Thai Food, How to Make Green Curry with Chicken [Kang Kaew Wan Kai]

Kang Kaew Wan is a popular Thai dish of chicken in a spicy green curry. It combines many Thai herbs such as basil leaves, chillies, kaffir lime leaves. Serve hot as part of a main meal.

Green Curry with Chicken Ingredients

1. 1/4 cup green curry paste

2. 350 grams chicken breast or thigh, cut in bite-size pieces

3. 1 1/4 cups coconut milk

4. 1/4 cup thai basil leaves

5. 2 eggplants, cut into small pieces.

6. 1/2 cup chicken stock

7. 2 teaspoons palm sugar

8. 3 tablespoons fish sauce

9. 2 red chilies, sliced diagonally

10. 4 kaffir lime leaves

Green Curry with Chicken Preparations

1. Bring 1 1/4 cups of coconut milk (use the thick cream off the top) to a boil in a pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often for 3 to 5 minutes. Add green curry paste; continue to cook and stir until the mixture becomes dry and fragrant. Transfer mixture to a larger pot.

2. Add the chicken and stir for 1-2 minutes, add fish sauce, sugar, keep stirring for another minute then add cut eggplant, the remaining coconut milk and chicken stock. Cook over medium heat until the chicken is cooked and eggplant is tender.

3. Add kaffir lime leaves and Thai basil. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and adjust the seasoning and transfer to a serving bowl.

by: http://www.thaifooddb.com

Thai Food, How to Make Pad Thai ( Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp )

Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp [Pad Thai Goong]

Thai style fried noodle is very well known and is one of the dishes that foreigners love to eat. It combines with many ingredients such as bean sprouts, green onion, chillies, lemons, etc.

Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp Ingredients

1. 12 fresh Shrimp

2. 90 gram Dry Rice Noodle (3 - 5 m.m.)

3. 50 gram Fresh Bean Sprouts

4. 2 tablespoons Chopped (1") Green Onion

5. 6 tablespoons Fish Sauce

6. 6 tablespoons Oyster Sauce

7. 3 teaspoons Vinegar

8. 2 tablespoons Sugar

9. 2 Tablespoons Preserved Turnip

10. 2 Tablespoons Crushed Peanuts

11. 1 Tablespoon Paprika

12. 2 Eggs

13. 1 Teaspoon Red Chili (for Spicy lover)

14. 1/2 Lemon

Stir-Fried Rice Noodle with Shrimp Preparations

1. Soak the noodles about 30 minutes in room temperature water.

2. Heat and season the wok. Add the Shrimp and grill for 90 seconds. Add the Eggs. When the eggs are not quite finished, add the Noodles, Sugar, Peanuts, Turnips and Paprika. Stir Fry until all ingredients are mixed well and the noodles are wilted.

3. Season with the Fish Sauce, Oyster Sauce and vinegar. Then add Bean Sprouts, Green Onions and Red Chili. Stir fry quickly ensuring everything is well combined. If you like wet noodle dishes de glaze with 5 oz. water stock. If you like firmer dry noddles de glaze with only 2 oz. water stock. Place on Serving plate and garnish with more Bean Sprouts and a Lemon wedge.

by: http://www.thaifooddb.com

One of my favorite gifts is hearing from you.
Greetings of the season to you and yours.

by: Thai hotel and tourism

Lumpini Park, Bangkok

If all the late-night gallivanting, sightseeing, and debauchery is catching up with you, and the relentless buzz of the city is making you slightly delirious, maybe a walk in the park will offer some perspective. Lumpini Park, Bangkok's oldest and largest park, is an inner-city haven of tranquility, fresh air and shade - offering city dwellers the perfect connection to nature.

Named after the birthplace of the Lord Buddha in Nepal, the park is more than half a million square kilometers big, and the habitat of various life forms. Historically, it dates back to the 1920s, and was a gift from King Rama VI to the people of Bangkok.

Following his death, the project was completed under the direction of his successor, Rama VII. Long ago, kite contests, cow races and merry-go-rounds formed part of the park's activities, and in wartimes it became a camp for Japanese soldiers. After the war, the Thai Constitution was celebrated here, and the annual Miss Siam contest was hosted on the park's island.

From Dusk Untill Dawn

To this day, at 8:00 and 18:00, as in public places all over Thailand, everything comes to a standstill - to pay respect to H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej - while the national anthem is aired on loudspeakers.

Lumpini Park appeals to all sorts of people today, from wise elders practicing tai chi, sweethearts lounging at the lakeside, to the odd tourist getting happy on pure oxygen - and every other shade in between. The park is home to ever rarer indigenous flora, a forest park, and some quirky residents... Looming beyond the immediate green, glimmering city skyscrapers punctuate the scene.

A bright and early morning stride or at dusk is the best time to go see grown-ups at play. On weekends, the space is animated by families and the cheery sounds of children. Some of the colourful recreational pursuits at the park include rowing, paddleboats, and a fun outdoor gym.

Before sunset you can sweat it out at free open-air aerobics sessions to high-energy techno tunes. There is also a basketball court if you want to shoot some hoops. Often, local jazz outfits or even a classical orchestra make for fine (and free) late Sunday afternoon entertainment. Mats can be hired for 30 baht. Take a bottle of wine and picnic basket along.

