The Chocolate Buffet Sukhothai Hotel

My girls know me well – I was born in the wrong century.  With a taste for the finer things in life, Id be very content to live the “Downton” existence with afternoon tea time and garden parties and evening wear and dance cards.  And with that in mind, they treated me for my birthday to an indulgent afternoon with all the pomp & circumstance you’d imagine royalty enjoyed on a daily basis in the Victorian era.  Teatime at The Chocolate Buffet Sukhothai Hotel!!

Here my girls and I (and our dapper little escort) partook of afternoon high tea in style.  Two adjacent rooms with parallel buffets, one sweet and one savory, are laden with the the choicest of culinary delights.  Delicate tea sandwiches, crispy spring rolls, salmon croissants, seared tuna bites, fresh sushi, giant prawns, seasonal fruits, exotic olives and nuts are amongst the savory selections and kept our palate balanced so we could frequent the other table; an extensive selection of all things seductively sweet!  The name says it all, “The Chocolate Buffet” does not disappoint with every conceivable truffle and trifle.  Eclairs, cakes, pastries, fondue, macaroons,  creme brûlée, fruit tarts and even an assortment or sherbets and ice creams tantalize the insatiable craving for just a bite more of something sweet.   And it just wouldn’t be high tea without scones and clotted cream, of which we partook more than our share!

But the real highlight of the whole experience is the trolly manned by Swiss pastry chef Laurent who hand crafts custom hot chocolates for guests from a wide assortment of cocoas from around the world.  He will educate you in the varying flavors of chocolate from the robust to mild, acidic to earthy, bitter to sweet and then concoct according to your preferred taste, a demitasse cup of the richest hot chocolate you’ve ever experienced.  Top with cream or a dollop of hazelnut or swirl of caramel or sprinkle of chili or dusting of sea salt for a blend unique specifically to you.  (Swiss Miss will forever be ruined in your list of guilty pleasures!)

And as our afternoon drew to a close and we felt that we could not bear to look at one more chocolate chip (for our lack of self control,) the courteous staff, knowing it was my birthday, presented me with a lovely chocolate cake in celebration of the occasion.  We blew out the candles and boxed it up to take home to the littles who were feeling very left out that we’d spend the entire afternoon in the likes of “Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory” without them.

I do feel I should have been born in a century where afternoon high tea was a daily pleasure, but how in the world did those ladies live in corsets?  We were grateful for the “breathing room” of our loose fitting dresses as we made our departure after 3 hours of chocolate indulgence!  Ill be coming back for special occasions, but my figure would suffer greatly if I had this little luxury every day!  Recommending this at the top of my list of “things to do in Bangkok”!

The Racquet Club

Like so many expats here, we found it challenging to move from a spacious home in the US with land and room for our kids to roam, into this concrete jungle of sky rise apartment buildings and sidewalks littered with street vendors and heavy pedestrian traffic.  Bangkok city life with a house full of children does not lend itself well to the need to run off steam and develop athletically.  The Racquet Club has been a saving grace for our busy brood!!  This facility fuses the familiarity of a family recreational center with the sophistication of a state of the art gym. 

This full functioning club comes equipped with private studio space, rock climbing wall, tennis, badminton and squash courts, pool & jacuzzi, fitness center & free weights, showers and sauna.  There is even a golf simulator for the golf enthusiast who cant skip town every time they feel the urge to go swing a club!

 A wide variety of group classes such as spinning, pilates, aerobics, yoga and boxing are also scheduled at convent times throughout the week and available to join before heading into the office in the morning or to work off the stresses of the day before returning home at night.  Sign up with a personal trainer available to help you target your problem areas and instruct you in a workout routine to optimize your efforts and encourage results.  And for further convenience, there is even a shuttle from the Phrom Phong BTS to The Racquet Club on Sukhumvit 49 for those commuting.

6 months after having a baby Im thriving with the accessibility and diversity of options for me to work around baby’s nursing schedule while still taking care of my health and wellbeing.  In our two years of membership at The Racquet Club, we have found the staff courteous and helpful and the facilities clean and extensive and currently they have plans for further expansion.  We love the convenience of The Racquet Club and especially that its something which the whole family can enjoy together. 

Weekend afternoons we lounge by the pool and soak up some rays or assign our kids races in the lap pool to guarantee tired littles at nap time. Our teenagers love meeting their friends in the afternoons to hang out at the Urban Playground – a fantastic workout braving the rocky heights of an expansive climbing wall; not for the faint of heart!

With the auto belay feature, our kids are safe climbing on their own which is a great consolation to this over-protective momma!  There is a climbing academy as well for the novice climber guaranteeing you or your child is trained in safe techniques by professionals!

As we move into the holiday months of “comfort eating” and guilty pleasures around office parties and seasonal festivities, there is no better time than now to take strides guaranteeing you keep those Christmas calories at bay!   Take advantage of the current promotion of 2 months/20 passes for 5,999 BHT or sign up for a 3 month membership at The Racquet Club offering individual, family or group plans, which can be applied to a year if you love it – which we are sure you will!!

The Guest List

Where to take your guests in Bangkok
(published first in Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style Magazine)
by Mandy Smith

It’s exciting, but it’s a small dilemma: Your family is traveling from abroad to see you in Bangkok, and they assume you to know the best places to visit like the back of your hand. It’s sweet to be considered an expert—but maybe you’re not, really—and the pressure is on. What will you do? Where will you take them? Here are 12 suggestions, in no particular order, to help you appear to be the tourism aficionado your guests suspect you are.

