simply flashed the voucher (in the form of a QR code) on my mobile phone and we managed to get in without any hiccups.

Look at these cute alpacas! All busy munching grass except for one!

I swear that I actually thought these goats were statues because there were completely still for a few minutes, until one of them turned its head ever so slightly.

The kids were so delighted that we got to see the goats up close but this was only the beginning!

Little misschewy saw some grass lying around and couldnt resist feeding the goats.

Initially, we had thought that these goats were the only animals that we would be feeding and spent quite some time there until one of the workers gestured that there were MORE waiting to be fed. LOL. Look at all these sheep!

Little misschewy was really enthusiastic about feeding the animals because when she had finished giving out all the grass, she went round picking more from the ground! The admission ticket comes with a coupon which you can exchange for a handful of grass. Additional animal food such as milk and carrots can be purchased separately at a small fee.

This sheep really very garang! It jumped over the fence and sort of chased after us. Little misschewy was really brave and calm, while I ran away screaming like a mad woman, with a bunch of grass in my hand.

Isn’t the horse cute? Looked like it was smiling ya?

I’m not sure if they rotate the horses for “horse riding duties” lol but this horse was the one and only one at the Horse Station.

It was roughly a 10-minute ride and the route includes crossing a bridge before looping back.

Apart from interacting with the animals, we also had fun taking photos at various spots at the farm! It was a good and bad thing that there weren’t many people at the farm. Good because you get nice photos without any “extras” in the frame, and bad because it’s so hard to find someone to help you with group shots! We only had three family shots! Highly recommend you bring a selfie stick or a tripod.

The weather was really hot and humid, so we were happy to see ice cream! Plus it was so cheap! Three scoops at around 80 baht, which is like SGD $3?! We had the cotton candy, yam and chocolate (hidden from view) flavors.

There were really many nice spots for photo-taking at Swiss Sheep Farm but the kids started to show signs of fatigue, hence we decided to call it a day. We also stopped by the souvenir shop to get some magnets before leaving!

Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya
19/20 ม.7 นาจอมเทียน สัตหีบ ชลบุรี
Ban Na Jomtian, Chon Buri, Thailand
Tel: 038-119095, 099-1234134
Email: swisssheepfarmpattaya@gmail.com

Opening Hours:
Mon to Fri
10am – 7pm
Sat & Sun
9am – 7pm

The Top 10 Beaches in Phuket

Posted on June 11, 2018 by missuschewy

Phuket, located in the Andaman Sea, is the largest island in Thailand and one of the top beach holiday destinations in the world. With copious amounts of white-sand beaches, surrounded by aquamarine seas, Phuket has everything a beach lover could possibly ask for.

For those researching what to do in Phuket, there are an almost endless array of activities. From nature and wildlife tours to a lively nightlife scene, it’s all too easy to indulge in. That said, as great as the variety of experiences offered in Phuket is, it’s really all about the beaches. Here’s my pick of the top 10 beaches in Phuket.

Freedom Beach

Only accessible by boat, unless you fancy trekking through over a kilometre of dense jungle, Freedom Beach is undoubtedly one of the prettiest and most unspoiled beaches in Phuket. The quickest way to get there is on a longtail boat from Patong Beach. Once you’ve arrived and are enjoying the peace and quiet, you’ll realise it was well worth the effort.

Patong Beach

Patong is Phuket’s most popular beach. While it isn’t the quietest of beaches, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for somewhere to play and party. During the day you can snorkel, rent jet skis or chill in the sun with a drink. Come evening, switch to party mode and head to one of the many bars, restaurants and nightclubs that Patong has to offer. If the neon lights of nearby Bangla Road really appeal, then Patong could well be the beach for you.

Kamala Beach

For a slightly slower pace of life, try Kamala Beach, just north of Patong. This palm tree lined beach, spanning two kilometres, could not be more different to the lights and noise of Patong Beach, offering all the quiet and relaxation you simply won’t find on its more raucous neighbour. Even in high season, this beach never gets too busy and there isn’t the constant revolving door of tourists you often get in Patong and some other parts of Phuket.

Kata Beach

Kata Beach is popular amongst tourists who come to Phuket, but at 1.5 kilometres long, there’s more than enough room for everyone. This beach is a paradise, just not a secluded one. There are plenty of hotels, shops and places to grab a bite in nearby, so if you prefer to stay where the action is, but without having to put up with the hustle and bustle of Phuket’s busier beaches, Kata could be for you.