The gardens are, however, spacious enough to allow a contemplative moment. A place unlike any other in Bangkok, you can kick off your shoes and let your feet touch the cool, morning-dewed grass. Watch (or join) the local fitness fundis in their various attempts to get the blood flowing - from jogging, cycling and stretching, to fencing, tai chi, yoga and ballroom dancing under a pavilion.

Boisterous Kids and Urban Survivors of Ancient Siam

If a leisurely stroll is more your style, just follow the maze-like pathways and let nature do its magic. There are also more sheltered niches, where you could read a book, meditate or have a picnic. While the young and boisterous can go climbing jungle gyms, ride the seesaw or play on the swings, it is just as easy to catch a nap in one of the shady dens surrounded by trees and refreshing foliage. Don't be alarmed if you come across some of the park's permanent 'inhabitants'...

Slinky reptiles, about the size of teenage crocodiles, surreptitiously wading out of the pond to sunbathe, squirrels doing acrobatics in the treetops, palm-sized mollusks making pilgrimage across the lawn - these are a few of God's creatures you might encounter on a visit to the park. Not quite what you'd expect to find in a metropolis of this magnitude, regard them as urban survivors of ancient Siam.

Note that while the aforementioned reptile, known as the 'water monitor lizard', might not be of the man-eating variety, it is advisable not to hand-feed him either!

Food Fix and Noodle Feast

On the subject of food, Lumpini Park has a line of small stands selling some fresh Thai food and fruit. If you're up for a chlorophyll fix, try their wheatgrass patties - a local contribution to the detox industry.

And noodle-lovers will not be disappointed by the variety of vendors camped outside the gates near the Rama VI statue, cooking up some tasty variations of 'pad thai' (a Thai noodle dish).

Lumpini is situated perfectly, framed by the roads Rama IV and Ratchadamri, (south and west) as well as Sarasin and Wireless (east and north, respectively). It is also opposite Suan Lum Night Bazaar, and within a short walking distance to both Lumpini and Silom underground (MRT) stations.

Opening hours are from 06:00 to 21:00

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Keeping Fit in Bangkok 2

Bangkok Parks
What would a city be without parks and greenery? Not only is Bangkok very green, with numerous streets and alleys lined with trees, but the capital boasts a handful of lush and verdant parks. In a hustling and bustling metropolis like Bangkok, where traffic never seems to dwindle, tranquil parks offer an ideal retreat from the city's madness. Relax on a bench or stroll in the trees' shade. Bangkok's parks also offer an excellent setting for outdoor activities. Jogging, Frisbee and aerobics are among the popular activities people like to engage themselves in.

Lumpini Park, located off Rama IV not far from the Silom area, offers a great setting for jogging or walking. Join people practicing the ancient art of T'ai Chi just after dawn, or aerobics enthusiasts behind the Rama VI statue in the evenings.

Another popular park is Benchasiri Park on Sukhumvit next to the Emporium Shopping Complex. Though much smaller than Lumpini, this park, which also features a sports area for 'trakaew' (rattan ball game), volleyball, basketball and skateboarding, provides some tranquility in Bangkok's busy Sukhumvit area.

Chatuchak Park, located right next to the famous Weekend Market is popular and offers a pleasant retreat from the market's hullabaloo.

For more on parks in Bangkok, have a look here.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Keeping Fit in Bangkok

People in Bangkok have long recognised that keeping a physical and mental balance is the essence of overall wellness in today's busy urban lifestyle, especially in a hectic setting like the capital. So when it comes to exercise and fitness, Bangkok has it all! From green parks, to high-tech gyms, to dance and yoga studios, to extreme and competitive sports facilities; it's all available in Bangkok. \

At any given time, Bangkok's residents are rigorously exercising somewhere. If you go to Lumpini Park in the early morning hours, you'll see groups of people practicing the ancient arts of T'ai Chi, throughout the day plentiful gyms and fitness centres around town welcome adrenalin-craved members and visitors to workout at their facilities, while public open-air aerobics is very popular among Thais and foreigners alike.

Bangkok Fitness Center

Bangkok's multitude of recreational amenities offers a wide range of fun indoor and outdoor activities. Most five-star hotels and luxury serviced apartment residences have fitness facilities, but if you're not staying in one, there are plenty of hip and fashionable fitness clubs with state-of-the-art equipment available around the city. While clubs generally operate on a membership basis, most of them offer special promotions or short-term packages for non-residents.

California Wow Experience
With four big branches on Silom, Sukhumvit 23, Pinklao and the latest addition at Siam Paragon (and more on the way) this international fitness corporation, which also has clubs in Hong Kong and South Korea, is one of Bangkok's most vibrant and exciting workout places. Centres offer excellent equipment and machines, fun group aerobics, combat and dance classes, and personal training programs in a nightclub-like atmosphere. Expect heaps of happy people working out to loud music!

Fitness First
The worldwide health club operator with clubs spread across Asia, Australia, Europe and the UK has various locations around Bangkok offers comfortable workout surroundings, personal trainers, modern equipment and an extensive exercise program. Members can benefit from the reciprocal use of all clubs worldwide through a 'Passport membership'.

True Fitness
Located right in the Asoke junction and on the 7-11 levels of Zen Department Store, this multi-storey gym complex offers everything from the usual work out facilities to various dance and hot yoga classes. Live DJ plays your favourite tunes as you're burning off those unwanted calories. In-house spa and cosmetic clinic are also available.

