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Whose Who of Thonglor
Bright lights, big city……the whole of Bangkok pulses with the beat of karaoke bars. The smell of street food trucks bustling for their place alongside bike stands crowd the sidewalks as pedestrian traffic jockeys for position. Its a weekend night on Thonglor and we’ve taken the guesswork out for you on where to find the best bars and bistros, spas and salons, restaurants and relaxation!
Best Spa
Lets Relax Onsen & Spa
Ill be honest, I had to google “what is an onsen” when I first heard it mentioned.
Hungary has their public baths.
Russia has their Banyas.
And now, thanks to the brand new Grand Centerpoint Hotel’s Lets Relax Spa, Bangkok has an authentic Japanese inspired Onsen. Nude bathing may be a concept new to us in the western world, but be assured that every precaution is taken to protect your privacy….(no phone or camera devices or anything allowed on the premises of the the baths).
Set aside your inhibitions (and your towel) and “When in Rome…“
Hot springs bathing surrounded by waterfall, bamboo and pristine sauna and steam rooms, directly in the heart of Thonglor. This is undisputedly one of the most sensory exhilarating spa experiences Ive ever encountered!
Men and women have separate wings allocated for bathing in pools that each contain properties beneficial for health and mindfulness. 5 pools of varying temperatures and components for relaxation, rejuvenation and refreshment with the ultimate opportunity to unwind, unhurried. The hot mineral bath alleviates joint pain, silk bath infused with oxygenating bubbles is good for the skin, the soda bath is detoxifying and whirlpool bath with therapeutic jets to massage and invigorate will render you fully relaxed. Slip into the frigid temps of the cooling bath to support your body’s metabolic function and circulation in between your hot bath soaks!
For the ultimate treat, lounge in sauna or steam room with a built in shower.
Bathed in hot steam while sitting in the jet of a cool shower is the epitome of paradise!
If you need a break from the intensity of the baths, shower off and take a rest in the “hot stone bath” (reminiscent of childhood summer days laying out on sunbathed concrete and being warmed through to your core!?) or the “cooling room” (a nook that rapidly cools and balances you after prolonged exposure to heat in the baths). There is a “relaxation room” as well adorned with pillows and lounge mats to just unwind and hydrate before going back to the baths for another round.
Onsen can be enjoyed alone or you can tack on a massage treatment or spa package for a real pampering treat! Your Onsen experience comes with no time limit making this the ultimate spa experience!
Onsen is 650 baht per person (buy 10 vouchers, get one free)
6 month and year-long memberships also available for the true Onsen enthusiast! (25,000 – 40,000 baht)
Best Foot Massage
Nami
Step away from the hub-bub of crowds and chaos and take a load off. We’ve sourced foot massage spots all along the Thonglor strip and believe we’ve unearthed the best! In the heart of the Japanese district on Thonglor, is a sister-run business which we return to over and over! Just a few meters from Samitivej hospital down Soi 13, you’ll see the glass front shop of Nami.
While cleanliness and ambiance take a backseat in some street-side spots, Nami is an immaculate haven for the weary soul and tired feet. But a great foot massage isnt the only thing that sets Nami apart. Our favorite feature is the refreshing aroma of eucalyptus which greets you upon entering the spa. Competitive prices for superior treatment makes this an easy choice among the plethora of massage options. Comfy cushioned chairs and the glass windows to the outside world give this spa an open, airy ambiance. You’ll find the staff consistent in uniform and technique which also gives Nami an edge over other massage spots in the neighborhood. We’re certain you’ll leave feeling pampered with plans to return again!
Open daily from 9:30am – 11:00pm
Best Salon
CHALACHOL
Going for a haircut can be daunting, especially if you do it as infrequently as I do. Im afraid that hair-care gets bumped to the bottom of the mile-long-priority-list most of the time and I sadly resign myself to the ‘mom-do’….the ponytail. Baby #7 did a number on me and I had a lot of thinning in the months postpartum thanks to hormones. It was high-time my tresses got some tender-loving-care.