Kata Noi Beach

Located to the south of the larger Kata Beach, Kata Noi is quieter than its more popular neighbour. Exceptionally clear blue waters make it an ideal snorkeling location, while during the monsoon, the waves are perfect for surfers. The beach has an isolated feel, yet there are a couple of resorts and restaurants nearby, if you’re looking for a bit more action.

Pansea Beach

Pansea is a small, secluded beach situated on the west coast of Phuket. It’s almost impossible to get to, unless you’re staying at one of the two resorts that share the beachfront. This gives the beach even more allure. If your budget can stretch to a room at the Amanpuri Resort though, you’ll have the opportunity to relax on the pearly white sands and swim in the turquoise waters of this truly sensational beach.

Nai Thon Beach

As part of Sirinath National Park, Nai Thon Beach has managed to avoid much of the over-development that many of Phuket’s other beaches have undergone, making it a great choice if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, away from the big resorts. In fact, Nai Thon Beach is the antithesis of over-development, with just a few small hotels and restaurants nearby.

Surin Beach

Surin Beach could be described as an exclusive version of Patong Beach, with luxury resorts and million-dollar houses perched on the hills that overlook the sea. It doesn’t feel like a big seaside resort, but rather, maintains a coastal village atmosphere. The fine, white sand on the beach slopes away steeply, quickly turning from shallow into deep water, making Surin a great swimming destination.

Laem Singh Beach

Located between Kamala and Surin beaches and tucked away within a steep-sided bay, Laem Singh Beach is a picture-perfect Thai beach. It’s just one of the reasons it’s become an increasingly popular beach in recent years, particularly for those looking to swim and snorkel in its clear blue waters. Despite this, scenic Laem Singh has lost none of its charisma.

Nai Harn Beach

To the south of Phuket is Nai Harn Beach, a popular beach destination that has managed to avoid over-development, thanks, in part, to much of the surrounding land being owned by Samnak Song Monastery. With only a few hotels, restaurants and shops in the area, it maintains its quiet charm. Ideal for swimming and snorkeling from November to April, the currents become much stronger between May to October, making it more suited to surfers and kite-borders.

4D3N Pattaya Trip with Klook Travel

Posted on May 30, 2018 by missuschewy

Can you guys believe it? We are almost done with the first half of 2018! Fellow mummies and daddies, please give yourselves a pat on the back because you have worked hard and sacrificed for your family. If anything, you totally deserve a break and go on a holiday with your loved ones this summer! Trust me, you don’t have to travel far to have a shiok overseas trip. The Chewys flew to Pattaya for a short 4D3N getaway and we came back fully recharged! Pattaya has always struck me as a beach place with nothing but water sports activities but boy, was I wrong. Even though Pattaya is known as a resort city in Thailand, there are actually plenty of kid-friendly activities that you can plan, which I will cover in this blog post 🙂 It was a total breeze for us as we booked our airport transfers and activities via Klook Travel, Asia’s largest travel services booking platform with over 35000 activities.

PATTAYA DAY ONE

Prior to departing Singapore, I received an email with very clear instructions as to where to locate the Klook staff and upon touching down at Suvarnabhumi Airport, we boarded the van without any delays. We also received our data SIM cards from our driver without having to go through the hassle of queuing at the booth. It is especially crucial for us that we reach Pattaya in the shortest possible time since we were travelling with two young children and thankfully, the journey was a smooth one!

Book your airport transfer here.

After checking into our accommodation, we took a short break before visiting Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya. I’m glad we made this our one and only activity for the first day of our trip so that we could take our time to explore the farm.

The kids were so excited to see the animals up close too!

The cost of the admission ticket also includes food for the animals and Little misschewy just couldn’t get enough of feeding the goat, sheep and horses!

Apart from animal feeding, Little misschewy totally digged the horse ride!

Book your tickets for Swiss Sheep Farm Pattaya here.

PATTAYA DAY TWO

We visited The Sanctuary of Truth, a religious all-wood construction. Apart from appreciating the beauty of the intricate Thai architecture, we were surprised that there were quite a number of activities to make your trip worthwhile.