Clark Hatch Fitness Center
Another worldwide fitness club brand with several branches in Bangkok. Locations are separately owned and independently operated by licensees of Clark Hatch International. Individual clubs offer different facilities, but all of them generally feature gyms equipped with newest equipment, aerobics and step classes, personalized fitness programs, swimming pools, steam room and sauna.
Some locations also offer squash and tennis courts, acquacise classes, table tennis and massage services. All clubs provide complimentary towels, and shoes and clothing are available at some.

Capitol Club

Does a busy urban lifestyle keep you unhealthy and lethargic? Been wanting to get fit but don't know where to start? Surpassing any ordinary fitness centre, Capitol Club, a luxury health club under the wing of President Park Executive Serviced Apartments, is an all-in-one venue with full-fledged facilities catering to those wanting to get healthy or merely just to have fun. Located in Sukhumvit Soi 24, this five-storey club boasts a distinctive Fitness Dome on the top floor, where guests can shed some sweat under a fiberglass-domed roof.

Venturing to new heights
In addition to burning unwanted calories and shaping muscles at an extensive range of fitness equipment, gravity-defying devotees can also get their adrenalin fix at the Capitol Club's eight-metre tall Rock Climbing Wall, one of Bangkok's few indoor rock climbing facilities. Closely supervised by well-trained staff, a climber can choose to safely conquer the path that best fits their ability.

The gym is spacious with free weights, machines and cardio areas properly sectioned. Certified personal trainers are readily at hand (private sessions are also available). Cardio machines can be found on the mezzanine floor, where great views will keep you on the treadmill longer. Alternatively, enjoy a wide range of health-beneficial activities encompassing everything from yoga, tai chi, Pilates to hip-hop dancing in an aerobics studio with sprung floor and mirrored glass wall.

Superior sport facilities
Sport enthusiasts will love Capitol Club's well-maintained facilities. Put your racket skills to test at the club's tennis and squash courts. Courses and training offered by experienced coaches can also be had. Cool down or swim a few laps at the three outdoor swimming pools - a perfect total body workout for a hot day.

In addition to world-class fitness equipment, housed under the same roof is Ananda Spa (read review here), where guests can take advantages of its amazing array of services and treatments. A large spa locker room and fitness locker room are separated and equipped with steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi.

As for post-workout refreshments and nourishment, Capitol Club offers a great selection of eateries. Treat yourself with tasty pastries, cakes, sandwiches, smoothies, protein shakes or cocktails at the Dome Cafe, choose to chill at Oasis Poolside, Skylight Bar or enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at De Meglio on the lobby floor.

It's more than a health club, it's the god life

Truly living up to its slogan, Capitol Club offers what the ubiquitous franchised fitness centres don't - a sport complex combined with a fully-functional health club. An absolute answer to today's hectic lifestyle with its superb location surrounded by shopping malls, parks, entertainment options and the city's efficient Skytrain (Asoke Station) and MRT (Sukhumvit Station), this all-in-one venue is an ideal place to be, be it to work out, get healthy, socialise or simply unwind the mind and re-energise the body.

Reviewed by Chanun Poomsawai

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Most Attractive Thai Tourism Attraction

In fact only 40 years ago Pattaya as we know it today,didn't even exist. On the stretch of coast between Sriracha and Sattahip, there were only a small number of fishing villages and in Pattaya bay itself, there were just a few fishing families who had settled here because of the calm waters and the safety of the bay, protected headlands to the North and South and by mountains behind. Their nearest neighbors lived just around the headland to the north, where, in the old days salt used to be produced (Naa-Klua = salt fields) but where there were now mainly fishing families. People traveled about by foot or by bullock carts because, except of the main road from Bangkok to Sattahip, only a few dirt roads and tracks existed.

Nevertheless, the bay and nearby islands provided good, safe fishing and more and more families came here to settle down, Gradually a village developed. At first was know as Tupphraya the general name for the area which dated back to the time when Pharaya Taksin (Duke Taksin) camped near here with the followers he had gathered to help free Thailand from the Burmese (Tupphraya - the Pharaya' - army) As the village grew, the villagers wanted to give it a separate identity, so they adopted the name of Pattaya, which was the name they used for the strong winds which came from the South West at the beginning of every rainy season.

The pace of life was slow and it seemed as if Pattaya would remain an out-of-the-way place forever. Even up to 30 years ago there were only a few buses serving the 100 or more families who lived here and visitors from elsewhere were few and far between. But things were destined to change and as usual, it was a war (the Vietnam War) which changed them. The U.S.A. sent soldiers to build the air base at U Tapao and many of these took to spending their leisure time and money in Pattaya.

The beaches were clean in those days and the sea breezes made it pleasant and cool. People in the surrounding areas were quick to spot the business opportunities and bars guesthouses begun to spring up. The fisher - folk probably resented this intrusion, but it provided a good market for their catches and they soon got on the bandwagon by offering fishing trips to Koh Larn for about 50 Baht per head. Gradually, visitors from Bangkok also begun to use the resort at weekends, although the trip was a tiring 3 to 4 hours on the two-lane road.
Later the US Military based in Thailand begun to use Pattaya for rest and recreation (R&R) and bigger hotels and entertainment places (including the oldest profession of them all) were built to cater for them. Thus the' 60s and' 70s saw the most rapid change and development. In 1964 in view of its new importance, Pattata was raised to the status of a village and in 1979, elevated to that of a Teasban Nakhon (Municipality), responsible now for its own administration.