1 The Ancient City
Perfect for history fans and appropriate for a family day trip.
$$ Where else can you see all 77 provinces of Thailand in just a few hours? The beautifully manicured grounds of The Ancient City sprawl across 320 acres mimicking the land-scape of Thailand. You’ll see miniature replicas of Thailand’s greatest architectural landmarks as you bike or ride through the park. Take a guided tour or simply spend the day meandering at your own pace to discover more than 110 traditional Thai monuments, temples, pavilions, shrines and buildings in a geographically correct arrangement. Highlights include the floating market and the recreated ancient ruins, where you can climb hundreds of stairs to enjoy breathtaking views when you reach the top!Tip: Bicycle rental is available for those craving adventure. If you have elderly grandparents or small children in tow, you can hire a golf cart to drive.Getting there: Less than an hour from downtown Bangkok. Taxi or private car is your easiest route. Or take the BTS to On Nut and catch a cab for the last 30 minutes.
296⁄1 Sukhumvit Road, Bangpoo, Samut Prakan 10280

2 Night Bike Tour with Co Van Kessel
Great excursion for fit young adults or teens.
$$ A three-hour bike excursion may leave you sore the next morning, but fatigued muscles are worth the view of sights you’d never normally see in hectic Bangkok. As the sun sets, experienced bike guides lead small groups off the beaten path and onto the backstreets of Bangkok’s working-class nightlife. Explore nar-row neighborhoods. Dodge weary vendors pushing carts home from work. Follow the trail along the Chao Phraya waterways reflecting the sparkle and shine of the bustling city, and pass by the illuminated Grand Palace. Conclude the tour with a walk through the night flower mar-ket, where throngs of wholesalers prepare for the next day. The exotic blooms are sold for a fraction of the price you’d pay at the local florist.Tip: Hydrate before this one. And consider wearing padded bike shorts!Getting there: Tours depart from Chinatown and explore the Thonburi area.  See covankessel.com to book.

3 Snake Farm at Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
Not for the faint of heart, but boys tend to love this outing
$ This outing is not for you if you go weak in the knees at the sight of scales. But, since Thailand is home to 60 different species of snakes, it’s not a bad idea to know your stuff. Based inside the Red Cross, the primary purpose of the farm is to create antidotes against snakebites. Morning exhibitions allow you to see milking of snake venom, which scientists use to treat potentially lethal bites. Enjoy a walk through terrariums and en-closures where you can get close—almost too close!—to cobras and chrysopelea. In the afternoon, there is a snake showcase of a wide range of reptiles professionally and carefully handled. Wrap up the day with the option to hold a 12-foot python, if you’re so inclined.Tip: We suggest taking a backseat in the tiny amphitheater for the snake show. It’s not necessary to be in the front row for this kind of performance!Getting there: The Snake Farm is adjacent to Lumpini Park (Silom).

4 Fantasia Lagoon
Family-friendly waterpark
$$  This newly refurbished waterpark perched atop a shopping mall is relatively unknown to the expat community and substantially cheaper than Siam Waterpark and the like. Beat the heat with refreshing water play only a short drive from the city. Fantasia Lagoon boasts a massive splash pad for the little swimmers in your bunch, and the more daring can run off steam by climbing up thrilling slides and squealing their way down. Mom and dad, meanwhile, can float around the lazy river on inflatable tubes. The adjoining mall has a plethora of food options and indoor activities when you’re waterlogged and ready for some air conditioning.Tip: Bring sunscreen and your own towels. You will be required wear a swim cap; bring your own or rent one at the park.Getting There: The Mall Bangkae, 275 Moo 1, Petchkasem Rd. Phasicharoen Bangkok 10600

5 Longtail Boat Tour on the Chao Phraya
Good family outing, if there are enough adults to help kids on and off swaying platforms.
$$  Here’s a chance to put your negoti-ating skills to good use: You’ll need to agree upon a price with a private long tail boat driver before board-ing the ship and seeing the sights of the river. They may try to charge you per person, but it is not impossi-ble to get a group aboard at upwards of 1,500 THB total for an hour tour. Not your typical river cruise, a long-tail ride will give you a glimpse into the lifestyle of those who live on the Chao Phraya with makeshift homes built on stilts over the water, wom-en doing their laundry in the river and young boys fishing for dinner. Veering off the main waterway into the narrow and bustling khlongs, this is an opportunity to witness a way of life unfamiliar to many foreigners.
Tip: Pack your camera and your hand sanitizer.
Getting There: Departs from Saphan Taksin at the Chao Phraya River

6 Asiatique
Appropriate family outing or a fun adults-only evening
Free.  Skip the night markets and choose a classier option for souvenir shopping with your guests from out-of-town. Dozens of industrial pavilions make up this boutique style night market with twinkle lights illuminating the pathways and hundreds of stalls to browse and scores of vendors with whom to barter. Catch the free boat shuttle from Saphan Taksin BTS sta-tion to Asiatique at sunset. Dine at any number of mid-range bars and restaurants and take a ride on the en-closed Ferris wheel with a spectacu-lar view of the river and city lights at night. Shop ‘til you drop, then relax with a 10-minute fish foot spa for a truly Thai treat.Tip: The market is open from 5:00 pm to midnight.
Getting There: Asiatique is a short boat ride from Saphan Taksin BTS