It was the girls’ first time on a horse carriage ride and they were shrieking in excitement. As for me, I enjoyed admiring the beauty of the temple as the horse galloped away.

Book your tickets for The Sanctuary of Truth here.

In the afteroon, we headed to Pattaya Mini Siam, which is located near The Sanctuary of Truth, hence I planned these two destinations on the same day. The place was relatively empty, much to our surprise. At Mini Siam, you get to experience Thailand and Europe all in one place.

Plenty of photo opportunities and I’m glad we brought our tripod along to capture these precious moments! If you enjoy taking photos, be prepared to spend at least two hours there. Book your tickets for Pattaya Mini Siam here.

PATTAYA DAY THREE

We decided to take things nice and slow, hence we dedicated one full day to visiting Khao Kheow Open Zoo. It is not called an OPEN ZOO for nothing. Some of the animals are left to roam about rather freely and visitors have the opportunity to interact with them.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo certainly feels different from any other zoos, which is a pretty eye-opening experience for us! The zoo is quite big, so it’s highly recommended that you rent a buggy there to minimize exploring on foot, or arrange a private driver to take you around the premises. Book your tickets for Khao Kheow Open Zoo here.

PATTAYA DAY FOUR

Before checking out of our accommodation, we managed to squeeze in a visit to Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya, which is a must-visit if you and your children love teddy bears!

There are various zones with over 2000 teddy bears! We had so much fun posing for photos with the bears at the museum. Book your tickets for Teddy Bear Museum Pattaya here.

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Things to Do in Bangkok with Kids: Recommended 5D4N Itinerary

Posted on April 18, 2018 by missuschewy

This is our final Bangkok 2018 travelogue, where I provide my 5 days 4 nights itinerary for your reference. I hope this Recommended Bangkok Itinerary for Families Travelling with Kids will come in handy especially if you are travelling with young kids like ours. As parents, we find ourselves asking what are some of the things to do in Bangkok with kids. A fair bit of thought and research went into creating this itinerary from scratch because I wanted to have a good mix of eating, sightseeing and shopping for everyone in our group as we were also travelling with my in laws.

BANGKOK DAY ONE

SIN to BKK

Ours was an afternoon flight and we reached BKK at around 3pm ICT. Good timing for us as compared to our 7am flight to Hong Kong last November. LOL.

Airport Transfer

Prior our trip, I had arranged for airport transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport. The large van could accommodate all 7 adults, 2 children and 8 suitcases. There was a very bad jam on the way to our hotel. Journey took more than one hour.

Check-in at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

Address: 259 Sukhumvit Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 207 8000
Nearest BTS Station: Asoke

Our hotel is very conveniently located across Asoke BTS station, as well as Terminal 21 shopping mall. Our well-appointed rooms were spacious, cosy and reasonably priced. Slightly more expensive than most average hotels but it’s definitely worth it given its convenient location and esteemed reputation.

Pa Yak Boat Noodles

Address: สามเสนในอนุสาวรีย์ชัยสมรภูมิ ถนนพหลโยธิน พญาไท กรุงเทพฯ Khwaeng Samsen Nai, Khet Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 9pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Victory Monument

We have been there for countless bowls of boat noodles for our past two trips to BKK too! Don’t order too many bowls if you want to leave some stomach space for other food elsewhere.

Shopping at Siam Square One

Address: 991 ถนน พระราม 1 Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

After You Dessert Cafe

Address: Siam Square One, Ground floor
Tel: +66 02 115 1949
Opening Hours: 12pm – midnight (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY TWO

Erawan Shrine

Address: Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 6am – 11pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

We make it a point to stop by Erawan Shrine to pray and pay our respects each time we visit Bangkok.

Burger & Lobster

Address: 999 Phloen Chit Rd, Khwaeng Lumphini, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 656 1111
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm (Sun to Wed), 11am – 11pm (Thu to Sat)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

Burger & Lobster is just across Erawan Shrine (one minute walk). If you can’t have it in London, go for it in Bangkok! There’s one in Genting too but my MIL said that it pales in comparison to what we had in Bangkok.

Shopping at Siam Paragon

Address: 991/1 ถนนพระราม 1 แขวงปทุมวัน Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Siam

Chocolate Ville

Address: Soi Kaset-Nawamin, Khwaeng Ram Inthra, Bueng Kum, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10240, Thailand
Opening Hours: 4pm – midnight (Daily)
Travel time from central Bangkok by car: 30 to 45 minutes

Beautiful and romantic place in Bangkok that you must visit! You can also choose to have dinner there and watch the sunset.

Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin

Address: ถนน ศรีนครินทร์ Khwaeng Nong Bon, Khet Prawet, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10250, Thailand
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Thu to Sun)
Travel time from Chocolate Ville by car: 45 minute to 1 hour

Claypot River Prawn Tom Yam Porridge

Address: ตรง ข้าม พาราไดซ์ พาร์ ค ศรีนครินทร์, แขวง หนองบอน เขต ประเวศ กรุงเทพมหานคร 10250, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10.15am – midnight (Daily)
Travel time from Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin by car: 10 to 15 minutes

Even though we didn’t manage to stop by Claypot River Prawn Tomyam Porridge place for supper, I would still recommend that you give it a try as it is super near Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin Night Market. Photographed above was what we kept having for our supper on most nights of our trip, which was from a stall opposite our hotel.

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY THREE

Afteroon Tea at Authors’ Lounge, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Address: 48 Oriental Avenue, Khwaeng Bang Rak, Khet Bang Rak, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10500, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 659 9000
Nearest BTS Station: Taksin (Take a complimentary shuttle ferry to the hotel)

Shopping at Platinum Fashion Mall

Address: 644/3 Phetchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Thanon Phetchaburi, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS Station: Ratchathewi or Chit Lom (10 minute walk)

We couldn’t quite agree with the fashion at Platinum Mall but I managed to purchase 20 pairs of contact lens from Dazzle Me. If you have thing for tees with logos or slogans, you can get them easily at about $4 per piece.

Shopping at MBK Center

Address: Phayathai Rd, Pathum Wan, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily)
Nearest BTS station: National Stadium

Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant

Address: 444 Phayathai Rd, Khwaeng Wang Mai, Khet Pathum Wan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330, Thailand (Second floor of Pathumwan Princess Hotel)
Tel: +66 2 048 4755
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest BTS Station: National Stadium

Since Pathumwan Princess Hotel is right next to MBK Center, you can do more shopping after your dinner!

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY FOUR

Maeklong Railway Market

Address: Mae Klong, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram 75000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 5.30pm (Daily)
Travelling time from central Bangkok by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Amphawa Floating Market

Address: Amphawa, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram 75110, Thailand
Opening Hours: 2 – 8pm
Travelling time from central Bangkok by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Amphawa Floating Market and Mae Klong Railway Market are actually situated very near to each other, so I would definitely suggest that you dedicate at least half a day to visit these two spots.

Wat Bang Kung

Address: Sakae Krang, Mueang Uthai Thani District, Uthai Thani 61000, Thailand
Opening Hours: 24/7
Travelling time from Amphawa Floating Market or Mae Klong Railway Market: 10 to 15 minutes

It’s a temple worth visiting if you are in the area.

Chinatown 中華街

Address: 300 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Travelling time from Maeklong Railway Market or Amphawa Floating Market by car: 1 to 1.5 hours

Dinner at Chinatown 海外天

Address: 461 Yaowarat Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 3029

Plaeng Nam Shark Fin-Bird’s Nest

Address: 47 Plaeng Nam Rd, Khwaeng Samphanthawong, Khet Samphanthawong, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 222 8716

W.T Bird’s Nest Company 泰國運通燕窩

Address: 90 Soi Langsuan, Phloenchit Road, Lumphini, Pathumwan, Bangkok
Tel：+66 (0) 2253-1888

If you are not heading to Chinatown, there’s also W.T Bird’s Nest Company at Pathumwan area where you can go for the birds nest in coconut. Delicious stuff!

Talad Neon Night Market
Address: 1087 New Petchaburi Rd, Khwaeng Makkasan, Khet Ratchathewi, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10400, Thailand
Opening Hours: 4pm – midnight (Wed to Sun)
Nearest BTS Station: Chit Lom

Return to Hotel

BANGKOK DAY FIVE

After You Dessert Cafe

Address: 15 1/F Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Tan Nuea, Khet Watthana, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 061 5545
Nearest BTS Station: Asoke

YAAAAAS! After You Dessert Cafe again! Must have it before we go back home! Happy that there’s one directly across our hotel at Terminal 21!