Today Pattaya is Thailand's premier beach resort and attracts annually more than a million tourists from all over the world. Pattaya provides high standard hotels, restaurants, sports, entertainment and shopping facilities. The resort is Thailand's most important diving center and the east coast is also a paradise for golfers.

Thai Food, How to Make Som Tum (Papaya Salad)

Papaya Salad [Som Tum]

Papaya salad is very popular with both Thais and foreigners. It combines many vegetables such as papaya, tomato, chilies, galics, etc. Thais like to eat with sticky rice and barbecued chicken.

Papaya Salad Ingredients

1. 2 cups shredded green papaya

2. 1/2 cup shredded carrot

3. 1/2 cup sting bean (cut into 1" long)

4. 2 tablespoons fish sauce

5. 1 1/2 tablespoons palm sugar

6. 3 tablespoons lime juice

7. 1/2 cup tomato (wedged)

8. 1/3 cup dried shrimps

9. 1/4 cup peanuts

10. 10 green chilies

11. 5 cloves fresh garlic

Papaya Salad Preparations

1. Use motar and prestle to crush the chilli and garlic, add shrimps, continue crushing.

2. Add sugar, continue beating with the prestle, then add the papaya, carrot, sting bean, fish sauce, lime juice, tomato, and peanuts. Continue beating until all ingredients mixed well.

3. Finally, season with sugar, fish sauce, or lime. The original taste this dish should be the balance taste between sweet, (pepper) hot, salty, and sour.

4. Serve with vegetables (e.g. cabbage, string bean, napa, etc.). Thai people love to eat Sticky Rice with Papaya Salad. In this case, sticky rice can be served together with finished Papaya Salad.

by: http://www.thaifooddb.com

Merry Christmas & Happy's New Year 2009

Merry Christmas & Happy New's Year for who come to my blog. And especially thanks for my customers. I wish all of you will get the good things for the next year 2009. For Thai hotel and tourism blog in the next year, I will find more discount and more quality products for our customer shopping. I hope you will be more enjoy with our products.

Thai Food, How to Make Tom Yam Goong

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass [Tom Yum Goong]

Tom Yum Goong soup combines all the exotic flavours of Thai Food bringing together herbs ingredients such as lemongrass, chillies, ginza and coriander.

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass Ingredients

1. 12 medium-size shrimps, deveined

2. 10 mushrooms

3. 1 stalk of lemon grass (lightly pounded and cut into 2" long)

4. 3 lime leaves

5. 1 teaspoon of salt

6. 2 tablespoons of fishsauce

7. 3 tablespoons of lime juice

8. 6 hot peppers (pounded lightly)

9. 4 cups of water

10. 1/2 cup of roughly cut coriander leaves

Spicy Soup with Prawn and Lemon Grass Preparations

1. Remove the shrimp shell but leave the tails (for good appearance). Then cut open the back of each shrimp to remove the veins. Also clean the mushrooms with water and dry them well before wedging each into quarters.

2. Bring water to boil, then add lemon grass, lime leaves, and shrimps. When the shrimps turn pink, add mushrooms and salts.

3. Remove the pot from heat after boiling. Then season with fish sauce, lime juice, and hot peppers. Serve the soup while still hot and garnish on top with pieces of coriander leaves.

by: http://www.thaifooddb.com

Thai Food, Top 10 Thai Food

I spent most of the day at the Book Fair at Queen Sirikit Convention Hall. The big fairs are usually during the school holidays in April and October. I used to comment that Thai people don’t like reading much (apart from cartoon books), but every year more and more people go to these book fairs. Today was packed and I could hardly move. I bought quite a few books that I will share with you later, but first I want to show you this book which is all about the Top 10 of Thai Food! Obviously one of my favourite subjects. As you can see, the book is in Thai. I think I already have the best of the cookery books in English. Most of them are quite limited and repeat themselves a lot. So, that is why today I was browsing through the cook books written by Thai people. A better selection for sure. I bought half a dozen cook books which will help me a lot identifying the ingredients of street food that I have already photographed. I could blog about Thai food every day, I am just lacking the information sometimes.

Anyway, according to this book, the following is the Top 10 list of Thai Food:

1. Hot and sour soup with shrimp
2. Green curry with chicken
3. Fried Noodles
4. Pork fried in basil
5. Red curry with roast duck
6. Coconut soup with chicken
7. Thai style salad with beef
8. Satay pork
9. Fried chicken with cashew
10. Panang curry

by: http://www.enjoythaifood.com

Keeping Fit in Bangkok

People in Bangkok have long recognised that keeping a physical and mental balance is the essence of overall wellness in today's busy urban lifestyle, especially in a hectic setting like the capital. So when it comes to exercise and fitness, Bangkok has it all! From green parks, to high-tech gyms, to dance and yoga studios, to extreme and competitive sports facilities; it's all available in Bangkok. \

At any given time, Bangkok's residents are rigorously exercising somewhere. If you go to Lumpini Park in the early morning hours, you'll see groups of people practicing the ancient arts of T'ai Chi, throughout the day plentiful gyms and fitness centres around town welcome adrenalin-craved members and visitors to workout at their facilities, while public open-air aerobics is very popular among Thais and foreigners alike.

