What better way to spend a Saturday than hitting up some local hot spots around BKK? I started with the Nielsen Hayes Library. Here's a little history: The Bangkok Ladies' Library Association was founded in 1869 by thirteen expat women. The "library" was staffed by volunteers and open 6 days per week, usually rotating between different women's homes. In 1922 a permanent building for housing books, the Nielsen Hayes Library, was opened.
I've heard a lot about the library so I decided to check it out. When I got there, I entered through the back garden and had a look around. I walked from one end of the building to the other in about 5 minutes. Figuring this was not the main library, I exited the building and wandered around front, looking for another building on the library campus. This building was the only building. Surely this wasn't THE Nielsen Hayes Library everyone had been talking about. I wandered through a second time, and again found myself out in the garden in less than 5 minutes time. After having taken the MRT and a motorcy taxi to get here, I couldn't justify leaving just yet. I wasn't allowed to check out any books because I wasn't a member, so I sat at the library cafe and watched others read their books. That had to count for something, right?
Feeling a bit discouraged from my library trip, I jumped at the chance to meet two of my co-workers for drinks at "The Book Shop". The Book Shop is a really swanky cafe in Phra Khanong that gives off an Alice and Wonderland-y kind of vibe. There are books hanging from the ceiling, staircases leading nowhere and oversized chairs complimented by a delicious cocktail menu. This type of library visit was definitely way more my style!
After drinks at The Book Shop, we tried out a veg restaurant, Broccoli Revolution. I had the most amazing broccoli quinoa charcoal burger (didn't think I'd ever hear those words coming out of my mouth!) with a delicious fresh squeezed juice. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to eat healthy!
Although eating and drinking healthily is admirable, drinking craft brews is a bit more my style. After dinner I checked out an awesome craft brew bar, Mikkeler. They had over 20 beers on tap and a beautiful garden to enjoy them in.
As Tee and I were leaving Mikkeler, we ran into a street food vendor selling squished squid. Tash and I have been talking about trying this "delicacy" for ages. Having a little liquid courage and a willing partner was all I needed to cough up the 20 baht necessary for this treat. The vendor heats it on the grill and then flattens it on a press. The verdict: chewier than chewy without a lot of taste; the equivalent of sub par beef jerky in America.
No comments:
Post a Comment