Check out of The Westin Grande Sukhumvit

We got our pocket wifi device from Roaming Man, which offers free delivery and wifi rental starts from just $3 a day. Very affordable and convenient! We were also very impressed by the super long-lasting battery life. It could last the entire day and we only had to charge it overnight for the next’s day usage. Connectivity is also very stable and reliable. Roaming Man wifi device helped us to stay connected throughout our trip, even along our journey to the airport after checking out of the hotel.

Home Sweet Home

Many people have this misconception that Bangkok isn’t kid-friendly, which definitely isn’t true. This was our third time travelling to Bangkok with kids and for each trip, there was still so much to see and do. Hope you find our recommended 5D4N Bangkok itinerary useful if you have always wondered what are the things to do in Bangkok with kids! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant in Bangkok

Posted on April 8, 2018 by missuschewy

Adding another highly recommended makan place to our Bangkok travel itinerary, Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant in Bangkok received numerous positive reviews online, which prompted me to make a reservation for our Chinese New Year reunion dinner for our trip. Won’t be reviewing the dishes individually cuz i’m too lazy lol but all I can say is that the food at Ping’s is definitely not cheap by Bangkok standards but it’s well worth the money if you want to splurge for a special occasion. All of us ate to our hearts’ content and enjoyed the food very much.

Hors D’oeuvre (THB1000)

Oyster Hot Plate (THB250)

Black Pepper Deer (THB300)

Hong Kong Noodle (THB150)

Abalone with Kale (THB2500)

Claypot Goose Web (THB400)

Codfish in Soysauce (THB1000)

Claypot Abalone Rice (THB400)

Ping’s Restaurant Group has 5 outlets in Bangkok, 2 of which – Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant and Ping’s Hotpot Restaurant, are both located at Pathumwan Princess Hotel, which was the outlet we patronised. Best to make a reservation as the place can be quite packed especially over the weekends! Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Ping’s Thai Teochew Seafood Restaurant
Floor 2 Pathumwan Princess Phaya Thai Rd Pathum Wan,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66(2) 611 4755
Email: pingsrestaurants@gmail.com

Opening Hours:
Daily
11.30am – 11pm

Chocolate Ville: Most Romantic Place in Bangkok

Posted on April 4, 2018 by missuschewy

Hello everyone! I figured I need to finish up my Bangkok travelogues so here I am! I had many friends and followers asking me about Chocolate Ville when I posted IG stories during our trip so this post is for all of you who are keen to know more about this beautiful place! Some had asked if Chocolate Ville is located in Hua Hin and the answer is no. Chocolate Ville is also not exactly in Bangkok, but it is rather near Bangkok. Depending on traffic conditions, it would take about 30 to 45 minutes’ journey by car from Pratunam area.

We had a private driver for our trip and since Chocolate Ville operates only from 4pm onwards, we got our driver to pick us up at around 3pm so that we would have ample time to walk around for photos before having dinner there.

Being the unofficial planner for our trip, I had to find places that are suitable for all three generations. In one of my previous posts, I blogged about our day trip to Maeklong Railway Market which was not particularly well-received by the group. Good thing everyone liked Chocolate Ville because of the pretty and romantic European village theme which has a unique “Dining in the Park” concept.

I mean honestly, who would have thought that such a place exists around Bangkok? It is so not Bangkok at all, if you know what I mean! And also, did I mention that admission is FREE?!

Even my in laws could not resist having their photos taken with their grandchildren!

There are many nice photo spots around Chocolate Ville so it is really important to arrive early to give yourself time for photos, as well as avoid the potential crowds that might start to stream in during dinner time. Also, the entire place is quite huge!

I observed that the crowds came in at around 6ish even on a weekday but it could be that Chocolate Ville is a popular choice on Valentine’s Day (yup we visited on 14th Feb!). Heh not surprising at all since I reckon Chocolate Ville is the most romantic place in Bangkok!

Besides arriving early to avoid the crowd, good and bright lighting makes your photos turn out really nicely!

As with the rest of Bangkok, it was also a little hot and humid over at Chocolate Ville. I strongly recommend wearing light, breathable clothing there. Thankfully, my nursing dress from JumpEatCry is made of polyester material which is very soft and cooling to wear.

I love that there are numerous bears of different shapes and sizes scattered around Chocolate Ville. This is one of my favorites!