Fitness Center

Bangkok's multitude of recreational amenities offers a wide range of fun indoor and outdoor activities. Most five-star hotels and luxury serviced apartment residences have fitness facilities, but if you're not staying in one, there are plenty of hip and fashionable fitness clubs with state-of-the-art equipment available around the city. While clubs generally operate on a membership basis, most of them offer special promotions or short-term packages for non-residents.

California Wow Experience
With four big branches on Silom, Sukhumvit 23, Pinklao and the latest addition at Siam Paragon (and more on the way) this international fitness corporation, which also has clubs in Hong Kong and South Korea, is one of Bangkok's most vibrant and exciting workout places. Centres offer excellent equipment and machines, fun group aerobics, combat and dance classes, and personal training programs in a nightclub-like atmosphere. Expect heaps of happy people working out to loud music!

Fitness First
The worldwide health club operator with clubs spread across Asia, Australia, Europe and the UK has various locations around Bangkok offers comfortable workout surroundings, personal trainers, modern equipment and an extensive exercise program. Members can benefit from the reciprocal use of all clubs worldwide through a 'Passport membership'.

True Fitness
Located right in the Asoke junction and on the 7-11 levels of Zen Department Store, this multi-storey gym complex offers everything from the usual work out facilities to various dance and hot yoga classes. Live DJ plays your favourite tunes as you're burning off those unwanted calories. In-house spa and cosmetic clinic are also available.

Clark Hatch Fitness Centers
Another worldwide fitness club brand with several branches in Bangkok. Locations are separately owned and independently operated by licensees of Clark Hatch International. Individual clubs offer different facilities, but all of them generally feature gyms equipped with newest equipment, aerobics and step classes, personalized fitness programs, swimming pools, steam room and sauna.

Some locations also offer squash and tennis courts, acquacise classes, table tennis and massage services. All clubs provide complimentary towels, and shoes and clothing are available at some.

Capitol Club

Does a busy urban lifestyle keep you unhealthy and lethargic? Been wanting to get fit but don't know where to start? Surpassing any ordinary fitness centre, Capitol Club, a luxury health club under the wing of President Park Executive Serviced Apartments, is an all-in-one venue with full-fledged facilities catering to those wanting to get healthy or merely just to have fun. Located in Sukhumvit Soi 24, this five-storey club boasts a distinctive Fitness Dome on the top floor, where guests can shed some sweat under a fiberglass-domed roof.

by: http://www.bangkok.com/

Bangkok Spa Review, Bangkok Meditation

One of the most important aspects of Buddhism, meditation is viewed as essential to cleanse the mind in order to achieve clarity and inner peace.

If you have time, or perhaps just interested in spending a few hours away from the hustle and bustle, you can learn meditation techniques from English speaking teachers at the Vipassana Meditation Center (Wat Mahatat) Located close to Sanam Luang, the Wat Mahatat temple complex has a school where Buddhist monks have been giving classes in meditation for over 40 years. The main teacher speaks good English.

Open: 9:00 - 16:00
Location: Na Phra Lan Road

Have a look here for more on meditation.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Wat Po Traditional Massage

Thai massage illustrations and instructions on the wall of the massage school at Wat Po (Bangkok)


If you want to try the real thing, Wat Po (The Temple of the Reclining Buddha) offers Thai massage in its most traditional form, taken from the original inscriptions in stone commissioned by King Rama III, great-grandfather of the present king. If you are interested in learning the techniques, The Wat Pho Massage School offers a ten-day course too, for around 6,000 baht. Contact the school located in the temple compound. The easiest way to get to Wat Po is by boat. Take the Chao Phraya River Express to the Tha Thien pier, then walk through the market and up the short street. Wat Po is directly across the intersection, on your right. On the left is the rear wall of the Grand Palace.

Open: 08:00 - 17:00 (massage available until 18:00).
Location: Maharat Road, about a half mile south of the Grand Palace

(Visitors must pay an entrance fee of 20 baht at the booths just inside the north or south, entrances.)

by: http://www.bangkok.com/

Bangkok Spa Review, Where to go for a Thai Massage

Spas and salons offering traditional Thai massage are as common in Bangkok as fruit vendors and dance remixes of 'My Humps'. Finding a location is not difficult, though discovering a high quality place that suits your particular fancy sometimes requires a bit of guidance. Many of the city's fine hotels these days sport their own lavish in-house spas too, where you'd be able to enjoy a wide range of spa and massage treatments. Also have a look at the advertisers on this page who are offering some great specials.

Frequently perceived as indulgent and intended only for those accustomed to luxury, traditional Thai massage manages to disprove this preconception, performing bodywork in order to promote health. A vast majority of individuals experience stress and tension on a regular basis, and what better way to escape pressure from everyday life than to take pleasure in one of Thailand's most illustrious forms of healing and rejuvenation?

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Hapa Spa Bangkok

Hapa Spa Bangkok

Sukhumvit Soi 3's ultra-modern 'Hapa Spa' is one of these rare spas.
It has the exotic name: the word 'Hapa' originates from the paradise
island of Hawaii, and means of 'mixed descent'.And, it lives up to
the promise: its treatments and architecture are a hybrid, drawing
not only on Eastern and Western influences, but also other fashionable
dichotomies like past and future, organic and man-made, science and tradition.

Quirky spaces for organic indulgences
This eclecticism is apparent when passing through its funky circular glass door, into the chic oblong reception area. Cast in a cool Zen style, it is a bright, tranquil space with floor-to-ceiling windows and chic rattan furniture. At one end glass containers of roast herbal teas occupy trendy teak shelves, in the centre sits a raised tea bar, and at the other a beauty salon and foot massage area.

