Experience So Thai Spa During a Mummy's Trip!

2018 has been a year of travels for me.  5 trips, not including trips to neighbouring JB, 4 countries.

I wrote about my trip to Bangkok here and here.  

Blessed with a hubby who is totally hands-on, I am able to travel with friends.  Why travel without the family you ask?  And I will ask, why not?  To me, that does not make me any less a parent or a Mum.  I just feel that it is a time to reflect, make connections with like-minded friends and just relax. Back home, the world revolves around the family and work (for working mums like me).  Sometimes, I just want to wake up without the need to prep breakfast, wash water bottles, nag and babysit.  Hahaha!!!  Yes yes, i signed up for parenthood and I am not complaining.  I am just finding reasons to enjoy myself, even if it meant 3D2N.

Anyway, if you are thinking to travel sans kids, i will say, just do it!  I always come back a better human being.  And maybe that's what has been keeping me going - working, cooking, nagging......

The last trip to Phuket was indeed a rest and relax trip.  We checked ourselves into this huge villa.  And we ordered breakfast service.  On other days, we were out eating seafood, fast food.  But most times, we were just lazing in the villa, enjoying the blue skies and sea, soaking up the sunlight.

But what is a holiday in Thailand without a massage, right?  We were recommended to So Thai Spa Phuket, which has 3 outlets in Phuket.  I am somewhat picky with the massage places I go to, especially if it involves body massage.  Foot massage is fine as we all know that there are lots of shops along shopping streets at cheap prices but for body, I prefer to pay more for a better experience.

As were staying in the Surin area, So Thai Spa Phuket Privilege is just 8 minutes drive away.  Out of the Patong area, this spa's location is superb as its surroundings is quiet and zen.

Deciding the oil to use for my massage.  There is an option for aloe vera too if you are sunburnt.  

It always start off with a little treat.  No matter you are there for 2 hours or 4 hours.

A tip!  If you do not mind sharing a room with your friend (I'm sure partners are fine), it is always cheaper to book couple rooms!

We thoroughly enjoyed our 4-hour So Thai Treat which includes foot massage, body scrub, herbal ball compress and lastly, an aroma oil massage.

A treat in between.  After a shower after the scrub.

The massages were good!  So good that we went back for a 2 hour session before we flew home.  As most of the masseuses are not fluent in English, the receptionist (better command of English) will ask questions about which body part you want the massage to focus more on, any injuries so that they can be more careful.  During the massage, the masseuses will ask if their use of strength is okay.  Apart from that, I drifted off to dreamland most times.  

Refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to take on come what may.  

So Thai Spa has a few outlets in different parts of Thailand now and I will definitely have them in mind when I next travel to Bangkok.

Now, when can I have the next break?  Pretty soon, I am sure.  2019, please be good!

Disclosure: We were given discounts at So Thai Spa.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own unless otherwise stated.

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My Kind of Bangkok Holiday Sans Kids. What's Yours?

Since I am on the topic of travelling to Bangkok, aka BKK, let's continue...

Bangkok is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes away from Singapore by plane.  Which makes it a relatively convenient city to visit, especially for Mummies out there because we can make it a short 2D1N, 3D2N, or however long we want.  I know how some Mums cringe at leaving their tots at home, without them, or are afraid to venture for a holiday for themselves only.  But hey, BKK is not a far place to consider.  Just "run away from home" for 2 days and tell yourself it's possible.

There are many airlines that fly from Singapore to Bangkok.  From full fledge airlines to budget ones, from 7am flights in the morning to 7pm flights at night, there is bound to be one that suits your needs and fulfil your wanderlust.  I know of people who do same-day trips to BKK, taking the first flight out (to BKK) and last flight back.  I have never done that - the shortest for me was a 3D2N trip that span less than 48 hours though.

Something old, something new.  You never fail to amaze me every trip.

I am not going to give you an itinerary because most of the times I am there, I will wake up and then decide where to go.  Most of the times.  Oh yes, apart from the cooking lesson I wrote about here that requires pre-booking.

But!  I will tell you where I go or what I eat.  :)

First, let's talk about markets.  From one of the 10 world's fresh market ranked by CNN to night markets (BKK has plenty of them!), one can walk non-stop.  That's the reason why a foot massage every night is a must for me.