Yup it happens. Just another unglam moment lol.

I strongly advise that you make reservations if you are keen to dine at Chocolate Ville as the entire place gets filled up pretty quickly. I copied what everyone else did, which was to leave on Chocolate Ville’s Facebook page, a 5-star rating with a specific template:

Dear Chocolate Ville,
I would like to reserve a table for (number of) adults on (date)
Please find the details as below for your reference :
Guest name: XXX
Date: XXX
Time: XXX
Preference: non-smoking area, Riverside, and sunset view.

Thank you so much!
This is the first time we visit Chocolate Ville.
We’ve learned from friends recommendation that Chocolate Ville provides delicious food and nice scenery.
We hope we can have a great time in here.
We understand that you will cancel the booking without notification if we come late.
So that would be great if you can confirm the booking for us so that we can mark it down on our schedule.
Thanks a lot for your assistance in advance.
Have a nice day.
I hope to get your reply soon.
Thanks.

The above is cute and funny but hey, it works. Someone from Chocolate Ville will confirm your reservation by providing a reply to your comment.

As it is a central restaurant, the same food menu will be provided regardless of where you choose to dine in Chocolate Ville.

I was feeling quite ravenous from all the walking around Chocolate Ville and managed to only take photos of half of what we had for dinner. The food was quite good and also reasonably priced. The menu features a good mix of Thai and Western food. Alcohol is strictly served only after 6pm.

Since the night is still young, it is a good idea to head over to Talad Rot Fai Srinakarin night market which is about 30 minutes by taxi. Estimated taxi fare is around THB 350 to 400. There’s also Grab in Bangkok if you prefer!

A quick recap:

– Make reservations on Facebook if you intend to dine at Chocolate Ville.
– Wear light and breathable clothing.
– Remember to bring along your camera.
– Chocolate Ville opens only at 4pm.
– Take a taxi around 3.30pm and aim to arrive around 4pm for ample time to explore.
– Alcohol is served only after 6pm.

Would you be keen to visit Chocolate Ville during your next holiday to Bangkok? Let us know! Stay connected with us on Instagram @missuschewy and on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Chocolate Ville
Soi Nawamin 74, Yak 3-8, Kaset-Nawamin Road
Klong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District
Bangkok 10230, Thailand

Opening Hours:
Daily
4pm – 12 midnight

Maeklong Railway Market near Bangkok

Posted on March 2, 2018 by missuschewy

Sawadee kaaa~ I’m gonna share a bit about our day trip to Maeklong Railway Market during our Bangkok trip. Wouldn’t say it was very successful because I think I was the only one in the group who was excited to visit this place. LOL. And because of that, we didn’t spend a lot of time at the market and I didn’t manage to snap many photos.

Our private driver picked us up at our hotel early in the morning and the journey was a quite a long one. Took about 1 to 1.5 hours! Torturous if you travel with young children! Hahaha.

I had given our driver the address of the place we wanted to have our breakfast at, and he led us the way by cutting through the market. It doesn’t look that bad in the photo but when there were 4 to 5 people trying to pass through at the same time, it was really squeezy and chaotic. Because of that, my in laws decided to sit this out after breakfast and offered to hold onto the kids while we explored on our own.

We settled our breakfast at Gong Meng Chan Ba Mee Kiao where they offer what seems to be like our Singapore char siew wanton noodles. This place has been around for about 60 years and is filled with locals. Address is 638 Diamond Road, Samut Songkhram (Intersection of Phet Samut and Kasem Sukhum Alley).

There is a choice of dry or soup Ba Mee Kiao. If you eat it just on its own, it’s probably gonna taste a little bland to you. There are condiments placed on each table which you can add to enhance the taste of your noodles. I was recovering from a bad throat so I only added some fish sauce but just a little did the trick!

So it was just misterchewy and I who hurried off to take some photos while waiting for the train to pass through.

As you can see, there were many tourists waiting around for the train.

Before the train arrived, all the stall owners retracted their umbrellas and some had to shift in their goods. Nobody was allowed to stand in the middle of the tracks for obvious reasons.

The train was moving really slowly and everyone snapped away with their mobile phones and cameras.

All of us held our breaths because the train was THIS close. I could even touch the train without having to fully extend my arm!