The six treatments rooms are also quirky. Found amidst retro sculptures and furniture, each is little more than an aluminium storage container (they wouldn't look out of place in a cargo shipping yard). However, step past their cold impersonal exteriors and they're gorgeous and private: minimal interiors decked out with cream shiny surfaces, splashes of Thai modern art and showers, deep tubs or jacuzzis.

Although Hapa Spa's setting is man-made and playful, there is one area it doesn't tweak: the ingredients used are nothing but 100% organic. Run your finger down the menu and you'll find rubdowns that use unforeseen natural substances like Arabica Coffee or organic rice, oddities like a body wrap that uses pure chocolate, or oil massages that utilise all manner of natural oils.

No synthetic additives or untested chemicals here. The duration of treatments is just as diverse, if not untested, ranging from half-hour breaks from the harassment of Sukhumvit (a face or foot massage perhaps) all the way up to exhaustive rejuvenating packages that take between two and a half to seven hours.

The Four Treatments Package

With treatments like the 'Infrared Thermal Sauna' available, that's not as exhausting an undertaking as it sounds. The infrared sauna uses radiant heat, a form of energy that heats the person but not the air in-between, to burn off calories, expel toxins and give you radiant glowing skin.

All I had to do was sit there in a small pine cabin and read, listen to piped in chamber music, meditate and reap the benefits.f I felt as if emerging from a chrysalis. Once I'd showered up afterwards my body felt translucent, as polished as a freshly shored pearl.

Hydrotherapy - exercise without effort

After doing low-tech, it was then onto something more bleeding edge: Hydrotherapy. Never before had I tried immersing myself in a deep tub filled with hot mineral enriched water, one that bubbles like a creamy volcanic pool courtesy of an aerated bathmat that sits beneath you.

Once you do though, you don't forget it: the fierce ultrasonic bubbles take over, quaking the body into a state of vigorous relaxation. So fierce are they, that each cm of skin is subjected to 15kg of pressure each second - the net result, you guessed it, more exercise without effort (15 minutes equals a 3km jog). Aside from weight loss, regular use is said to improve sex life, circulation, complexion, and, by stimulating endorphins, control pain and muscle tension.

If you're under whelmed by treatments like the old school Thai or Swedish, then I can only recommend what came after I surrendered into the able hands of awaiting masseurs. Yes that's right 'masseurs' plural - the unconventional 'Four Hands Massage' gives you two of them.

One takes the leg area, the other tackles the torso and arms. For the occasion I had the choice of four different aromatherapy oils - Flu Fighter, Geranium, Lavender, HAPA. The last (a signature mix of lavender, geranium, peppermint, lemon, cinnamon, orange and eucalyptus) was by far the most arresting. As it was applied in blends of long, sweeping Shiatsu and Swedish style strokes the air was filled with Elysian scents. My mind and body passed through a rarely used door of perception. Here there was no stress, no worries, only the serene calm of pure bodily sensation.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Leyana Spa Bangkok

Tucked away quietly from the hectic pace of Thong Lor Road, Leyana Spa is a loft-like two-storey house set in a lush tropical garden. The entrance is stylishly decorated with stones sitting in a small pond leading to the front door. Once inside, I was welcomed by a charming receptionist who told me to slip into a pair of slippers.

Leyana offers a wide range of treatments all designed to help relax, revitalise as well as energise a tense and fatigued body. The treatments are categorised into six different varieties: massage menu, facial treatments, body scrub, body wrap, half-day and full-day spa package. After careful consideration, I opted for 'Rejuvenation', one of Leyana's most popular half-day spa packages.

Lasting about two hours and 20 minutes, it comprises of footbath, shower, Thai herbal steam, a choice of body scrub, and a choice of massage. Once the choice of treatment was decided, it was time to choose the scrub and massage oil to go with it. Freshly-prepared scrub comes in six different kinds: lemon, Thai tamarind, honey and oatmeal, sesame and honey, tropical fruit, jasmine rice, and coconut. Each concoction works differently, depending on skin type.

If you want to moisturise, soothe and polish your skin, try honey and oatmeal or lemon. While sesame nourishes and detoxifies tired skin, tamarind cleanses and makes skin appear brighter. For those with sensitive or sunburned skin, the coconut scrub is highly recommended. Having heard so much about the healing properties of tamarind, I opted for a tamarind recipe. As for the massage, I picked 'Leyana Massage', and the exclusively blended essential oil called 'Uplift' to complement it.

While the facilities and the 'food' for my skin were being prepared, the rejuvenating session began with a gentle footbath in rose petal-sprinkled water - a brief, yet soothing little indulgence that prepared me for better things to come...

Some like it hot... and herbal
After a footbath and a quick shower, my therapist led me into Leyana's Thai-style steam room, which consists of two small cylindrical tent-like coverings. Most of the facilities here are designed to accommodate a couple, so if you come with your other half or a friend, Leyana is the perfect place for double indulgence.

As soon as I stepped inside my little 'tepee', I was greeted by the aroma of a mixed variety of exotic Thai herbs. In order to obtain the maximum benefits from these herbs, I was told to inhale deeply and slowly. It is believed that a boiled mixture of fresh and dried essential herbs (lemongrass, khamin, prai, bergamot lime and camphor leaves, among others) has medicinal properties to treat skin ailments, muscle stress, and respiratory problems.