Or Tor Kor Market

Take the MRT subway to Kamphaeng Phet station, exit number three and you will find yourself at the market that is ranked one of the 10 world's fresh market by CNN.

This is not the kind of wet markets we have back home.  In fact, the place is clean and pretty well-ventilated.  I love coming here on the last 2 days of my trip because of the fresh produce (read: fruits and garlic) I can buy home.

Garlic, garlic and more garlic!  These are very nice in Bak Kut Teh.

If you come during the mango season, you can buy some mangoes home.  The sellers will help you choose and mark the mangoes based on when the mangoes will ripe so that you can estimate when you can eat them (for e.g. 3 markings mean the mangoes will ripe in say 3-4 days).  How nice, right?

Need a mortar and pestle?  The supposedly good ones.  But, bargain!!!

Chatuchak Weekend Market 

This weekend market needs no introduction.  If I am there on a weekend, I may visit.  However, I cannot stand the heat.  Hot and humid, the coconut ice-cream is always a good treat.  Remember to bring a big bag to contain your purchases - you do not want to walk around carrying many small plastic bags.

Rot Fai Market Ratchada

The nearest MRT to this night market that opens from Thursday to Sunday is National Cultural Centre.  Though most websites indicate that it opens from 6pm, most of the stores start to operate from 7pm.  With open air pubs and loud music blasting, it is indeed a happening place to be in.  There are stuff to buy and food to eat.  Street food or hot piping seafood, there is no lack of things to see and eat.  

Sotong eggs anyone?

Will you eat this?  Or will you allow your kids to eat this?  Looks so cute but the amount of food colouring makes me feel very uncomfortable.

I shop a lot in Platinum Mall and Pratunam Market for both work and casual clothes.  Shorts and dresses, pants and tops.  Compared to Singapore, the prices are still pretty decent.  From 200Baht (~S$8.50) to 400Baht (~S$17.00), I can get a work dress that can easily last me 2 years or so.  Demi shorts last even longer!  Knowing that there are hundreds of stores in both places, I will definitely patronise those that I've bought clothes from.  If you are keen to know where I get my clothes, ask me and I will gladly share.  And something that not many know, Platinum Mall's toilets have fitting rooms that are clean.  You can try your newly bought clothes there and if need be, you can change sizes if they do not fit.  But always ask about exchanging for sizes first before purchasing.  Some sellers are fine while some aren't.

Another place that I will go is Chinatown.  Bangkok's Chinatown, otherwise known as Yaowarat, is home to Bangkok's Chinese community.  My friends love there at night due to the endless food options but I prefer there during the day.  Usually starting my day early there, I scour the alleys for wholesale buys.  Be prepared for the notorious BKK jam when travelling there during peak hours though.

This tickles me lots.  In the last trip with Serene and Jenn, Serene actually took this photo and posted on her Instagram stories.  When I travel without the kids, I often bring the measuring tape with me as it is a easier way to obtain measurements as compared to bringing their clothes along.

Non-authentic kids masks and toys.  At wholesale prices.

Party supplies, goodie bag items anyone?

Serene introduced this to us on our last trip to BKK.  Nai Ek Roll Noodles has a Distinction in the Michelin Guide 2018.  The peppery broth warms the tummy and I get my pig's blood cravings satisfied.  The crackling roast pork belly is to die for too!  Be prepared to queue during peak hours.  We were there on a Sunday morning at about 8am and were spared the wait.

Bangkok is home to many cafes these days.  Many are Instagram worthy places.  One such place is Karmakamet Secret World.  Within walking distance from BTS Phrom Phong, one seem to be cut-off from the hustle and bustle of city life once in there.  

It's the experience that counts and truly, it is.  I did not have any main courses there and so cannot comment on the quality of the food.  The desserts I had were very pretty though.  Totally a IG-worthy place.  Price wise - it is considered expensive in BKK standards.  If you have the time and would like to try something different, experience something different, I believe it is not hard to fall in love with this place.

I told you that I am in BKK mostly for eating.  And eat, did I.  Almost every other day is a trip to After You Dessert Cafe.  This is the few desserts that I love.  Absolutely delicious with different varieties, this Mango Glutinous Rice Kakigori is my favourite.  Forget about any diet, I'll work doubly hard with my exercises when I am home.  :D

When the queue starts even before they are open at 9am, this Sabx2 Soi 19 Wanton Mee is well, worth it only when you happen to be there.  Right in Pratunam Market, the place is always crowded with tourists.  Sharing tables are a norm but we realise that the noodles are inconsistent.  We ate there twice in the span of 5 days and on the second visit, there wasn't lard in the noodles and it just did not taste as nice as our first visit.