CHALACHOL undertook the brave mission of makeover for my hair. We all know that the hard water here is no friend to hair and the humidity fosters frizz. My hair was pretty damaged and lifeless. CHALACHOL carefully assessed the situation and got to working their magic.
Ill be honest, the shampoo was the best “me time” Ive had in weeks. I may have fallen asleep during the 15 minute head-massage. Bliss! And there is just nothing like that good “squeaky clean” of a salon shampoo! An expert hairdresser assessed my hair and concocted a special formula to restore shine, softness and smooth my damage and split ends. After administering and sitting under a steam for 15 minute, the scissor-master then took over with a swift and efficient trimming out of my split ends while still maintaining the length I love.
While English was limited among the staff, I found them very helpful and if you have a picture of what you are going for in hairstyle (as I did), they are excellent at emulating your desired look. And a week and several washes and blow drys at home later, I can honestly say I can tell a considerable difference in my hair health, luster and manageability!
CHALACHOL is a trendy hairdressing shop on the corner of Thonglor 9. They offer the full gamut of styling services and hair care specialties for men and women. Good news for those living outside the Thonglor area…in addition to their swanky salon on Thonglor 9, they have 17 other locations around the city and even in Rayong and Chiangmai!
Best Bar
SNAIL
Snail gets a thumbs up from us mostly for the location and entertainment. This unconventional bar is situated in the Arena 10 complex on Thonglor 10 and attracts the night crowd with their unique venue that is set up like an outdoor amphitheater with live music every night. Grab a table anywhere in the two-tier enclosure in which there isn’t a bad seat in the house. If the steamy Bangkok climate is too much for you, there is an air conditioned room (which we opted for) that still has great acoustics and view of the entertainment. Fun atmosphere and mood lighting. Here you can chill with friends over cocktails and enjoy entertainment of first rate bands and soloists or watch a soccer match on the TV.
SNAIL is open from 6:00pm until 2:00am for you night-owls!
When You Want To Quit And Go Get A “Real Job”
You’d think 15 years at this would give me a sure footing and firm grip, but Im having one of those weeks Im tempted to throw in the towel. “Lets just quit and go get a real job“.
It may not have come out of my mouth, but that echo of doubt in my mind is audible.
For a decade and a half, our family, which grows by the year, has lived supported and funded by individuals who believe in the cause we have poured our life into – seeing the nations reached with the message of the Gospel.
Missionaries on foreign fields.
That means our very existence is dependent on others.
Scratch that….its dependent on God.
But our capacity to provide for our family and expand the ministries we have responsibility for is contingent on others rallying around us. We cannot do this work we do alone.
We’ve seen God provide over the years, but this season is an exceptionally lean and we feel a bit like we are in a blow up boat headed for rapids. Do we patch the holes that are causing the raft to deflate? Do we expend our energy rowing against the current? Do we jump ship and swim to shore? Do we call out for someone to throw us a lifeline?
Im being real here friends.
This is the mental battleground we’re waging war on…
Go Get A Real Job That Pays
– In a “real job”, you know the terms. We all find security in the American Dream – a steady job from which you can build your lifestyle, commute and social activities around. You know when the paycheck is coming and for how much. Consistency of income allows you to plan for the future, give to needs around you and budget accordingly. Work ethic and diligence pay off in the form of a dependable salary.
– Living on support means you receive a report from your accountant at the end of the month reflecting whatever donations have come in. Regardless of what you’ve already spent on travel and ministry expenses, how you’ve “performed” at your job or how much overtime you’ve put in, the “salary” will be whatever it is….which has landed us in the red in recent months.
No One Likes A Schmooze
I hate support raising.
Loathe it!