I also learned from my therapist that an added benefit of the herbal steam is to prepare the body for a scrub or massage. The steam enters the lungs, allowing the therapeutic herbs to effectively be absorbed into the body. The herbal oil applied will be absorbed more readily. Also, warm and relaxed post-herbal steam muscles can be more easily stretched.

In good hand

Lying face-down on the massage bed, the smell of fresh tamarind still lingered in the air. The masseuse applied tamarind paste onto my body, starting from the back, shoulders, arms and legs, then to the front. Half an hour of scrubbing flew by and my body was covered entirely in tamarind and oat meal.

I was told to go rinse myself off before the massage - the highlight of the day I shall say. My choice was 'Leyana massage', Leyana's signature soft to medium massage - perfect for those new to massage therapy and those who want to have a good dozing. I felt the aromatic lemongrass oil being kneaded into my back. The last thing I heard was her saying how I had 'knotted' back muscles. I must have fallen asleep through most of the session.

And to top it all off...

With clothes back on my oil-nourished body, I was invited to stay for the 'Leyana Brunch'. But wait, if I remembered correctly, I didn't order any food - there must have been some misunderstanding... As it turned out, the light and healthy 'Leyana Brunch', consisting of a tuna garden salad, fruit smoothie and fruit salad, was a complimentary meal for appointments made before noon (any treatment).

Leyana Spa truly embraces the spirit and tradition of holistic healing, and offers a spa menu that features a comprehensive and balanced range of exotic, revitalising 'feel-good' and 'look-good' treatments.

Leyana Spa

Open: 10:00 - 22:00 (last appointment is at 20:00)
Location: 33 Thonglor 13, Soi Torsak, Klongtonnuer, Wattana
Contact: +66 (0)2 874 4461
How to get there: Take BTS to Thong Lo station. Use exit 1 and walk to street level. Keep going straight until you see the road sign 'Sukhumvit 53'. Complimentary transfer service is available to and from Thong Lo BTS station.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club Bangkok

Covering over 7,000 square metres high above the sights and sounds of Bangkok, the multi-award winning I.Sawan Spa is planned and designed by the renowned American interior designer, Tony Chi. Embracing its mythical definition of the 'fifth level of heaven', I.Sawan offers a rejuvenating retreat from the rigours of daily urban living.

Nestled in the garden of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, the Residential Spa & Club offers guests an extraordinary and refreshing array of features which includes pampering, fitness, cuisine, accommodation and relaxation. I.Sawan is a virtual 'garden in the sky' draped in the beauty and quiet of its exquisite and thoughtful design.

Bangkok Spa Review, CHI - The Spa, Shangri-La

The moment you enter through the doors of CHI - The Spa at Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, you enter a different world. The spacious 1,000 square meter spa, inspired by the architectural and design principles of a Tibetan temple, is a sanctuary of tranquility that indulges all the senses.

Dramatic, subdued lighting accentuates feature walls finished in split-face stone and exquisite artworks and antiques sourced from the Himalayan region. The smell of fragrant incense and aromatic oils wafts through the air. Colours are rich and finishes are understated and simple. The ambiance is one of sacred indulgence.

I slipped into the signature bathrobe specially designed for CHI and made of 100% chenille micro fiber and wasn't surprised to hear that the bathrobe is a best-seller amongst the exclusive range of spa lifestyle accessories, bath and massage oils available at CHI's mini boutique. The gorgeous jade teacup and silver stand is for sale too, and the specially crafted healing stones, Tibetan singing bowl and copper oil diffuser.

The CHI Spa experience is based on the ancient healing traditions and philosophies of China and the Himalayas. 'Chi' represents the universal life force that governs well-being and vitality. To maintain good health, it is believed that chi must flow freely within the body.

All the spa treatments (currently there are more than 35 to choose from) and the exclusive product range have been designed on the Chinese philosophy of the five elements, in which metal, water, wood, fire and earth are in balance with the positive yang and negative yin energy within the body.

Touched by an angel
Each spa experience takes place in one of nine, spacious private suites, featuring a spa-within-a-spa concept, complete with an infinity bath, herbal steam and shower, relaxation lounge and changing, toilet and vanity areas. The Garden Suite, the largest in Bangkok, features a garden with an infinity bath set in a lotus pond. All treatment rooms have sweeping river views too, and the lighting changes as part of the therapy sequence.

Prior to and after the massage, Tibetan singing bowls are used to balance one's energy aurally. The bowls are made to 'sing' when struck or rubbed around the outside of the rim using a wooden stick which, at various speeds and force, create a sustained ringing sound. The harmonics of Tibetan singing bowls, bells and symbols have been used for centuries to assist with meditation and healing.

CHI Spa is possibly one of the finest spas in Bangkok, and has done proud to the legacy of Shangri-La.

The Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok, on the banks of the Chao Praya River, is one of the finest hotels in the city. Read our review to find out why it consistently rates among the top ten hotels in the world, and get ready to be pampered. The resort-like environment, wonderful culinary experiences and Tibetan spa all add up to make for a memorable experience in Bangkok.

by : http://www.bangkok.com

Traditional Thai Massage in Bangkok

Renowned for services ranging from eyelash extensions and laser hair removal to chakra balancing and chi revitalizing, Bangkok is host to an exotic and bizarre array of treatments and therapies. A quintessential component to this multi-faceted jamboree, traditional Thai massage is perhaps the most well-known and celebrated of Bangkok's pampering services. As the Japanese delicately knead flesh in accordance with Shiatsu and the Chinese offer rubs following principles of Tui-Na, Thailand presents a signature massage technique involving traditional systems of holistic beliefs.