Here’s a video to prove it! It is such an eye opening experience that I urge everyone who is visiting Bangkok to take a day trip to Maeklong Railway Market! 🙂

Ok my next plan was to head over to Amphawa Floating Market since it is super near Maeklong Railway Market but my MIL wasn’t keen because the kids were starting to get cranky. I’m totally fine with it even though I painstakingly planned the entire itinerary, plus we had already travelled all the way from Bangkok city. Perhaps next time! Just me and misterchewy? LOL. Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram! 🙂

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Afternoon Tea Review

Posted on February 27, 2018 by missuschewy

To some Singaporeans, Bangkok is all about shopping, shopping and more shopping. Foodies like us value eating more than anything else. On the third day of our Bangkok trip, The Chewys had the luxury of sleeping in and subsequently took a Grab car to Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. We were staying at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit and the journey from our hotel took about 20 minutes due to a slight midday traffic jam.

Thankfully, the girls were pretty well-behaved along our way there and upon reaching Mandarin Oriental, we were captivated by the beautiful and luxurious hotel interior.

Overlooking the Chao Phraya river, the Authors’ Lounge at Mandarin Oriental is one of Bangkok’s most photographed locations. It was originally an open roofed garden with a tortoise pond and since 1976, the Authors’ Lounge features a glass roof and is the place to enjoy afternoon tea. Over the last three centuries, many famous writers have stayed at the hotel and their photographs are showcased in the newly restored Authors’ Lounge. The ‘Heritage Authors’ Noël Coward, James Michener, Somerset Maugham and Joseph Conrad are now immortalised in four new private lounges.

I am always cautious and want to avoid any disappointment when it comes to holiday planning, so I reserved a table for the four of us a couple of weeks before our trip. I booked the earliest slot for afternoon tea at 12pm and perhaps it was a weekday, we got to choose where we wanted to sit. What I didn’t like was that Mini misschewy started to whine because it was close to her nap time and one of the staff forewarned us that if Cayla continued to make noise, we would have to be moved to a table at a corner as it would disturb other (non-existent) guests. I mean young children are bound to laugh, cry or talk loudly. She could have ushered us to a corner table in the first place. It resulted in us jumping up every time one of the girls let out any form of sound exceeding 60 to 75 decibels and we had to constantly shush them. LOLOLOL.

Moving on..! The Author’s Lounge offers three types of afternoon tea sets. If you are a vegetarian, there’s something for you! Apart from that, there is a choice of Western Afternoon Tea Set and The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set. If you are dining alone, I would definitely recommend that you go for the Oriental set where the items are traditionally Thai. Dining with friends? Then you should have the best of both worlds! Each set costs ฿1450++ per person and is inclusive of free flow tea of coffee.

My choice of tea: Pink Garden Tea – Regal garden roses accent this green tea blended with notes of Provencal red fruits. A blooming bouquet as blissful as a summer day.

His choice of tea (without even having to look at the menu): Moroccan Mint Tea – A great favourite, this fine TWG Tea green tea is perfectly blended with suave and strong Sahara mint. A timeless classic.

We didn’t have to wait long for both the afternoon tea sets to be served. Yaaay! And look! So Instagram-worthy!

Little Tai Tais in training 😛

I love the use of ceramic tiered tiffin to present the oriental set! Traditional with a touch of class.

We really enjoyed The Oriental Afternoon Tea Set. Most of our favorites were the savory food items such as:

– Lime-marinated crabmeat sandwich with lemongrass and chilli
– Minced chicken, chilli and black olive sandwich
– Roasted pandan chicken
– Steamed Thai dumplings

From the selection of pastries, these were pretty unforgettable:

– Kanom Sai Sai, sweet coconut pudding wrapped in banana leaf
– Steamed pumpkin custard
– Mango tartlet with vanilla cream
– Candy bale fruit chiffon cake

We were impressed by the Oriental set but that doesn’t mean we paid any less attention to the Western Afternoon Tea Set.