I hate asking for money. I hate seeming vulnerable, helpless, needy and dependent. Its painful to feel our motives are questioned and I worry that our friends will always think we’re looking to “hit them up” for money. I dont want people feel an obligation to us. I want to be the one blessing others, giving to them, pouring out. The verse “it is more blessed to give than to receive” makes sense in a raw way. Receiving takes a great amount of humility which is genuinely a struggle at times! We all want to be self sufficient and ‘have it together’.
Cowering Under the Microscope
I struggle daily to live for the “audience of One“. To be confident and secure in the decisions we are making and not wear the weight of wondering how others may misconstrue or misunderstand our decisions. Because even if it isn’t said out-loud, I sometimes feel (and have perceived from others), that missionaries should live destitute….or at least more humbly than everyone else they know.
In an effort to help subsidize our income, Ive been doing some writing for a magazine and blog that allows me to visit and review some fun restaurants and spas and to photograph for some cute boutiques. While I can indeed see this as a beautiful, creative way God is providing for us, there is a twinge of guilt every time I write a post or share a picture. Every date night or childs birthday or family vacation, I question, “What if people who support us think we’re spending unwisely or dont agree with this decision or feel we are irresponsible with their money“? But that’s the very point that God keeps gently prompting me with.
Its not their money.
Its not my money.
Its His money and He asks each one of us to steward His resources responsibly! That obligation is the same for all of us!
We strive, like Paul, to be content in all circumstances – in plenty and in want. In 15 years, we’ve lived on 3 different continents. We’ve experienced God’s faithful provision in creative ways. God provided a home in the states on a lake for a season! We froze our tushes off in Ukraine and have endured 110 degree heat in Thailand. We have had incredible family opportunities to see the world because of this lifestyle. Likewise, we have felt “homeless” on occasion and this nomadic, transient lifestyle has exposed our kids to poverty, need, pain and cultures that are less than hospitable at times. We’ve experienced monsoons and military coups, civil war and dangerous parasites, been exposed to tuberculosis and hepatitis, waded through seasons of loss, grief and depression alone on the field, dealt with power outages and water shortages and phone lines that don’t work to call home on grandma’s birthday. We’ve managed with C gone for weeks and weeks at a time. We’ve vacationed at one of the worlds most beautiful beaches and witnessed devastation of natural disasters. We’ve ridden elephants and played with wild monkeys. We’ve experienced creative forms of God’s provision through free piano lessons for our kids, care packages sent from friends, and generous giving by a faithful few. And while all of these adventures sound dramatic and exotic, it is a precarious perch atop a pedestal! We aren’t so different you and I. We are a family (like yours,) striving, (like you,) to honor God in our decisions. To be willing to go when He says go. To be willing to stay when He says stay. To grow in trust and dependance on Him. To steward well the resources others invest in us!
Kiev Ukraine 2004
Kiev Ukraine 2006
Montana 2009
South Carolina 2012
Thailand 2013
Thailand 2015
We’re reaching out. We need a lifeline friends!!
Its a pivotal time for our family and we know that changes may be on the horizon. We are considering how to be faithful to the work God has called us to (global missions) without irresponsibly driving ourselves into debt and want to invite you to be part of this journey with us!
This season of uncertainty is not a fun one. My faith is being stretched to trust He is our provider no matter what changes take place….that God knows our needs, the needs of our kids, the needs of the projects and people we support. There is great comfort in the faithfulness of the Lord and the many years and seasons and moves He has seen us through. Like Samuel, we can say “thus far, the Lord has helped us“.
The Lord will not lead where He has not already gone before and prepared the way.
If God may be prompting you to partner in any way, we extend our humble and heartfelt gratitude!
Mailing List – we’d love to add you to our mailing list and send you regular prayer updates!! Feel free to comment with your email address.
Support – If you feel compelled to help with our funding, the “donate” button below takes you to a page where you can give a one-time gift or set up a monthly draw.
Can you give $10 or $15 a month? We need a small and faithful army of $10 givers!!
Share this post – help share the need by reposting on facebook or social media or forwarding this post by email to friends or family, your church group or Sunday school. We’d be happy to send additional information on our ministry if you’d be willing to advocate for us!