I love eating with more than 1 pax.  Because I get to order more food and we could share.  Either for a meal during lunch or tea-break "snackings" after all the shopping.  The oyster omelette at the Platinum Food Court never fails to disappoint.  Tell me how to lose weight when I am in BKK.  I guess the only consolation is that I walk a lot too.

This very popular salt crusted fish can be found at almost any "Zhi Char" store in BKK.  From the high end Thai restaurants to the street side seafood stores.  When fresh, it is good.  Order a Tom Yum Goong and mango salad, you can leave BKK with a happy tummy.

And so, very random, very vague.  But Bangkok is a city where one will not really go hungry unless one is not a fan of Thai cuisine.  But even then, there is always Mcdonalds!  The only question is, how big is my tummy space and how far can my legs walk.


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What Else to Do in BKK - Apart from Eating and Shopping and oh Massage!

2018 - how fast you have come; and how fast half a year has gone by.

It has been a challenging half year, with 2 kids now in primary school, new activities and more work. Sometimes, the only thing I want to do after work and dinner is hide at a corner and play Pokemon Go or Candy Crush.  Tell me - you feel me.  :)

Despite the hectic schedule (bluff who?!  You ask.), I manage to squeeze some time to travel.  Bangkok has always been a yearly go-to country before I had kids.  Now that the children are older, I seem to be getting back there yearly.  Well, at least for 2017 and 2018.  I probably have not blogged about such trips because, it's just eat, shop, eat, shop.  Oh, and foot massage every night.  At S$8 for an hour, where to find?!

We did nothing of those touristy stuff, nothing about the Floating Market or Grand Palace because i've been there when i was much younger.  In the trip last year with my mum and sis, we did something different.  We went for a cooking lesson.  Of course, to learn Thai cuisine!

We pre-booked our classes and chose the dishes that we were interested in.  On the day itself, turn up at the meeting point and the people from Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy will be there to bring you for a market tour before the cooking class starts.

Colours of the market

The ingredients for the choice of your dishes are prepared and one has to cut and chop his / her own ingredients.  We had fun using a big mortar and pestle and I always hear from the older generation that there is really a difference using that to grind ingredients into a fine paste as compared to using a blender or food processor.  What do you think?

Got to cook my own food too!  The good thing is not having to wash the pots and pans.  :)  

And ta-dah!  My lunch!  We did the morning session and thus, this was our lunch after all the cooking.  If you cannot finish all the food (which is actually a lot for a person), you can packet them back too.  We didn't though because we were off to other places.  

There were about 12 pax in the class but each had their own set of ingredients and cooking station.  After the session, recipes were given out too.  And so, off we went to the supermarket to buy some of those Thai ingredients.  Haha!  How aunty we are, right?

It was an interesting experience.  And a way to understand more of the ingredients that go into the Thai food I always love.  I saw couples in the class too, so it may be a good activity for couples.  :)


Disclosure:  This post may contain affiliate links, which are at no additional cost to you.  I will receive a commission if you click the link and purchase something.  :)

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Royal Caribbean - Mariner of the Seas & Ten Things to Note

We went on our first cruise together as a family.  B and I had been on Star Cruise many zillion years ago (ah ha!) but never on Royal Caribbean ("RC").

Heard lots about RC, about how big it is, how good the food is, how it is a city on its own.  And yea, all are true.  Not kidding!

The only thing I dislike is that for most of the 5D4N itinerary, it is over the weekdays.  Monday to Friday.  Meaning, working folks like us will need to take 5 days of annual / unpaid leaves!  Okay, maybe you can board the ship on Monday afternoon, so you can work 0.5 day, and then you leave the ship once it docks on Friday at 8.30am or so and rush to work,  you take another 0.5 day lesser, but it is still a good 4 days.  Oh well... regardless of it, we enjoyed much the away-from-civilisation aka, away from phone calls, WhatsApp, internet, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. holiday.  You see, we chose not to stay connected and thus did not purchase their WiFi router.

Onboard mariner of the Seas, we sailed to Port Klang and Phuket. 