Here are some of the finger sandwiches that we reckon are worthy of mention:

– Green asparagus dips in clear tomato aspic on white sour dough bread
– Smoked ham, sun dried tomato and honeydew melon
– Open-faced smoked salmon, sour cream and beetroot sandwich
– Cucumber, dill and cream cheese on oat bread

Apart from the chocolate desserts, these were quite nice and refreshing:

– Minted light cream and strawberry sphere
– Vanilla yoghurt cream, streusel and pineapple chutney

If you only have time to indulge in one afternoon tea session in Bangkok, make the Authors’ Lounge at Mandarin Oriental your choice! Hope you guys have enjoyed our Mandarin Oriental Bangkok afternoon tea review! Stay connected with us on Facebook and on Instagram 🙂

Authors’ Lounge
48 Oriental Avenue
Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Tel: +66 (2) 659 9000 ext 7390-4
Email: mobkk-reservations@mohg.com

Afternoon tea timing:
12pm – 6pm (Last order at 5.30pm)

Burger and Lobster Bangkok Review

Posted on February 23, 2018 by missuschewy

Gonna kick-start our series of Bangkok travel posts with our experience at Burger and Lobster! It got quite a number of my friends and followers excited when I posted IG stories while dining there during our CNY trip. Likewise for me, I only knew about Burger and Lobster Bangkok when I chanced upon a photo that my friend had uploaded to her Instagram account and I had to text her to double confirm that there IS a Burger and Lobster in the Land of Smiles. LOL!

So yup, according to a few online sources, Burger and Lobster was supposed to open in March 2017 but there were some delays and it finally opened its doors in September, a good five months later. I guess it is always a wise decision to wait till you are ready! Located at Gaysorn Plaza, just across Erawan Shrine, the nearest BTS station would be Chit Lom. From Chit Lom BTS station, it is just a short two-minute walk to Gaysorn Plaza.

The food menu is conveniently categorised into Starters, Burgers, Lobsters, Rolls, Sides and Sauces. Nobody in our group opted for burger as a main.

Naturally, the camera gets to eat first.

A group shot before our lobster feast. Oh yes, since we were a large group, I made reservations via email and was allocated this huge round table. My MIL likes it because in a way, it symbolises 团圆.

I chose Over The Moon (฿390) because this combination of Beefeater Gin, strawberry, Pimms, rose, cucumber, lemon, fizz sounds delish and I was right!

Not sure who ordered the Truffle Fries (฿290) but it was a bad decision because all our mains came with a large serving of fries! LOL. Major fries overload! I didn’t touch any of it but I think anything with truffle should be good.

The Lobster Mac N Cheese (฿350) was really comfort food with chunks of lobster meat and macaroni generously coated with melted cheese.

The Lobster Croquettes (฿350) were also a hit among all of us. Be sure to eat it with the spicy dip sauce that comes with it!

Besides the Original Roll (฿1500), there are Avocado Roll (฿950) and Chilli Roll (฿950) too. If it’s your first time dining at Burger and Lobster, I would definitely recommend trying the Original Roll for it is a true Burger and Lobster classic of chilled lobster meat dressed in a smooth lemony Japanese mayo.

If you think you might be missing out on a lot since it’s chunks of lobster meat as compared to a whole lobster, fret not. The toasted brioche roll is actually filled with generous chunks of meat to make this a truly satisfying meal.

If you can’t do without chilli, Burger and Lobster offers Chilli Lobster (฿1850) on their menu. The lobster is first steamed and then served in a hot clay pot smothered with an aromatic chilli sauce that has been prepared in-house. You have a choice of rice or warm toasted brioche to go with your chilli lobster.

The most expensive item on the menu, the B&L Thermidor (฿2100) is served as a whole lobster cooked in herbed velouté and mushroom sauce, topped with a cheesy crust. If you like strong-tasting foods, you will definitely enjoy this feast.

The three ladies ordered the Original Lobster (฿1500), with a choice of steamed or grilled lobster. We went for the steamed lobsters as we felt that it was the best way to taste the freshness of the lobster and indulge in its succulent meat. I really liked the B&L’s famous lemon and garlic butter sauce which was addictive!

Oh man, I’m missing this already.

For your next trip to Bangkok, make sure you stop by Burger and Lobster for a treat!

Burger & Lobster
Gaysorn Plaza
999 Phloen Chit Rd
Khwaeng Lumphini
Khet Pathum Wan
Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10330
Thailand, Bangkok
(Nearest BTS station: Chit Lom)
Tel: +66 02 656 1111
Email: thailand@burgerandlobster.com

Opening Hours:
Sun to Wed
11am – 10pm
Thur to Sat
11am – 11pm

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

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Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Afternoon Tea Review

Burger and Lobster Bangkok Review

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