Board game cafes are popular as place to meet friends, play games, sometimes enjoy food and drink, and some even use it as a way to learn English by reading the instructions and cards on the games. Great idea! Games are imported from all over the world and I think this is a really fun thing to check out while in Chiang Rai. :) 

• Bangkok
• Chiang Mai
• Phuket
• Chiang Rai

Jamie Oliver has a restaurant in Siam Discovery, one of Bangkok's many malls, that we thought we would check out. 

Best Beef is a crazy place. It’s reminds me of Korean BBQ how you kind of cook the food at your table, but it’s unlimited like a buffet, yet you don’t have to get up for more food…. You can pay one price for the food, and another price includes all you can drink soda, or beer along with the food for two hours. You can get different cuts of beef, pork, chicken, seafood and various sauces. You can also get vegetables and random sides like chicken fingers or mac and cheese? We stuck with the meats, veggies,and beer. It was outside and it was hot~ imagine: a ton of tables with a ton of people, and a ton of little fires heating the food. Still it was a good experience. Just be on the watch for grease splatters! 

• Bangkok
• Chiang Mai
• Phuket

Tom n Tom is a cafe you will see frequently in Bangkok. 

Fresh juice is something you should enjoy while in Thailand. In the BTS station you'd an find tiny bottles like these with a variety of flavors.  

Here in the US, at times you see a sign that says "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" meaning that you need to be fully dressed to enter the establishment. 

But here in Thailand, that's not always the case. ;) 

At this restaurant located in the Old City, Cooking Love, shoes are not permitted. So leave them at the door and come on in for a meal! 

Can I just say that I love the BTS?

I don't know what exactly it is about it, but I love it. It was was nice, clean, efficient. It was easy to hear what stop you were approaching and which door would open. Most of the time it was crowded. And I mean really  crowded. You start to walk a mile in the shoes of sardines smashed all up against each other in one of those little cans. There are sights. There are smells. I love it all.  Okay, I don't love all of the smells. But the memories that come with it are my jam! 

Another reason I probably loved the BTS was because we strategically chose an accommodation that was steps away from the Onnut BTS stop. ;) A girl has to get places, amiright?!

Check out this short video for how to insert a ticket at the BTS station, if you're unfamiliar.

There are a number of ticketing options for the BTS.

You can get:

* Single journey ticket - 15-42 baht per trip (~$0.42 - 1.18 USD) 
* One day pass -  unlimited for 140 baht (~$3.92 USD) 

It really depends on what you're doing which is a better value. Check the chart at the station (or online) to see what the cost would be for you to get to your destination(s) and back. In some cases it is worth it to get the pass. Or if you are only visiting for a day or so and prefer the peace of mind of the pass in case you get off at the wrong stop and need to get back on etc, then go for the one day pass. Our first day we did a lot of moving and got the one day pass. After that we did the single journey tickets. 

The stations were great because everything was in Thai and English. Or... whatever they call the English spelling of the Thai words. (?) That was super helpful. 

There are also quick food places in the stations! I was excited about that!! Although, you are not to eat on the platforms or in the trains. But when you get off it's convenient to grab a bite on your way out. We enjoyed several Thai teas with boba this way. <3

There are 2 BTS lines (Silom and Sukhumvit Lines) and they connect via BTS at Siam station. The BTS website is an excellent resource and has an English option for page viewing. It has interactive maps and routes. You can see not only the stops, but also when you click on any stop it will bring up another map of the area around the stop. What business are around, where the different exits are and so-on..

An incredible service is the "Explore Bangkok by BTS" page. Here you can narrow down places you want to go to by category (such as Palaces, Shopping, Parks, etc) You can read a description of the place and get information like hours, entrance fees, phone number, website, and instructions on how to get there!!! How awesome is that?!

I hope this brief overview of the BTS is helpful to you. I found it very convenient to use and user-friendly for a newbie in Thailand. If you're visiting for a short time, it will likely take you to all the main places you would want to go, or at least pretty close to them.

Trip on over again next week for info about the Chao Phraya Express Boat including some video footage. ;)

Have an awesome weekend! 

It's not too often you can say something is good when it comes out of a sock. In fact... I don't think I have ever said that before in my life. How many things even come out of socks other than stinky feet? Blech. 

​But..... 

Whether a literal sock or merely the resemblance of once, you can get some of the most delicious beverages from the apparatus in the video. Love it!!!!

After first purchasing a cold Thai Coffee for just 20 baht, we returned in less than 5 minutes to purchase a Thai Tea (shown in the video).  How could we not!?

At the moment, 20 ฿(baht) is about 56 cents USD.  YUM-AZING!!!!

Beyond sheer deliciousness and great price point, the Baristas were the sweetest older Thai couple ever. We had to go back and tell them อร่อยมาก "arroi maak" (very delicious) ขอบคุณค่ะ "Kop khun kha" (thank you!) 

I like to think it made there day. Mainly because it made mine. ;-) Now they are etched into my heart as a favorite Thai Memory<3

I hope to see them again.

And I hope to see you again also! ;-)