Thank you for loving our family, standing in the gap, and praying for God to move mountains on our behalf!
Freebird Brunch Review
Growing up in a family of eleven kids, Mother’s Day was an annual cause for celebration in our busy home. On this day, mom got to put aside her endless responsibilities. I fondly remember as a child, dressing up in our “Sunday best” and all going to brunch at a fancy hotel after church every Mother’s Day. We’d linger for hours frequenting the bountiful delights of the dessert spread that are now exaggerated, Im sure, in my childhood memories! With Mother’s Day just around the corner, (this weekend friends!!) we’ve done the scouting for you and are excited to share three of our top recommendations for Mother’s Day Brunch to treat that special someone in your life to a family feast that will honor her with the memories of her little ones gathered around a beautiful brunch that she didnt have to prepare!!
Freebird
Modern Australian Cuisine
Suggested Business Casual Attire
$$$
Nestled just off the beaten path of Sukhumvit, down the quiet, shaded soi 47, is Australian inspired restaurant Freebird, which will thrill nature enthusiasts and culinary experts alike!
We recommend this one specifically for Mothers Day as it allows mom to linger sipping her champagne, and when the little ones tire of sitting, they can escape to the garden. It may not be the Outback, but the backyard – a lush grassy fenced-in enclosure inhabited by bunnies hiding amongst the shrubbery, hutches housing parakeets and a wide variety of plants and trees – provides guests an alfresco dining experience like none other in this thriving metropolis of Bangkok.
Indoor decor is modern industrial interior with low lighting and comfy leather armchairs. Wide panel windows to the garden filter in natural light by day and dim lighting by night invites a quainter atmosphere. Sophistication meets casual dining with tables set with water and wine glasses, linen napkins, rustic strands of bulb mood-lighting and an open bar and marble work stations allowing guests to peer into the polished kitchen from which their meal is being prepared. Classy, but unpretentious, brunch here offers an elegant menu, modern motif, and room to roam for the little ones!
Upscale service by way of napkins placed in your lap and tables cleared and wiped between courses sets this restaurant apart as unhurried, efficient and intentional. The staff is knowledgeable and intuitive, exceptional qualities especially when you have children in tow needing directions to the restroom and doors opened to the garden and an extra spoon when you’ve dropped one!
Unlike other dining experiences in Bangkok where a la carte dishes are served randomly as they are ready (and guests are met with the awkward decision of eating while their dish is hot or waiting until the other members of their party are served), Freebird beautifully synchronizes delivery of courses with finesse and flare. A ‘shared menu’ concept means the portions are generous and guests are encouraged to dine, sampling a number of dishes placed in the center of the table from which you can help yourself. Ideal for extended family gatherings, corporate events and birthdays or baby-showers.
Starters that we loved and highly recommend are the saffron barley risotto with pumpkin seeds, sprinkled with a sharp aged cheddar and the mushroom medley served over hens egg and garnished with toasted muli-grain and Australian brie. Pair with a fresh rocket salad and you’ll be ready for the main event – dishes such as the Citrus Brined Chicken, Pork Belly and Beef Short Ribs which are cooked to perfection by head chef “Top” (yes….as in “Top Chef”!!) But his specialty is not limited to firing up the grill…..he can whip up an impressive pavlova accented by local fresh mangos. The cheesecake lover will want to try this one too made from camembert instead of cream cheese. But our family favorites were a close tie between the Passion Fruit Crumble and the Chocoholic – chocolate four ways (you just cant go wrong with that!)
Freebird is introducing a new menu at the end of this month unveiling extensive brunch varieties with more egg dishes, salads and brunch-fare to share and will also be offering a carefully chosen “kids menu” catering to the youngest foodies in your party. Anything but average, Freebird offers unexpected twists to favorite dishes and serves up a menu rich in fresh local ingredients paired splendidly with exotic flavors!