Thai massage draws significant influence from India's ancient Ayurvedic traditions of medical practice. Ayurvedic medicine, also a holistic form of healing, plays an integral role in the practice of both Hinduism and Therevada Buddhism. Monks and similar practitioners of healing transmitted Ayurvedic techniques to Thailand some 2,500 years ago, thus giving birth to the wonderful phenomenon that is Thai massage.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Facial Massage

Another variation to the Thai massage is a facial massage treatment. Just like any other form of massage, facial massage relieves tension, promotes relaxation and restores energy to the face and body by increasing circulation. During sleep, circulation is decreased in the body, meaning less blood flow to the face which results in puffiness and a drained complexion. Facial massage stimulates blood flow in facial tissue, restoring a healthy glow and maintaining a firm and smooth appearance.

Thai facial therapy uses gentle, circular strokes along differing regions of the head, face, and neck. Finger movement is always in an upward motion and, when performed regularly, keeps skin appearing tight and youthful. The forehead and nose are targeted to reduce the appearance of horizontal lines and the nostril area receives focused rubbing to unclog pores and reduce blemishes. Mouth and cheeks receive wider, sweeping strokes to prevent wrinkles and the sagging of facial muscles, while the chin and neck are targeted to promote muscle tone. The gestures aimed at the neck area are often performed in order to thwart the vile and loathsome double chin. With gentle fingers gliding over closed eyes, Thai facial massage makes relaxation virtually inevitable and couples the experience with improvements in skin texture and appearance.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Bangkok Types of Massage

From an aromatherapy and oil massage thought to trigger memory, amongst other things, a facial massage that will make your skin glow radiantly, or a Thai foot massage that will ensure your feet and legs are lavished with the attention they deserve, a proper massage treatment can be beneficial for everyone. Have a look here at the different types of massages available, and recommended places to go to.

Aromatherapy & Oil Massage
Though the standard technique varies little, there are a few sub-styles within the traditional Thai massage context. Some practices include the external application of water, lubricants, salt scrubs and other topical preparations and devices that mimic or improve the actions of hands. Essential oils are a common supplement to Thai massage, and incorporating aspects of aromatherapy in conjunction may provide further benefits.

Many establishments in Bangkok offer aromatherapy separately or as an addition intended to enhance another style of massage. An aromatherapy massage is a treatment involving oils that are naturally extracted from plants to balance, harmonize, and promote the health of body and mind. Distinct fragrances are thought to trigger memory and enhance an individual's responses to the aroma; perhaps calming, inducing relaxation, or restoring energy. The oils used in each session are usually determined with input from both the masseur and client, seeking to remedy specific needs. Several oils are decided upon after a consultation and blended into a massage oil to be used during the treatment.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Foot Massgae

Nearly as common as the body massage, Thai foot massage options appear almost everywhere the former is available. Though the title implies only feet are tended to, in actuality legs, lower thighs, hands and forearms also receive attention during a traditional Thai foot massage. After cleansing, the feet are anointed with a skin lotion or oil and reflex points are stimulated with fingers and occasionally a small wooden stick. Force is applied tenderly and precisely to specific nerve endings at the bottom of the feet. Each part of the foot is reputably linked to another, often distant part of the body, with influence extending to vital organs as well as muscles. Pressing at the base of the second toe is thought to rouse the nerve controlling the lungs and bronchial system, while drawing a knuckle along the instep eases pain in the spine and promotes better posture. Thai foot massage ensures that feet and legs are lavished with the consideration and attentiveness they deserve. They are the pillars of the human body, after all.

by: http://www.bangkok.com

Bangkok Spa Review, Foot massage Review

With countless of department stores and shopping malls proliferating the city, shopping in Bangkok can be an overwhelming experience for most people coming to Thailand. Mall hopping around the Siam area is all fun and games until you end up having to juggle with a pile of shopping bags and a pair of debilitated feet. I've discovered that, after spending long hours browsing every mall from MBK to Central Chidlom, the best cure undoubtedly for tired feet is the godsend art of foot reflexology.

Conveniently located in Siam Soi 6, a few minutes from the BTS Siam station, Chang Foot Massage aims to rescue shoppers with fatigued feet. Once I'd snugly settled into a comfy chair, the masseuse lovingly bathed my dying feet with a flow of warm water combined with soothing lather, leaving them feeling soft and relaxed for the coming massage. "Do you play football?" the curious masseuse inquired as soon as she started to apply some pressure on my calves. I shook my head as she went on to comment on how stiff they were. I flinched a little when she rubbed my legs with warm coconut oil and moisturizing cream. Then a vigorous, and, at times, pleasantly painful kneading session followed. For once, my under appreciated feet weren't taken for granted...

Other than the foot massage, total pampering packages like manicures and pedicures are also available. And if you have time, go all the way with the Thai traditional massage or a blissful aromatherapy session. Now with a pair of happy feet again, another trip around Bangkok's most fabulous shopping street suddenly was an attainable feat!

Chang Foot Massage & Spa
Location: Siam Square Soi 6 (near Novotel Siam Square)
Open: 10:30 - 22:00

by: http://www.bangkok.com