We did an online check-in before the sailing date and upon boarding at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, everything was a breeze.  No longer is boarding at Harbourfront but the new Marina Bay Cruise Centre, where we get a view of the CBD.

The interior of the Dining Room, grand and magnificent.  We usually have our dinner at the assigned Dining Room at 5.30pm as the next seating will be at 8pm.  Upon booking, the RC customer service personnel will place you at the 5.30pm seating if you have children with you.

Lunch is served on the day of boarding.  Rooms are available at about 1pm.  We took a family room, which can sleep up to 6 pax.  A queen bed, a sofa bed and a bunk bed!  The bad: family rooms are usually located at the front of the ship.  Nice views but one got to walk a longer distance to the dining areas as those are usually located at the middle of the ship.

Tip 1: If you have elderly with you, try to book nearer the middle of the ship as dining areas are located at the centre of the ship.  Thus, walking is minimised.

A city on his own, the ship has like how many floors?!  Decorations during festive seasons makes the whole atmosphere even more attractive and photo-worthy.

Food is all so good, but all so western.  When we were there, the menu were mostly western and Indian.  

Tip 2: You can order more than 1 side if you like, but please don't be wasteful.

Tip 3: There is no Eggs Benedict on the breakfast menu at the Dining Rooms.  But if you are a lover of it like us, you may order it with the waiter serving your table.  Yums.

In total randomness, this is only a fraction of all the food we had.  We mainly eat at the Dining Rooms, with once or twice at the buffet area. 

Tip 4: There is a children's menu if the children do not fancy any of those adult's stuff.

E's portion of Mac & Cheese from the Children's menu.

Food is plenty!  There is a 24-hour cafe that serves pastries, fruits, cakes, sandwiches, coffee and tea. Literally feasting every other hour.

Still on food, there are a few chargeable restaurants, i.e. not part of the paid food on the cruise.  One of them is Chops Grille.  And we love their steaks!  

Tip 5: If you decide to dine at these specialty restaurants, there are certain days when they give a 20% discount so make use of it.  

Service is impeccable!  They even offer to help slice the children's food to bite-size portions.

Activities aplenty!  Whether is it the free shows, games or facilities around, there is bound to be something for everyone.  Even sitting around enjoying the sea breeze is to me, a real treat.

Everyday, the room attendant will put a Cruise Compass with the next day's activities in the room when they do the evening turn-down.

Tip 6: Please bring long pants and long sleeves or jackets if ice-skating is something you want to try.  There are no trainers nor coaches though.  Beginners like us will just try to balance and walk.  And oh, there are usually queues forming before the activity starts, so well, in typical Singapore style, do what is deemed fit.  :)

Sports deck!  Where one gets sun burnt so easily.

My boys love the mini golf.

Rock climbing is available at different times of the day.  And it is free!!!!!  E could not do it though as he was not tall enough.

There are swim vests available for children.  I love the heated jacuzzi and dislike the swimming pool as the water in the swimming pool is actually sea water.

Which kid is not a fan of arcades?!  

Tip 7: There is an hour of free arcade games on a particular night so play your heart out if you do not want to spend a penny for it.  We realised that when we top up our seapass card using cash (USD notes), it gives us 1.5x the credit, which is for example, USD15 worth of credits for USD10 top up.  Not sure if it works every other time, but no harm, right?!

One of the raves about RC is the availability of the drop-off services.  Children can join the age appropriate activities while parents go about doing what they want on the ship.  And from many friends' reviews, many of the children have so much fun that they went for the program every other day.

Tip 8: There is a doctor on board the ship should one needs one (though we wish we never have to).  There are also such vending machines that dispenses medication and plasters should one need one.  The next time a plaster is needed, do not worry as it can be bought at the medical area.

Tip 9: For the parents who would like to visit the casino.  Bring USD!  Simply because everything is in USD and a service charge is levied for topping up the seapass card if a credit card is used.

Tip 10: For the parents who love to have some wine onboard.  Each stateroom is allowed 2 bottles of red wine, upon embarkation from Singapore (no, please do not buy any when you are off at KL, Klang or Phuket.  Those are disallowed when back on board).  However, please remember to have them in your hand carry when you board as any in the checked in luggage will be screened and you will most probably have to collect your luggage instead of them delivering to your cabin.  This happened to us!  Haha!

Yes, we would love to be back on the RC.  Maybe on a different ship.  The Ovation of the Seas look fantastic!!!!

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